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

12 69 3 At length I now had the honour of dedicating it to the worship of God & shall retain a grateful sense of his goodness in opening a way for me thus far. I am surprised no clergyman came out in place of my former colleague Mr Johnson he tells me he had no inclination to visit us again & that no one had been appointed to succeed him. The political state of the colony is much changed ssince my friend's departure. The measures adapted by government have made many being poor, who live in better circumstances. I know no cause to complain - God has blessed me inmy basket, & in my store; I may say he has given me all things richly to enjoy. I labour hard, but the trials of the day makes [indecipherable] at night, so that the morning finds me ready for any task. My soirits & strength seldom fail me

4 70 I should be happy in a colleague, as I am constrained to travel from Sydney to Parramatta every sabbath, which is 10 miles, and preach at both places. Another clergyman would aid me in this respect, & some others. I am making great progress in my garden, & orchard, have got many hundreds of different fruit trees & great abundance of some kinds fruit. I have made more then 60 gallons of cider this year, which promises to be very good, it was made from peaches, for tho' we grow apples they are not of the cider kind. I have hops also growing very well - the [indecipherable] make more than two feet. [indecipherable] of the home of John Fleming is gone to England in the Glatter - he is an uncommonly cleverman, as a gardener & [indecipherable]

71 My dear you little know or think of the heavy trouble or loss I have experienced since you left me when I read your letter from London your Fathers then long very how his sickness was occasioned by a very severe cold and how the [indecipherable] only then six months sick & continued till the 1st March when my husband departed this life & left me to only lament his loss he was so thin before he died that I could carry him in my arms like a child. He often talked of you & wished to see you - I was left with a small helpless family. Now [indecipherable] if you have any affection for your distressed mother & helpless orphans shed a tear of tenderness for any distress is great. heaven knows I was in hopes to find a husband & a son in you & at your return to be an assistant to your helpless brothers & sisters they give their love to you& day & night pray to God for you as for friends

72 since the loss of your tender Father I [indecipherable] very few. I have my Everlasting God whomis my friend my husband & & father to my fatherless orphan lambs. I strive with his help to get through from day to day ------------------------------------------------------------------- be dutiful honest & obedient to your honourable masters & superiors -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Your affect but unhappy Mother C __ M__ a The trials of a poor sailor boy is frequently beyond description. Much certainly depends upon the Captain or the Master of the Vessele should he be of a cross or pevish temper it is generally vented upon the boy. Should he be a drunkard it is worse. The boy is looked upon as servant of all - by night or by day he must be at every bodys beck & call - a kick & a blow is not an unavoidable accompanyment witha command - The poor

5 12 73 Should he call upon you, he will give you a better account of this colony than any [indecipherable] you have seen, he [indecipherable], but a [indecipherable]he found in England. I have requested him to make a small collection for me of such thingss as he knows I want. Should he return to this colony I wish him to call upon you & he will then learn what kind of [indecipherable] & talents you want. Mrs Marsden & my little family are well. She returns thanks for the [indecipherable], & joins me in kindest respects to Mr Stokes & yourself I remain dr Madam With the greatest respect Saml Marsden Mrs Stokes