File 1: Hassall family, correspondence, volume 1, pp. 1-690, 1796-1854

[MS 23]

To Miss Jane Williams 30/12 - /18

Dear Jane You will pardon the free dom of my adress but there is something so stiff and formal in Miss that I do not like it as a beginning - when I sent off the tracts to Mr Davies I could not find this ""young cottager" which I think [last three words crossed through] I therefore take this opportunity of sending it & trusting that your namesake will afford such pleasure as  will [last three words crossed through] lasting and durable pleasure as will not be erased by prosperity or adversity - - Could we attain such heartfeeling and interest ing  views of the Saviour as that Dear and young disciple - I always read it with pleasure and wish the

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Dear Sir I shall be very much obliged to you if you will be so kind as to call on  W Williams  14 Wellington St  Goswell Street - Road - if you have opportunity - they will be very glad to see you, having seen us. Wishing you a safe and speedy passage    if I should not see you again. I am yours respectfully J Williams May 3 1818

[Page 17]

frm Mr Williams Ship Harriet    3 May 1817            

the Lord will be pleased to make me such another minister as the author - after you have read it perhaps youl [you will] have the kindness to lend it to my friend Davies who I am sure will be interested in the perusal of it --. I wish I had another to send Miss  Davies but the will must now be taken for the deed as I cannot now find I am sure it would be the happiest thing we will possibly enjoy in this transitory life.

Make my kind respects to your Father & Dear Mother for the attention they paid me as a stranger. [Mention?] me to Miss Davies for whom with yourself & through our knowledge of each other was there I feel a certain friendship which I hope will not easily be erased.  To both of you I wish the

compliments of the season with more support and [this may be another word?] blessings poured out from him who loved & gave himself for us.

Believe me to remain

Yours truly

Thos Hassall

all the V   a of youth [may not relate to this letter]

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[Page 18]

Coventry  Sept. 6. 1796  Dear Brother

It gave me much pleasure to hear from you, and to find that you are so well and so happy, and that your dear partner continues firm and steady in her purpose. The good providence of God has wonderfully succeeded the work hitherto, & when his time comes that you should sail, I trust that he will pilot the ship, and command the waves and winds, & carry you all in peace to Otaheite. [Tahiti]

                 The spirit of piety & harmony that prevails among you is very encouraging. I think  I entreated you in my former letter to be a man of peace: not that I think you disposed to be otherwise, for I trust and believe the Lord has taught you to seek peace & pursue it, but if there should ever be, in any instance, an appearance of disturbance, that you labour by all means to supply it: what a blessing will this alone render you to the Crew and to the cause.        I trust the Lord will keep you from being lifted up.  You are taken from an obscure situation

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27 you are engaged in a most exalted work, you have had the countenance of very valuable persons, all this may rather tend to fan the sparks of pride, which no good man is without; but then you have much to ballance all this. A sense of your own insufficiency; the dangers & self-denial of a long voyage; the difficulties to be encountered when you get to the Islands, before you can expect to be useful; these and many other things will, I trust, keep you low in your own eyes, & keep you near to the Lord Jesus, whose [fulness?] alone can supply all your wants, & give you perseverance for years to come. You must have the patience of the husbandman, mentioned by St James, waiting long for the precious fruit of the earth, till he receive the early & latter rain. And be assured of this, that whether little or much success attend your endeavours, your labour, as yourselves shall not be in vain in the Lord.

What you heard respecting my having thoughts of leaving Coventry, is true.  Preaching thrice a day & various

                                      28 other labours in so large a congregation, are too much for my constitution & I think I can serve the cause of God, and particularly in the affairs of the Missionary Society, more extensively in London. But as yet this is not determined. I hope and pray the Lord will direct me for the best. I know it will be a great trial to many if I leave them & therefore it will be a trial to me; but if I can be more useful & comfortable elsewhere; I trust the Lord will provide well for them. Whether I go or not, I wish you to write to me & direct for me at Mr Wilson's, Wood Street, Cheapside, London, which will find me whether at London or Coventry.

My christian love to your wife, to Mr Micklewright, to the Surgeon, & to all the Missionaries, & particularly to Captain Wilson.  Mrs Burder also unites in love to you & wife & so would all friends here if they knew of my writing.

I remain in everlasting bonds of christian love Yr sincere friend & brother               Geo. Burder

We shall often remember you but especially on the first monday evening of the month at 7 oçlock

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[MS 29]

Mr Rowland Hassall (on board the Duff) To the care of Mr Eastman Portsea

Postage paid from Coventry

If gone, Mr E need  not return it ____________ destroy it

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