FL14425347

[ms 246]

but a faint sketch of your object & intentions
of going thither. You just observed that
in compliance with the earnest wish or desire
of your friends you were going to England to
spend a few years at College, but did not say
what College, or with what intent; however I
conjectured that you had in view that most
important object the Gospel Ministry, and
I soon after learned that I was right. Had times
and opportunity allowed I should have taken
the liberty of offering you my advice on the subject
however it might have been regarded; but now it
is too late; your plans & mode of procedure
are formed, and you are probably ? now,
or will belong before this reaches you, acting
accordingly. I have lately learned that it
was intended you should be placed under
the care & tuition of the Pious & Excellent
Simeon of Kings College Cambridge. That is
just what I would have strenuously recommen-
ded to you did I know that you were determi
-ned at all events to go to one of the Universities
but otherwise from sundry considerations
particularly that of the many snares and
temptations you would be exposed to at the
university, and the danger of your suffering
much injury in a spiritual point of view
in losing your simplicity & spirituality etc.
I would certainly have recommended your going to
the College of Homerton, or Hoxton in preference
and if you were determined to take orders in the
church in preference to Dissenting Ordination

[MS 247]

your being educated there I presume would be no
material indrance to your so doing. Were there
any objections made on that score you would have
interest enough to obviate them: but I shall
dismiss this subject by earnestly requesting you to
be much in Prayer, & to take heed that you
do not suffer other studies to divert you
from the study of your Bible; and also that
you seriosusly & solemnly consider & constantly
keep in mind the importance of the office
you intend taking upon you, and the awful
responsibillity attached to it, with the sincerity,
uprightness, & purity of the motives that should
actuate you in that affair so momentous.
Our Brig Hawses [Haweis] sailed from these Islands
for the Colony for the first time on the 1st
of December last. Saml who sails in her,
& has the highest esteem for you
is surprisingly improved in the knowledge of
Navigation & seamanship; and will it is
expected be sufficiently qualified for the
Office of Second Mate at least by the time
they reach the Colony. The Brig is very neat
& a good sailor, ? properly sails well, and
will I trust be of great benifit to the Missions
As you who had been the Medium of my
correspondence with your family for years were
removed, I wrote by the Haweas to your dear Father
with a view to renew our long suspended correspon
dence. Being then most straitened for time I
omited writing to you until the return of the
Ship King George to the Colony from
the Marquesas Islands, and which is now at Taheite
and we are daily expecting to touch here, which
causes me to hasten with this & a few more letters
not being certain whither she will come to anchor here.