Life of John Coleridge Patteson : Missionary Bishop of the Melanesian Islands

ridge Patteson was gradually passing into a sphere of more independent action; and, though his loyal allegiance to his Primate was even more of the heart t

l and bodily; and, as has been seen, the idea had already through Bishop Selwyn's let

s College was too bleak for creatures used to basking under a vertical sun, and it had been decided to remove to the sheltered lan

dation was opportunely met by a discovery on the part of Sir John Patteson, that his eldest son, living upon the Merton Fellowship, had cost him ￡200 a year less than his younger son, and therefore that, in his opinion, ￡800 was due to Coleridge. Moreover, the earlier voyages, and, in especial the characters of Si

orm of acknowledgment is the only style suitable to what, however lightly acq

ma: Dec.

have given to the Melanesian Mission. I had heard rumours before, and the Bishop of Welling

have lent to Him, and give us, who are specially connected with the Mission, grace

holars lived at St. John's College, which is situated on a low hill, from which the ground falls a

of a new principal to succeed the Bishop of Wellington, the college was no longer likely to be available for the Mission school. Consequently, we determined to build on the site long

a become sandy cliffs, fringed with the red-flower-bearing pohutakawa. The whole of this bay, the seventy acres of flat rich soil included within the rising ground mentioned, and some seventy acres more as yet lying uncleared, adjoining the same block of seventy acres, and likely to be very valuable, as the land is capital-the whole of thi

nd of the western part of the beach, then turns early eastward, and meets a small stream coming down from the southern hill at

ian school. Fences divide the whole space into three portions, whereof the western one forms our garden and orchard; and the others pasture for cows and wor

d east winds are always warm. The soil is very dry, and the beach composed exclusively of small "pipi" shells-small bivalves. So that by putting many cart-loads of these under our wooden floors, and around our buildings, we have so perfect a drainage that after heavy rain the soil

together measuring seventeen feet by seven. These dormitories are the southern side of the quadrangle, but do not reach more than half-way from the east to the west side, room being left for another set of dormitories of equal size, when we want them and can afford them. The west side consists of a very nice set of stone buildings, including a large kitchen, store room, and room for putting things in daily and immediate use; and

he large schoolroom. We take off the north end of the schoolroom, including one set of transepts for our temporary chapel

t as it is outside. It does not look bad at all to my eye, and

ay from sunrise to sunset beats right upon us; for the west cliff does not project more than a few yards to the north of us, and the eastern boundary is low and some way off. I see the little schooner at her moorings whenever I look off my book or my paper, and with an opera-glass can see the captain caulking the decks. All is under my eye; and the lads daily say, "College too cold; Kohimarama very good; all the same Bauro, Mota," as the speaker

fectiona

. PAT

he same letter, in answer to some complaint from his sister of want of detail in the reports, he says: 'Am I trying to make my life commonplace? Well, really so it is more or less to me. Things go on in a kind of routine. Two voyages a

the "Gems" and other trashy books. If people who care to know, would think of what their own intuition tells th

t but that the Bishop is right in saying they must be taught English; but it is so very difficult a lan

he schooner and roundhouse; and how the Bishop got knocked over at Leper's Island by a big wave; and how I borrowe

of individual pupils as a breach of confidence, as much, or perhaps even more, than if they had been English people, likely to know what had been done. Moreover, instances had come to his knowledge in which harm had been done to both teachers and taught by their becoming aware that they were shown

need for those urgent appeals which call for sensation and incident to back them; and thus

below the knee, for they dabble about like ducks here, the sea being not a hundred yards from the building. All the washing, of course, and most of the clothes-making they can do themselve

on which introduced the subject, details how Mrs. Selwyn had disclosed that a letter had actually been despatched to the Duke of Newcastle, t

likely to come some day; but I never spoke seriously to you or to the Martins when you insinuated th

, so it has b

ome, perhaps, the full benefit of my knowledge of languages, and of my acquaintance with the islands and the people, while we may reasonab

I feel su

seem to point to it as natural; that I must not venture to think that I can be as comple

ich a missionary chaplain could do all that was requisite, and that the real management ought not to be withdrawn from the Bishop; to which the reply was that at the present time the Bishop

believe it. I know that no one can judge better than you can as to the general quest

an use any instrument to His glory: I know that, and that He will not let my sins and shortcomings hinder His projects of love and blessing to these Melanesian islanders; but as far as purity of motive, and a spirit of prayer and self-denial do go for anything in making up the qualification on the human side for such an office-in so far, do they exist in me? You will say I am over sensitive and expect too much. That, I think, very likely may b

this-that a man is walking more closely with his God. I dare not say that I can feel humbly and reverently that my inner life is progressing. I don't think that I am as earnest in prayer as I was. Whether it be the effect of the amount of work distractin

re plainly than he speaks to me, you will know what especially to ask for me from God, and all you dear ones will recollect daily how I do inwardly tremble at the thoughts of what is to come. Do you remember how strangely I was upset before leaving home for my ordination as a deacon; and now it is coming to this-a church to be planted, organised, edified among the

right. I hope he won't press on the matter, but I am content now to leave it with h

eginning merrily about the family expostulation on receiv

ntain! The author's feelings are seriously injured! What are Melanesian shells to Melanesian statistics, and Lifu spea

en the long-desired and highly-paid-for box disgorge nought but Melanesian re

read them, after all? for they really cost me some days' trouble, which I can't find time for again. This year's report (for I suppose th

ll discussion of the question is at an end. May God bring out of it all that may conduce to His glory; but how

that the time is come for settling the matter while he is able to settle it; and I had nothing to say, for all personal objections he overruled. So then, if I live, it is settled; and that, at all events, is a comfort.... Many of my Melanesians have heavy coughs-some twelve,

oving B

. PAT

with the business matters respecting the money required for the Mission, of

n my cosy little room, after my delicious breakfast of perfect coffee, made in Jem's contrivance, hot milk and plenty of it, dry toast and potato. Missionary hardships! On the grass between me and the beach-a distance of some seventy yards-lie the boys' canvas beds and blankets and rugs, having a good airing. The schooner lies at anchor beyond; and, three or four miles beyond the schooner, lies Eangitoto, the great natural breakwater to the harbour. With my Dollond's opera-glass t

em, as they look up wonderingly with their deep deep eyes, and smooth and glossy skins, and warm soft cheeks, and ask their simple questions. I wish you could have seen the twenty Banks Islanders as I told them that most excellent

with a steady voice

to the tirade against En

ould be to some extent thrown out of employ. The artificial and even luxurious state of society here does really prevent many persons from falling into the class of the needy. All this should be regulated in its due proportion. Every man ought so to limit his expenses as to have a good margin for charitable purposes of all sorts, but I cannot think that he is doing good by living himself like a pauper in order to assist paupers. If all men did so, labour of all kinds would be overstocked with hands, and more paupers created. True it is, that we all are too apt as means increase, some to set our hearts upon them, which is wickedness; some to in

l 23,

ews about luxuries, extravagant expenditure, and

ons in all directions, conjoined with the power of paying highly for the gratification of such inclinations, tends to call forth the ingenuity of the working class in meeting such inclinations in all

f society being once established gradually, through a long course of years, no change can subsequently be introduced excepting in one way. It is still in the power of individuals to act upon the community by their example-e.g., the early Christians, though on

n out of employment, and therefore that plan would be wrong. Jewellers, &c., &c., all kinds of fellows who simply manufacture vanities, are just as honest and good men as others, and it is not their fault, but the fault (if it be one at all) of civilisation that they exist. But I don't see why, the evil being recognised, some comprehensive scheme of colonisation m

ness of diet which must be pretty hard to follow out-just the habit of a whole life to be given up; and I know that to forego anything that I like, in matters of eating and drinking, wants an effort that I feel ashamed of being obliged to make. I don't, therefore, ma

in His providence, making you daily riper and riper for Heaven? I ought not to write to you like this, but somehow the idea of our eve

ing and d

. PAT

f the school economy for him. I have everything which is good for him, every little dainty, and everyone is most kind; but when it comes to a complaint because one pupil-teacher is not set apart to sit with him all day, and another to catch him fish, of course I tell him that it would be wrong to grant what is so unreasonable. Some one or othe

r a long season of reserve, he opened his heart to him, and told him how, step by step, this sinfulness of sin had been brought home to him. He knew he had done wrong in his heathen boyhood, but had put away such deeds w

in the following letter

y 5 years I left home. It

ve long when we met last at Nengone, and I told him that he had better not come with us; but he said, "Heaven was no farther from New Zealand than from Nengone;" and when we had pulled some little way from shore, he ran down the beach, and made us return to take him in. Gradual decline and chronic bronchitis wore him to a skeleton. On Thursday the B

he quiet splash of the tiny waves on our sheltered shore, and the little schooner at her anchorage: and I thanked God

Melanesian school work, for, for mo

y as helping one to acquire a habit of accurate criticism for oneself, and when we come (

not feel uneasy and anxious about him, be the accounts what they may. It is partly selfish, for I am spared the sight of his suffering, but then I do long for a look at his dear face and for the sound of his voice. Five years of absence has of course made so much change in my mind in t

come so familiarised with the habits of the heathen t

gh the blessings and privileges far excel the disadvantages, yet it is not in every w

ck. They are a very intelligent set this year, and there are many hopeful ones among them. We have worked them hard at English, and all can read a little; and some eight or ten really read ni

hipelago for the winter, and so avoid the necessity of the schooner running 200 or 300 miles to leeward and having to make it up again. I have slept ashore twice in the

ce more, my

onate and gra

. PAT

as not perpetual, and his grief broke out at times in talks with his

lf; but that it was the anguish he endured, as night after night he lay awake thinking of his father gradually sinking and craving for him, and cheerfully resigning him, that really told upon him. I know that I obtained then a glimpse of an affection and a depth of sorrow suc

B. Y. Ashwell, a New Zealand clergyman, joined the Mission party as a guest, with two Maori youths, one the son of a deacon; and, besides Mr. Dudley, another pupil, Mr. Thomas Kerr, was beginning his training for service in the Mission. Sailing on one of the last days of Apr

o give them a run on shore, by saying at once: "Don't think of us, it is not safe to go." But I thought of what my feelings would be if it were the Devonshire

winter to see me, supposing the New Zealand troubles to be all over. I gave him all the information he wanted, told him that I did not want a vessel to come with the idea of any protection being required, but that a man-of-war coming with the intention of supp

I heard the French had brought for missionary purposes. What if we find a pries

sed by our appearance, the people rushing to welcome us, we got them to be quiet, and to sit down. I stood up, and gave them a sermonette, then made Dudley, who speaks good Mai, say something. Then we knelt dow

oods, so that it is the absolute property of the Mission. Saturday was spent in a visit to Port Patteson, where the people thronged, while the water-casks were b

d, the party went on shore, and prayed for,

ch formed two sides of as beautiful a picture as you would wish to look upon; the sloping bank, with its cocoa-nut, bread-fruit, and other trees, forming the base of the pictu

ve with. In the afternoon, the master of the said house, using a box for a desk, wrote: 'Our little house will, I think, be finished to-night; anyhow we can sleep in it, if the walls

ke of the Church's tabernac

in Vanua Lava, and the thatch was of cocoa-nut leaves, the leaflets ingeniously bound together, native fashion,

ce was gained below by making a frame, to which knapsacks, bags, &c., could be hung up, and the floor was only occupied by the four boxes, which did the further part of tables, desks, and chairs in turn. As to beds, was not the whole floor before them

reat improvement upon Lifu, where there was none at all; and a store of it was alwa

as regularl

ing down their names, and bringing each one of the owners up in their turn to see his name put down, and making him touch my pen as I put a cross against his name. Having spent about an hour in enquiring whether any other person had any claim on the land or trees, I then said, "Now this all belongs to me," and they assented. I entered it in my books-"On behalf of the Melanesian Mission," but they could only understand that

ted, a visit to some village, sometimes walking all round, a circuit of ten miles, but generally each of the two taking a separate village, talking to the people, te

tricking him. Ikpat had disappeared in a ship, taking the best of everything with him. It was also believed that the spirits of the dead survived and ranged about at night, maddening all

h one of them was going on the second week of the residence at Mota-apparently a

urnal

apped up in mats, abundantly supplied with food by the people, who, from time to time, assemble to sing or perform divers rites. I had a good deal of trouble with the father of our second year's pupil Tagalana, who insisted upo

go away, not wishing to go, but not daring to stay. No people came near us, but by-and-by comes the man who had planted

ing these customs if they were in earnest in saying they wished to embrace the Word of God. O

ing. The village contains upwards of twenty houses, built at the edge of the bush, which consists here almost exclusively of fruit-bearing trees

nother house were many children and young people. In the long narrow house which forms the general cooking and lounging room of the men of each village, and the sleeping room of the bachelors, were many people preparing large messes of grated yam and cocoa-nut in flat wooden dishes. At the long oblong-shaped drum sat the performers, two young men, each with two short sticks to perform the kettledrum part of the business, and an older man in the centre, whose art consisted in bringing out deep, hollo

f the ceremony, an old, tall, thin man, with a red handkerchief, our gift at some time, round his waist, began ambling round the space in the middle of the houses, carrying a boar's skull in his hand. This performance he repeated three times. Then a man jumped up upon the platform, and, moving quickly

uls follow out a mistaken notion of religion. Such rain as fell this morning would have kept a whole English congregation from going to church, but they never sought shelter nor desisted from their work in hand; and the physical effect was really great, the perspiration streamed down their bodies, and the learning by heart all the songs and the complicated parts of the ceremony implied a good deal of pains. Christians do not always take so much pains to fulfil scrupulously their duties as sometim

Does he offer to make you happy? Can you tell me what single good thing has come from these customs? But if you ask me what good thing has come to us from the Word of God, first you had bet

ow, two of them bearing things like one-eyed masks; two others, like mitres, painted red, black, and white. As far as could be made out, they were placed there as a sort of defiance to t

to destroy each other; but there was still much carrying of bows; and on the way home from this expedition, Mr. Patteson suddenly came on six men with bows bent and arrows pointed in his direction. He at once recognised a m

friendly to me! And if they were not friendly, what business have you with your bows and arrows? I tell you once more, if I see you take your bows again, though you may do it as you thi

ith bow and arrows, saying, I am sent to defend you,' the answer was, 'Don't talk such nonsense! Give me the bow!' This was done, and Patteson was

by every means trying to keep the guest entirely to themselves; while he resolutely forced on their reluctant ears, 'If you are sincere in saying that you w

r Nengonese communicants knelt round their pastor; and, in the evening, after a walk to Auta, and much of this preaching of peace and goodwill, then a dinner, which was made festive with

imself to be trained up as a child of God.' The parents consented: 'Then,' he continues, 'we knelt, and in the middle of the village, the naked group around me, the dying child in its mother's lap, I prayed to God and Christ in their language to bless the child according to His own promise, to receive it for His own child, and to convey to it the fulness of the blessing of His holy Sacrament. Then while all were silent, I poured the water on its head, pronouncing the form of words in English, and c

d to live as children of God. Kneeling down, he prayed over it, thanking God for having taken it to Himself, and interceding for all around. They listened and seemed touched; no opposition was ever offered to him, but he found that there was much fighting and quarrelling, many of the villages at war with each other, and a great deal too much use of the bow and arrow, though the whole race was free from c

ing from him, neither can I suffer him to be coming to my place while it is notorious that he is teaching the children the very things they ought not to learn, and that he is strongly supporting the old false syst

the Word of God, when we hav

the evil spirit; you choose him firstha

s to the old priest, and were afterwards admitted to the privileges of eating and sleeping in the separate building, which formed a k

ritual, and throw down their enclosures, and at the same time they thronged to t

e-apples, vines, oranges, and cotton, also a choicer species of banana than the indigenous one. Bread-fruit was so plentiful that breakfast was provided by sending a boy up a tree to bring down four or five fruits

set forth in the boat that had been left with him, for an expedition among the o

s coasts there was no possibility of landing, two days and the interveni

al wake of the wife of a chief, and there was no fire to cook the yams, everything dreary and deserted, but a short walk brought the wet and tired party to the next village, whe

o doubt with awe in the contemplation of his coming Episcopate, and was not in a strong state of health when he left Kohimarama, and the lack of

nights, and I have been so weary with sleeplessness that I have been quite idle. The mischief is passing away now. That ear is quite deaf; it made me think so of dear Father and Joan with their constant trial

een subjected to an unusually protracted visitation from the "loafers" of the village, who would stretch themselves at full length on the floor and table, if we would let them, and altogether conduct themselves in such a manner as to call for summary treatment, very different from the more promising section. The half jocular but very decided manner in which he cleared

wholesome season, which told upon everyone. Mark Chakham, the Nengonese, was brought very near the grave by a severe attack of dysentery. All the stores of c

ing as it was; and the people still came to hear, th

. (2) They do not pursue their old habits with the same unthinking-security. (3) There are signs of a certain uneasiness of mind, as if a struggle was beginning in them. (4) They have a vague consciousness, s

Lava and the other isles were preparatory steps, and m

much the better; but it will not be well to take them with the expectation of their becoming teachers to their people. But the other section of the school will consist of young men whose behaviour we have watched during the winter in their own homes, whose professions we have had an opportunity of testing-they may be treated as young men on the way to become tea

res were failing, for the full quarto sheets have al

ain that she was not the 'Southern Cross,' though, happily, neither trader nor French Mission ship. In a short time there came ashore sat

Ngunguru Bay; and, in the darkness and mist, it was supposed that these were safely passed, when the ship struck on the eastern Chicken, happily on a spot somewhat sheltered from the violence of the breakers. The two p

ime in New Zealand that the Bishop could find no one to undertake the work, and all he could do was to charter another vessel to be despatched to bring home the party from Mota. Nor were vessels fit for the purpose easy to find,

and rapidly became worse; and Wadrokala and Harper Malo sickened immediately, nor was the former patient recovered. Mr. Dudley, Wadrokala and Harper were f

e he died he was completely softened by Mr. Patteson's loving care, and asked pardon for all the trouble he had given and the fretfulness he had shown. Poor fellow

hour to windward "in a wind." The one thing that stands out as having relieved its dreariness is the presence of Mr. Patteson, the visits he used to pay to us, and the exquisite pathos of his voice as, from the corn

nown that in Lifu John Cho had lost his wife Margaret, and had married the widow of a Karotongan teacher, a very suitable m

illah" Schooner, off the Th

the shells of "pipi" (small cockles); always, therefore, dry and pleasant to walk upon. A fence runs along the whole length of it. At the eastern end of it, a short distance inside this N. (= sea) fence, are the three cottages of the master and mate and Fletcher. Sam

ll three men are married, but only the master

ddock, and then a dividing fence, inside

l less like that of an ordinary clergyman. Much of the domestic and cooking department I may manag

oes, then back to dress, read, &c.; in and out all the time, of the kitchen till breakfast time: say 8 or 8.30. You would be surprised t

, covered with books, papers, &c., and here I sit a good deal, my room being too small to hold the number of books that I require to have open for comparison of languages, and for working out grammatical

rints, and photographs around to recall the tastes of old, and generally a sick Melanesian on the floor? However, he was glad enough to return thither, though with only sixteen scholars from

ama: Dec

e I finish off my pile of hasti

f each year, so admirably qualified for her work. Whether she may be got off her sandy bed,

detail of the imperfections of the 'Zillah' and all other Australian merchant craft; then-But, dear old tutor, even the "Southern Cross" (though what would I give to see

choice of the time. But all was settled in my absence; and now at the Feast of the Epiphany or of the Conversion of St. Paul (as suits the convenience of the Southern Bishops) the Con

f the Holy Spirit to enable me for this work. I try and

elwyn, Abraham, Hobhouse should be consecrating your own nephew and pupil, gather

rgotten influence of his mother, he thus

arama:

idea till I came back from the Islands that there was any change in the arrangements for the consecration in February 1862. But now the Bishops of Wellington and Nelson have been summoned for the Feast of the

say that I saw reasons for it. But depend upon it, my dear Father, that a man cannot communicate to another the whole of the grounds upon which he feels reluctant to

it now as a certainty. I pray God to strengthen and enable me: I look forward, thanks to Him, hopefully and cheerfully. I have the love and the pra

elt of all evil emanating from a person, as St. Paul writes, and as our Lord spoke of him. I do indeed at times feel ov

nough

and probable risk. I think we shall have to buy another vessel, and I dare say s

hip. I have no change of outward circumstances brought upon me by my change

ll respects, my external life altered only to the extent of my wearing a broader brimmed and lower crowned hat. Dear Joan is investing moneys in cutaway coats, buckles without end, and no doubt knee-breeches and what she calls "gambroons" (whereof I have no cognizance),

, and at her dear love for me and anxiety that I should have everything;

think of you day and night, and how I thank you for all your love, and perhaps most of all, not only letting me come

ing and d

. PAT

t recall the son. What a different notion these two men had of love from that which merely seeks self-gratification! Observe, too, how the old self-contemplative, self-tormenting spirit, that was unhappiness in those days of g

on is a good discipline for me. I think I feel calm now; but I know I must not trust feelings, and when I think of those islands and the practical difficulty of getting at them, and the need of so many of those qualitie

now well how I am thinking and praying for you that every blessing and comfort may be given you. Oh I how I do think of you night and day. When Mrs. Selwyn said "Good-bye," and spoke of you, I could not stand it. I feel that anything else (as I fancy) I can speak of

hern Cross." Well, it was so happy a life that it was not good for me, I suppose, that it should last. But I feel it now that the sense of

if I fail (which is very likely) God will place some other man in my position,

ed. It was thought of, but it was felt, as I certainly feel, that it ought not to be.... My work lies out h

under British jurisdiction; but the Duke of Newcastle, then Colonial Secretary, wrote:-'That the Bishops of New Zealand are at liberty, without invasion of the Royal prerogative or infringement of the law of England, to exe

isles beneath the open sky; but as Bishop Mackenzie had been legally consecrated in Cape Town Cathedral, the Attorney-Gene

ma: Feb.

esterday, brings me the news that the question of the Consecration has been settled

have the greatest confidence in the judgment of the Bishop of New Zealand; and

it existed now, would pass away soon, and that I must be the same man as Bishop as I am now, in this sense, viz., that I shall have just the same faults, unless I pray for strength to destroy them, which I can do equally well now, and that all my characteristic and peculiar habits of mind wi

may be wholly and entirely turned to Him, and so be enabled to do His will in Melanesia. You know, my dearest Father, that I do not indeed undervalue the grace of Ordination; only I mean that the right use of any great event in one's life, as I take it, is not to concentrate feeling so much on it as earnestness of purpose, prayer for grace, and for increase of simplicity and honesty and purity of heart. Perhaps other matters affect me more than my supposed s

yd and I met together for special prayer. How we missed Mrs. Selwyn, dear dear Mrs. Selwyn, from among us, and how my thoughts passed on to you! Evening hymn, Exhortation in Consecration Service, Litany from the St. Augustine's Missionary

th that smile of love and deep deep thought, so seldom seen, and so deeply prized. "I can't te

noble servant of God was in my heart too, and so

said: "I feel no misgiving in my heart; I think all has been done as it should be. Many days we three have discussed the matter. By prayer and Holy Communion we have sought light from

for words. I have lived six years with you to li

full-the quarter of a mile to St. Stephen's schools, where I slept last night. On the way I me

of peace! the harbou

.-Dominu

trust you

nk you; I think

ve been in our minds. The Bishop spoke of you in his sermon with faltering voice, and I broke down; yet at the moment of the Veni Creator being sung over me, and the Imposition of Hands, I was very calm. The Bible presented is the same that you

loving and

ESON, Missi

iet and calm it is, and I prize it. The music yesterday was very good; organ well played. The choirs of the three town churches, and many of the choral

held the book for the Primate to read from at th

added from other pens; and, first, from Mrs. A

. Mr. Patteson was seated in a chair in front, ten of his island boys close to him, and several working men of the rougher sort were brought into the benches near. We were rather glad of the teaching that non

o Thou hast chosen." (Acts i. 24.) After speaking of the special import and need of the prayers of those gathered to offer up their prayers at the Ho

, without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.' Does our own partial love deceive us in this choice? We were all trained in the same place of education, united in the same circle of friends; in boyhood, youth, manhood, we have shared the same services, and joys, and hopes, and fears. I received this, my son in the ministry of Christ Jesus, from the hands of a father, of whose

be with you when you go forth in His name, and for His sake, to those poor and needy people," and his eye went

isters adds further details to the scene,

t Coley reminded her of the figures of some young knight watching his armour, as he

h was, alas! the Veni Creator), the music was good, and Coley says was a special help to him; the pleasu

Bishop of the Melanesian Church, that whatever might be wanting in the beauty of St. Paul's, Auckland, never were there three Bishops who

lligent brown face among them, and then the long line of island boys, and of St. Stephen's native teachers and their wives, were living testimonies of Mission work. Coley had told us in the morning of a consecration he had seen at Rome, where a young Greek deacon had held a large illuminated book for the Pope to read the words of Cons

at the reference to his father, but the comfort and favour of His Heavenly Master kept him singularly

breviation that recalled his home. He was the guest of the now retired Chief Justice and Lady Martin, who were occupying the

s childhood, and then going into business matters, especially hoping that the Warden and Fellows of Merton would not suppose that as a Bishop he necessarily had ￡5,000 a year and a palace, whereas in fact the

ugh; and my children now dwell in 200 islands, and will need all that I can give them. God grant that t

the time when you too, had you been here, would in private have laid your hand on my head and c

'cutaway' coat was actually to be worn that very evening at a dinner party at the Chief Justice's, and admiring the 'gambroon,' which turned out to be the material of the cassock, so much as to wish for a

he Bishop of Wellington to Dr. Goodfor

occupation, however hard, or dangerous, or difficult, it seemed to be always met in the same calm, gentle, self-possessed spirit of love and duty, which I should fancy that those who well knew his good and large-minded, large-hearted father,

, and therefore such a living rebuke to the selfishness of the world; and though so gentle, yet so firm and uncompromising that you would have suppo

bruary was that of

Abraham m

Cocksmoor, in "The Daisy Chain." The morning was grey, and we feared rain would keep our ladies away, but we made the venture with our willing squire, Mr. M--, in the "Iris" boat to help us

ce to him. The Veni Creator was sung, and the Primate's blessing-given. The island boys looked on from one transept, the "Iris" sailors from another, and Charlie stood beside me. I am afraid his chief remembrance of the day is fixed upon Kanambat's tiny boat and outrigger, which he sat in on the beach, and

Spirit more and more. Very far were these from being unrealised words. God's grace had gone along with him, and had led him through every step and stage of his life, and so mastered his natural defects, that friends who only knew him in these years hear with incredulous indignation of those flaws he had conquered in his younger days. 'Fearless as a man, tender as a woman, showing both the best sides of human

lmost wholly on money matters; but a

encourage me? Your blessing comes now to strengthen me, as work and responsibilities are fast accumulating upon me. I thank God t

at question of the Atonement, and on Inspiration, Authority of Scripture, &c. How sad it is to see that spirit of intellectualism th

ma: April

f what took place on Feb. 24. That point is settled. I almost fear to write that I am a Bishop in the Chu

cted results too rapidly at Mota, I had sitting with me that dear boy Tagalana, who for two months last winter

into my hands originally in a state of complete heathenism. It is not that his knowledge only is accurate and clearly grasped, but the humility, the loving spirit, the (apparent) personal appropriation of the bles

d to say that without my help you should

He can never die, and will always be with me. You know you said you were only like a sign-post, to poi

is mercy bringing this dear boy to be the first-fruits of Mota unto the Christ, but I think that there

ions and impulses rather than my deliberate thoughts, that my letter written under such strange circ

ommonplace. Of course it is wrong to risk one's life, but to carry one's life in one's hand is what other soldiers besides those of the Cr

rising into ridges of hills, covered with a dense mat of vegetation. Hundreds of people are crowding upon them, naked, armed, with wil

pon me. Again I go by God's blessing for seven months to Melanesia. All that our expe

to me there is little worth living for but the going onward with His blessed work, though I like my talks with the dear Bishop and the Jud

we go on day by day,

when we meet, with the Judge on the subject of which those books treat. The books I have not read. But I know no refreshment so great as the reading any books which deal with these questions thoughtfully. I hope you don't think it wrong and dangerous for me to do so; pr

se a language wanting in definiteness and precision. It is possible that men do too passively receive hereditary and conventional opinions which never have a living reality to them. But this, you know, I do

s when he was a young boy. Alas! no more such letters of comfort and counsel woul

red, at best a carthorse to a racer compared with the 'Southern Cross,' was far from bein

ed with the owner a month ago nearly that I would take her at a certain sum per day, subject to divers conditions about being caulked (which is all she wants, I have ascertained), being provided with spare sa

a letter to the Rev

Auckland: M

of all Eton friends (how could you do so with such an annual subscription list?), yet it is very pleasant and more than pleasant t

a cart-horse to a thoroughbred steed, and we must have some vessel which can do the work quickly among the multitude of the isles, and many other reasons there are

he first-fruits of that cluster of islands unto Christ. He is here for the third time; and I have infinite comfort in se

nd," soon to sit, if not already seated, at the feet of Christ. You may, if you think fit, let your thoughts centre more especially in him. He, of all who have come into my hands absolutely stark naked and savage, gives no

incerel

ESON, Missi

ish to make the service as impressive as possible, in the presence of as many islanders as I can bring t

sailing with the new Bishop for hi

t home, and thinking of the delight that was in store for his family in a visit from Mrs. Selwyn,

that consciousness of weakness must necessarily excite. The joy this gave his heart may, without exaggeration, he deliberately said to

ing out to New Zealand; and I fully believe that God will prosper his work. I did not contemplate his becoming a Bishop, nor is that the circumstance which gives me the great satisfacti

ted before I am writing this, thou

uccess the labours of both of you

health, but it was not the disease that had then threatened which oc

ourt: Marc

y quite agreed, and did not conceal from me that if iodine did not reduce the swellings, and they should increase internally, the result must be fatal. How soon, or in what particular manner, they could not tell; it might even become cancerous. They did not wish me to stay in town, but thought I was better here, and Paget, knowing Whitby, has perfect confidence in his watching, and will correspond with him, if necessary. At present there is no reduction of the swellings. The iodine has certainly lessened the pains in my limbs, but does not seem, so to speak, to determine to the throat, but it may be there has been hardly time to say that it will not. My own impression is, that it will not, and that it is highly improbable that I shall last very long. I mean that I shall not see 1862, nor perhaps the summer or autumn of this year. I cannot tell why, but this near prospect of death has not given me any severe shock, as perhaps it ought to have done. It brings more than ever to my mind serious recollection of the sins of my youth, and the shortcomings of my after life in thousands of instances. I have never been a hardened sinner, but years ago, if I did what was sin, it smote me, and I tried to repent; yet there has always been in me a want of fervid love to God, and to my blessed Redeemer for His unspeak

comforted and soothed by the dear girls, and by that dear and good Jem. All so good in their various ways, and I so little worthy of them...of Francis. That will indeed, humanly speaking, be a terrible loss to his family, for they want his fatherly

r followed th

ourt: Apri

m not so sure that I have really repented for my past sins, or only abandoned them when circumstances had removed almost the temptation to commit them. Yet I do trust that my repentance has generally been sincere, and though I may have fallen again, that I may by God's grace have risen again. I have no assurance that I have fought the good fight like St. Paul, and that henceforth there is laid up a crown of gold; yet I have a full and firm hope that I am not beyond the pale of God's m

you will see that continued dull pain in the head, and other pains in various parts, have made me altogether heavy and stupid. I have had the kindest letters and messages from various quarters when it became known, as it is always very soon, that my health was in a precarious state: one pa

loving

PATT

Court: Ma

issionary Bishop of the Holy Catholic Church: and may He enable you by His grace and the powerful assistance of His Spirit to bring to His fa

, the first visit that she could make, that she might if possible see me: "I will go and see him before he dies." What delight this has been to me you may easily imagine, and what talk, and what anecdotes we have had about you and all

uld respectively bear, some affecting one the more and some the other; but the absorbing feeling that a great work was then done, and the ardent trust and prayer that it might turn out to the glory of God, and the good

y; it is hard work for them continually and most uncertain, but in my mind it cannot be very long. Jem is here helping them continually, but his wife's mother is grievously ill at a relation's in Gloucestershire, and I will not have him withdrawn from her. I hope that next week she may be removed to Jem's new cottage, next Hyde Park, and then they, Joan and Fanny will wa

blessed for evermore, grant that we ma

letter wa

t, Honiton: J

e fruit of your labour of love before He calls you to His rest in Heaven. But if not, may you have laid such foundations for the spread of God's Word throughout the countries committed to your charge, that when it pleases God to summon you hence, you may have a perfect consciousness of having devoted all your time and labour, and so far as you are concerned have advanced all the works as fastl

rvals between this and July mail. I

loving

PATT

ased in frequency. He lived on with his children and relations round him, spending his time in his usual manner, so far as his strength permitted-bright, kind, sunny as ever, and not withdrawing his interest from the cares and pleasures of others, but glad to talk more deeply, though still peacefully

s actually having been received into the order of Bishops, and that gratification was granted to him. The letters with the record of consecration arrived in time to be his Whitsuntide

s daughters to let him do so. Where in the prayer for missionaries he had always mentioned, 'the absent member of this family,' he added in a clear tone, 'especially for John Coleridge Patteson, Mission

Court: Ma

ic Church. There were [accounts?] of that most impressive service, which, had I been present, would have, I fear, sent me to the floor; and you and Coley must have had difficulty in holding up at those feeling statements of your having received him at my old hands. When you so received him, it was known I was satisfied that his heart was really fixed on this missionary work-that he felt a call to it. I believe, you know, and I am sure God knows, that I had not the most dis

y throat; which, humanly speaking, could only be cured by iodine. Iodine has failed, and other attempts at a cure fail also; and it is only a question of time when the soul will be delivered from the burthen of the flesh. S

t we may meet hereafter, through the merits, and for the sake of our blessed Mediator and Redeemer Jesus Christ our

loving

PATT

ly morning of June 28, 1861, with a briefer, less painful struggle than had bee

cted with him paid to the good old Judge, when he was laid beside his much-loved wife in Fenit

one word of his would have turned aside the course that had brought such blessing on both, had he not acc

in many of these southern islands. Measles had been imported by a trader, and had, in many cases, brought on dysentery, and had swept away a third of Mr. Geddie's

be living at Nengone, Lifu, Mai, Mota, and Bauro!' was the comment on this visit; and th

"Dunedin

mango, New Hebrid

a day coming on for the cricket-match and for Surley as I have here. Thermometer 81°; Tanna an

weather in New Zealand. She is slow, but sound; the captain a teetotaller, a

hey speak as many more languages; and I get a li

s on me, as I see the islands opening, and at present feel how

ng, in some of the islands; yet, generally, there is a settled system of some kind observed among them, and in the Banks Islands, an extraordinarily d

midst of the errors and superstitions of a people, whatever fragment of truth or symptom of a yearning after something better may exist among them, and make that the point d'appui, upon which they may build up the structure of Christian teaching. Men, moreover, of indu

ssion. The climate is so warm that, to my mind, it quite supplies the place of the houses, clothing, and food of old days, yet a man cannot accommodate himself to it all at once. I don't say

orld to come, and who have really sought to sit very loosely to this world. The enjoyment, and the happiness, and the

citement of animal spirits, and whose pluck and courage are given them to stand the roughnesses (such as they are) of a missionary life. For, dear Uncle, if you ever talk to any old pupil of yours about the work, don't let him suppose that it is consistent with ease and absence of anxiety and work. When on shore at Kohimarama, we live very cosily, as I think. Some might say we have no society, very simple

y! I would, indeed, that there were a dozen men out here under whom I was wor

ulties are rising up around me, and I am so little fit to be a leader of work like this. Don't forget, dear Tutor, your old pupil, who used to copy the dear

ind lov

g old Pupil

SON, Mission

e charge of it. The ink was scarcely dry before the full cost of carrying the Gospel among the heathen was brought before the writer

ery voyage of the 'Southern Cross' during their three years' residence there, and there was a warm regard between them and the Bishop. I

in their murders and idolatries would bring a judgment upon them. When therefore the scourge of sickness came, as at Anaiteum, they connected him with it; and it was

n the bush, one went forward and asked for some calico. Mr. Gordon took a bit of charcoal and wrote on a bit of wood directions to his wife to give the bearer some cotton, but the man insisted that he must come himself to give out some medicine for a sick man. Mr. Gordon complied, walking in front as far as the place where lay the ambush, when the man struck him with a tomahawk on

prevent the murderers from carrying off the bodies or destroying the house. The husband and wife were buried in the same grave; the natives fenced it round; and now, on June 7, eig

s the next day, and brought away

teristic sentence: 'As we left the little rock pool where I had jumped ashore, leaving, for prudence sake, the rest behind me in the boat, one man raised his bow and drew it, then unbent it, then

sion party landed, warmly welcomed by the inhabitants. Th

it or branches of trees would hurt it, and the sun was so hot that it almost burnt my hand when I took up a handful of nails that had been lying for ten minutes in the sun. So our picnic life begins again, and that favourably. I feel the enjoyment of the glorious view and climate, and my dear lads, Tagala

es to Mota, I should not then cry so much about him. Yes, it is true, I know, I must be thankful it

n. You my father here! Yes, I stop always with you, unless you send m

great shouting, but soon forget the dead person. But I am able to be quiet and calm now, as you talk to me about God and Jesus Christ. Yes, He rose again.

m out to Melanesia with my blessing on his head. I too may

eve, by His love and power, and if in any d

he sisters with the letter

June 14

h about the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, as i

known some sudden outbreak may occur; but humanly speaking, there are not many plac

ause to think ill of white men, or some mischievous badly

Every clergyman runs at least as great a risk among the small-pox and fe

d when the Bishop came to Aroa, Tagalana's native place, three weeks lately the little fellow received him affectionately, cooked yams, fetched mats, and was not ashamed be

and then we had unexpectedly a very heavy sea, a strong tide up. I did not like it, but, thank God, all went well. One very heavy sea in particular I noticed, which broke some twenty yards ahead, and about the same distance astern of us, while the exact part of it which came down upon us was only a black wall of water, over which we rode lightly and dry. I think that it might have swamped us had it broken upon the boat. My boat is an

do not know the dialect of Aruas. There were, however, several who were very friendly, and the great majority were at least quiet, and left us to ourselves. The next morning I started at about eight, buying two small pigs for two hatchets, and yams and taro and dried bread-fruit for fish-hooks. I gave one young man a piece of

rcher full in the face with his bright smile, and in many more cases than are h

excellent order and beauty. Their presence at the head-quarters left the Bishop free to circulate in the villages, sleeping in the Ogamals, where he could collect the men. Th

he way of life; which, however, was aga

e brings me a native mat, someone else a bit of yam; a third brings a cocoa-nut; so I get my supper, put down the mat (like a very thin door-mat) on the earth,

. The island is not at all unhealthy, but natives cannot be taught caution. I, thank God, am in robust health, v

ew people seem to be in earnest. The great majority do their best to make m

xposure to the sun, though I have not seen him so exposed, and it is a thing I am very careful about with them. I do what I can in following the directions of medical books, but it is so hard to get a word from a native to explain symptoms, &c.; besides, my ear is now, like last year, really painful; and for two nights I have had

at is of more consequence, I must reconsider the whole question of native teachers. If a great amount of sickness is to be the result of gathering scholars around me at an island, I could do, perhaps, more single-handed, in health, and with no

at attention. It is at times like these that I experience some tr

riness from sleepless nights, owing to the small tumour in my ear. What a sheet of paper for you to read! And yet it is not s

d fellow, not one probably who would have been able to take a distinct line as a teacher, yet he might have done good service with a good teacher. We found that afternoon a slate o

eating them, men and women together, a memorable infringement of one of the most unvarying customs of the Banks inhabitants; and from the conversation with them and with others, Bishop Patteson found that the work of breaking down had been attai

in their old charms and contrivances for compassing the death of their enemies; they will very likely soon be at peace throughout the whole island. Well, then, they will be very idle, talk infinite scandal, indulge in any amount of gluttony; professing to believe our religion, their whole life will contradict that profession, unless their whole social and domestic life be changed, and a new character infused into them. It would be a great mistake to suppose that the English aspect of the Christian's social life is necessarily adapted to such races as these. The O

the Solomon Islands, and return him to any island he might desire. Letters from the Primate assumed that the proposal should be accepted; it was an opportunity of taking home the Bauro and Grera boys; moreover there was a quarrel between English and natives to be enquired into at Ysabel Island, whe

e blow. The first day was bad enough: 'a long busy day on shore with just one letter read, and the dull heavy sensation of an agony that was to come, as soon as I could be alone to think.' Arrangements had t

as of old to the father who had

w me more truly than ever you did on earth; and yet the sorrow of knowing how

it (I see it now) when most I thought I was quite content to wait for the hope of the

behind. Oh that the peace of God may be given to me also when I come to die; though how may

to good account among the islands this great opportunity. Probably elasticity of mind will come again now for very pain of body. Oh! how much more sorrow and heavy weight on my heart! I am quite worn out and wea

eel that in all human probability you are to be thought of now as one of the blessed drawn wholly within the veil. Oh! that w

omforter when writing to her. So the letter is more cheerful, and is a good deal taken up with the endeavour to assure the sisters of his acquiescence in whatever scheme of life they might adopt, and wil

tired, or too busy; and this climate, you know, is enervating. But last night I was very happy, and seemed to be very near them. The Evening Lesson set me off, 1 John iii. How wonderful it is! But all the evening I had been reading my book of Prayers and Meditations. Do you know, Fan, at times the thought comes upon me with a force almost overpowering, that I am a Bishop; and that I must not shrink from believing that I am ca

it should be seen how realising the Communion of Saints blessed the solit

elia," Septem

earnt from my letters of March and April, brought to me

er I heard of my dear Father's state. With what reverence I opened his letters! With what short earnest prayers to God that I might have strength supplied and resignation I had kept them till the last. All day at Mota I had been too busy to read any but the Primate's letters. I had m

of all that he has been to me, and yet how can I be unhappy? The great shock to me was long overpast: it is easy for me to dwell o

learning to live without him. Yet I feel that the greatest perhaps of all the pleasures of this life is gone. How I did delight in writing to him and seeking his approval of w

t I have but one thing to live for-the good, if

bout my usual business. Yet the rest on board the vessel has been very grateful to me. The quiet cheerfulness and briskne

he right way to settle disputes between natives and traders. Secondly, I had a passage free with my Solomon Islanders, and consequently all October and half November I may devote to working up carefully (D.V.) the Banks and New Hebrides group without being under the necessity of going down to the Solomon Islands. Thirdly, I had an opportunity of going further to the westward than I had ever been before, and of seeing new ground. Fourthly, the Primate, I found, assumed that I should go.

inent forms, affixes, &c., &c.; the way in which it is linked on to other dialects by peculiar terminations, the law by which the transposition of vowels and consonants is

onth or two where the people are very wild, so that I of all people ha

ught to lower the boat in such a sea way; whether or not I ought to

-and-twenty which we have not visited at all, or not regularly; and where I must be careful, as also in visiting different parts of islands already known to us in part. Poor poor people, who can see them and not desire to make known t

artily of my work, and that my interest is in no way lessened. It ought to be increased. Yet I scarce realise the fact of being a Bishop, though again it does no

l hat, &c., at Heath's Court some fine day. It is very improbable that I shall e

without knowing something about "old cousin Coley" tumbling about in a little ship (albeit at present in a war steamer) at the other end of the world. Serio

ession of a fault in an individual is wrong in a State; indeed, the rights of the case are, and perhaps must be, unknown to people at a distance. We have no difficulty here in exposing the fallacies and duplicities of the authors of the war, but we can't expect (and I see t

and "Essays and Reviews." How much I should like to talk with you and John, in an evening at Heath's Court, about all that such books reveal of Intellectualism at home. One does feel that there is conventionalism and unreality in the heredi

t our peculiar circumstances have brought this blessing to me, that I think he has often so "reamed out" his heart to me in the warmth

y, I think it not impossible that he may allude to these matters. If so, what golden words to be treasured up by me! I have

ld God spare your life, my letter

est love

onate and gra

SON, Mission

ne very important effect upon the Mission, for it was here that Lieutenant Capel Tilly, R.N., became so interested in the Mission and its head, as to undertake the charge of the future 'Southern Cross.' The 'Cordelia' wa

he landed at Mota on September 17, and found Mr. Pritt convalescent after a touch of ague, and Mr. Kerr so i

of no more illness before the 'Sea Breeze,' with Mr. Du

e schoolroom had been built; and in the open space cleared in front of it, every evening some hundred people would gather, the older ones chatting, the younger ones being initiat

lomon Islands and the groups to the north, but we worked

t was to his father that he wrote: 'It seems as if you had lived to see us all, as it wer

rd the 'Cordelia.' In this second letter there is infinite peace and thankfulness; and so there still was, w

red miles south-east of

ngled together while I was on shore in Norfolk Islan

ent) when he said, "We have seen in our papers from Sydney the news of th

re that God had taken him unto Himself, but I could answer quite calmly, "I thank God. Do not be distressed at telling me sudd

r it) that he was spared protracted suffering. Shall I desire or wish to be more sorry than I am? Shall I try to make myself grieve, and feel unhappy? Oh, no; it is of God's great

ld not at once compose myself to think it all over, as I desired to do.

e was the Primate's original plan, and now they much de

t we all might prove them whether they were indeed bent upon this work, that we might be able to trust that God had indeed called them. To the lads I said, "This is a disappointment, I know, but it is good for you to have to bear trials. You must take time to count the cost. It is no light thing to be called to the work of a teacher among the heathen. In giving up your pr

tempore, as one can preach to no other congregation, from the lesson, "JESUS gone to be the guest of a man that is a sinner," the consequences that would result in us from His vouchsafing to tabernacle among us, and, as displayed in the Parable of the Poun

e now that she consents. She can't withhold him with the thought of holy Hannah in her mind." And I felt as if

t the Melanesian school, I quite see that I was mistaken;" and the

esire, hold a confirmation in six months' time. How I am longing to hear the last record of the three days intervening between June 25 and 28, you may well imagine.... Already, thank God, four months have p

ry lovin

. PAT

within is supplemented by the foll

g what was then occupying his mind, but we were still more so next morning, at the service in church. His voice had that peculiarly low and sweet tone which always came into it when he was in great anxiety or sorrow, but his appeal to the congregation was inspiring to the last degree. It was the Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity, and the subject he took was from the second lesson, the Parable of the Pounds, in St. Luke xix., and so pointed out the difficulties between the reception of a talent and the use of it. He showed that the fact of people's children gr

essed end?' are the words in a letter to myself written on the 19th. It further contained thanks for a photograph of Hursley Church spire and Vicarage, which had been taken one summer afternoon, at the desire of Dr. Moberly (the present Bishop of Salisbury), and of which I had begged a copy for him. 'I shall like the photograph of Hursley Vicarage and Church, the la

Kohimarama: Nov

or your loving letters, and all

met me with a warm loving kiss that was intended to be as home-like as possible, and for a minute I could not speak, and then said falteringly, "It has been all one great mercy to the end. I have heard at Norfolk Isla

even fully say to another, per

ttle to bring them now, though I suppose the world

the feelings, the sensitive rather than the

well be a reality to us, whose dear ones there outnumber now those still in the flesh. Jem's most beautiful, most intensely affecting letter, with all his thoughtfulness about the grave, &c., fairly upset me. I let the Judge and Lady Martin

many many of his

f the day are alike to me now; getting near,

m slowly and calmly saying such words of patient trust and faith, and it i

ies again, and get lost in the unceas

I write what c

loving

. PAT

tion was held at St. Paul's, Auckland, when the Primate ordained

Kohimarama where the sailing master of the late 'Southern Cross' had lived: a

t, there was the white shelly beach and yellow sands. Here the boys sunned themselves in play hours, or fished on the rocks, or cooked their fish at drift-wood fires. On calm days one or two would skim across the blue water in their tiny canoes. One great charm of the place was the freedom and naturalness of the who

d the whole Melanesian party, shrieking with delight after it. Our dear friend's own quarters were very tiny, and a great contrast to his large airy room at St. John's. He occupied a corner house in the quadrangle, to be close to the boys. Neither bedroom nor sitting-room was more than ten feet square. Everything was orderly, as was his wont. Photographs of the faces and places he loved best hung on the walls. Just by the door was his standing desk, with folios and lexicons. A table, covered with books and papers in divers languages, and a chair or two, completed

ghts for him, and a soft board and a rug for a couch. He was overtasking his powers during those years. He was at work generally from five A.M. to eleven P.M., and this in a close atmosphere; for both the schoolroom and his own house were ill-ventilated. He would not spare time enough either for regular exercise. He had a horse and enjoyed riding, but he grudged the time except when he had to come up to town on business or

ociety, though his natural courteousness made him shrink from seeming ungracious. He did tho

e had greatly delighted in hearing her brother's letters. The following letter from Mr. Keble was written

February

that may happen which we ask for every evening-that we may be vouchsafed a part in the holy prayers which have been that day offered to the Throne of Grace, in Melanesia or elsewhere. I don't know whether I am right, but I fancy you at times something between a Hermit and a Missionary. God grant you a double blessing! and as you are a Bishop besides, you will breathe us a blessing in return for this, such as it is. Fanny's visit has been, as you know it would be, most charming and genial to us old folks (not that my wife ought to be so spoken of), and I shall always think it so kind of her to have spared us the time when she had so much to do and so short a time to do it in; but she seems like one going about with a bag of what Bishop Selwyn

rs, my de

.

urself to write,

eying this postscript, an

ing offered up for us in many places, and where more frequently than at Hursley? Even as on this day, five years ago, when I touched the reef at Guadalcanar, in the presence of three hundred armed and naked men, (I heard afterwards) prayers were being uttered in the dead

em to take of my life here. It is very humbling to me, as it ought

ions, nor from falling into them; though, thanks be to God, it has indeed its rich and abundant blessings. It is a blessed thing to draw a little fellow, only six months ago a wild little savage, down upon one's knee, and hear his fir

familiar with every kind of vice. They now write an account of a Scripture print, or answer my MS. questions without copy, of course, fairly and legibly in their books

one of the Loyalty Isles. I administered the Holy Eucharist to her last Saturday, and she is dying peacefully of consumption. What a blessed thing! This little one, fresh from Baptism, with all Church ministration

hen at sea. I have v

some, I know, must be approached with great caution. Your prayers will be offered

if this ought not in one sense to come upon you, but how can I venture to speak to you on such matters? You know all t

SON, Mission

t under Mr. Tilly's eye. The two Bishops were scrupulous about letting Mr. Keble give more than a fair proportion towards the vessel, which was no

as Day, Auc

d I have finished our accounts. Think of his wise stewardship! The endowment in land and money, and no debts contracted! I hope that I leave nothing behind me to cause difficulty, should anything happen. The Primate and Sir William Martin are my executors; Melanesia, as you would expect, my heir. I

please God to gran

he scholars, so great as to make me feel sober-minded and almost fearful, but th

, and keep you all

oving B

ATTESON,

is departure for a long voyage, rather he was entering into the haven where he would be! May God give us grace t

shall go off to-morrow. Oh! if we do meet

I feel it deeply: but the little fond memories of the last months, and above all the looks and spoken words of love, I can't altogether enter into them. His letters are all that letters can be, more than any other letters can be, but they are

ng his sisters, no doubt, made him write less fully to them, since they might be on the voyage when the letters arrived in England. Thus th

ning the way in islands now visited for the first time, from the beginning to the end, it pleased God to prosper us beyond all our utmost hopes. I was not only able to land on many places where, as far as I know, no white man had set foot before, but to go inland, to inspect the houses, canoes, &c., in crowded villages (as at Santa Cruz), or to sit for two hours alone amidst a throng of people (as at Pentecost Island), or to walk two and a half miles inland (as at Tariko or Aspee). From no less than eight islands have we for the first time received, young people for our school here, and fifty-one Melanesian men, women, and young lads are now with us, gathered from twenty-four islands, exclusive of the islands so long-known to us of the Loyalty Group. When you remember that at Santa Cruz, e.g., we had never landed before, and that this voyage I was permitted to go ashore at seven different places in one day, during which I saw about 1,200 men: that in all these islands the inhabitants are, to look at, wild, naked, armed with spears and clubs, or bows and poisoned arrows; that every m

this island a lad has come away with us, and we have also a native boy from an island not many mi

ch in such a voyage we of course experience. I will give you, if I can, an idea of w

men came away with us, and spent the summer in New Zealand. Their names were Petere and Laure; the former was a local chief of some consequence. We took a peculiar interest in this island, finding that a portion of the population consists of a tribe speaking a dialect of the g

ell. Not long afterwards I overheard a man say that Petere was dead, and taking again some opportunity that offered itself for asking about him, was told that he was dead, that he had died of dysentery. I was grieved to hear this, because I liked him personally and had expected help from him when the time came for commencing a Mission station on the island. The distance from the beach to the village where Petere lived is about one and a half mile, and a large party had assembled before we reached it. There was a great lamentation and crying on our arrival, during which I sat down on a large log of a tree. Then came a pause, and I spoke to the people, telling them how sorry I was to hear of Petere's death. There was someth

d occurred. Presently they saw these three men rush out of the bush on to the beach and distribute "kava" (leaves of the pepper plant) among the people, who at once changed their manner, became quite friendly and soon dispersed. It was quite evident that a discussion had taken place on shore as to the treatment we were to receive; and these men on the beach were awaiting the result

We never can tell what may have taken place during the intervals of our visits. I returned to the village, with Mr. Kerr and Mr.

, lying to the south of Aurora and Pentecost, the

e repeatedly landed in different parts of the island, but this time we visited an entirely new place. There was a considerable surf on the beach, and I did not like the boat to go near the shore, partly on that account, but chiefly because our rule is not to

to walk up the beach. As I walked along with him through the throng of men, more than three hundred in number, my arm all the while round his neck, I overheard a few words which gave me some slight clue as to the character of their langua

ed close round me, while I gave away a few fish-hooks, pieces of red braid, &c. I asked the names of some of the people, and of objects about me, trees, birds, &c. I was particularly struck with two boys who kept close

, and yet a faint hope of their doing so sprang up in my mind, as I still found them holding my hands, and even when I began to wade towards the boat still close by my si

ck and teach them many things for their good. This they did not agree to. They said that some of the full-grown men wished to go away with me; but to this I in my turn could not agree. These great giants would be wholly unmanageable in our school at present. I went back to the edge of the reef-about three hundred yards-and got into the boat with two men; we rowed off a little way, and I attempted, more quietly than the noisy crowd on shore would allow, to explain to them my object in coming to them. After a while we pulled back to the reef, and

s, making good bags woven of grass stained with turmeric, and fine mats. Their arrows are elaborately carved, and not less elaborately poisoned: their canoes well made and kept in good order. We never before landed on this island; but the Primate, long before I was in this part of the world, and two or three times since, had sailed and rowed into the bay at the north-west end, called Graciosa Bay, the fine harbour in which the Spaniards anchored. I went ashore this last voyage in seven different places, large cro

member, who took off his shell necklace and put it round my neck, making me understand, partly by words, but

to me among the crowd, but they were afraid to venture down to the beach. Now this is the island about which we have long felt a great difficulty as to the right way of obtaining any communication with the natives. This year, why and how I

lmost complete visitation of the northern part of the island-the people were everywhere mos

off my coat and tightened my belt to swim ashore through something of a surf, a canoe was launched, and without more ado a nice lad got into our boat and came away with us, without giving me the trouble of taking a swim at all; how at Florida Island, never before reached by us, one out of some eighty men, young and old, standing all round me on the reef, to my astonishment returned with me to the boat, and without any opposition from the people quietly seated himself by my side and came away to the schooner; how at Pentecost Island, Taroniara (a lad whom the Primate in old days had picked up in his canoe paddling against a strong head wind, and kept him on board all night, and sent him home with presents in

ouches from the home letter

y traders have been there, but have never landed; they trade at arm's length from their boat and are well armed. It is a strange sensation, sitting alone (say) 300 yards from the boat, which of course can't be trusted in their hands, among 200 or more of people really gigantic. No

it again. Boys swam off, wishing to come, but the elder people prevented it, swimming after them and dragging them back. It was a very rough, blustering da

a mile, and then pretty villages; but there is no passage through the reef, it is a continuous breakwater. We are working up towards a part

the general character of the language of which I have several dialects. It is therefore not very difficult to get on some little way into all at onc

T. Coleridge gives anoth

and. 'Therm. 89° in shade; lat. 11° 40'

over my book I was already nodding. I think it better to write to you (though on a Sunday) than to sleep. What a compliment! But I shall grow more wakeful as I write. Perhaps my real excu

ar children were confirmed. Since that time I have visited very many islands with almost unequalled success, as far as effecting landings, opening communication, and receiving native lads are concerned. I have on board natives from many pl

ght therefore to be most thankful; and yet my heart is sad because, after promises given by Grariri and his wife, Parenga and Kerearua (all old scholars, save Mrs. Garm), not one came away with me yesterday, and I feel grieved at the loss of my dear boys, who can read and write, and might be ta

undred places at once. But God will send qualified men in good time. In the meanwhile (for the work must be carried on mainly by native teachers gathered from each island), as some fall off I must seek to gain others. Even where l

f seeing and knowing them. I don't think that I must expect men from England, I can't pay them well; and it is so very difficult to give a man on paper any idea of what his life will be in Melanesia or Kohimarama. So very much that would be most hazardous to others has ceased to be so to me, because I catch up some scrap of the language talked on the beach, and habit has given an air of coolness and assurance. But this does not come all at once, and you cannot talk about all this to others. I feel ashamed as I write it even to you. They bother me to put anecdotes of adventures into

es long. I know that hundreds are living there ignorant of God, wild men, cannibals, addicted to every vice. I know that Christ died for them, and that the message is for them, too. How am I to deliver it?

must all appear to angels and saints, how differently they see these things. Already, to their eyes, the light is breaking forth in Melanesia; and I take great comfort from this thought, and remember that it does not matter whether it is in my time, only I must work on. And then I think of the prayers of the Church, ascending con

its dulness in your eyes, but because I felt weary and also somewhat ove

rwards; Mr. Kerr, two Norfolk Islanders, a Maori, and a Nengone man pr

ionate and d

SON, Mission

e Bishop returned from his voyage very unwell; but Mr. Pritt happily was strong and active, and the elder Banks Island scholars were very

rbour; and on the 15th, after mature considera

's: Novembe

nteresting and prosperous on the 7th of this month; absen

dgment remained all through unaltered, though my feelings were strongly moved, indeed the good folk here begged me to reconsider my resolution, thinking no doubt kindly for me that it would be so great a joy to me to see you. Of course it

d not to one or the other be the thing they hope and wish for. They would both feel (what yet they would not like to acknowledge) disappointment." Though, therefore, I could not help feeling often during the voyage, "What if I hear that they may be with me by Christmas!" yet i

eat love to me, I thank you, dear ones, wit

ters; we are together

ng Brother

his society as compensation, without compromising his own decided principle that all must yield to the work. Perhaps he hardly knew how much he betrayed of the longing, even while deciding against it

a: Novembe

ave a ramble in the old scenes, and a good unburthening o

his last voyage-in many respects a most remarkable one-indicating, if I am not over hopeful, a new stage in our Mission work. Many islands yielding scholars for the first time; old scholars, with but few exceptions, steadfast and rapidly improving; no less than fifty-seven Melanesians here now from twenty-four islands, exclusive of the

sent me from people such as Max Muller, Grabalentz, &c.; and if I write to them at all, it is useless to write anything but an attempt at classification of the dialects; and that is difficult, for there are

and the time is well spent in writing them. Hence it is that I do not write longer letters. Oh! how I enjoy writing un-business letters; bu

zie is dead," and I sat and sat on and knelt and could not take it all in! I cannot understand what the papers say of his modus operand

s with arguments that it is needless now to repeat, but upholding the principle that the shepherd is shepherd to the cruel and erring as well as to the oppressed, and ought not to use force. The opinion is given most humbly and tenderly, for he had a great v

nd, I might be now his Missionary Chaplain; and yet it is well that there should be two missionary dioceses, a

to feed, and other buildings must be thought of for

apel, which had been offered by a lady, who had also bountifully supplied with chronometer

as accompanied by

llege, Kohimaram

lso, I think, of my party to be in communication with those whom we have long respected, and whose

n) 300 and more natives, naked, armed, &c., and on no less than thirty or forty places never trodden before (as far as I know) by the foot of a whit

l events in the Banks Islands, to carry on continuously the Mission Schools during the winter and summer also. We have spent the three last winters here, but it would not be wise to run the risk of the damp hot climate in the summer. Natives of the island must do this, and tha

m Aroa, Pasvorang from Eowa, Woleg from Mota, and others are pressing on; Taroniara from San Cristoval, K

edge of his duty there can be no question there. He really knows his Catechism. I have scarcely a minute to write by this mail. Soon you will have, I hope, a sketch of our la

aithful

SON, Mission

s will be seen, has had a far more chequered course. Tagalana is described in another letter as having the thoughtfulness of one who knows that

Principal of St. Mark's Training College, Chelsea, upon the

ew Zealand:

ong ago. But until quite recently we could not speak with so much confidence concerning the Melanesian

ave heard or seen something about it in former years. This last voyage of nineteen weeks, just concluded, has determined me to

ough this indeed is great matter for thankfulness; but there is, thank God, a really working staff gathered round us from the Banks Archipelago, which affords a definite field, already partially occupied with a regular system at work in

Melanesians from twenty-four islands, speaking twenty-three languages; and in the six winter months there is a st

ve men equally willing to do anything, yet better educated in respect of book knowledge. No one is ever asked to do what we are not willing to do, and generally in the habit of doing ourselves-cooking, working, &c., &c. But the Melanesian lads really do all this kind of work now. I have sixty mouths to fill here now; and Melanesian boys, told out week by week, do the whole of the cooking (simple enough, of course) for us all with perfect punctuality. I don't think any particular taste for languages necessary at all. Anyone who will work hard at it can learn the language of the particular class assigned to him. Earnest, bright, cheerful fellows, without that notion of "making sacrifices," &c., perpetually occurring to their minds, would be invaluable. You know the kind of men, who have got rid of the conventional notion that more

re and intention (as far as he is concerned) to join the Mission, come to me about December or January in any year. Then he will live at the Mission College till the end of April, and can see for himself the mode of life at th

might not thoroughly and cordially work into the general system that we have adopted. We live together entirely, all meals in common, same cabin, same hut, and the general life and energy of us all would be damaged by the introduction of any one discordant element. You will probably say, "Men won't go out on these terms," and this is i

imself. I write all this quite freely, wishing to convey, if possible, some idea to you of the kind of men we need. And if the right fellow is moved by God's grace to come out, what a welcome we will give him, and how happy he will soon be in a work the abundant blessings of which none can know as we know them. There are three clergymen with me. Mr.

of 150 pounds. But this depends upon subscriptions, &c. I could not pledge myself even to

y 1863, for six months; and if then I find on my return (D.V.) in November, letters from you, either asking me to

't expect any such he

advantage of having such persons as St. Mark's produce

ionatel

SON, Mission

es of affectionate remarks on various

be with us on the occasion of the baptism of our six Banks Islanders; and I am writing in the m

cessary. They teach me their language; but I cannot put them into any class where they could be regularly taught-indeed, they are not young fellows whom I should bring again. They do the work of introduci

weeks. It will, please God, be for years the great means by which we may carry on the Mission

o be thought of any more than you do as a gift to us particular missionaries. It is the Church carrying on its own work. Yet, as you truly say, private feelings and interests are not to be treated ru

Year's rejoicing i

ama: Jan

very little in the other and higher sense! May Almighty God pour the fulness of His blessing upon them! I sit and look at them, and my heart is too full for words. They sit with me, and bring their little notes with questions tha

ur party of sixty-one, visitors from Auckland, the gl

35-9. After the third Collect, the Primate may say a few words, or I may do so; and then I shall use

the Body of Christ, to know that angels on high are rejoicing and evil spirits being chased away, that all the Banks Islands and all Melanesia are experiencing, as it were, the first shock of a mighty earthquake, that God who foresees the end may, in h

I can't expect or wish (perhaps) always to sail with a fair wind, yet I try to remember that trial must c

ey must be exposed; that now is the time when the devil will seek with all his might to "have" them, and so hinder God's work in the l

ore the sun shines in, the more we shall find cobwebs and dirt, long after we thought the room was clean. Yes, we know what that means. We asked you what would help us to go on straight in the path, now that we are entering at the gate. We said prayer, love, helping our countrymen. Now we see besides watchfulness, self-examination; and then you say we must

lk, for the more solemn words we say about God's Love, Christ's Inter

oving B

C.

r children were baptized on Thursday.

. In a note of February 3 to the Bishop of Wellingt

th me, suggesting, accepting suggestions, giving the benefit of his great knowledge of boys and the ways to educate them. All the pun

a settler in the neighbourhood, who had also held a scholarship there. He had gained it in 1860, after being educated at the Taran

ather have behaved in a very straightforward manner. I am not at all anxious to get fellows here in a hurry. The Norfolk Islanders, e.g., are

out joining us. He tells me, "You never wo

k itself out in your own mind, and then I tho

hink of that, that there was nothing worldly in his wishing to secure a maintenance by-and-by for wife and child, and that I much doubte

hough at present the young man was only on trial, and could not as yet fill the place of Mr. Benjamin Dudley, who, so

aturday, 1 P.M

f sea biscuits. Then at about 3 P.M. off I go. About twenty miles or so bring me to Papakura, an ugly but good road most of the way. Here there is an inn. I stop for an hour and a half, give the horse a good feed, and have my tea. At about 7.30 or 8 I start again, and ride slowly along a good road this dry weather. The moon rises at 9.30, and by that time I shall be reaching the forest, through which a good military road runs. This is the part of the road I should like to show you. Such a night as this promises to be! It will be beautiful. About 11 I reach a hut made

s work. I am quite aware that you want to know more details about my daily life, and I really wish to supply them; but then I am so weary when I get a chance of writing, that I let my mind drift away with my pen, instead of making some effort to write thoughtfully. How many things I should like to talk about, and which I ought to write about: Bishops Mackenzie and Colenso, the tru

ssure, partly because I do not check my foolish notions, and let matters worry me. I don't justify it a bit; nor must you suppose that because I am very busy just now, I am really the worse for it. The

ra, &c., beginning with a Mota Hymn, and ending with the Lord's Prayer in English. Breakfast immediately after: at our table Mr. Pritt, Mr. Kerr, and young Atkin who has just joined us. At the teachers' table, five Norfolk Islanders, Edward (a Maori), five girls and two of their husbands, and the three girls being p

will be a quick passage for her if she comes

or nine months; he is so weak as to make the change, which

m at 3 p.m. and evening service at 6.30, and never a word of either sermon written, and all the schoo

-bye, you d

ectionate

C.

Cross,' and two delightful notes announced it to

ew's: Feb

ern Cross" arrived safely t

's report of her performance is most satisfactory: safe, fast, steers well, and very manageable. Internal arrangements very good; after cab

and thankful I am for this blessing. I know all you good friends at h

owing very hard. Last night (when we were thinking of th

s I looked at the beautiful vessel slipping along through the water with scarce a stitch of canvas. I pray that she m

fectiona

ATTESON,

daily remembered in our

M., March

he safe arrival of the "Southern Cross." You have a large share in her

s messenger (I trust of mercy and peace). I need not ask you to pray continually for us, for

direction to the early faith of thousands! What an awful thought! We are their only teachers, the only representatives of Christianity among them. How inexpressibly solemn and fearful! This is the

d humble, He will order even this aright. You I know will pray more th

ate and gratefu

SON, Mission

ndrew's. Whether it was from the large numbers, or the effect of the colder climate, or from what cause could not be told, but a frightful attack of dysentery fell upo

the devotion with which the Bishop nursed them, comforting and supporting them, never shrinking from the mo

ut a despatch for home; and time was snatched in the midst of all this di

's: Saturday night, 9

pital), with eleven Melanesians lying round me in extremity of peril. I b

entery. Since this day fortnight I have scarce slept night or day, but by snatching an hour here and there; othe

kind of treatment has been tried in vain. There are in the hall (the hospital now) at this moment eleven-ele

How we go on I scarce know.... My good friend, Mr. Lloyd, is here, giv

always sail with a fair wind, I have often said so, and God has sent the trial in

How wonderfully they bear

rt was full, I durst not think, but could only p

oving B

C.

ect me, but w

and prepared rice-water unceasingly; while the others tended the sick, and the Primate returned from a journey to give his effective aid. On the night of the 30th, a fifth died unexpectedly, having only been ill a week

fy him in baptizing them, he said the follow

alms from the

the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; humbly commending to Thy Fatherly mercy these and all other Thy children who know not Thee, whom Thou knowest,

se children, for the dwellers in Vanua Lava and Ambrym that Thou wouldest cause the light of the Gospel to shine m their hearts. Give unto Thy servants gra

r sorrow and distress, most humbly confessing that we ha

om Thee, to be used, as all things may be used to Thy glory. Yet,

rings of body. Restore them if it be Thy good pleasure to health and strength, or if it be Thy good will to take the

Prayer

unt of the next death: the entry dated on Coleridge Patteson's thirty-sixth birthday, April 1, 1

the Christian's life in death! Yet to him, the poor unbaptized child, what is it to him? What a revelation! Yes, the names he heard at our lips were names of real things and real persons! There is another world! There is a God, a Father, a Lord

and touching than the coffin-the form just discernible as it lay where five had lain before; and the

m not so long on my knees. I hope it is that I am so worn out, and so ve

ay be, God would have taught me more gently if I had ears to hear. I have

iness may not hinde

useful. I wonder if I ever went through such acute mental suffering, and y

another man; it gave an outlet to his feeling, and security of sympathy. There was something in his spiritual nature that gave him the faculty of realising the Communion of Saints in its fullest sense, both wi

declared that an alleviation in the worst symptoms had taken place, and that the faces and eyes wer

ted. The next mail broug

w's: April

nxiety and constant watchfulness. Six dear children are taken from us, as you know already. Some

nt in that atmosphere, and yet not a whit the worse for it. What a sight it was! What scenes of suffering! There seemed to be no end to it; and yet there was always strength for the immediate work in hand. Tending twenty-four sick, after hurrying back from burying two dear lads in one grave, or with a body lying in its white sheet in the chapel; and once, aft

some extra caution in some places-e.g., one of the two first lads brought from Ambrym is dead: one lad, the only one ever brought from the middle of Whitsuntide I

for a while in a critical state. Fisher Young, a little older, wa

re never so tried. There was also an unusual continuance of north-east winds-our sultry close wind. And when the dry weather

t their age! It is pleasant, indeed, to see them so very much improved; they are so industrious, so punctual, so conscientious. The fact seems to be that they

eful about then now. Not, mind! that any one of them has a notion of teaching, but they are acquiring habits which will enable them to be good ex

have been very seedy for a few days, and am so still. In spite of two teeth taken out a fortnight ago, my whole jaw has been paining me much, heavy cold, and I can't

et all friends know about us, for I shall not be able to write to many, and perhaps I shall not have time to write at all. In the midst of all

in on May 2, and approved herself e

al pleasure to Bishop Patteson in the companion of his labours. So that the staff consisted of Mr. Pritt, Mr. Kerr, Mr. Codrington, Mr. Palmer and Mr. Atkin, besides Mr. Tilly, who

self surrounded with a hundred poor creatures, diseased and hungered, the multitude of questions how to feed, lodge, and clothe them. How far it is right to sanction their mode of life, &c. One thing I am glad to notice, that the Bishop abstained from all attempts to con

meetings and speeches, without some shame. But united action will come in the train of real synodical action; and if I understand aright, the last Convocation of Canterbury accepted all that we are trying for, taking the right view in the question of Provi

reek text. I should like to hear Mr. Keble speak about the law underlying the superstitions of heathenism, the way to deal with the perversions of truth, &c. Somehow I get to marvel at and love that

which are attainable by a scholar and man of real reasoning power, but which I am not able to

! I fear that I shall never be a good Hebrew scholar, I can't make time for it; but a decent Greek scholar I hope to be. I work away, but alas I for want of time, only by fits and starts, at grammars, and such a book as Vaughan's "Epistle to the Romans," an excellent specimen of the way to give legitimate help to the student. Trench's books I delight in. The Revision by Five Clergymen is an assistance. There was a review in the Quarterly the

lse given to such studies by the tendency of present religious thought. Yet ought it not to have been always put forward at Eton and Oxford that the close study of the text of the Bible is

tt, or Dr. Pusey, and I do enjoy it. Not that I can keep up my attention for very long so as to make it p

fix it by subsequent discussion and enquiry with a competent friend. If I have intelligent young men to read with, that will almost do, it will easily help me to remember what I have read. It won't be suggestive, like the Judge's conversation; yet if one tries to teach conscientiously one d

Cross:" M

ths ago in which (if I remember rightly) I succeeded as well as I am likely to do now in describing the class of men I should like some day to have. I dare say they have not kept the letters, I forgot that, because although they

uch as necessarily attend sea life, &c., who is so much of a gentleman that he can afford to do any kind of work without being haunted by the silly thought that it "is beneath him," "not his business." That is the fellow for me. He would have to learn one language, the language of the particular class given over to him, and I think that

em also upon a plan, which I should show him, to read and write. The religious instruction I should take, and the cl

do. There must be a vivacity, an activity of mind, a brightness about the man, so that a lesson shall never b

man. Someone to take my place will come, I hope, some day. He would have to go round the islands with me, and acquire a knowledge of the whole field of work-the wading and swimming, the mode of dealing with fellows on a first meeting, &c.; he will

n will be useful some day. By-and-by if I can get one or two really first-rate men, it will indeed be a great thing. But who knows anything of me in England? I don't expect a really able man to come out to work with me. They will go to other parts of the world

er that it should go quietly on without attracting much notice, and that we all should remain unknown at all events at present. By-and-by, when by God's blessing things are more ripe for definite d

econd-rate, unfit to hold a position with the best stamp of English clergymen, I ha

re fine gentlemen, others are weak in health, most have preconceived and, many, mistaken views about heathenism, and the way

urpose of seeing how he carries on the work, and learning from him." I don't expect men worth anything to say this. Of course I don't; and yet you know, Joan, I can't take them on any other terms. No

an had been intended, and its

ss," Kohimaram

ans for a long voyage, hoping to revisit all our known islands, and that more than once. We sailed to Norfolk Island, thence at once to Mota. I spent

and then went back to Mota, bringing some sixteen or seventeen lads to the central school. I found them all pretty

mber of scholars at Mota. The season had been unfavourable, and the crop of yams in some islands had almost failed. However, in another fortnight I was again at Mota w

ery sad indeed. About twenty-five adults were dead already, several

were dying, emaciated, coughing, fainting; no constitutional vigour of body, nor any mutton broth, or beef tea, or jellies, or chickens, or wine, &c. Mr. Pritt did what he could, and more than I thought could have bee

others died, there were no teachers left. I felt that our Banks Island scholars must be removed, and that at once lest they should die. I could not send the vess

d not well send the vessel to Port Patteson for a time, for the

as extraordinarily unfavourable-damp, foul winds, squalls, calms, unhealthy weather. Mr. Tilly was being greatly pulled down, and everything seemed to point out that the v

l for my small, very young and very manageable party. Thirty-three Banks Islanders, the baptized party and sel

nd, and Santa Cruz especially; but the wind, usually so fair, was dead against me, we had, so to speak, no trade winds, and I had to give it up. It was certainly my duty

ngues, that made a good summer programme, as I was obliged to content myself with a small party g

n to be thankful. Why do we not always giv

berly, a great delight and honour to me. It is very kind of him to write; and his view of Church matters is really invaluable, no papers can give that which his letter gives, and only

ansitory character of that phase of modern thought which Bishop Colenso represents, and confidently expects its speedy disappearance. But it does try the earnest, while it makes shipwreck

you, my d

fectiona

SON, Mission

e to give Mr. Tilly's descriptio

st altogether to Bishop Selwyn-and gave no written directions; the little he said I carefully noted, observing that he spoke as with a thorough knowledge of the subject (so far as I could be a judge) as to sea-going qualities, capacity, &c., and to the best of my recollection, I found that while the vessel was building these few directions were the main ones to be kept in view. We entered Auckland harbour (from England) early on the morning of February 28, 1863, and hove to off the North Head, to wait for the Bishop coming off from Kohimarama before going

I do not remember any accidents, such as staving a boat on a reef, swamping, &c. in all those years; and he invariably brought the boat out when it was easy for the vessel to pick her up, a matter not sufficiently understood by many people. This was where Mr. Atkin's usefulness was conspicuous. Mr. Atkin was a fearless boatman, and the knowledge of boating he gained with us at sea was well supplemented when in Auckland, where he had a boat of his own, which he managed in the most thorough manner, Auckland being at times a rough place for boating. He (Mr. Atkin) pulled a good and strong oar, and understood well how to manage a boat under sail, much better in fact than many sailors (who are not always distinguished in that respect). His energy, and the amount of work he did himself were remarkable; his manner was quiet and undemonstrative. He took all charge-it may in a manner be said-of the boys on board the vessel, regulated everything concerning meals, sleeping arrangements, &c., how much food had to be bought for them at the different islands, what "trade" (i.e. hatchets, beads, &c.) it was necessary to get before starting on a voyage, calculated how long our supply of water would las

lie down the greater part of the day, or during bad weather. He used to read and write a great deal on board, and liked to take brisk walks up and down the deck, talking to whoever happened to be there. He w

ll the boys was kept up when practicable; but the Bishop was always sitting about among them on the deck, talking to one and another, and having classes with him in the cabin. There were regular morning and

200) natives were collected on the beach. Seeing they looked as if friendly, he waded on shore without hesitation and joined them; the reception was friendly, and after a time he walked with them along the beach, we in the boat keeping near. After a while we took him into the boat again, and lay off the beach a few yards to be clear of the throng, and be able to get at the things he wanted to give them, they coming about the boat in canoes; and this is the fact I wished to notice-viz., the look on his face while the intercourse with them lasted. I was so struck with it, quite involuntarily, for I had no idea of watching for anything of the sort; but it was one of such extreme gentleness, and of yearning towards them. I never saw that look on his face again, I suppose because no similar scene ever occurred again when I happened to be with him. It was enough in itself to evoke sympathy; and as we pulled away, though the channel was narrow and winding, yet, as the water was deep, we discussed the possibility of the schooner being br

. CAPE

: October

dge follows up the subject of the

s," Kohimarama:

tly without prejudice and without an indiscriminating admiration for all their own national tastes and modes of thought-a few such men, agreeing well together and co-operating heartily, will probably be enabled to lay foundations for an enduring work. I do not at all wish to apply hastily for men-for any kind of men-to fill up posts that I shall indeed be thankful to occupy with the right sort of men. I much prefer waiting till it may please God to put it into the head of some two or three more men to join the Mission-years hence it may be. We need only a few; I don't suppose that ten years hence I sho

g more scholars and teachers. I don't forget what you say about the philological part of my business. My difficulty is this, mainly: that it is next to impossible to secure a few hours of continuous leisure. You can have no idea of the amount of detail that I must attend to: seeing everything almost, and having moreover not a few New Zealand matters to employ my time, besides my Melanesian work. I have, I suppose, a considerable amount of knowledge of Melanesian tongues, unknown by name to anyone else perhaps; I quite feel that this ought not to die with me, if anything should suddenly happen to me. I hoped this summer to put together something; but now there is this Maori war, and an utterly unsettled state of things. I may have to leave New Zealand with my Melanesians almost any day. But I will do what I can, and as soon as I can. Again: I find it so hard to put on paper what I know. I could talk to a philologist, and I fancy that I could tell him

and therefore idiomatically, about sharks, cocoa-nuts, yams, &c. All translations must fail to represent a language adequately, and most of all the translation into

raph (which I am very glad to have-thank you for it), I could have found you

ain for writi

my dear

ionatel

SON, Mission

's sympathy with the troubles of the time

st 28

almness, but eyen happiness. I suppose one may be quite sure one is receiving mercies, and be thankful for them, although one is all the time like a man in a dream. I can hardly think of it all as real. But I am sure that God was very, very merciful to us. There was no difficulty anywhere about the ma

ar good round next time, it may be all as well. I imagine that in a great many islands it would now take a good deal to shake their confidence in us. At the same time it was and is a matter of great regret that I did not at once follow up the openings of the former year, and by returning again to the New Hebrides and Solomon Islands (as in the contemplated six

y overwhelmed and unnerved me. I got through the service with the tears streaming down my cheeks, and my voice half choked. He was his father's pride, some seventeen years old. A girl ready chosen for him as his wife. "It is all well, Bishop, he died well. I know you did all you

ferent at the west side of Vanua Lava, where they did not behave so well, and where (as I heard afterwards

, speechifying by the principal man, a presentation to me of a small pig; but such confidence that this man came back with me on board, w

obably from all. I have great reason to regret not having revisited Ambrym and other i

Nobbs) to the Mission, and I wish to give Norfolk Island some help, as it is really, though not by letters

d crooked and battered; as near green as black almost-a very good advertisement of the poverty of the Mission. But if I

oving B

. PAT

a letter for

w little such men who so think of me really know me; how different I ought to be," and then it is another help to me to try and become by God's grace less unlike what you take me to be. Indeed, you must forgive me for writing thus freely. I live very much alone as far as persons of the same language, modes of thought, &c., are concerned. I see but little (strange as it may seem to you) even of my dear Primate. We are by land four or five miles apart, and meet perhaps once or twice a month for a few minutes to transact some necessary business. His time is, of course, fully occupied; and I never leave this place, very seldom even this little quadrangle, and when other work does not need immediate attention (a state of things at which I

y for your offer of sending me Bishop Ellicott's Commentary, but I hardly like you to send me so valuable a gift. What if you substitute for it a copy of what you have written yourself, not less valuable to me, and less expensive to you? I hardly like to write to ask favours of such people as Bishop Ellicott; I mean I have no right to do so; yet I almost thought of asking him to send a copy of his Commentaries to us for our library. I have ventured to write to Dean Trench: and I am pretty sure that Mr. Keble will send me his "L

is reception, I can feel confident now of meeting with friends; I can walk inland-a thing never dreamt of in old days, sleep ashore, put myself entirely into their hands, and meet with a return of the confidence on their part. We have, too, more dialects, talk or find interpreters in more places; our object in coming to them is more generally known-and in Mota, and two or three other small islands of the Banks group

probable successor, who may always go with me-not stop on any one island-but learn the kind of work I have to

er. Again, thank you for it: it is very kind of

dear Dr.

very

ATTESON,

efly occupied with the Maori war and apostasy, on which this is not th

I need not say. There is not the complication of an En

on of truth; it has its existence negatively only, as being a negation of truth. But God is truth, and therefore Truth is --. Now this is practically to be put, it seems to me, in this way. Error exists in the mind of man, whom God has created, as a perversion of truth; his faculties are constructed to apprehend and rest satisfied with truth. But his faculties are corrupted, and the

he right thing is to address oneself to the principle in a man which can and will recognise truth. Truth when recognised expels error. But why attack error without po

ion of his sisters' new home at St. Mary Church, where for the time he seems to go and live with them, so vividly does he represent the place to himself. His

be desirable, and being on a very small scale it might be possible to make a very perfect thing some day. There is no notion of my indulging such a thought. It may come some day, and most probably long after I am dead and gone. It would be very foolish to spend money upon more necessary things than a beautiful chapel at present, when in fact I barely pay my

is very good for me that I am so wanting in all personal gifts! I should be intolerable! I tell you this, not to foster such feelings by talking of them, but because we wish to know and be known to each other as we are. It is a very easy thing to be a popular preacher here, perhaps anywhere. You know that I never write a really good sermon, but I carry

I think I know the fault, but I don't say I struggle against it as I ought to do. It is very hard, therefore, for me to write naturally about work in which I am myself engaged. Bu

ng the scholars of St. Andrew's, though less severe, and one boy died after fourteen days' sickness, while two pulled through with difficulty. In the midst came the Ember Week, when Mr. Palmer was ordained Deacon; and then

s springy;' though, as he added, there was good reason for it in the heavy strain that there h

ocality. Besides, it was felt to be due to the supporters of the Mission in Australia to tell them personally how great had been the progress made since 1855; and, accordingly, on one of the first days of February, Bishop Patteson embarked in a mail steamer for Sydney, but he was

board for my own single use, the manager of the company being anxious to show me every attention, eating away at a

he needed; and, in spite of anxiety about the

are black, and begin by offering me cocoa-nut instead of bread and butter. This place looks too large for comfort-like a section of London, busy, bustling, money-making. There are warm hearts somewhere amid the great stores and banks and shops, I dare say. But y

ay at it, are naturally gentlemanly and courteous and well-bred. I never saw a "g

n great interest was excited, and tangibly proved by the raising of about ￡250. He was perfectly astonished at the beauty and fertility of the place, and the exceeding luxuriance of the fruit. One bunch of grapes had been known to weigh fourteen pounds. As to the style of living with

rned to Melbourne for three weeks, and thence to Sydney. His time was s

village) when so much interest had been shown in Christian work, especially Mission work. This is a thing to be very thankful for. I felt it my duty to speak strongly to them on their own duties, first to Aborigines, secondly to Chinese (of whom some 40,000 live in Victoria), thirdly to Melanesians. I did not aim

y unusual opportunities. Crowded meetings, nothing before like it in Melbourne or the provinc

d very many adults (about 500) besides. Now you know my old vanity. Thank God, I don't think it followe

ke address, and hearty response; and the Churches of Australia pledged themselves to bear the annual expenses of the voyages of the 'Southe

n immense feeling, and the after revi

o write; and as for doing so in New Zealand before I started, why, I systematized and put into the printer's hands, in

e hail-at least one, sometimes two on week-days, and three on Sundays. I preached on such points as I had often talked out wit

nceit clings to me. I can't, as dear old father could, tell you wha

th any degree of completeness on subjects which for years had occupied my thoughts: I was generally about an hour and a half, occasionally longer-I tried to be shorter. But people were attentive and interested all through. At Melb

sometimes gravely, sometimes with exceeding earnestness, and exposed sophistries and fallacies and errors about the incapacity of the black races, &c. There were times when

, practicable, commended itself to hard-headed men of business. Many came to hear who had been disgusted with the usual sentimentalism and twaddle, the absence of knowledge of human nature, the amount of conven

plain duties, not appealing to feelings, but aiming at convincing the judgment. I told 1,500 people in church at Sydney, "I speak as to wise men, judge ye what I say." Do you know, Fan, I almost feel that if I live a few years I ought to write a book, unless I can get the Primate to do it? So much that is self-evident to us, I now see to be quite unknown to many good educated men. I don't mean a silly book, but a very simple statement of general principles of Christian work, s

and lasting at all the Australi

a little island not far from the coast of Queensland, in a much warmer climate

place, written a day or two a

w's: April

God that (as I had hoped) the special work of the Mission became the means of exciting unusual interest in the work of the Church generally. It was a great opportunity, a great privilege

ny conventional errors on Mission (rather) ministerial work-many, many things I spoke of very fully and frequently. I felt it was a great responsibility. How strange that I forgot all my nervous dread, and only wished there could be thou

t coast of Queensland, healthy, watered, wooded, with anchorage, about 25° S. latitude, a fair

at length among the remnant that is left of the Australian blacks. The latter consideration is very strongly urged upon me by the united voice of the Australian Churches, by none more strong

but the work must expand. I think Australia will sup

such a season. We have lost from consumption two, and from dysentery six this year; in fourteen months not less than fourteen: more than in all the o

fectiona

ATTESON,

Caledonian confided to the Bishop of New Zealand by poor

s holiday; I have worked really very hard, but "change of work is the best holiday." I don't feel springy. I am not so young as I was, that's the truth of it, and this life is

g for the voyagers in the expedition of 1864. Mr. Codrington was not of the party, having been obliged to go to England to decide whether it was possible to give himself wh

n, but things were not forward enough. May was not, however

e and Erromango, take up the stores sent to the latter place from Sydney, drop the two clergymen at Mota, and after a stay there, go to the New Hebrides, and then take up

tell what may be the issue of such voyages. I pray and trust that God will merciful

pe that all may be safely ordered for us. It is all in His hands; and you al

hastise one. I know that His merciful intention towards men must be accomplished, and on the whole I rest thank

shows to what work a real h

f the people were dead, but not very many. We took off all the Mota boys, and things that were wanted in three boat-loads, the last time leaving the Bishop. There was,

r fourteen cwt. of yams, taro, and cocoa-nuts. After dinner and washing up, went to fetch boys back. Where we bought the yams there was such a surf breaking that we could not haul the boat on the beach, and we had to wade and carry them out. After we got on board, we had a bathe. Two of the Solomon Islanders di

a, took the Bishop on board, and

colo, without a breath of wind. We had service at 10 A.M.; and in the afternoon

o sell. One party said another was getting too many hatchets, and two or three drew off and began shooting at the others. One man stood behind the Bishop, a few feet from him, and fired away in the crowd with a will. The consternation and alarm of both parties were very ludicrous. Some of each set were standing round the boat, arm

ope with which it was tied to the tree, and the basket too was half full of yams and heavy, so that it was some time before I got away, and walked down the beach, and waded to the boat, shooting going on all round at the time; no one shooting at me, yet as they sho

ee or four on the shore. They were just the same colour as the dust from the volcano. What a wretched state they must be in! If they go to the neighbouring-isles they

ns of gifts of calico. At Leper's Island St. Barnabas Day was celebrated

im, but one or two men jumped up and seizing him by the waist forced him off. After a few minutes (lest they should think I was suspicious of them), I went back to the boat. I found out from the two young men who went away with me from another place, just what I expected to hear, viz. that a poor fellow called Moliteum was shot dead two months ago by a trader for stealing a bit of calico. The wonder

, that group whose Spanish name was so remarkable a foreboding of what they were destined to become to that small party of Christian explorers. Young Atkin made no en

Bishop-on his sister Fanny's birthday-begin a letter to her, cheering himself most touchingly with th

ersaries of your birthday-the Feniton party-the a

sympathy. You are, I hope, to pass the day cheerfully and brightly with perhaps -- and -- about you.... Anyhow, I shall think of yo

fully supported under it. It is a good and profitable sorrow I trust for me: it has made so much in me reveal itself as hollow, worldly, selfish, vainglorio

markable day there three years ago. I felt very anxious to renew

tian, the last three Norfolk Islanders. Atkin, Edwin and Fisher have been with me for two or three years-all young fellows of great pr

ace I landed amidst a great crowd, waded over the broad reef (partially uncovered at low water), went into a house, sat down for some time, t

adds) 300 or 400 people on the reef, and five or six canoes being round us, they began to shoot at us.-I had not shipped the rudder, so I held it up,

th an arrow as it seemed in his left eye, many arrows flying close to us from many quarters. Suddenly Fisher Young, pulling the stroke oar, gave a faint scream; he was shot through the left wrist. Not a word was spoken, only my "Pull! port oars, pull

hit, but the canoes chased us to the schooner. In about twenty minutes we were on board, the people in the canoes round the vessel seeing the wounded paddled

ng several descriptions for the most part identical. What a scene it is! The palm-clad island, the reef and sea full of the blacks, the storm of long arrows through the air, the four youths pulling br

d, was a volunteer for the M

ying time to come on boar

ice and bandage, and leaving him in charge of some one, went to Fisher. The wrist was shot through, but the upper part of the arrow broken off and deep down; bleeding profuse, of which I was glad; I cut deeply, though fearing much to cut an artery, but I could not extract the wooden arrow-head. At length getting a firm hold of the projecting point of the arrow on the lower side of his wrist, I pulled it through: it came out clean. The pain was very great, he trembled and shivered: we gave him brandy, and he recovered.

kept on poultices, gave light nourishing food, &c. But on Saturday morni

nger, night and day we prayed and read. A dear guileless spirit indeed. I never saw in so young a person such a thoro

, thanking God, praying, pressing my hand when I prayed and comforted him with holy words of Scripture. None but a well-disciplined, humble, simple Christian could so have borne his sufferings: the habit of obedience and faith and patience; the childlike unhesitating trust in God's love and

aven. "Oh! what love," he said. The last night when I left him for an hour or two at 1 A.M. only to lie down in my clothes by his side, he said faintly (his body being then rigid as a bar of iron), "Kiss me, Bishop." At 4 A.M. he started as if from a trance; he had been wandering a good deal, but all his words even then were of things pure and holy. His eyes met mine, and I saw the consciousness gradually coming back into them. "They never stop singing there, sir, do they?"-for his thoughts were with the angels in heaven. Then, after a short time, the last terrible struggle, and

ar the place where the Primate and I first landed years ago. It seems a conse

e had been with me, and my affection flowed out naturally to him. God had tried him by the two sicknesses at Kohimarama and at Mota, and by

d not assume so acute a form. I thought he ought to be carried through it. He was older, about twenty-one, six feet high, a strong handsome young man, the pride of Norfo

f the cabin for an invalid. Sunday came: he could take no nourishment, stomach and back in much pain: a succession of violent spasms at about 10.30 A.M., but his body never became quite rigid. The death struggle at 1 A.M. September 5, was very terrible. Three of us could scarcely hold

cts. Pearce seems to be doing very well, so that I am very hopeful about him. The temperature now is only 72 degrees, and I ima

en down, when I thought, and think, of the earthly side of it all; never perhaps so much realised the comfort and power of His Presence, when I have had grace to dwell upon the heavenly and abiding side of it. I do with my better part heartily

He was my boy: I loved him as I think I never loved any one else. I don't mean more than you a

ings earthly. I try to be thankful, I think I am thankful really; time too will do much, God's grace much more. I only wonder how I have borne it all. "In the multitude of the sorrows that I had in my heart, Thy comforts have refreshed my soul." Mr. Tilly has been and is full o

of caution and of prayer for guidance (and this is a bitter thought), they were in the simple discharge of their duty. Their intention and wish were to aid in bringing to those

n at some length to Jem also; put the two letters to

find. "I sought the Lord, and He heard me." The closing chapters of the Gospels, 2 Corinthians, and how many other parts of the New Testament were blessings indeed! Jeremy Taylor's "Life of Christ," and "Holy Living and Dying," Thomas a Kempis, most of all of course the Prayer-book, and such solemn holy memories of our dear parents and uncles, such blessed hopes of reunion, death brought so near, the longing (if only not unprepared) for the life to come: I could not be unhappy. Yet I could

oving B

C.

nds; and on September 16 the 'Southern Cross' anchored at Kohimarama, and a sad li

uths, coming at the close of a year of unusual trial, which, as he had already said, had diminished his elasticity, had a lasting effect. It seemed to take away his youthfu

Sunday, Septe

aking my whole letter full of dear Edwin and Fisher.

us extent probably; anyhow I craved for it as a revelation not only of truth, but of comfort and support in heavy sorrow. It may be that when the sorrow do

not a special, though many general points which may make our reading at once practical. Then

re I am, to learn how others

those two dear fellows ever brightening more and more for now two years. I had respected them as much as I loved t

ndant ornamentation of style and rhetoric. But it is the manner of the age. Many persons I suppose get over it, perhaps like it; but I long for the same tho

d. But I do hope that by praying for humility, with contemplation of God's majesty and love

accept the ministration of an angel strengthening Him, how full of mystery and aw

ggested. Yet if I could hear Mr. Keble and Dr. Pusey (say) prayerfully talking together on that great mystery, I should feel that it might be very profitable. But he must be a very humble man who should dare to speak on it.

s and months, even the years of weariness, pain, sleeplessness, thirst, distaste for food, murmuring thoughts, evil spirits haunting us, impatient longings after rest for which we are not yet prepared, t

ndulge in such speculations? Seek to prepare for death by dying daily. Oh! that blessed text: Be not distracted, worry not yourselves about the morrow, for the morrow shall, &c. How it does carry one through the day! Bear everything as sent from God for your good, by way of chastisement or of proving you. Pusey's sermon on Patience, Newman's on a Particular Providence, guarding so wisely against abuse as against neglect

leading, which bids us direct and use it to its appointed and legitimate use. On this general subject, read if you have not read them, and you can't read them too often, Butler's Sermons; you know, the great Butler. I think you will easily get an analysis of them, such as M

thoughtful books; and how I did delight in reading with them, interspersing a little Pitcairn remark here and there! Ah! never more! never more! But they don't want books now. All is clear now: they live where there

down much, and business of all kinds seems almost to multip

oving B

C.

p Patteson should go at once to do his best to assist and comfort him, and bring him back to Auckland. There was a quiet time of who

is curious that the number of white hairs is notably increased in these few weeks (though it is silly to talk about it. Don't mention it!), and I feel very tired and indolent. No wonder I seem to "go softly." But I am unusually happy down in t

easier to me to speak than to write. I think I could learn with a good deal of leisure and trouble to write intelligibly, but not without it. I am so

A line from him now and then, if he can find time, would be a great delight to

rophets, apostles, martyrs, and every spirit made perfect in the faith of Christ," as an old Liturgy says. And the Collects

look, except when talking-indeed, then too for aught I know-and this may be mistaken for a sad look when it is only a dull stupid one. You can't get a nice picture out

saw me riding or walking or holding services. And then I had to a very considerable extent got over that silly shyness, which was a great trial and drawback to me of old, and sadly prevented me from enjoying the society of people (at Oxf

hought I should not last long." But don't fancy that I am morbidly cherishing such fancies. Only I like you

at that time to recommend Curtis Island to his mind. The want of bread-fruit was the chief disadvantage he then saw in it, but he still looked to keeping up Kohimarama for a good many years to come. I cannot describe how tender and considerate he was of feelings

of every word, and differed from those who were in the midst of the contest, and felt some form of resistance and protest needful. He was strongly averse to agitation on the subject, and at the same time grieved to find himself for the first time, to his own knowledge, not acce

only going to Norfolk Island, on sufferance from the Pitcairn Committee, and by commission from the Bishop of Tasmania, a regular request was made, by Sir John Young, the Governor of Australia, that the Pitcairners might be taken under his supervision, so that, as far as Government wa

ma: March

s been to fill up gaps. But some of the most hazardous places to visit lie nearest to the south, e.g. some of the New Hebrides, &c., south of the Banks Islands. My notion is, that I ought to be content even to pass by (alas!) some places where I had some hold when I had reason to feel great distrust of the generally kind intentions of the people (that is a dark sentence, but you know my meaning). In short,

ven for my own sake (for I quite suppose that, humanly speaking, my life is of consequence for a few years more), and I can hardly bear the thought of bringing the boat's crew, dear good volunteers, into danger. Young Atkin, the only son of my neighbour, behaved admirably at Santa Cruz, and is

nd might have been of some use. I did not make any pledge. But I confess that I think some such plan as this one only feasible one. I don't see that the attempts at mission work are made on the most hopeful plan. But I have written to the Brisbane authorities, urging them to appropriate large reserves for the natives. I tell them that it is useless for them to give me a few acres and think they are doing a mission work, if they civilize the native races

ho will work that? If, indeed, one or two men could be found to go and live with a tribe, moving as they move and really identi

as asked whether I would take Australians into my school, I said, "Yes, if I can get the genuine wild man, uncontaminated by contact with the white man." I can't, in justice to our Melanesian scholars, take the poor wre

that prudence and knowledge and calm foresight that the Primate has shown so remarkably, that I declare I do think his plan is almost the

ation from New Zealand might take place. I do not think two schools in two different countries would answer. We want the old scholars to help us in working the school;

deeply I feel ab

There are many blessings, as all clergymen know, in having death scenes so constantly ab

ionate and d

C.

Mr. Keble had on November 30, 1864. Nevertheless

e: March

l. The great point with me is, lest, if in our anxiety to keep things together, we should be sinfully conniving at what is done against the faith, and so bringing a judgment upon ourselves. I do not for a moment think that by anything which has yet been done or permitted our being as a Church is compromised (though things look alarmingly as if it might be before long), but I fear that her well-being is more and more being damaged by our entire and conscious surrender of the disciplinary part of our trust, and that if we are apathetic in such things we may forfeit our charter. There is no doubt, I fear, that personal unbelief is spreading; but I trust that a deeper faith is spreading also; it is (at Oxford, e.g.) Pusey and Moberly, &c., against the Rationalists and other tempters. As to the question of the Bible being (not only containing) the Word, I had no scruples

r yo

.

an extract from a letter to one of the cousinhood, who had proposed a

me sickness in an island, some panic, some death of a relative, some war, or some inability on my part from bad weather or accident to visit

ear Edwin and Fisher's wounds, I could not delay, but hurried southwards, passing by

aces or persons; but pray make them understand that their scholar may not always be forthcoming. Anyhow, the

George Sarawia is printing now the Acts, composing it, and doing press-work and all. Young Wogale (about thirteen) prints very fairly, and sent off 250 copie

es printing. Atkin works at whatever may be going on, and has a large share of work to get ready for me, and to read with me: Greek Testament, 12 to 12.45, Greek and Latin from 2 to 3. So all the lads are busy at out-door work from 10 to 12.45; and I assure you, under Mr. Pritt's management, we begin to achieve cons

anesian can understand why he is to sit spelling away at a black board; and he is not like a child of four or five years old, he must be taught through his power of reasoning, and perceiving the meaning of things. Secondly, we can gradually invest the more advanced scholars with responsible duties. There are the head cooks in the various weeks, the heads of departments in garden work, &c., &c. As these lads and men

r being trustee for matters not a bit connected with Melanesia, because there is no one else, interferes sadly with my time. I think I could work away with the languages, &c., and really do something with these fellows, but I neve

th really innumerable interruptions from persons of all kinds. Sometimes I do feel tempted to long for Curtis Island merely to get away from New Zealand! I feel as if I should never do anything here. Everything is in arrears. I turn out of a morning and really don't know what to take up first. Then, just as I am in the middle of a letter (as yesterday

with busy men? I used to make it up by sitting up and getting up very ear

and sailed home, leaving those whom he thought able to brave the winter with Mr. and Mrs. Pritt, on one of the first days of

sisters so good and so full of kindness to me. It was very trying when I first met them yesterday. They came and kissed me, and then, poor

barked for Santa Maria, where, at the north-east-Cock Sparrow Point, as some one had appropriately called it-the boat was always shot at; but at a village called Lakona, the people were friendly, and five scholars had come from thence, so the B

speaking to them quietly, for the sight of the boat suggested trading, and they flocked round as he was fetched off, half a dozen swimming out and begging to go to New Zealand. He took three ol

, the work at Mota was resumed in full force. It seems well worth while to dwell on the successive steps i

July

er, but it is weather-tight in the middle, with forms to sit on and a table or two like a kitchen table, on which I read and write by day, and sleep by night. Last night we killed five lizards; they get on the roof and drop down and bite pretty severely, so

atter lasts). Mr. Palmer made some bread yesterday. Then generally a walk to meet people at different villages, and talk to them, trying to get them to ask me questions, and I try to question them. Then at 6 P.M., a tea-ation, viz., yam and coffee, and perhaps a crab or two, or a bit of bacon, or some good thing or other. But I forgot! this morning we ate a bit of our first full-grown and fully ripe Mota pine-apple (I brought some

teaching. You can well understand that the consciousness of sin and the need of a Redeemer may be talked about, but cannot be stated so as to make one feel that one has stated it in the most judicious and attractive manner. Of course it is the work of God's Spirit to work this conviction in the heart. But it is very hard so to speak of it as to give (if you can understand me) the heathen man a fair chance of accepting

believe that the Son of God came down from heaven. What did He c

ist, the power of the Spirit (we well know) that the work must be carried on. How one does understand it! The darkness seems so thick, the present visible world so wholly engrosses the thoughts, and yet, you see, there are many signs of progress even here, in changed habits to some extent, in the case

y him to set forth these new ideas; there are no words which convey the ideas of repentance, sin, heartfelt confession, faith, &c. How can there be, when these ideas don't exist? Yet somehow the languag

d it answer and supply plenty of food), we might hope to have a school some day of 300 or 400, and then thirty or forty from each island could be educated at once; but it can't be so in New Zealand. And a good school on an island before a certain number are trained to teach could not, I think, be managed successfully. I feel that I must concentrate more than hitherto. I must ascertain-I have to some extent ascertained-the central spots upon which I must chiefly work. This is not an easy thing, nevertheless, to find out, and it

r he had exerted himself to talk to his many visitors, he lay 'not uncomfortably.' He was not equal to going to a feast where he hoped to have met a large concourse, and after a day o

being led on all through. It is very beautiful as an illustration of the best kind of help that God bestows on His children. Here was one so evidently moulded and fashioned by Him, and that willingly, for so it must be, and his life was just as it should be, almost as perfect perhaps as a life can be. What i

re, the son of the young man whose death had so nearly been revenged on the Bishop, a boy of eight years old, did the honours as became a young chief, and announced, 'I am going to New Zealand with you.' No one made any attempt t

ves had been shot. It was therefore decided that it would not be safe to land, but as the vessel sailed along the coast, numerous canoes came out, bringing boars' tusks for sale. Three boys who had been taken on a cruise of six weeks the year before, eagerly came on board, and thirty or forty more. All the parents were averse to lettin

n during this cruise, fro

eble, by the February mail from England. How kind of him to

ion and praise, to those who need not such proof, than the vast preparation made for the coming of Christ and the spreading of the Gospel. To popularise this the right way, and bring it home to the thought

lement of faith in superstition; we must fasten on that, and not rudely destroy the superstition, lest with it we destroy the principle of faith in things and beings unseen. I often think, that to shake a man's faith in his old belief, however wrong it may

oppose all the sophisms of Romanism, only that he will place against it a structure

n't you fancy a party of twenty or thirty dark naked fellows, when (having learnt to talk freely to them) I question them about their breakfast and cocoa-nut trees, their yams and taro and b

e, but we d

think if I tell

n from heaven and

e philosophy of religion. Sometimes I lie awake and

s of the people. Often as I think of it, I feel how greatly the Church needs schools for missionaries, to be prepared not only in Greek and Latin and manual work, but in the mode of regarding heathenism. It is not a moment's work to habitually a

cts that one wishes to know, a valuable addition to our library. You kno

ifficulty. I think sometimes I make too much of it, but really I don't see how a man is to stand many months of it. But I can't help thinking and hoping that if that difficulty did not exist I c

the man who has never left England, and is not used to knocking about. I should have fel

which it comes will give it some interest. I really think tha

or ten months. I almost dare to hope that a few years may make great changes.

w Zealand winter; two more married pairs came, and four little maidens to be bred up under M

y seems to have been Wadrokala's three years old daughter. 'I have daily to get Wadrokala and Carry to preve

the 'Curacoa,' the Commodore's ship, when the local knowledge and accurate surveying done by Mr. Ti

ionary Society living at Tanna had been threatened, driven away across the island, and his property destroyed. He had appealed for protection as a British subject, and Sir William Wiseman had no choice but to comply; so after warning had been s

lish papers, and some at once concluded that the Missionary could be no other than the Bishop. Articles were published with the usual disgusting allusions to the temptation p

rumour. As a matter of fact, as his letters soon proved, he was not only not in company with the 'Curacoa' at the time, but had no

em. The female population was stowed away at night in the after cabins, with 'arrangements quite satisfactor

landing; but numerous canoes came off, and all the curiosities were bought which were offered in hopes of reestablishing a friendly relation. There was reaso

k as in the former year. Here one great delight and refreshment to him was a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Mort at their beautiful home at Greenoaks. What a delight it must have been to find himself in a church built by his host himself! 'one of the most beautiful things I have seen, holds about 500 people; stained glass, carved stalls, stone work, &c.,-perfect.' And the house, 'full of

. The view of the harbour, with its land-locked bays, multitude of vessels, wooded heights, &c., is not to be surpassed; and som

round of, I don't deny, to me, pleasurable occupation. Kindly people asked to meet me, and the conversation always turned to pleasant and useful subjects: Church government, principles of Mission work, &c. These colonies,

nd set the young ladies down to play Beethoven and Me

more, but there had been two years of terrible drought and destruction of cattle, and money was not abundant. The plan of sending Australian blacks to be educated with the

benefit to the Pitcairners; at the same time the Commodore offered him a passage in the 'Curacoa' back to Auckland, touching at Norfolk Island by the way. The plan was carried out, and brought him home in time for Christmas, to find all and prosperous under Mr.