Letter from Samuel Hyman Cohen to Isaac Leeser;March 26, 1854

Title: Letter from Samuel Hyman Cohen to Isaac Leeser;March 26, 1854
Author: Samuel Hyman Cohen
Contributor: Isaac Leeser
Date Created: 26 March 1854
Location(s): San Francisco; Philadelphia
Format: Letter. 3 page(s).
Type: Letter
Language(s): English
Has Format: https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3wh2f12s/manifest.json
Link to Colenda: https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3wh2f12s
Physical Characteristics: Lined Paper; Manuscript
Is Part Of: The Dropsie College Isaac Leeser Collection at the Penn Libraries
content: San Francisco March 26/54
To
Isaacs Lesser Esqre
371 Walnut St. Philadelphia
Dear Sir
I arrived in this city from Auburn about two weeks back, have seen your agent Mr C Myers who kindly give me the Occident containing the portion of my letter.
I have used my endeavours in forwarding your enterpriseing work the Bible, which I must say is a Credit to you, and trust will prove productive for your labours.
In regard to further Information respecting the Jews in China, I have had an Interview with Mr Spear of whom I spoke of in my last, he his not the Gent who was in China in my time, he has only been in Canton three years and not out of it till he come to this country, as he said to me we who reside at Canton can have but little com--munication with the Chinese in consequence of its being unsafe to go out into the streets, he also says that he never heard or read of any such sect as Jews &c in China he is only acquainted with the Canton Dialect, in the Occident of January Page 514 you propose to send a person duly qualified to Shanghai to open communication with the people of Kai-fong-foo, that proposition

his highly esential as that must be the first step. To begin about there to carry out the object in ? then follow the plan of the Jesuites which is to establish posts of communications in every district from Shanghai to the place wher our supp-osed Bretherin are to be found, this is to be done by feeing? the officer of each district then they will pass the letters of corrospondance, and verry probable pass a foreignor through, as let a foreignor Disguise himself ever so much the Chinese can Discover him, which if such should be the case the officer of the district can torment him in a most Barbarous manner for any length of time and when he thinks proper he can send him back through the same districts as he come to his first starting place, and then the isolated Traveller cannot have any redress from his Government, a Little money works wonders among the China officials therefor I am still of the same opinion that the Obsticals are to be over come in communicating with the people of Kai-fong-foo.
if the people in the atlantic are going to send out a mission and they have confidence enough in me I should have no objection of being one of the parties for that mission to Shanghai, provided that I was paid for going out there, any persons which they may send if they should come by way of California I shall be most happy to give them all the information that lays in my power as with one hour conversation with them I should be able

to enlighten them more than writing six sheets of paper full about China. Questions would bring things to my memory wher other wise I cannot think of them and I would not have any thing which I may write or repeat go before the public but that which I know to be the Truth.
I will conclude by wishing you every success in your undertakings & Belive me to be yours
Samuel H. Cohen
care of B Keesing Box 488 Post Office

The above text refers to Occident Volume 11 No. 10 pages 510 through 514. Click here to view.
Identifier: LSDCBx2FF1_21
Date: 1854-03-26

Part of Letter from Samuel Hyman Cohen to Isaac Leeser;March 26, 1854

Samuel Hyman Cohen, “Letter from Samuel Hyman Cohen to Isaac Leeser;March 26, 1854”, 1854-03-26, Isaac Leeser Digital Repository, accessed September 7, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/leeser/item/66895