File 1: Rowland Hassall papers, 1797-1810

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[Letter continued from Page ]

At Coventry we go on much as usual:  nothing very remarkable  but additions are made to our church, while one & another is called home we trust to glory.

Having been very much engaged in something I am preparing for the press, I am not able to enlarge  so much as I would wish & I am afraid of sending you any tract by this conveyance lest the expense should  be too great when you receive them.

The Lord is pleased to give me a better degree of health & strength than formerly. My wife is also somewhat better. About a year & a half ago I lost my eldest daughter by a rapid decline in a few weeks, which was a severe trial to us. Ever since that time my youngest son has been afflicted & we have little hope of his recovery. But my eldest son Henry is now at home with me, studying for the ministry.

There you see, my dear friend, how checquered our lot is, like that of  mortals in general. O that we may be quickend to such unmixed happiness in the world above.

My family joins me in affectionate wishes both for yourself, wife & children We shall be very glad to

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hear from you. On assured you are not forgotten by us

Pray present my Xian [Christian] respects to the Rev Mr Marsden the success of whose Labours I  earnestly wish

I am  D Sir Your affec, bro

G Burder

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[Envelope addressed]

Mr Rowland Hassall Paramatta New South Wales

[Different hand]

Per favor of Brother Crook received this 26th of November 1803

[First page of letter]

Very dear Sir

Bearing in mind your former intimate relation to the Missionary Society, & hearing, from every quarter, the chearful Services Tenderd  by you to such Missionaries as call at Sidney; together with reports of your good conversation in Christ, we embrace this opportunity of expressing our affectionate remembrance of you. Accept, dear Sir, our sincere congratulations, and believe that we shall always rejoice in your happiness, and to the utmost of our abilities endeavour to promote it.

Permit us to commend to you, during their stay, Mr Carr and Mr & Mrs Crook. They receive a free passage by favour of Government, and are going to replenish the Mission at Otaheite. We are extremely desirous of augmenting the number of female Missionaries on that Island, not only for their sakes who are already there, but for the Conveniency of the Single Brethren also, who find it is not good to be alone.

Do you think there are virtuous & pious Women in your Colony who wou'd be willing to accompany Messrs Crook & Carr? Is not your own heart at that first place of destination? Could you not glorify God among your Brethren? Perhaps, it might help to  repair the injuries done to the Society by the hasty secession of yourself and others in the hours of alarm, were you again to Cast in your lot among those who remained at their post; of this, however, you are the best

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judge, as being better acquainted with the degree of usefulness connected with your present situation, as also with the line of duty in reference to your family.

It is with considerable regret we hear it rumoured that his Excellency Governor King talks of returning to England. We hope it is only report, as we fear few successors wou'd take so lively an interest in our affairs. Nor can we easily forget his kindness, or that of the Rev. Mr. Marsden to the Missionaries at Otaheite & Port Jackson.

You will be gratified to hear, that in South Africa the state of Missionary Affairs is encouraging. Of this you will be more fully informed by reading the Evangelical Magazines, which are sent for your perusal. There are now nine Men, designed mostly for new Stations, receiving instruction under the tuition of Mr. Bogue. One of them was a Jew, but is now a lively, & zealous follower of the Lamb.

In England the hand of the Lord is not slack in sending out Ministers into Towns & Villages. Hosts of young Men are employed in teaching the children of the poor to read, and furnishing them with such knowledge as tends to promote their future happiness.

There is also a large increase of pious Evangelical Ministers in the established Church; so that knowledge is evidently increasing, but alas! alas! what Millions, Nations & continents, yet remain

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uninformed! What thick & spreading Forests upon which the Feller has not yet laid his Axe! What multitudes around you whose mid-day conduct is a reproach to human nature! O God, by whom shall Israel arise? Who will go up for Us? Who shall gather & reanimate the dry bones of the valley? Awake! O arm of the Lord & put on strength. Speak, O Saviour, & the graves shall open - Blow O wind! & the Slain shall live. O, dear Sir, Do you not feel your heart impelled to utter the loud Amen? As for Us, by the blessing of God upon Us, we continue active inforwarding the great objects of the Society, & tho' disasters & distressing circumstances occur, we are unwilling to relax or be discouraged 'till the Lord Jesus Christ has set in judgement in the Earth, & the Isles wait for his Law.

We beg to present Christian remembrances to Mrs Hassall  & believe us yours to Serve in the Cause of our Lord Jesus Christ

Sign.d in the name of the Directors of the Missionary Society

Joseph Hardcastle

London 20 March 1803.

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[Envelope addressed]

Mr Rowland Hassall Sidney New Holland

[List of shipment]

Received Sydney 5 Sepr 1803 on board the Alexander Captain Rhiads the under mentioned Goods Marked MS 

No. 1  1 Trunk Shoes Hose & [indecipherable] 2 1 Crate Queens Ware 3  1 Cask Pitch 4  1 do White Lead 7 1 Basket Watering pots 10 1 Bundle of canvas 9  1 Box Sundry Insts 11  1  do Razors & hones 11 Iron Pots - 2 Damaged 13 Truss Linen and Nankeen 14 1 Box Medicines 15 1 Truss Cloth 1 Box Sundries. Messrs Henry & Shelley          1 Box Axes Mr Shelley          1 Bundle Seeds  [indecipherable]          16 Chairs Chairs Mr Henry

from Capt Bunker of yl [yawl] Albion 1 Cask  One Truss & 2 Boxes with Letters & Books -

R Hassall

A Box

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[On back of list on page 59]

The Crate No. 2, now in a Hogshead No. 2.  - The Basket watering Pots No 7 Now in a  forty No7 & 4 Butter Boats -

[Letter commencing]

Huahene Nov 18. 1803

Dear Brother

Yours Per favour of Mr Halford came safe to hand and is the first line I ever received from you, though I perceive not the first you ever wrote to me I came down from Tahaite to this Island in the Northumbberland, but before we arrived all the Missionaries had left it for Port Jack[son].- in the Hibernia Cap. Compble except B Hayward. I hope they may all safe arrive in the Colony but I fear they will be in great dainger at the Feegees [Fiji]. I am much obliged to you for the particular account you have given of my concerns with you. The Articles you sent to Mr Henry I have opened and returned except the following, which you will please to place to my account Viz

  £    s    d One Black Silk Handkererchief 0. 12. 0 12 Y-ds of Common English Print  2. 8. 0 2 Muslin Handk'fs 0. 8. 0 3 Skains of Twist 0. 3. 0 A 30 Gall Cask 0. 16. 0 2 Combs 0. 6. 0

4. 13. 0

To Cap Compble I gave  Bills on you to the amount of £9 s10 d0 for articles which B Hayward and I received. B Haywards share of the articles came to £6 .9 for which sum. I enclosed in my letter to you an order of Mr Hayward, or Mr Shelly and requested yo to place the remaining £3 s1 to my account Which will be when the above £4 s13 is aded £7. s14. d0 and that deducted from £13 s1 d0 will leave a ballance of £9 s7 0 in my favour