Among the compensations attending my service as Superintendent of our Chinese Missions is the annual visit I am called to make to Santa Barbara; and, notwithstanding the great void I found in the absence of my greatly beloved brother, Rev. Dr. Hough—now returned to his former flock at Jackson, Michigan—no visit ever made there was more pleasant to me than my last. The movements of the steamers were such that it had to be an unusually long visit; and I gained thus the opportunity, not only to see more of the homes and hearts of our English-speaking brethren, but to get much closer in Christian affection and confidence to the Chinese who have begun to believe in the Saviour. Of the six that from this mission, several years since, united with the Presbyterian Church, only two remain; but three others were found who have never yet been baptized, and who seemed to give good evidence of being born again. My conversations with them greatly interested me. There seemed to be a simple faith, a hearty and practical consecration, a readiness to testify, to work and to give for Jesus, which certainly looked like true tokens of a new life—the eternal life—begun. I expect that they will be baptized and received into the Congregational Church at its next communion. The following sentences from a letter written me by one of them express what appeared to be the spirit of them all: “Our school is grow up nicely, and have very good teacher now. Only one thing I be very sorry. I will tell you about. Some school-boy go to bad way, and disobey our Lord Jesus Christ. I, in myself, have no strength to make them to love Jesus Christ. * * * Oh, I hope you pray for them, and ask God to send the Spirit to change their heart, and make them to ’member Jesus Christ died on the cross for us, and make them to ’member continue in heart wherefore the heathen too. [_I. e._, if I understand him, make them consider wherefore they should continue heathen at heart.] Oh, we are ’member you always in heart, because you very kind to our countrymen. I have nothing to recompense you. But I pray to God for you, and ask God to bless you and comfort you, and give you reward in Heaven.”