Hassall family papers, 1793-2000

No. 8

Mr. R. Hassall

Parramatta 

New South Wales

My Dear Father Should [indecipherable] will be [indecipherable] [indecipherable] found case at [indecipherable] [indecipherable] our At the Derwent to my heard that [indecipherable] arrived 13th May, [indecipherable] been [indecipherable] with a fair wind and gale and [indecipherable] bring Officers to [indecipherable] is [indecipherable] we made [indecipherable] Thomas were beating off Indian were not [indecipherable] those of [indecipherable] good [indecipherable] - after [indecipherable] along the [indecipherable] which [indecipherable] appearance every evening of this [indecipherable] unknown [indecipherable] on the [indecipherable] without any known [indecipherable] day following big a [indecipherable]

Eimeo Oct 20th 1818

Dear Brother Hassall,

I take my pen to attempt a renewal of our long suspended [indecipherable] [correspondence?] us your dear Thomas my highly esteemed young friend who has for years been a medium of my correspondence with your family is gone from the colony!  Always welcome was his letter to me from Batavia by the Active!  His being in the [indecipherable] but increasing providence of God. Brought so unexpectedly to that place which of all the places on the face of the globe he was most anxious to see and when he met with some of the servants of our Lord whose conversation he hopes had [seen?] [indecipherable] profitable to him, is very remarkable!

I feel a strong impression of mind and persuasion that his visit to Batavia was to answer some important and with respect to himself at least.  In his last letter to me from the colony he informed me that he was at the earnest recommendation of friends going to England to spend a few years at college, but did not say at what college.  I sincerely wish he may go to Homerton or Hoxton.  I have heard that it is designed he should go to one of the universities [but?] hope this is not the case as he will be [expo?] [sed?] to very many snares and temptations there. Should he go to either of the English universities I hope it will be to Cambridge and that he will be placed under the excellent Simeon of Kings College.  When you next write to him please do remember me most affectionately to him, and tell him that I intend God willing to let [indecipherable] from me the next opportunity that [indecipherable] write to him now, but that I soon must [indecipherable]

with respect to time. Indeed, I am under the necessity of writing this late at night when I ought to be in bed.  I hope it will find your family well in every sense of the word. [indecipherable] as a family tolerably well ??? with this reason at present except Mrs Henry who is all of with a bad breast.  Dear Mr Wilson is left a widower with four small children upon his hands and Mrs Bicknall had a very narrow escape with her life lately.  After a very laborious and difficult labour she was delivered of a stillborn male child on the first inst. Oh the divisions we have [fpr,ed. & the Stations we occupy and the state of the mission etc my esteemed brother Hayward and Samuel so that I need not touch apon these subjects. I fear our friends have in dangergeneral sanguine expectations respecting the sugar affairs. I could not but it will turn to a good account in time but will require time. and Mr Gayle's coming out with so very scanty a supply of property to accomplish the object will occasion much delay and loss of time. We are much obliged to Mrs Hassall for his present to ?? it fits him as if made for him. Many many blessing rest upon her and her family with kind love to which i am joined by Mrs H & ? Brothers, sincerely yours in our dear Lord W Henry

Dear Sir

?

and now

to new 

He has al..

? by

was charged 

- i wish 

this 

be glad if

your friend

kindness

                                                       ? 10th June 1819

Dear Sir

Morris Morgan late of ?  ?  and now under sentence of transportation to New South Wales, I have known for eight years. He has always during that time been a wild  unruly youth. I have not heard that he  was charged with being guilty of theft. - i wish i could give him a good character, but this I cannot do - at the same time I should  be glad if can befriend him, by requesting your friends in Botany bay to shew him  kindness should his conduct there deserve it.

I am Dear Sir

yours Sincerely,

and faithfully M Evans

NB am of the Majesty's by Justices of the Peace for the County of Cardigan

that will improve the mind, support nurture and decently cloth the back, for as one day, "A Minsiter of Christ Should appear without Shot the the necessity of inward Purity from outwood appearance in every partiucular - it is my Dear Son, one of the most important - the most usefull - the Most beneficial & the most honorable situations in life, To be a true & faithful Minister of Jesus Christ - therefore give up your mind your ? and all you possess if needful to be a workman in the Lords vineyard that needs not to be ashamed - don't be over anxious for usefullness, but be very anxious for faithfulneess and leave all events to the Saviour ? will of your hevenly Father who is too wise to er and to good to be unkind you may be often tempted to disbelieve what you have to Preach - to doubt of your call to the ministre - to have hard thoughts of God - to stammer (?) at

which he got by falling from a horse some years ago however the Doctor have him some medicine which was the means of giving him ease and through the ? providence he soon recovered. On our arrival here we were disagreeably apprized that there had been war between Hunghu (?) and his tribe and Tinaranger and his the consequence was men were killed on both sides - the cause of this war was very simple some of Hungu's men took some cockles from Timarangu's Cockles Beds. Tomwangu's men in return stole some potatoes and pigs from Hungu this was exasperated Hungu so much that he went out against Tumunghu with his armed me and did his best in killing whom he could. ? people are extremely fond of fighting they seem to make it their study and in order that they may conquer the innocent they make themselves ? by getting a number of Muskets and quantity of power which enable them to destroy the undefended of other parts without much resistance. it is a great pity that Muskets were ever intro duced among these poor creatures. It has stired them up to fight and shed Blood indeed it is very prejudicial

articles for any thing else   this being the case you know there can be but little prospect of carrying on the Mission for we must to all appearance either supply them with Guns and ammunition or starve but to starve whilst there is provisions to be had by some means or another would be sinful - Therefore we must part with Guns and ammunition but this I contend is equally as bad and indeed perhaps worse for my being without food will only occasion my own death whereas in supplying the Natives with Guns I put into their possession the means which in their present barbarous state will unquestionably prove fatal in robing many poor Wives of their Husbands and many innocent children of their lives  this has already been the sad effect of wars which have taken their [rise?] from a partys knowing their great superiority over those who know not the use of Arms. I can give you little information respecting my engagements here as I have not yet entered upon the interior Field  however I shall feel it my duty to give you (every opportunity) an account of this place and the proceedings here  I shall conclude this letter by subscribing myself -

Your affectionate Brother in Christ

James Shepherd