t, it was our hope and trust that
it would eventually cease to be disagreeable and extraordinary, and that
the Chinese were at present in a state which required stirring and
powerful medicine, medicine which must necessarily be disagreeable to the
palate to prove beneficial in another quarter. However, he said that I
talked '_pustota_' (emptiness or nonsense), and as he was not to be
moved, I was compelled to acquiesce with his dictum. This occurred some
months since, and I rejoice to see in the last letter with which you
favoured me a fortuitous corroboration of my views on this subject. I
allude to that part of your letter where you state that you do not desire
the Chinese to consider the Bible the work of a Chinese, etc. Nor do I;
and throughout the progress of the work I have collated every sheet with
the Greek Testament, and whenever I have found anything still adhering to
the translation which struck me as not being faithful to the original, I
have invariably modified it, so that, with the exception of the one
instance above mentioned, I can safely assert that the Word of God has
been rendered into Mandchou as nearly and closely as the idiom of a very
singular language would permit.

I have now received and paid for, as you will perceive by my accompts,
495 reams of paper, which will be barely sufficient for the work, which
will consist of eight parts, instead of seven, as we at first supposed.
I take the liberty of requesting that when the books arrive you will
examine the texture of the paper on which they are printed. Mr. L. is
exceedingly pleased with it, and says that it is superior to the paper of
the first edition of St. Matthew by at least ten roubles per ream; and
that it is calculated to endure for 200 years. It certainly does possess
uncommon strength and consistency, notwithstanding its tenuity, and the
difficulty of tearing it is remarkable. By my direction it received a
slight tinge of yellow, as no books are printed in China upon paper
entirely colourless. I must be permitted to say that the manner in which
the book-binder, Mr. Lauffert, is performing his task is above all
praise; but he has been accustomed for many years to this kind of work,
the greatest part of Baron Schilling's immense collection of Chinese
works having been bound by him. We may esteem ourselves very fortunate
in having met with a person so competent to the task, and whose terms are
so remarkably reasonable. Any other b