fifteen years resolved upon for the course of study and training to be pursued, is particularly due to him and reflects the size of the man, the type of his mind and character.
A school of candidates was at once opened at Shanghai from which the pupils were to be selected by competitive examination, and, as has been already stated, the first detachment of thirty arrived in the United States in 1872. The location of the Mission was also for him to determine. He might have procured its establishment in England, or France, or Germany; but as he himself had expressed it, the light that had enlightened him shone from America and from New England, and to America and New England he was resolved from the first this Mission should repair.
He was appointed Chief Commissioner of the Mission, receiving with the appointment his second promotion in rank, viz. —to the Third or Blue Button grade. With him was associated, as co-commissioner, a venerable scholar and dignitary—Chin Lan Pin by name—who, however, remained in this country less than two years, yielding his place to a younger man, Ngau Ngoh Liang, wellborn, distinguished for learning, and a most agreeable gentleman.
The students of the Mission have thus far, with very few exceptions, exhibited excellent ability as scholars, and in many instances extraordinary ability, and with fewer exceptions still have been marked by their exemplary conduct. They have everywhere been most hospitably received. They are certainly worthy to be objects of the highest and most friendly interest to every Christian citizen of the United States.
Yung Wing was appointed, December 11, 1876, Associate Minister with his former colleague in the Educational Mission, Chin Lan Pin, to the United States, Peru and Spain. On this occasion he was again promoted in rank—that is, to Second or Red Button grade, and invested with the title of Taotai (or Intendant) of the Province of Kiang Su.