File 1: Rowland Hassall papers, 1797-1810

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[Letter written by Willm Watters]

This is sent with brother Shelly in token of my Remembering you wishing that you may be in peace through the peace speaking blood of Christ and by the aplication of the same by the holy Ghost.

We came to this place on the 10th of Jully and found the brethren well and in better circumstances than we expected which is to us matter of thankfullness Sister Hendry has been unwell since we came here but is now getting better and that is another Mercy and we are surrounded with mercy and mercies till we know not of the number them, to tell you my mind of thing with respect to the inhabitants they have been very agreeable (meaning thing's concerning this present life)

Since we have been here our time has been chiefly taken occupied in preparing a place to live in for some time and they have been willing to give us assistance in things they could, we find great help from our brethren who were here before in assisting us to get the language. Remember me to Mr & Mrs Marsden wishing that they may prosper in soul and be in health, and to the friends at Kissing point may[?] you honour and follow

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[follow]-ing the truth may you have many of the poor prisoners for your hire as seals[?] of your labour among them and of your Rejoicing when the Lord appeareth to gather his own. Remember me to your wife and famil may peace be with you from the Lord Jesus Christ who is able to keep you and to preserve you and present us all before the presence of his Glory with exceeding Joy, if you have an opportunity be so kind as write to me and let me know how our brother is which was left at Sidney, the brethren have writen to the directors to send out married families if you think well of this and have opportunity do as you think best

your well wisher

Willm Watters

Taheitee August 15th  1801

brother Hayward send his best Respects to you and the friends and wishes you a season of Joy at Mr Shelly's weding.

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Manchester Novr 9th 1801

My dear Brethren,

I have just received your two last  Packets, the latter of which is dated Madras, Feby 27th 1801. I scarcely know what to say respecting the loss of Conorice which you have resolutely pursued. I was sorry to hear of your Separation from Dr Van der kemp; & was grieved still more at the Resolution which the Directors formed upon it. A kind of Subordination, where a Number of Missionaries are engaged together is certainly requisite. The Directors perhaps have insisted upon it  beyond one Limits; & perhaps you have resisted it with equal impudence. In this Respect, I err on the Side of Moderation. I am sure I dare not say that the constant Impression on your Mind in Favor of Bengal,  is not of the Lord; & therefore dare not altogether blame you. I cordially wish you success in the Name of the Lord, & trust that the Board may clearly prove that you were not mistaken in the path of duty. When I consider your situation, apparently solitary & diserted [?], I frequently exclaim, God help him! You need much of the Life of Faith, for Jesus' must frequently wear a very discouraging Appearance. The Lord can provide - he can give you favor  in the sight of the People - he can open a great & affectionate Door for you - he can bless & make you a Blessing. - May the Grace of Goodness of our lovg God do exceeding abundantly above all that I can ask or think for you in all these, & in every other Respect, that God this XC may be glorified

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in you & by you! Perhaps you may be made more effectually useful if you are compelled to work with Heathen for your Bread, & to converse with them in the humble character of a private Xtian, than if you had worn the more splendid Title of an Apostle from the London Missionary  Society. If he has Work for you to do, he will support you in it; tho' he may sometimes permit Appearances to be gloomy, in order that you may beir more exclusively dependent on him, & that his Hand may appear more evident in every favorable Interposition. I trust I shall not cease to pray for you; & could I otherwise assist you I should be exceedingly glad do it.

Many changes have taken place at Manchester since you left us. The Scotch have separated from Morley Street, with  a new Chapel & are just settled with an all faithful Gospel Ministry. The late Minister at Morley Street, Mr Smith has been obliged by indisposition to resign his Charge; & on Wednesday next I am engaged, with Mr Parsons of Leeds to preach at the Settlement of their present pastor, Mr Bradley. The Ministers at New Windsor, formerly connected with us, are formed into a separate Church, & appear to be increasing. All these changes seem to turrn out for the Furtherance of the Gospel. We have great Reason for Thankfulness at Cannon Street. We are very well attended. I trust there has been a Revival lately among us. At every Church meeting we have generally some addition to our Church. I mention these things I hope with Humility & Gratitude, because know the information will be pleasing to you. Your old Friends Mssrs Hanson, Lees, Hisson, David Crabb &c are still in the Church militant; & well. I do not know whether I told you that Mr Lees is a very useful village Preacher. He & Hisarn have been lately chosen to the Office of Deacon among us.

I cannot tell you all the Good that appears to be going on in Scotland. The two Messrs Haldanes are indefatigable in the Service of Xt.[Christ]. Mr Ewing, who has separated from the Kirk, is astonishing in abilities of Zeal. At the expense of Mr Haldane he has now, I believe 

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not less than fifty students under his care. His former Course of students have already come out, & are laboring successfully in different parts of Scotland & Ireland. A Tabernacle is now opened, & conducted on the Independent Plan of Discipline, at Edinburgh, for the people who formerly assebled at the Circus; & another is now building at the other Extremity of the Town. - At Glasgow a Tabernacle is opened, crowded hearers & the Erection of another is in prospect - At Forth, Dundee & Aberdeen; similar places of Worship are built & crowded, & much Good I believe is done & doing at all of them. At several other places large congregations are collected by the Itinerant Labors of Mr Haldone & those who supply for him; & they are anxiously desirous of clothed[?] Ministers to come & settle among them. Two of our animated English Ministers have accepted an Invitation to settle in Scotland. One, a Mr Stevens, who was formerly on the Stage, is at Aberdeen. The other, a Mr Little, late of Hanley, is at Perth. - Very great Success appears to accompany the Labor of the Catechists in Scotland. They go from Place to Place to establish Schools for religious Instruction which they attend in Rotation - I think this is a Plan which you might adopt with perhaps the greatest probability of solid usefulness. But circumstances only abound, with Prayer to God for Direction, will suggest better Plans than I can form on mere speculation at a Distance.

It is hardly worth while to inform you that last May, I had the painful Honor of preaching before the Missionary Society at their annual meeting. I was [Indecipherable] distracted in the prospect, especially during the preceding week but God graciously relieved me about three quarters of an Hour before the Service commenced. All my anxiety was removed; & I [Indecipherable] the Sermon with the greatest [indecipherable] -poruse; & got  through without being confounded. The Directors [Indecipherable] to me almost miraculous. "That the Word of the Lord may [indecipherable] free course, & be glorified, even as it is with you", was my Text. O that you may see it rapidly [Indecipherable], & eminently glorified on that vast Continent where you now abide[?]. It would gladden my Heart exceedingly to hear that you were successfully employed in the service of your Master. It is a Mercy that you labor for one who knows & accepts the Will. Mrs Foby - Mrs Shanon, Lees, Hiram & all of your old Friends unite with me in praying that Grace, Mercy & Peace from God our Father & from the Lord Jesus Xt, this the Influences of the Spirit may rest upon you.

Yours most affectionately 

W. Hodge

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[The first page of this two page image, is the reverse of the previous page with the name:]

Mr James Edmond

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{note of letter]

[Indecipherable] of Money by Mr Marsden to the Missionaries

[Letter]

Sir 

Agreeable to your request I have looked over the papers relative to the Arbitration between Admiral Bligh & Mr Robt Campbell but cannot fully satisfy myself about your claim on Mr Campbell - as I only find Mr Campbell to have credit for the sum of Twenty one Pound 7/4d currency for your [Indecipherable] 

Admiral Bligh Concurs with Sundry

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Missionaries Account at Otahete Nov.r 1801

Paid to Mr Hassall Shelly's Orders to the  to the Amount of  26.10. 1

20 Gallons of Spirits 8. 0. 0 May 21 By the Porpoise One quarter cask of wine 18. 6 1 quarter Chest of Tea 6. 0 Coffee 50lb 2.10 800lb of Flour 10. 0. 0 1 Bay of Sugar 5.10. 0 1 Pot to make salt 22. 1. 0

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[Letter to Mr Hassall]

Worthy Sir

Pardon me for being so troublesome to you as I do in the Name of God and his Divine tribunal call on you to be come my Humane protector as the Jesus Son of God knows that I do not mean  to give you the least troble But I Greatlly and Honestlly means to do everything in my power to put you in a Trust made of being paid in peace and with Ever Lasting thanks and Likewise I mean to pay you any Interest that you think is [indecipherable] -ane and Just for Lieing out of yr money I Never Did Worthy Sir with any Design or Bad Intent speake of yre Name to Mr Atkins if I did we should I wd not be worthy of Life after all the Humane good turns you Done for me and if it is my Luck to Setle my afairs and to obtain my Liberty I shall turn a new Leaf and another way of Life and I promise god that I will without view or gain be allways ready to serve you Night and Day and will prove meself  an Honest faithfull man to you Worthy Sir if you knew what Hungare and misserey I suffered Here I know you wd pity me I was the first five weeks I was confined that I did not it is well known Eate as much Vituals as wd serve me three Days of the time and it is not much Better with me for I am degserted and for got by all that Ever knew me in this un greatful Country I hope Worthy Sir that you will assist me to obbtain Justic of Philip tully for Dissapointing me in Cropng my ground with wheat which is this [indecipherable] of all my missery