Judson, Adoniram, 1788-1850; Missionaries -- Burma -- Biography; Missionaries -- United States -- Biography
“When Mr. Judson was sent from Maloun to Ava, it was within five
minutes’ notice, and without his knowledge of the cause. On his way up
the river, he accidentally saw the communication made to Government
respecting him, which was simply this: ‘We have no further use for
Yoodthan; we therefore return him to the golden city.’ On arriving at
the court-house, there happened to be no one present who was
acquainted with Mr. Judson. The presiding officer inquired from what
place he had been sent to Maloun. He was answered, from Oung-pen-la.
‘Let him, then,’ said the officer, ‘be returned thither’; when he was
delivered to a guard and conducted to the place above mentioned, there
to remain until he could be conveyed to Oung-pen-la. In the meantime,
the governor of the north gate presented a petition to the high court
of the empire, offered himself as Mr. Judson’s security, obtained his
release, and took him to his house, where he treated him with
considerable kindness, and to which I was removed as soon as returning
health would allow.
“The advance of the English army toward the capital at this time threw
the whole town into the greatest state of alarm, and convinced the
Government that some speedy measures must be taken to save the golden
city. They had hitherto rejected all the overtures of Sir Archibald
Campbell, imagining, until this late period, that they could in some
way or other drive the English from the country. Mr. Judson and Dr.
Price were daily called to the palace and consulted; in fact, nothing
was done without their approbation. Two English officers, also, who
had lately been brought to Ava as prisoners, were continually
consulted, and their good offices requested in endeavoring to persuade
the British general to make peace on easier terms. It was finally
concluded that Mr. Judson and one of the officers above mentioned
should be sent immediately to the English camp in order to negotiate.
The danger attached to a situation so responsible, under a Government
so fickle as the Burmese, induced your brother to use every means
possible to prevent his being sent. Dr. Price was not only willing,
but desirous of going; this circumstance Mr. Judson represented to the
members of Government, and begged he might not be compelled to go, as
Dr. Price could transact the business equally as well as himself.
After some hesitation and deliberation Dr. Price was appointed to
accompany Dr. Sandford, one of the English officers, on condition that
Mr. Judson would stand security for his return, while the other
English officer, then in irons, should be security for Dr. Sandford.
The king gave them a hundred ticals each to bear their expenses
(twenty-five of which Dr. Sandford generously sent to Mr. Gouger,
still a prisoner at Oung-pen-la), boats, men, and a Burmese officer to
accompany them, though he ventured no farther than the Burman camp.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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