committed to historic Baptist & Reformed beliefs

 

life of mrs. ann h. judson, late missionary to burmah;

With an Account of the American Baptist Mission to that Empire.

 

APPENDIX.

So many facts have already been related in this book, showing the utter disregard of truth among the Burmese in general, and particularly among the government officers, that it may seem unnecessary to add more proofs of their depravity: but we are induced to do it, that in the day when "Burmah is converted to God," an appeal may be made to these records, to show the wondrous power of the Gospel, in redeeming the heathen from such utter vileness, and thus, God shall be glorified by his people.

A Merchant now residing in Philadelphia, visited Rangoon about thirty years since, on commercial business. It happened that about the time of his arrival, an English agent applied to the Burman government, to obtain some privileges for his countrymen; when in order to avoid a compliance with his desires, without giving offence, the Burman officers seized upon the American merchant, and insisted that he was an Ambassador from France, who had come for obtaining like favours with the British envoy. He was treated with all pomp and parade, as if he had been a real Ambassador; and when the British agent solicited any favour, he was told that the French Ambassador had asked the same, and if the "privilege was granted to one, it must be granted to both;" and by this artifice, his objects were defeated. The merchant was detained a prisoner, for this deceitful purpose, for six months, and thereby suffered great loss of property, which the Burmese government would not repay.

Mr. Judson relates, that when confined in prison, he overheard two Burman chiefs, who were placed there for some small offence, discoursing together on moral subjects. The elder of the two asked the other if he knew the proper meaning of an honest upright man? To which the younger replied that he did not. "Then I will tell you; an upright man is exactly the same thing as an idiot , or a simpleton ."

Our readers have seen with what obstinancy the Burmese monarch resisted the British troops; and that it was only after numerous defeats, that he consented to make peace. The following account of this war, is extracted from the Burman records at Ava.

"In the year 1186, and 1187, the Kula-pyu, or white strangers of the west, fastened a quarrel upon the Lord of the Golden Palace. They landed at Rangoon, took that place, and Prome, and were permitted to advance so far as Yandaboo. The King from motives of piety, and regard to life, made no effort whatever, to oppose them. The strangers had spent vast sums of money, and by the time they reached Yandaboo, their resources were exhausted, and they were in great distress. They petitioned the King, who, in his clemency and generosity, sent them large sums of money, to pay their expenses back, and ordered them out of the country."

THE END.

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