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

75 boys in the coal trade of England oftenenduring the greater privitations & hardships - the whaling trade is little or no better. The success sours the disposition & hurls the load of anger upon [indecipherable] Jacks shoulders. He is bound apprentice has more to appeal too his parents are too poor [indecipherable] & seek redress Law & Justice too difficult to be procurred - things are [indecipherable] allow for the better when they enter into harbour to use a common expression "the Captain put on his shore face" - he endeavours to make things more comefortable & smooth down the [indecipherable] feeling of his crew -- this being the case the lad has no redress but is packed off again & becomes litterally brutalized by continued hardship & ill treatment that golden rule "do as you would wish to be done by forms no part of the creed of such Captains & Masters. There are exceptains certainly & noble ones too. But I knew of a Captain who made a little boy jump

76 overboard (at the Marqueses) when the sailors declared on oath that they believed he could not reach the shore - I have heard of another who for a trivial offence struck this boy to the deck with a hammer & that boy his own relative - I have seen a mate take up a soup plate full of mashed potatoe and smash it to pieces over the cabin boys head because the lid of the pepper box came off & another kicked & smashed back because he would not take his shirt tail to wipe the plates. There I think are sufficient examples to make me feel for the "poor sailor boy who gives up hope" They have no normal instruction oaths & curses are continually sounded in their ears until they become so familiarised as to [indecipherable]

13.

Paramatta [Parramatta] March13 1802

Dear Madam

I received yours by the Calcutta & need not inform you we were exceeding glad to hear from you. The seeds you wrote for, Mrs. M. has just put up in a small Box with some others [indecipherable] I hope you will arrive safe – I have sent them by one of the Officers of the Calcutta to whom I refer you for information of this Colony – This gentleman can give Mr Stokes a particular amount of the wild cattle having paid a visit to the Cow pastures. Mrs. M. has visited them once about a month ago. Where the wild cattle feed it is the finest country Imagination can conceive. The hills & Vales are so beautiful – It was my intention to have sent you a good collection of seeds by the Calcutta, but have been prevented from collecting them by the Irish Rebels – They have given us much trouble lately & put the Colony in some danger – I hope they are subdued for the present – They had laid a plan for a general Insurrection fortunately for us it did not succeed. I am truly sorry to hear of the death of Mrs. Goff & also of poor Millbat Johnson. Both Mr. & Mrs J will be greatly afflicted. I can feel for them having lost two fine boys myself – They are not lost in that glorious morning of the Resurrection of the just we shall all meet again – Parents & Children shall see each other. If numbered among the Saints they part no more for ever If we are conducted to glory from this scene of iniquity it will become

78 eternal wonder. I often think I must return to England & enjoy the Society of God's People again before my Soul can have any bright prospects of glory. The thought may be vain because God's power is infinite – & he is everywhere present. Every thing here is so unlike religion so un like God & his Glory. I often feel an anxious wish to see my native land but when the time will come I know not – Government seems not to pay much attention to Religion here as they send me no assistance My duty is very hard – The Colony is become very extensive now & a great number of people in it, with only myself as a Minister. Should any come I hope he will be a pious man & hearty in the cause of God. I wish you wd. inform me particularly what you want & if I can get it here you shall have it. The great difficulty is to get an honest man to take what we wish to send without stealing it. Our private letters are sometimes stolen & if not stolen opened by some Persons Unknown. The greatest Rogues in the world come & go from this Colony. If you can get a letter it would be a chance business I think you will get this safe – The young man has too much honor to neglect delivering it shd. he come himself – You will give my kindest respects to Mr. Stokes also Mrs. Marsden's

I have the honor to be Dr. Madam Yrs. respectfully (Signed) Samuel Marsden

P.S. Mrs Marsden begs Miss Stokes' acceptance of a little nothing box made of the wood of this country wch. you will find in the box of seeds –

July 1804

79 aconstituent part of their own language. Besides the dangers & privations & hardships by sea they are but little better in harbour. Introduced by their companions into the worst scenes of wickedness and debauchery - labouring all the day & lying about half the night on boats for the masters & officers & then [indecipherable] treats. I tremble for the child who chooses a sailors life if he can by any means obtain another unless he be fortunate enough to sail with a man who fears God. Hence it not surprising whhen I heard of his Jas Mullins death I [indecipherable] "he was taken from the evil to come" * The same thoughtless barbarity that kicks & beats these boys would not stop to make them "walk the plank" that is to jump overboard did not the law of our land as contrived by watch men and protect human life"