respect
and affection from the Viceroy and his family. She had some
opportunities of private religious conversation with the Vicereine, to
whom she presented a translation of Matthew's Gospel and a catechism.
Still the heart of the lady appeared unaffected, though she ordered her
daughters to be instructed in the new catechism. The inquirer who was
mentioned as having afforded Mr. Judson such lively satisfaction, had
been appointed to a government in a distant province, so that they saw
little of him, but were gratified to learn that his interest in
religious books still continued.

CHAPTER IX.

DISTRESSING EVENTS.--MR. JUDSON'S ABSENCE FROM RANGOON.--PERSECUTION OF
MR. HOUGH.--HIS DEPARTURE FOR BENGAL.--MRS. JUDSON'S HEROIC
FORTITUDE.--MR. JUDSON'S RETURN.

We have now to relate some distressing events connected with the
mission, which for a time threatened its very existence.

Mr. Judson having decided to commence a course of public preaching to
the natives, thought best to secure the assistance of a native convert
from the province of Arracan, who spoke the Burman language, to assist
him in his first public efforts. He therefore embarked for that
province, leaving Mrs. Judson to continue her efforts with the females
under her instruction; while Mr. and Mrs. Hough were to prosecute the
study of the language. He intended to be gone but three months, but at
the end of that period, when his return was daily expected, a vessel
from Chittagong, the port to which he had sailed, arrived at Rangoon,
bringing the distressing tidings, that neither he, nor the vessel he
sailed in had been heard of at that port. Letters received by Mrs.
Judson from Bengal, also brought similar intelligence.

While the missionaries left in Rangoon were in this state of fearful
alarm and suspense, Mr. Hough received an order to repair instantly to
the Court House with a threat, that "if he did not tell all the truth in
relation to the foreigners, they would write with his heart's blood."
This message spread consternation among the native teachers, domestics
and adherents, some of whom heard that a royal order had arrived for the
banishment of all foreign teachers. Mr. Hough was detained at the
court-house from day to day on the most flimsy pretences, ignorant of
the language, and with no one to intercede with the government in his
behalf, for it was contrary to etiquette for a woman to appear before
the Viceroy, his family being absen