Letter from J. L. Holmes to Bro Taylor, January 29, 1859

Hong Kong Jan 29th 1859 Dear Bro Taylor We arrived at this place on Wednesday Jan 20th, after a voyage of five months. During the voyage my own health was uniformly good. Mrs. H. suffered from sea-sickness and debility during a great part of the voyage; she is now, however very well, except some lingering symptoms of weakness caused by the sea-sickness and want of proper nourishment on board the ship On Saturday last I went of [sic] to Canton and became acquainted with the brethren there. Bro. & Sister Galiard [sic] and brother Graves, all seem to be in tolerably good health; and are encouraged in their work by the recent facilities, which have resulted from the treaty, of access to the natives. On Sunday morning I attended chinese servises [sic] at Bro Graves' chapel Bro. G. was assisted in the services by a native assistant, the same that accompanied Bro Shuck to America. After services I accompanied Bro Graves in one of his preaching tours through the city. Once he stood upon an old altar in the court of the temples and proclaimed the truth to a multitude of listening idolators, and twice afterwards he preached to large crowds in public places on the street. In the evening I attended the Union prayer-meeting of the missionaries. It was a refreshing season. The second Prayer and praise resounding through the very room from which "the household gods had but recently been removed, and which had once been filled with the smoke of burning joss sticks, thrilled my heard [sic] with emotions such as I had rarely felt before. Access may now be had to near a million of people in Canton city of yet there are only ten or twelve missionaries there clustering like a forlorn hope around the Gospel standard,