to those who really desire that the Church should be freed from the Papal jurisdiction and restored to its original purity (Nestorianism always excepted) and independence. I have already given you an epitome of Mutran Elîa's early history, his embracing Nestorianism, and return to Popery, and the indifference with which he is treated by the ruling Papal party. Since exerting ourselves so much for his advancement and the freedom of his people, I have had several interviews with him, but find him so timid and supine that we almost despair of his ever coming forward to claim the patriarchate. He is naturally wanting in moral courage, and the ill-treatment which he and his family have received from the Papal party has rendered him doubly so. … All this while he is opposed to the encroachments of Rome, and I believe sincerely desirous that his people should be freed from its yoke, yet with all this no further effort can be made on his behalf unless he will come forward and act for himself. Whereas, on the one hand, his timidity and hesitancy have seriously affected the courage and cooled the zeal wherewith he would otherwise have been supported by a good portion of the Chaldean community; on the other, it has served to encourage the Romanists to greater assumptions and inspired them with a determination to put down, if possible, the spirit of reform manifested among the people at any cost. On this account it is that many who consort with us have had their taxes doubled, and have suffered other losses and indignities, for which they can expect no redress while the Papal party among the Chaldeans is recognised by the government as the Chaldean Church.
"The Church will at once perceive the difficulty in which we are placed by these circumstances: a difficulty which has hitherto prevented us from making any more direct efforts among the Chaldeans until we receive directions from home, or until by the providence of God the way shall be made plain and open for our further interference. I am persuaded that the Church would hardly sanction any ulterior measures which we might use to raise an individual, so little to be depended upon and so little respected by the generality of the Chaldeans, as Mutran Elîa, to the patriarchal dignity; nor do I believe that she would approve of any attempt on our part to create a schism by drawing over
