FL14376500

  [MS  167 ]

Captain Wilks Harbour Tahiti October 14 1817

Dear Friend Hassall

     It is with difficulty that I can find time to write a few lines to you having much to write and a great deal to do.  But I can not wholly neglect my old friends and wherein I appear to do so I must crave pardon.  I have received an affectionate letter from dear Thomas dated at Batavia.  Dear soul he has been [indecipherable] about sadly  I hope he will learn much wisdom from these afflictive dispensations and derive much spiritual profit from them.  It is pleasing to hear that kind and pious office in time of youth are gratefully remembered and gives one more satisfaction than a present of gold & silver.
     We have our hands full of work; being providentially settled almost alone among the natives.  We need familiar providence mixed with holy zeal and courage to enable us to manage well among this people.  The King is the greatest obstacle in the way at present though in some repects he is satisfied he will [indecipherable] himself to form a Missionary Society to collect property for the Society [indecipherable] on a correspondence etc but he will not leave off his sinful habits, nor will he take a step in the way of civilisation and his conduct and influence keeps the people back.