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

Mr Thomas Hassal care of Mr Thos Hancox 411 Oxford Street London

Portsmouth ship

[MS 261[

Kissing Point August 9th 1820

Dear Sir Being persuiaded that a few lines from an old acquaintance would be accepta -ble to you, who are so many Thousand Miles off: Therefore I do myself the pleasure of imbracing this favourable opportunity of writing you these few lines. Throu providence I am residing at Kissing Point with my Father, and Sister Elizabeth: they are both well: This place as been much improved since you saw it last: we have erected a stone house much larger than the old one. In the year 1818 a Genteman and his Family was sent out from England by the Missionary Society to go to Taheiti to form a sugar plantation: Shortly after this Gentleman arrived at this Collonny he went with his family to reside at your Fathers house at Parramatta: Father and I being there we became acquainted with him soon afterwards it proposed for me to go to Taheiti and lern the art of sugar Boilling and Coffee Manufacture having these things in view I concented to go thinking it would not only be for my benifit but also for the good of the Mission: and knowing by Mr Gyles's account that it would be of little use for him to attempt to carry on the Business to a great extent by himself. It was also thought if there could be two or three Young Men found to go to Taheiti they might be of great use to the Mission in carring the Business on to a greater extent: but it was not so to be for there was none went but I. We left the Collonny in the end of May

[MS 262]

in the Brig Active. - We ad very bad weather for several day's at lenth we arrived at New Zealand we were Kindly receaved by the Missionarys and Natives. - We lay there three week's and got a fresh supply of refreshments on Bord the Natives behaved in general well they bought great quantities of hogs and corn for sail: Musquits and powder were the chief articals of trade which they would receive in return. After a long stay we took our fairwell Departure and saild for Taheiti: After we had been six weeks from New Zealand we arrived at our desired heaven. You have herd I dare to say and I have experienced that a dull sailling vessel the Brig Active is I never knew her to go more than seven nots an hour and at the same time a good sailling vessel would go 10 or 12 nots an hour the Active is a most tidious but saif vessel to sail in. We were 11 weeks in the hole agoing from Port Jackson to Taheiti including our stay at New Zealand. The news of the Actives arrival was soon spread abroad to all the Missionary station no sooner than the good Ladies were passing there compliments a welcoming her in hoping to receive those little necessaryes which persons in there situation must be in need of. Soon after our arrival There was a great meating held concerning which woul be the best place for to fine the Sugar Mill those at Taheiti thought Taheiti would and those at Eimeo thought Eimeo would However it was concluded that Eimeo should be the place and I was not sory for that for it was at Eimeo Mr Henry was stationd with Mr Platt. Soon after arival we began to prepair our house for to live in and a place for the Sugar Mill: we planted Sugar cain and made sugar of cain we bought of the Natives the sugar was dark but sweet After our stay there about 10 months

[MS 263]

the King acquinted the Missionaries that he did not wish for the Sugar Business to be carried on to any great extent: In consiquence of which it was thought that Mr Gyles had better return to this Collonny and when proposed to him he redily agreed not altogether liking the plan. It being thought also that I had better return I therefore accompanyed Mr Gyles on bord the little Brig which the Missionaries Built then she had made one voyage to this plan and then fitting out to return again. - The Natives are much improved many of them can read and write well There was a great number Baptised while I was there. There is great reason to beleave that many have cast away there idols and now beleave in the true God. On my arrival at Taheiti I was much Delighted in hearing the Natives sing the Hims that was composed by the Missionaries: they attend Divine Service 4 times on the Saboth Day and the Missionaries preaches to them in terms in there own language. There as been a large church Built at Taheiti where the Missionaries held there Missionarys May Meeting and there was hupwards of 5000 people assembled at the ocasion several of the Missionaries Preached to them and Baptised the King of Taheiti. As we were coming to this Collonny we birtht at all the Islands which had Missionaris stations the Missionaris go on with great chearfulness and the work seems to prosper. I arrived in this Collonny in November after veing absent one year and 5 months; Shortly after my arival at home the Revd Mr. Marsden ingaged with my Brother to go to New Zealnd to teeach the Natives he is to form a differ ent station to what is already formed We received letters from him of late he gives his own account of this safe arrival and the kind reception he met with there I think he will continue and O that he may be yousful there Sir I conclude hoping the Lord will Bless you in all your indeavours I remain Dear Sir Yours truly Isc Shepherd

Mr Thomas Hassall Care of Mr Thos Hancox 411 Oxford St London

1821

Eimeo April 10th 1816

My esteemed friend, Amidst much hurry and confusion of people etc I sit down for a few minutes that I may thank you for your letter and kind present of various seed. I have divided them among the Brethren, but have not myself planted ? as yet for this season has been uncommonly wet, most of my own garden being for many weeks under water and intervals of dry weather being few, and [?], few things could live, however this and the next month, I think, will be most favourable to make some experiments of the Siberian Barley, which if a native of these frozen regions, yet may not withstanding, possibly prosper in [?] warm climate. I have thought of trying some of it in one of the native plantions up the Valley, and at the bottom of the hills, where there is mixture of Clay with the Common light and Sandy soul. Sometime ago, I planted some Rice, it grew, but for want of more water, it withered before it produced any seed. With these many European rodents here, different European grains might no doubt be cultivated among the hills; yet it is a question wich of them require much more labour and trouble, than the native productions of Bread Fruit, Taro, yams, ? whatsoever Europeans could ever Cultivate any of them on a large scale. An Acre of ground planted with Taro, is in my view, far preferable to one planted with Rice, or Maize, It contains a great deal more sustenance for human life, and satisfies ? no proportion. Wheat might be cultivated here, but rather as a luxury than anything else.