File 1: Rowland Hassall papers, 1797-1810

[Page 171]

[address on outside of letter]

To Mr Rowland Hassal Parramatta

[Note on side of page]

Mr Nott's Received 24th Feby 1810

[Letter]

My dear Bro

I understand that a ship is about to leave this port for N. Holland. I therefore take this opportunity of addressing to you a few lines, especially because I desire that the most perfect cordiality and affection may subsist between all the Brethern belonging to the London Missionary Society and our selves. We are all Brethren and have the same object in view. It therefore becomes us to strengthen each others hands in the work of the Lord, and I trust it will, to the end of my days, to the object of my life to labour for that purpose.

You, my same Brother, are placed in a very important station and it is probable that you and your Colleagues may ultimately be the instruments of making known the word of life to the native inhabitants of the vast country where you reside. Our Countrymen farm our labour, and we ought to labour to our utmost to bring them to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus, but the heathen are in a still more deplorable situation having no one to come for their souls, and therefore have the first claims to our labour.

Were I to say that the Lord has done nothing for India, I must contradict the plainest facts. I have, myself, seen the goings forth of the Lord in a very encouraging manner; and notwithstanding there are many millions who are in the depths of heathen dark ness, it could be indecent not to give God the Glory of what he has done. When I first arrived in Bengal in 1793 there was not more two or three the persons who could be called Christians. In deed, I [indecipherable] them. There are now within the [indecipherable] of the Bangory [indecipherable] no life then twenty three ministers of the Gospel. Viz 5 Evangelical Church clergmen, two Padobaptists [Paedobaptists] , and sixteen of our

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connection, four of whom have been raised up from among the heathens, and two of the Armenian nation. We have likewise two brethren settled in the Burman Empire. There are within the Madras Government seven ministers belonging your Society, an Evangelical clergyman, and about six German and Danish missonaries, three or four of whom are certainly men whose hearts are with God. There are also Missionaries in China and Ceylon.

In our Connections five Churches are formed, some of which have been blessed with most encouraging increase. The Lord has enabled us to erect a large place of Worship in Calcutta, which is well filled, and this year he has enabled us to attempt the beginning of a charity school, which already contains between thirty and forty scholars, principally the children of  poor Portuguese. Thus far the Lord has appeared for us and has powerfully wrought for his own names sake. To him be all the glory. 

We have been enabled to engage in the translation and printing of the holy Scriptures in several of the languages of the East and have met with support and success far beyond our expecta -tions. The whole bible is published in the Bengalee language. The New Testament in Sanskrit, The New Testament, and from Job to Canticles, in the [indecipherable] language, besides which we are printing the New Testament in Hindustannie, Mahratta, Chinese, and the Language of the Seelzhs, and have translations proposed or preparing in two or three other Languages. I trust the Lord will enable us to go forward in this work till the word of life be published in, at least, these Languages.

I understand that you and your Colleagues frequently preach to the Convicts and other Europeans in the settlement, you will greatly gratify me by mentioning whether you have had any success or not, and what encouragement or success or discouragement you meet with; There is a pleasure attending the rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those eho weep which it is not easy to subscribe; and by there ministry communications [indecipherable] situations on our heart at the throne of Grace. Have you introduced language of the natives of N. Holland, and to do you make any

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attempts to spread among them the word of life? I doubt not but such attempts though attended with much difficulty in the commencement will be finally successful.

Some time ago I wrote to you, and in that letter requested you to send me from time to time any articles of natural history which you may be able to procure without much expense. I now reflect that request, and assure you that I shall feel much gratified if you will send me any seeds of plants or trees, or bulbous roots of plants; These, will, if packed up dry, and not put in the ship's hold come safe. Insects, reptiles, serpents &c may be sent in spirits, the best way is that of putting them into a small cask of rum or brandy which contains two or three gallons. Frogs, toads, serpents, lizards, beetles, and other insects all put together in such a small vessel of spirits and stopped up also, will come safely. If you could send living birds by and ship's officers I will gladly pay the expenses of their coming; Also shells, fragments of stone and other fossils will greatly add to my collection. I am collecting and describing all the objects of Asiatic natural history that I can procure. I saw a fine collection of [indecipherable] [indecipherable] by the Govr of N. South Wales, to the Asiatic Society [indecipherable] to me that it abounds with articles of that Institute and the numerous plants which it has furnished to England demonstrate what an abundance it may yet furnish. I will gladly repay any little expense you may be at, in collecting these things if you will try to assist my researches by procuring these things for me. 

I am obliged to leave off, give my love to your colleagues, and be assured that I honestly [indecipherable] and the prosperity of the missions in which you are engaged

I am very affectly yours W Carey

Calcutta 7 March 1810

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[Address on outside of letter]

Rev. Mr Hassel, Sidney New South Wales                                                

[Letter]

My Dr Mr Hassall

The Directors of the Missry Society desired me to remind you of their respects for you, & are pleased to understand that you have maintained a uniformly moral & honorable character, at P. Jackson. They suggest if your state of family be much as to prevent your return to Tahieti  - they hope you will be an active agent for the cause where you reside & lose no opportunity of promoting the cause to which you were at first devoted. This world with all its offers is a cold friend & miserable comforter in death & to live & die for God will be found our greatest gain.

Yrs old ministers still has his head heart & hands full for Christ, we are bound to our Lord by the strongest ties  - are not you? say brother, & then ask with David what shall I render

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[Continuation of letter from Page 173]

to the Lord for all his benefits & Study my Dr friend & the Lord direct you in  all things to his Glory.  The ship is just going & I have only time to express my affection & best wishes for you & family.  & to intreat yr Prayers for me who am soon to give an acct of my stewardship.

Yrs Truly

M Wilks

Mar 11 1810

[Page 175]

[Address on outside of letter]

Mr Hassall New South Wales to care of Henry Pickering

Received 12th Septr  1810

[Letter]

Calcutta July 27th 1810

My Dear Brother,

I have but a few moments to spend which I now employ to Congratulate you & Mrs Hassall upon the accounts I hear of your Constant Preaching the Gospel to the wretched Convicts around you!  Go on and prosper - And for your encouragement know the Power of God in my Conversion.  I apostalised in a full Blaze of Gospel Light  - I sought with anxiety for Arguments to overturn the whole system of Christianity - When Conventions were too strong for Reason, with a