File 2: Hassall family, correspondence, volume 1, pp. 691-1800, 1855-1874

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my standing in the several examinations. This June exm [exam] will be a severe one and I do not expect to do very well as the first part of the term I was hardly able to do any work in consequence of great debility brought on by an attack of Influenza.  I will just give you the subjects in the Theological line Hooker Ecce: Polity. Bs_I_V [Hooker: Of the Laws of Ecclesiatical Polity Books I to V]. Butlers Analogy of Religion (wh. I find awfully hard to get up) Wheatley on the Prayer Book. Genesis in Hebrew. Gr: Test: [Greek Testament:] Acts and Thessalonians. There will be given prizes for Classics. Divinity, &c, but I dont stand to chances for any I think: all I care about however is to get decently through. We have about 20 students which is an average number, and the average age of them is from 21 or 22 to 28. — Most of them this year are over 24 years of age. We have just lost our junior fellow, who was a great friend of mine: he is just married and is going out to India. I gave you I think full particulars about the college &c in my last letter, so I need not repeat what I said here.

I sent your message to Sam Marsden: he took his degree (in honoris) at Xmas, but did not do so well as every one expected partly from his not being well during the examination: he is now with

Aunt Jane and Annie at Clifton, where they will remain for a month or two till Mr Challis comes to England, and then something definite will be settled about their movements. I do not think they will return at all to Australia if it is their property there does not absolutely require their presence: Sam I think wd like to go out but Aunt and Annie wd much rather remain where they are. For my part I cant see what pleasure there can be in being so far away from all one's relatives, and I shall be glad enough to see them all again, and often fancy what a pleasure it will be to pay you visits again as in days gone by. At the same time I shall feel a great deal in leaving England: for I have met with unbounded kindness in almost every quarter, and have made friends whom it will be painful to part from, both among my fathers and Uncle Bobart's relations and ordinary ones. I can hardly feel thankful enough for the kindness and attention wh. I have met with when I recollect that I came to England without knowing any one except Aunt and cousins — Since I came however there have been several arrivals of old friends

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from Sydney. How sad was poor Mr Forrests death, I regret so much that I never saw him, and was also too far away to pay the last tribute to his memory by attending his funeral. He died a very happy death, quite prepared for his change: Mrs F. feels her loss dreadfully, and has not been well this month. Mr Palmer too died soon after his arrival. I spent three weeks with Mr C. Campbell at Bath at Xmas: unfortunately I was ill most of the time, and so were several of the family. Mr C. is as talkative and argumentative as ever: they have all just gone a tour into France, except Walter who is at school in Bath. Willie Cowper was staying at Bath when I was there; he did not seem to me much altered. I saw him agan a week or two ago; he was on a visit to the Miss Woods of Herne Bay, who are connections of his, and he came over and spent a day with me. and I shewed him the lions of Canterbury, which I think are not to be despised, considering what great objects of interest the Cathedral and old St Martins Church are. W. C. seems to suffer a good deal from colds, indeed I believe he has hardly been free from cold since he arrived. Kings College, where he now is, is a capital place to be at if

one makes use of its advantages: one of the best institutions in England I think. The theological department has turned out some first rate men. I shd recommend anyone going to the universitites to prepare by going to Kings College. Our college of course is exclusively for training clergymen for the colonies: and it still in its infancy, but like to prove very useful judging from the report of the men who have already gone out. Their respective bishops have sent the most favourable testimonies as to their learning and practical character. I am very pleased with the course of study in divinity, for it is admirably suited to give us good sound Ch: of England and therefore Scripture views, to preserve from dissent and Romanism. And I think the intercourse itself with students of every shade almost of religious belief has a very good effect in preventing narrowness of minds and uncharitable feelings — But I shall [tire?] you with all this, and yet I hardly know what to tell you as you say you see all the papers. It will interest you however that the monument in memory of Bishop Broughton, a recumbant figure, is completed and will shortly be erected in the nave

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[Some words part obscured on this page. Suggested completions indicated with square brackets.]

of Canterbury Cathedral. I will send you a view of it if one can be got. The Revd Mr Francis Mrs Broughton's brother committed suicide a few weeks ago in a "temporary fit of insanity": he was about 74. years of age, and had been for a long time in very low spirits.

Your old college fellow student James Chisholm paid me a visit a few months ago: he was then planning a trip on to the Continent, and tho' he promised to write, I have not heard of him since He complained of finding his expenses here much more than he expected Basil Taylor I dare say you know is at Cambridge, and doing pretty well I believe: he is however a wretch[ed] correspondent and so we dont hear much of one another, especially as I have so many other letters to write both English and foreign: I find it necessary in order to keep out of debt and do my duty to devote a [regular] stated time every day to corresponde[nce] and when I tell you also that I have a short Sermon, Latin and English compositions to write weekly, you will I hope excuse the very apparent marks of speed wh. this letter exhibits —

[Note at the top of the right-hand page:] 1855

I have had scarcely any riding since I came to England, and used to miss it very much at first, so that I rather envy you when you say you have 24 miles' ride every Sunday: your work and situation now is just what I should like including even the wife and two nice little daughters. You will read in the papers an account of the visit of the Emperor of the French, and the Empress to England, so I need only tell you that I was at Dover when they landed and had a capital view of the whole scene, and was quite close to them and Prince Albert, I have not yet been fortunate enought to see the Queen, and I have seen very little of London, but I hope to see both this summer.

Fred's visit was an unexpected and very great pleasure as you may suppose: he spent a week at the college at two different times. He spent nearly a year in England most of the time in or near London and was in every respect well provided for. He sailed on the new mission schooner "Southern Cross" last month, and I have not heard of or from him since. The vessel did not turn out very well, and as there was great uncertainty as to when she would be ready for sailing, the Bishop

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wishing not to delay any longer went in [another] vessel, but it turned out that they both sailed after all on the same day.

I have not said anything to you about that wh. is now the all-absorbing subject the war, because the papers will give you all information: I may however tell you that: the bombardment of Sebastopol has commenced and we are all anxious waiting for the next accounts, wh. perhaps I may be able to send before this goes.

I must now bring my letter to a close, but not without expressing the hope that you will write soon, and tell me all about the new Bishop &c. Give my kind love to my Uncle and Aunt and cousins and to Mrs J Hassall and your little girls. One of our students is going to Tasmania via Geelong and perhaps he may have an opportunity of seeing Kate, to whom I intend to write by him. Will you send word to my mother that I have written to her by this mail wh. the "Oliver Lang" carries.

Believe me to remain My dear James Your affectionate Cousin C. M. Betts [Charles Marsden Betts, 1833-1857]

I feel very much obliged for your kind offer about cash and will tell you how I stand. I have enough to last me till after the summer vacation (August) by wh. time I hope to receive a remittance from my mother. If you could without inconvenience send me some by the end of the year it would be of great service then as I shall have several additional expenses when I leave, college as at that time, for good, but it must be sent on condition that you allow me to return it as soon as I am able. The uncertainty of my remittances makes me rather conscious at times lest my mother should from some cause or other fail to send them, but hitherto have been fortunately well tho' not [very] bountifully supplied. With many thanks for your kindness in thinking [of] me in this way I [indecipherable] my Good Bye C. M. B.

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Milford OConnell 22nd Sept 1855

My dear James,

Thanks for your kind and long letter of the 9th — but have not time to reply in full — You say you think (1450/ fourteen hundred & fifty pounds would be taken for Warago" [Warego] if cash — I am instructed by Mr. Fulton to offer that sum being 20% as deposit, the remainder cash on delivery of deeds & possession — He Mr. F. had written to your Father about it, and I saw his answer, stating