Canton, January 13, i860. —... Another letter — is this to be the last? or am I doomed to write a series of vapid epistles every fortnight to the end of my days? I return you my best thanks for your kind present of books — all I can say is that if I don't go to heaven after receiving that box of books it won't be your fault. But, joking apart, I really am very much obliged for all that was sent, and I am sure that it will do me a great deal of good. We are all picking up strength for the ensuing hot weather. The climate here for the last three months has been quite heavenly, and we are now enjoying such bracing weather as cannot fail to do us all good. Our sick list is very low, and we have no deaths. In another month's time we may expect the rain}'' season, which will last about six weeks, and then will come the dreadful heat again; however, I hope I shall not be here to enjoy it.... Upon my word, my dear mother, I can't wTite any more.
I don't know what the divil (I mean the d ^1) to say,
except that I had a tooth stopped yesterday, which I mention as you like to know all my ailments. Once a fortnight is too much, I can't stand it. — Ever your affectionate son, Fredk. Stephenson.
You should have heard that sigh as I finished the letter.
To his Brother
Canton, January 13, i860. My dear William, — Your box of books, etc., has arrived quite safe, and I have my best thanks to offer for the trouble you have taken about them, and especially for the contributions you have made yourself. You could not have made a better selection; the books are
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just what I wanted, grave and gay, and both excellent of their sort. The six volumes of Blackwood was a grand conception; I have a childish love for a well-told tale, and these are all first-rate. The theological branch is certainly, as you say, rather voluminous; still, it is just what I asked for, and though it would require a prolonged existence in a hermitage to master the whole, I hope I shall be able from time to time to digest a few home truths.... I am gradually getting hardened as to the future, and begin to feel a stoical indifference as to my fate, which, however, will produce a frightful reaction whenever the joyful news of my return arrives. We are all going on as quietly as usual. Kidnapping, however, is carried on to an awful extent out here, and is just now the permanent topic of interest. The Americans and Portuguese are chiefly engaged in this trade, which they carry on for the Spaniards, who will give enormous prices for a Chinaman landed in Cuba. The captain of a Yankee ship will pay a Chinese crimp S20 for a Chinaman. These crimps go to the neighbouring villages and kidnap those wretched people, which they succeed in doing to a great extent. The Chinese authorities sometimes succeed in arresting them, and then invariably behead them, so that the crime and misery produced by this abominable trade are quite shocking and may really lead to disturbances between ourselves and the Chinese, who are still unable wholly to discriminate between us and other foreigners. — Ever yours affectionately, Fredk. Stephenson.
To Lady Stephenson
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My dear Mother, —... You will have heard by this time that I am appointed D.A.G., which is pushing me up a peg, and placing me in a very nice position. The one I had previously held as A.A.G. was the appointmicnt for a Division, the one I now hold is for an army.... I go down to Hong Kong, and
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