city and fled to the house of some friends in the suburbs near the river-side.  By my letter of May 19th, it will be seen that Amoy was attacked by the insurgents on the morning (May 18th), after they entered the city of Chiangchiu.  The insurgents are members of a secret society.  For very many years there has existed in this region a society by the name of ‘Thian-te-hoe,’ Heaven and Earth Society.  This is the name by which the members designate their society.  But as the members are generally provided with knives or small swords, the society is designated by the people as ‘Sio-to-hoe,’ Small Sword Society.  The professed object of this society has been the overthrow of the present Tartar dynasty.  Between this and Chiangchiu the members of this society are very numerous.  After the breaking out of the insurrection at Hai-teng, and Chioh-be (cities fifteen and eighteen miles from Amoy, half way to Chiangchiu), the whole populace appeared to sympathize with the movement.  Large bodies of the insurgents moved up the river to Chiangchiu, others came down the river to Amoy.  At the same time there was a rising of the insurgents at Tong-an and An-khoe, districts to the north of Amoy.  At the first outbreak the officials and soldiers fled.  The people of Amoy have been in continual excitement and fear.  They are afraid to engage in business.  On Sabbath morning we went to our chapels as usual.  Shortly after commencing services, news came that a fleet of war junks under the command of the Admiral was anchoring a short distance from the city.  Soon the whole city was in commotion.  About noon a detachment of a thousand soldiers was landed from the junks.  They marched with very little opposition through the town to the gates of the city.  They were attacked simultaneously by the insurgents from within, and by those in ambush without.  The insurgents were victorious.

“By three o’clock in the afternoon the city was comparatively quiet, and we repaired to our church.  Most of the church members were assembled.  Our church edifice is situated on the great thoroughfare which had been the principal scene of excitement.  It was thought best to suspend the usual exercises, to close the street doors, and hold if possible a quiet prayer-meeting.  It was a solemn time.  The ‘confused noise’ of war had just been heard, human blood had been flowing, the angry passions of men were not yet calmed, and we knew not what the end would be.  We felt it a suitable time to draw near to God and make Him our refuge.  This afternoon we received tidings from Chiangchiu.  The evangelist was arrested by twelve men, delivered to an official and beheaded.”

“June 10, 1853.  The state of affairs through the whole of this region remains very unsettled.  The insurgents are endeavoring to regain possession of the city of Chiangchiu.  They have command of the whole region, between this place and that city.  They still are in possession of Amoy.  We are almost daily expecting an attack by the government authorities.