File 1: Hassall family, correspondence, volume 4, pp. 1-402, 1811-1856

- the water or land, be sure not to make them long or tedious but short and as cheerfull and pleasant as you possibly can for in his present state he will not be able to bear the least fatigue & the most trifling thing may agitate his whole frame and load with disorder his poor body - but as you love him much I know your attention to him will be the same -

If you should perceive any symptoms of his disorder returning or want any medical aid excepting what you receive dayly from Mr L - you will consult with our dear friends Mr & Mrs Burnie and act according and if it is thought needfull for Mr L to see him we can send him down at any notice - Remember my Dear Son that the means is ours - but the blessing is only from the Lord - Therefore let us still unite in faith and prayers in behalf of my Dear Son for God has promised that the =

prayers of faith shall save the sick &c, &c, see the 5th James & 13-14-15-16th V's - the whole of the Epistle is very excellent and shews the necessity of true faith which proves itself by [l?ving] to God

Your Sister has just received your letter - we was very happy to hear that Saml is better - Poor Read that came from the farm to the Hospital the other day died the day I came from Sydney - Inclosed is Captn Pikes Bill, will thank you to get the payment from him Saturday morning.

Your mother desires her kind love to Mrs Bernie and begs her acceptance of an hind quarter of lamb, some butter, Cabage, and Apricots - Mother & Sisters joine me in love to Saml. Yours &c and believe me dear son yours truly Rowl. Hassall

NB your Mother wishes you to send her 3 or 4 gallons Vinegar more by the first conveyance.

Mr. Thos Hassall Mr Bernie's Sydney

Parramatta 6th aug^st 1812 My Dear Son Tho^s The Painter the bearing [indecipherable] - wants a Jarr [sic] of Paint Oil a Keg of white [indecipherable] & a Keg of yellow Paint to finish the Store - if you have none at your house I will thank you to go with him to Mr Hook's to purchase the above which you can pay for out of the inclosed [enclosed] Stg [sterling?] note £6=4=6 or otherwise you can make my compiments to Mr Hook to charge the same to my account but be sure to send a bill of the amount - If you can obtain the order don't forget. Your Bro Sam'l [Samuel] has bought twelve Ewes & nine lambs for the £10 They together with one Pound of Hyson[?] I understand the other 3 ewes are in lamb - and all the 12 are young Ewes - Land is at Coventry - otherwise he would have sent you the particulars. Your Dear Mother

Sisters and Brothers - are all through mercy well in health - but was very much alarmed on Tuesday evening - through the death of an aged poor man that was rolling a cask from the wharf by our door who fell down and was taken up dead - o how awfull to be snatch in a moment out of time into Eternity and perhaps with all his sins upon his [indecipherable] guilty head to meet his Gidgeon - it struck my mind very forcibly that our house was surrounded by death - seeing the dear little babe called away so very suddenly but the other day at the back of the house and this poor old man at the present and with out the least notice - surely my Dear Son we may learn from hence that God in the execution of his [indecipherable] decrees does not consult his creatures Time begun [indecipherable] - but the word that as from out of his mouth must be Punctually fulfild in every case - therefore we aught to be always ready and hold this

worlds comforts with a very loose hand as too great an attachment to the [indecipherable] is one of the greatest barriers we find in preparing for Eternity - For you and me, my [indecipherable] to be duly prepared for death, is one of the first objects that should engage our thoughts - what will be Unbelievers do that dies, without a knowledge of God in Christ - but if we enjoy that faith which unites to the laws that purifies the heart & the life and works by love in all holy obedience finding the dear Saviour previous to us for what he as [indecipherable] for lost siners - we may [indecipherable] a hope that for us to die that be eternal gain - I am [indecipherable] great heart as the man is starving at the door waiting for this note but be assured that it is the sincere prayer of - Dear Son, your [indecipherable] father that we may be ready - to do & suffer the will of God - Rowl Hassall

[an address label] Mr Thos Hassall at Mr Rich'd Jones's O'connel Street Sydney