File 1: Rowland Hassall papers, 1797-1810

[Page 51]

[Address on envelope]

Mr. Hassall Parramatta New South Wales 

[on side at right angles]

Recd 24 th May 1803

[on side of envelope]

Davies July 2. 1803

[Letter]

Copy

Feb 5 1803

My Dear Brother & Sister

Once more I have call in Providence to write few lines to you hopeing you are all well in health of body and prosperity of soul it seems to me your lot as been cast in the mist of plenty for the body and I hope A blessing may attend it to you and yours in particular 

Dr Bror I hope you see something of the end  anserd [answered] for which you went I mean the pleasure of the Lord Prospering in your hand & the salvation of prichous soul. I think in England  we are highly favourd with good now from far then what we have at home but But blessed Be the name of the Lord. I hope that glorious time draweth nigh when all shall know the Lord from one end of the world unto the other - I need not say the peace is restored between contending nations which was very suding indeed to all and such joy seem to fill harts of men that I never saw before some weep for joy some believed not and multydertudes gather together to hear the news Confirmd  for many days the first of this news was Oct th 3 1801. Easter A great day of rejoying which took great attention it was such A day of rejoying I never beheld but A lass what is the Joy of the world. Solomon say it is vanity and so it  tis I think. Things are very little better at present But I wish to leave them the Lord time is best

[Page 52]

[last page of letter, follows the second page]

My expection was soon altered the next day relax taken place and carried of the mortal fraim into  unknown world, her weak state of body was great but the sabbath which was June 7 1801 she died in the Lord the last words I think I heard her say and  sit and sing herself away to everlasting bliss which Mrs Jolley then spoke in anser  & her furnal words was those For we know that if house of this tabbernakle dissolve we end soon that day three week the dear William  after is mother, Thomas & Elizabeth are fine Children but I was in a very low way for sometime  but through mercy was restord 

I settled again Nov 24 1802 to Elizabeth Hunderhill she lived at Mr Birdes' this last few Years which we are very Comfortable Brother John lives with Docr Vernom [suckey] lives in London

I hope you will excuse all faults we join Dear Bro & sister send you dear little Cuzens in love accept of our love

from your relatives

Thos & Elizabeth Hancox

[Second page of letter]

The monthly prayer meeting for the spread of the gospel at home and abroad increase and love among Christians to abound very much we had a very pleasing sight last Tuesday was week at west Orchard the Warickshire Ascoation of ministers meet with many of their respectif Churchis and all as one family sat down to received the Lord supper in the eveing of that day 7 Oclock the pleace  was filld and a solmon attention was their and I hope a time to be remember, the minister was Ingage in the ordinance and more was preachd and I hope I can say much of the presents of the Lord was their which made it a good time of refreshment to every soul, But I now begin to inform you what as taken place in the familys your Fath [father] Hassall is well in health in Body Father Hancox continue in the same house and better in health then he been for long time & Mary is married to Mr Penny widdower one little girl by is former wife and your sister expects to have the first next June likewise Abraham wife which was Ann Smith counts for the same time Samuel wife as Just got up of the 2 Child which is a boy the first a girl but I now have told you of the increase I must tell of the decrease which took place 1801 my own wife at the time of Child birth on the last day of may taken in labour  lighted and abed in two days which she could hardly think the time of difficulty over  it was sabbath Day

[Page 53]

[Address on envelope]

Mr Rowland Hassall Storekeeper Parramatta New South Wales

[Letter with right hand side indecipherable]

Otaheite Dear Brother Hassell        

After long silence I write again to you hoping you and yours are in good health of body and soul. The reason of my not writing before was because the last letter I sent you came back and caused some trouble to me though I know not aney thing in it but the truth and not to be retracted, and the man I wrote about. I have seen nothing in his conduct since worse then in my own I send you this in confidence; burn it when you have read it. but I hope I shall write nothing untrue. I think I may say I have had a long winter of troubles here some I made my self; have been burdend from day to day and I say salvation is of the Lord. He hath been my help and my shield Blessed be his dear name. No doubt you had yours as man is born to troubles now to Love this world on the things of the world is not to geet need of trouble but increase it, but to love God, and the things of God; in me you shall have peace. you have a family but go not out of the path of duty to provide for the God can provide better then you. love not the world O offen wish none off you had left this Island my love to Mreers Oaks Main and of Hodges desire Mr Hodges to send me as many razors and sissaurs as he please for I have no to give to the Natives when I am out among them

[Page 54]

[Letter continued from Page 53]

you know before now that we have began to teach the natives I feared that I should not have learnt the Language but I prayed for it and now am enabled to preach to the heathens tis said to their eddification

Brethren pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free course run and be Glorifyed. If you labour in the Lords vinyard may he bless you in your work, my love to those that know and love the saviour.

my love to Brother Hardes I and others would be glad to see him here and you also and aney others that may doo more good then harm. Sir through the letters that was sent from Port Jackson to England we are obliged to live with aney help mates. I never thought that women were unsafe here and  wld not be afraid to leave one amoung the natives and go to other Islands and return and find her in safety. I wld thank you for a letter

I conclude wishing you everything that is good for you. My love to you all

Henry Bicknell  February 7th 1803

[Envelope]

Mr Hassel Paramata New South Wales

[Different hand] Receid 24th May 1803

[Page 55]

Coventry Feb.5 1803                                                   My dear Bror

A few days ago I learn'd from Mr  Hardcastle  that a Ship would shortly sail for New Holland. I therefore inform'd your friends, who with me are glad of an opportunity of keeping of our new missioner with you, tho'  so distant.  I hope you are still housed in  the narrow way & kept from sin & error, especially from Infidelity which of late years has made such dreadful harm in many countries of by which want many proffess of religion have been turned aside.

I hope you see the Evangelical Magazines - they will inform you of what is doing in that part of the world & by this, for other parts of it. The most promising Mission hitherto has been that near the Cape of Good Hope. The appearance of a disposition in France to hear  the The gospel are very encouraging & the Miss[onary] Society is negotiating to purchase a Church in Paris & to send over gospel ministers there. Indeed there is a great desire in England to spread the gospel both at home & abroad & I do hope that knowledge is increased. At the same time I greatly fear that true piety does not bear a proportion to the increase of profession.