After spending about fifteen months at Gosport, he came to London, to obtain some knowledge of medicine, and to study the elements of astronomy at the Observatory, Greenwich; from a misapprehension that these, especially the last, would be essential to his success in China. But however much they tended to expand his own mind, they were subsequently found almost superfluous in practice: nevertheless, another object was obtained by his residence for nearly eighteen months in the metropolis. An amiable Chinese was found willing to reside with him, to assist him a little in the acquisition of the language, and in transcribing a Chinese Harmony of the Gospels in the British Museum, and a Latino-Chinese Dictionary, borrowed from the Royal Society, both composed by some unknown Roman Catholic missionaries. It was with reference to him, while employed on the former, that an eminent individual afterwards remarked, that he then little thought, as he passed through the Museum, that _that_ stripling sitting at the table transcribing an unknown tongue, would one day translate the Scriptures into Chinese! Well may we exclaim, "Who hath despised the day of small things?"--"Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." When the time of his departure from his native shores drew nigh, as I was then at the University of Glasgow, he thus took his affectionate leave of me by letter, January, 1807-- "The period, my dear brother, has new arrived when I must bid an affectionate, and perhaps a last farewell. On Thursday evening I was solemnly ordained to the ministry of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ among the heathen. The service was at Swallow Street. Rev. John Townsend opened by prayer and reading the Scriptures. Rev. G. Burder asked the questions. Mr. Waugh offered up the ordination prayer. Mr. Nicol gave a charge, and Mr. Buck closed the service by prayer. It was a very solemn and impressive opportunity. Messrs. Gordon and Lee were ordained with me. We proceed on the 24th inst. in the Remittance, Captain Law, to New York; from thence they take a ship to India, in all probability to Madras; whilst I alone, in another vessel, sail for Canton. If permitted, I intend to reside there; if not, I shall probably return to Malacca. Such, at present, my dear ----, are my external circumstances and prospects. With regard to success, I am not sanguine, nor am I depressed. I hope--_I believe_ I may safely take the comfort of our Lord's words, 'Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world;' and, with this persuasion, what have I to fear? If Christ be with me, who can be against me? Let me, my brother, have occasionally an interest in your fervent prayers. Pray that I may not think it hard, if I fare as well as my Master! Farewell, my dear young brother; the God of peace be with you! My love to my dear brother Hooper."