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take little or no care of their crops when grown. We have a good prospect
at present of a plentiful harvest next season; but before then the sufferings
of many will be very great You would see from my colleague's papers
when he returned that an Institution has been adapted for providing
for the poor distressed children in this colony. The School is now
opened, and more than 30 girls received. I spent the last evening
with them for the first time, and made a beginning to instruct
them in the principles of christianity; sang a hymn and went to
prayer with them. N.S.Wales while I was performing this duty,
looked more like a christian country than it had ever done since I
first entered it. I hope the foundation is now laid for religion and
morality, if God only furnish means to carry it on. It will meet I am
sure with great opposition, and have many difficulties to surmount,
in order to carry it into full effect. I shall exert my utmost abilities
to promote its prosperity; and like Nehemiah, shall make supplication
to the God of Heaven, and say, "the God of heaven will prosper us, therefore
we his servants will arise and build." My colleague may think himself
happy that he is out of the settlement at present. He would have been
very miserable had he been here. There are still great difficulties amongst
our leading men; which renders the situation of those, who would be quiet, far from pleasant; I make it my study to avoid all quarrels
as much as possible, and sometimes to violence to my own feelings
for the sake of peace. After all one's caution troubles will come;