FL14425350

[MS 250]

It is expected however that the King and a good
number more will be Baptised at the general
meeting in May. Some of us think that
that will not be a good time to adminster
the Ordinance of Baptise to any of them, as
there will be much business to transact, and
probably their minds confused & in an unfit
state to receive that ordinance; but I think
very probably we shall have to give sway
& submit to the King's and the Public wish.
May the Lord Prside at this meeting, and causes
it to promote his own Glory, the interest
of his cause, and edification of his people
here! The King being at Taheiti
for several months past I cannot say
from my own personal knowledge how he
is acting; but the letters I have lately read
from him are very encouraging. By them it would
appear that he is very Zealous in the cause
of his Fatu, Lord or Master, as he calls
the Saviour. He is now upon a tour round
Taheiti professedly seeing into the state of
Religion among the People, and setting things
in order when it is necessary. In a letter
I lately read from Mr Tessier, who is now with Mr
Bicknell at Papara in Taheiti, when the
King spent some considerable time on his
tour, he states that he (the king) regularly attended
the worship of God & means of grace while with them, and
kept stricktly the Sabbath, not so much as
alowing his Horse to be taken out to grass or the water on that
day; but having grass & water provided
for him on Saturday & laid up in the Stable.

[MS 251]

It is true that in doing this he may be "straining
at a gnat while he is swallowing a Camel," and
that his Zeal may only be like Jehu's; but we
should believe & hope the best concerning him,
and when he stumbles & falls make great
allowance for him. I must now hasten
to give you some account of the manner in which
we are distributed among these Islands, and come
to a conclusion. Long before this reaches
you you will have heard of the death of
Mrs Wilson. Mrs Crook has taken her eldest
Daughter which is very kind of her considering
her own large family, and poor Mr Wilson
with his other three children lives alone
at Matavai, Mr Darling who was stationed there with him
having come over here to assist in putting
up the Sugar Mill - Messrs Crook and
Bourne are stationed in the district of Pare,
and Messrs Bicknall & Tessier at Papara;
you will know by their names that the above
three stations are in Taheiti. Mr Platt and
myself as before observed are stationed here
at Eimeo. Messrs Nott, Davies, Ellis,
Barff & Orsmond with the printing press wre on the Islands of
Huaheine; but the latter with Mrs O. who was
far advanced in pregnancy went in the Haweas
to the Island of Reiatea or Ulitea [?], where
Messrs Threlkeld & WIlliams have taken their
station, with a view to be near the latter & have his assistance at the
time of her lying in. Thus you see how
we are scattered, and yet there are many more wanting
to supply these islands but imperfectly
Borabora, Otaiha, & Maurea are still destitute.
Mrs H has been ltely very ill, but is His mercy some
-thing better. She is frequently ailing. I fear the climate does
not agree with her, & is destroying her constitution by degrees.
Should she be taken off she would be a sore loss both to her fmily,
& to the mission, having obtained the best knowledge of the Language of
any female ever engaged in it, & a disposition of mind & ability to ..it [?]