File 1: Hassall family, correspondence, volume 2, pp. 1-297, 1794-ca. 1823

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[Note written on side and pasted at top of page] James Hassall 1st in date Anna Hassall [indecipherable - probably a place name ] to Wilberforce

Paramatta; Augt 2[indecipherable] Dear Madam You will probably have heard before this reaches you of our safe arrival in New South Wales. We have much to bless the Ld for, who conducted us safe thro' [through] the mighty waters & rough seas to our desired haven. I wish I had a great sense of the Divine Mercies & were more humbly dependant upon the Gd of [indecipherable - Good?] & Grace. We are now comfortably settled at Paramatta & shall soon be removed to Norfolk Island, while Major Grose is Lieut Gov. You will have heard of Mr Johnson's quarrel with the present Lieut. Govr & how uncomfortably we are situated in pinch [or print?]of religion Mr John informed me that things in that respect were [indecipherable] thing like so bad as at present. There is so little attention paid to mere morality. The difference between Mr J. [Johnson?] & the Lt Gov [indecipherable - he will?] gone to a very great length to render it exceedingly beneficient [?] to me as it gives me a degree of pain when in company with

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Paramatta; Augt 2 Dear Madam You [indecipherable] probably have heard before this reaches you of our safe arrival at New South Wales. We have much to bless the Ld. for, who conducted us safe thro' [through] the mighty waters & rough sea to our desired haven. I said I had a great sense of the Divine Mercies & were more humbly dependant upon the Gd of [indecipherable] & Grace. We are now comfortably settled at Paramatta & shall not be removed to Norfolk Island, while Major Grose is Lieut Govr. You will have heard of Mr Johnson's quarrel with the present Lieut Govr & how uncomfortably we are situated in [indecipherable - starts with p?] of Religion Mr John informed me that things in that respect were [indecipherable] things like so bad as at present. There is so little attention paid even to mere morality. The differences between Mr J & the Lieu Gov [indecipherable] gone to a very great length to render it exceedingly [indecipherable] to me as it gives me [indecipherable] when in conformity with

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2 either of the contending parties as I am constrained. Then to be under no sort of necessity of being guarded in my expressions I am resident about 14 miles from Mr J & have to preach at several places wh [which] have no church at any of them. I bless God my congregation is continually increasing & two or three. I've begun to inquire what they must do to be saved. I hope our present dark Night is the womb of a bright morning not that I expect to see many turned from darkness to light, yet I have no doubt but he will come & bless his herd to the eternal Salvation of some of these unhappy People. Nothing [will?] be done at Sydney while Mr J & the Govr are so at variance The Lord will arise by & bye & our enemies will be scattered. Things are better upon on the whole. The whole then I expected to find them amongst such abandoned people. I am not surprised to find them cast such contempt upon God & religion knowing the human [indecipherable - flesh?] to be so full of emnity to Christ & his people. What gives [God?] the greatest meanings is the unhappy difference Wh presents between Mr J & the Lt Govr but I enjoy some privileges wh [while] Mr John at present does not. This limits him a good deal. Tho' I am found no more there many other officers or than Mr J was before he

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3 Rev. Samuel Marsden (Chaplain in New South Wales) To W. Wilberforce, Esq.

Parramatta, 1799.

Honoured Sir, Though I have nothing of any importance to mention. I could not let this opportunity pass without giving you a line. I have the pleasure to inform you that, after repeated application and much difficulty a church is begun at Parramatta, which I hope, in time, to see completed. There is no immediate prospect of my colleague having one built at Sydney, too many difficulties are thrown in his way, which he has neither the strength nor spirits to encounter. The governor himself has many embarrassments to contend with: his situation has been, and continues to be, as distressing as either Mr Johnson's or mine. The evils under which the colony groans have increased to such a magnitude that : Government alone has power to redress them. Monopolies, and the price of every article of consumption, have gradually increased to this very day, in proportion as to the trading officers have advanced towards independence.

It is truly a painful reflection that the morals of the lower ranks of inhabitants should be sacrificed to the avarice of a few individuals, as well as the temporal prospects of the colony, which is the case at present. The soil and climate are as good and perhaps, superior to any in the known world. Nothing can exceed the prospect we have of a most plentiful crop of wheat this season from the richness of the soil on [indecipherable]

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4 salubrity of the cellmates we might be the happiest people on earth, while avarice and extortions render us miserable. What must our situation be, Sir, when the governor's salary is but a small sum compared with what individuals make by private trade. We have long been anxiously expecting the arrival of Governor King, hoping some instructions for the better regulation of the affairs of the settlement will be seen out by him. We have got no public schools yet of any con =sequence: I have made several attempts to have one built at Parramatta, but have not yet succeeded. The only prospect of a minister's usefulness is in the rising generation; and before any good can be effected amongst them, a the school must be built for their accommodation. The children are very numerous, but are brought up at present in all the vices of their abandoned parents; and many Children are totally relinquished, and cast upon Government for support and protection. These children as well as the orphans, live with settlers or others who will receive them, and Government furnishes them with provisions. The young girls, in particular, are all likely to be ruined for want of proper persons to superin =tend their education. Some measures would probably be adopted for the relief of these poor children if the officers thought their present situation permanent. They all, one after another, expect to leave the colony, and on that account are not interested in its future prosperity. If I once get my church

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