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CHAPTER IV.

REFLECTIONS ON THE POPULATION.

THEIR OVERWHELMING NUMBERS—THEIR SINFUL CONDITION—THE WORK OF EVANGELIZING THEM DIFFICULT—DEPENDENCE ON DIVINE AID—THE DIFFUSIVE CHARACTER OF THE GOSPEL—ENCOURAGEMENT DRAWN FROM THE UNIFORMITY OF THEIR GOVERNMENT, LANGUAGE, MORALS, AND SENTIMENT—THEIR EXTENDING POPULATION—ONLY CHECKED BY EUROPEANS—AND THE INTRODUCTION OF OPIUM—THE EFFECT OF OPIUM SMOKING—ITS RAPID INCREASE—CHINESE LAWS AGAINST IT—MEMORIAL OF A MANDARIN—EXTENT OF SMUGGLING—APPEAL TO THE OPIUM MERCHANT—AND THE EAST INDIA COMPANY—DEMORALIZING EFFECT OF THE DRUG—REMONSTRANCE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF GREAT BRITAIN.

If the population of China really amount to such overwhelming numbers, then what a distressing spectacle presents itself to the eye of the Christian philanthropist. Three hundred and sixty millions of human beings huddled together in one country, under the sway of one despotic monarch, influenced by the same delusive philosophy, and bowing down to the same absurd superstition. One third of the human race, and one half of the heathen world, held by one tie, and bound by one spell; one million of whom are every month dropping into eternity, untaught, unsanctified, and, as far as we know—unsaved. How unaccountable it appears that one individual should be allowed to fetter the minds of so vast a portion of immortal men, and to forbid the introduction of evangelical liberty. How