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

[MS 257]

Sydney NS Wales, Feby 15th 1820

My dear Bror I make no apology for writing to you tho' personally unknown, because the peculiar circumstances under which I am placed wont render an apology necessary, ? to be ? many others will no doubt have informed you of my alliance to your family by marriage, and their several comments upon this affair will be open to your inspection. I only wish to say my heart rejoices in what I have done in this matter, the person of my choice does me no discredit, but greatly adds to my domestic and religious comfort, of the sincerity and strength of our mutual attachment it will be difficult for me to give you any just notion. As Nathan's sould cleaves unto David, so (& now do) do ours to each other - I have many times feared that your heart would be pained when you were informed of your beloved Sister's marriage to a Wesleyan Missionary - not that I ever supposed there was just cause for any grief, but I considered it more than probable that your notion of the religious sentiments of that Denomination was very unfavourable - and that in your new circle of learned, fashionable and clerical friends it was not likely that impressions favourable to one of my description would be made upon your mind. I have often mentioned these apprehensions to my dear Mrs Lawry, who knowing your disposition & manners better than myself always answered - No poor dear fellow, he will not be grieved, but if he knows you I am sure he would highly esteem you. Indeed the sweet and affable spirit which is at once the peculiarity and glory of the Hassall family and which is found superimenently in my dear Mary - has always been a source of great pleasure to me, and having been often told that Miss H. and her brother Thomas were very much alike in habits and temper, I of course could but form the most favourable and pleasing opinion of my absent and unknown friend, whom I believe the more I know the move I shall esteem & love

[258] I hope you feel your mind perfectly at rest on the subject of your call to the Ministry, and that your progress in studies and preparitry measures is quite satisfactory to your own mind. If I were asked whetehr I thought yo did right in going to England and entering into the Established Church, my reply would be that depends entirely upon his own views and inclinations for me it probably would not be right, but upon points of this nature "let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind" - I should consider being bound to one small Settlement, such as Richmond, Wilberforce, or Bumbury [sic] Curren (for there are none else vacant, saving Mr. Cartwright being likely to succeed his father at Liverpool) this I say would be to me such a cramped [?] & fetter as would be intolerable. - when I read the New Testament I always feel a wish to imitate as near as possible the manner & method of our Lord and His disciples, which I am persuaded no man can do when cooped up in the circumscribed sphere of a few solitary Settlers in a District New South Wales But where am I going? It was not in my thoughts to attempt to diswade you from your present purposes and persuits when I commenced this paragraph, nor would I in the least matters influence your mind this way or that. From the circustances of my alliance to your family I am emboldened to write much more familiarly to you than would have been otherwise proper. Allow me then to tell with modesty by what steps I have arrived at my present station - after my Conversion from Sin to Righteousness I began to make enquiries into creeds & systems, but finding myself in a labyrinth, I determined to consult the most judiscious ministes accessible to me on what books were most proper to be read in my case - and having procured a selection of the best Authors on Polemical Divinity, I passed with these Guides the ordeal of controversy between Socinians & Trinitarians, Episcopalians & Disenters, Arminians and Calvinists etc etc

[259] After dilligent research and calm deliberation, I embraced General Redemption as most consonant with God's Attributes and Word, and I determined when I could no longer forbear I went forth and preached a free, full and present salutation to every human soul, which blessed imploy my soul enjoyed the sweeteset consolation, and the Lord of the Harvest is graciously pleased to testify his approbation of my poor labours by giving me to see fruit in the evident conversion of sinners - but when I say I feel myself the most insignificant creature and the chief of Sinners - I remember that my work is with the Lord & my judgment with the Most High - My worthy colleague Mr Leigh has been ill nearly one year, & has been for the recovery of his health to New Zealand and NewCastle, I believe he is consumptive and it is probable he will return to England by the ship Admiral Cockburn in which this comes to you. Poor Gilcrist has proved himself one of the basest of men - and is now working at Newcastle with the hammar and spade under sentence of Transportation for [?] - Since his arrival at Newcastle he has been transported to the last sink of degradation by the Lime Kilns. A young widowed clergyman has lately arrived in the Colon whose name is Middleon I hear he is a great Gambler, Mr. Marsden things him a stranger to religion, but well read - Now my dear Sir, I commend you to GOD & to the word of his grace, may your work and way be appointed you by him who holds the Seven stars in his right hand, may I rejoice with you upon earth & then may we go up higher to meet the King of the skies & may not a hoo(?) of our respective families be left behind - My dear Mary writes by this opportunity, all our numerous family are quite well, I beg to remain, My dear Brother Yours very affectionately in Jesus Gospel Walter Lawry

Mr Thomas Hassall