n which your scholars
have been made acquainted with the Christian religion. My own
Government in no way proscribes the teaching of Christianity. The
observations in my official letter are intended to support what I
have before brought to the notice of Government, that _all_ are
received, who present themselves for instruction at your schools,
without any stipulation as to their becoming members of the
Christian faith.

I cannot express to you how much your letter has distressed me. It
has been a subject of consideration with me, for some months past,
how I could best succeed in establishing a college here, the
scholars of which were to have been instructed in the same system
which you have so successfully pursued. Believe me,

"Yours very faithfully,

"A.D. Maingy

"_Saturday._"

Appropriations were afterward made by the British government for schools
throughout the Provinces "to be conducted on the plan of Mrs. Boardman's
schools at Tavoy;" and although the propagation of Christianity in the
_other_ schools was subsequently prohibited, yet in _her own_, she
always taught as her conscience dictated.

It had been one of Mr. Boardman's practices to make frequent tours among
the Karen villages, to preach the gospel, and strengthen the disciples
and the feeble churches. Even from this duty, as far as the visitation
was concerned, his widow did not shrink, although she _did_ shrink from
writing or speaking much on the subject; doubtless always regarding it
as a cross, which although she might bear with patience, she would
willingly lay down as soon as duty should permit. Attended by her
faithful Karens, and her little boy borne in their arms,--leaving Mr.
Mason to his indispensable task of acquiring the language, she would
thread the wild passes of the mountains, and the obscure paths of the
jungle, fording the smaller streams and carried over the larger in a
chair borne on bamboo poles by her followers,--carrying joy and gladness
to the hearts of the simple-minded villagers, and cheering her own by
witnessing their constancy and fidelity.

In her own inimitable style "Fanny Forrester" gives an account of an
adventure of Mrs. Boardman during one of these excursions; in which the
impression she made upon an English officer who encountered her far from
civilized habitations, so unexpec