File 1: Rowland Hassall papers, 1797-1810

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the loss accounting to £10000. £4000 was raised in a fortnight, and had not this intelligence been succeeded by information more afflictive still the whole would have been raised in a few Weeks more. The News of yr departure from Otaheite, has inflicted such a wound, that will not easily be healed. We are unable to express our astonishment - the enemy triumphs and an enemy he must be to God who does triumph at the troubles of Zion. Offences will come - but woe to him by they come.  A thousand thoughts revolve in my mind upon this subject, & tho' we forbear to press public judgment upon it as it respects yourselves till we hear from you; yet I can hardly tell how to pronounce you blameless from the information received. Scores of times have I thought with pain of what you said to me on board The Duff, "that if you had not more sugar you would not go."  The saying made me humble when ever I thought of it. What must your reflexions be when you realise all the evils attendant 

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upon this transaction - you will wish you had never been born or had died the day you proposed your self, especially if you have not maintained the character in which you set out. The Society rejoiced on yr Return of The Duff and immediately undertook to visit you and strengthen  your hearts and hands - The Duff  was enlarged - and stored with every thing you could want. Vast numbers of Packages were sent to yr Missionaries from friends, and none so many as to Mr Cover, beside what went as the common stock for the Society. Among others yr old friend Gregory went out and his family. Nay everything was done that our imagination could paint us conducing to yr gratification; but - but - but - I forbear. Nevertheless I advise you not to return to England - Rather stay at Port Jackson or in the neighbourhood - you may there preserve the Christian character, and do good. May God bless you - make you there unblameable Christians and render you very useful in yr life and labours, & while you are carving the meal

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that perishes by an honest industry, I hope you will be willing to do all the good you can to the miserable objects around you: There is ample room where you are  - pray for much of the spirit - conduct yr self with a peaceable spirit to all - and ever conduct the settled necessities of the  colony in all yr measures  for general good. My love to all the faithful among you, & I cannot persuade myself that there are not any of this description. Remember me to yr husband from whom I expected much. We shall send to Otaheite again.

Yrs M Wilks

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Mrs Cover Missionary Port Jackson

If not there to any of the Missionaries of some there Mr Cover [indecipherable]

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London 21 Oct. 1799

Dear Brethren

A few weeks ago we addressed a letter to you, and committed it to the care of Governor King who was then ready to sail for New Holland, this gentleman having since been under the necessity of returning to this Country by providential interposition, we have now the opportunity thro' the same friendly medium of inform ing you that we have since received your public letter subscribed by all the Brethren except John Cock - and another letter signd by Mr. Cover, and Mr. Henry, both dated from Sydney the 1st Sept. 98 - In the first of these you detail to us various circumstances, which led to the resolution you have thought it necessary to adopt of removing from Otahete - that which actuated the married Brethren, principally, appeared to have been the apprehension of insecurity respecting the females, which is doubtless a consideration of great importance - this seems to have prevailed from the time that Capt. Wilson departed finally from that Island, altho it does not appear that during the long interval of his absence previous to his second visit there, that any grade of alarm on this subject subsided - the single Brethren's reason for quitting their station is alleged to be from motives of prudence, which we presume appeared satisfactory to their own minds, but without a further specification, we are of course incompetent to judge of - The opinion we entertain Brethren, of your understanding, you sincerity, your constancy, and devotedness to the Service you had undertaken, gives a strong Bias

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in your favour, and inclines us to the persuasion that these apprehensions not only existed in a strong degree in your Minds, but that you also took great pains to ascertain their foundations and were not actuated by groundless fears - while however an affection for you inclines  us to the favourable construction, we yet think it right in faithfulness to you Brethren from our consciences; and to the sacred cause in which we are mutually engaged; to say that we do not consider ourselves so fully possessed of all the circumstances which bear upon this subject as to be able to form an adequate judgement - or pronounce a decisive sentence - this matter therefore rests betwixt your own consciences; and the omniscient Judge, and we trust you can with chearfull confidence reflect that your "record is on high" - We regret that you did not give us some idea of the intercourse you had with the natives - the steps you took to gain their confidence, and to impart to them the great subject of your mission among them, as we presume you had acquired as much knowledge of the language as to be able to converse intelligibly with them. It might have been very useful in our future arrangements to have known what probability there appears of success among them - or what are the principal impediments in our way - your silence on these subjects, connected with your early apprehensions in danger from them, incline us to conclude that your intercourse with them was not so frequent & familiar as to produce any material affect. We continue alto  very anxious for the safety of the Brethren you left behind, who are now entirely in the power of the natives, and exposed to the effects of their prejudices, their resentments or their caprices - we earnestly implore the divine protection on their behalf, and the affecacious blessing of God to accompany their courageous & faithful labour among the heathens.

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Having suggested these observations  we proceeded to consider the occurrence of your removal, in the light of a providential dispensation - and we perceive with satisfaction that you receive your present situation to admit of a considerable scope for your exertions in promoting the interests of religion - and we hope your expectations of extensive usefulness may be realised - the great head of the church best knows how to dispose of his servants and you shoud be instrumental in promoting materially the progress of his Kingdom, as will furnish some ground to conclude that you have been inclined by a superior impulse to remove to the station you now occupy - in every situation however great humility and self denial as well as zeal and activity are requisite, and a Christian Missionary ought to calculate on opposition difficulty and danger rather than ease and applause in the execution of his work - You are now indeed placed under the wing of British protection, and may perhaps be secure from personal danger, yet the faithfull discharge of your duty will probably expose you to persecution in some shape or other, and will require the exercise of the same despositions as would enable you to submit to it in its most horrifying forms - The Colony in which you now reside is rapidly increasing in population, and from its peculiar construction, presents an inviting opening for evangelical labours - you are connected with a State of Society peculiarly depraved, but yet so circumstanced as to render the Gospel prove especially seasonable and suitable to them, and you will seriously consider by what plan of proceeding your residence among them can promote the next extensive good - there are some of your number upon whom the exalted Saviour has conferred Gifts adapted from the work of the 

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Ministry, and who will therefore more statedly labour in the Word & doctrine, there are others whose skills in the usefull arts will enable them to procure to themselves the means of comfortable subsistence, and to aid in outward things the Brother who may be more constantly employed in preaching the Gospel. - Yet let not the preaching Missionary be too burdensome to his industrious Brother - for in your present circumstances you will all find it necessary to labour with your hands, tho' perhaps not in the same degree - there are some among you whom providence has designed to accept more private stations, in which however you may by your example, your prayers, & your conversation, greatly promote the Cause of Christ - let your different gifts and talents  be justly estimated, and select the Station for which providence has fitted you - The office of a preacher may be desired by some from a misapprehension of their gifts - or from the idea that it confers distinction, and insures respect - motives of this nature are highly animal, but yet insensibly sway the deceitfull heart - our great wisdom and duty is to find out, and occupy that Station which providence has qualified us for - there is one branch of duty however of peculiar importance for the discharge of which we hope most of you are qualified - & which is equally incumbent on the preacher and the lay brother - we refer to the education and religious instruction of the children both of the Convicts, and of the poor Colonists, and of as many of the native heathens as you can procure & attend to - in this great duty the Women also may be of perculuar use and altho' an assiduous attention to their employment may be less gratifying than

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public preaching - it is no less necessary, and may in its consequences be as beneficial; as it implies more self denial, patience, and humility - it affords at least a fair a proof of the true Missionary Spirit - this subject is in our estimation so very important that we not only press it on your attention, but desire you will inform us in all your letters what progress you make therein -

Altho Brethren your present situation connects you more with those who hear the Christian Name, than with Heathens, yet we trust you will find opportunity at attempting the conversion of the latter, and thus accomplish the object to which you were more immediately set apart - we are not acquainted with the degree of probability there may be of suitable occasions of this nature, but whenever they occur, we hope the recollection of your solemn designation to the Service of God among the Heathen will move you to embrace them - We suggest to you also the consideration of the propriety of two of your number with the concurrence of Governor King settling at Norfolk Island, if it appears likely that by means of public preaching, and the instruction of children the interests of Christianity are likely to be promoted there - We have great satisfaction in informing you that this gentleman will afford you his countenance in the prosecution of your Missionary duty, and we desire that you will pay due deference to his suggestions, and seek the advantage of his judgment on all occasions of importance - We doubt not you will also show all possible respect and affection to the Revd Mr Johnson & Mr Marsden, and use all your influence to increase the attachment of the Colonists both to their persons & their Ministry - indeed we trust you will become an honourable example to all

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around you of cheerfull submission to the laws and government of the Colony, & of respect to those into whose hands authority is committed ~

We persuade ourselves that you feel so much fraternal affection towards each other that it woud be superfluous in us to exhort you to its preservation - You know that to indulge a controversial spirit would very much tend to produce division & uncivil consequences among you, and that an obstinate & unyielding disposition is sure to destroy the spirit of concord - expect not therefore Brethren to think exactly alike upon all subjects & let not a difference in opinion interfere with your mutual love - 

We request you will keep a journal of all material occurrences, and forward a copy of it to us as you have opportunity; - you will write us as frequently as possible, and suggest to us any plans which may appear to you practicable for the spread of the Gospel - embrace any opportunity that may offer of communication with your Brethren in the Friendly or Society Islands, and shoud you hear by any means from them, inform us of every particular as speedily as possible - - On account of the uncertainty of the safe reception of your letters, it will be advisable to send duplicates -

We noticed to you in our former letter, the desirous impression which divine Grace has made upon many of the Convicts on board the Hillsborough thro' the instrumentality of Dr Van der Kemp & his Associates; we again recommend these young Converts to your

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tender and assiduous attention, that the sacred principles which have been infused into hearts may be strengthened so that they may exhibit a conspicuous testimony of the wonderfull efficacy of the power of the Gospel, and be the means of communicating the same blessing to those around them, who remain in that state of transgression & Condemnation from which they have been so lately rescued. - We consider these redeemed Sinners as best fruits of our institution, and tho' personally unknown to us, we regard them as our spiritual children, feel a paternal solicitude for their prosperity; bear them upon our minds at the throne of Grace, and are anxious to hear that they hold fast in profession, and bring forth the fruits of righteousness unto eternal life -

From the state of things at the Colony, and also from your own letters, we infer that by means of your exertions, the necessaries of life may be procured, & We trust you will by examples of patient industry, humility and contentment to all around you - We shoud deem it a misfortune to you if the means of substance were to be obtained without labour. We are persuaded that a state of ease and inaction woud be extremely injurious to your actual prosperity, and impede your usefulness - We trust therefore it will not be needfull on your account that our institution should be liable to any further expence - but as it may happen that you may be encouraged to attempt the promotion of our Saviour's Kingdom in different ways which we cannot here anticipate, and which may occasion an expence which you may not be able conveniently to sustain, we think it right to authorise the Governor of the Colony in such a case to draw upon our Treasurer as much as may be requisite, not exceeding the sum of Two hundred Pounds - this you will consider as a Fund lodged with him.