File 3: Hassall family, correspondence, volume 2, pp. 703-1164, 1825-1867

[MS 717]

My dear Friend

Tahiti 15th May 1825 Being a letter in your debt it was my intention to have sent you a few lines by Capn Henry - But he came of to the Colony without calling at Moorea. - But having come over to this Island to spend a week or or two with our [indecipherable] -, We unexpectedly found the Ship Lynx. Capn [indecipherable] at Tahiti. I therefore embrace the opportunity of [indecipherable] you a line with much pleasure.

I have the pleasure to inform you that both myself and my Wife are through [indecipherable] very well in health, A blessing which I have been particularly favoured with, & though Mrs B is often but poorly yet we have much cause for thankfulness on her part, as she has never been seriously ill. - As to the general state of things among us in these Islands I think they are not very encouraging - It appears very evident that many of [indecipherable] every description are [indecipherable] - & many are falling from a [indecipherable] of the Gospel. - Perhaps you will say with us it is nothing more than might reasonably be expected, -

[MS 718]

though the state of things are not what we most wish , yet there are many improvements going on in buildings [indecipherable] At present they have three new Chappels building at Tahiti, viz, one at Papara (The Kings residence) one at Papeete (on Wilks harbour) - & one at Taiabu, (at Mr Crooks) they build them of an oval form about 100 feet long & about 50 ft wide - with the walls wattled & plastered - & wool shutters & blind, - & thatched very neatly indeed, - Many of the Chiefs & others have got very neat [houses?] built in the same way - so that in a few years the outward appearance of things will be much improved. - At Enneo [Oeno?] things, are about the same as at Tahiti - we have got good houses for ourselves, & many of the people are following our plan, [station?], [Papatoai?] (Roby, Place) - [indecipherable] is built of stone [indecipherable] each of the Coral rock - of an octagan plan 60 ft diamater within & will be a good building when finished - it has been [laid aside?] on account of other work for a [year?] & half or more. But the people have [indecipherable] their labours at it again & I hope to be able to attend to them now - the cotton factory has got [ready?] for starting. - -

[MS 719]

At [Hareaitu?] on the east side of Enneo, A noble building has been errected for the Mission School - Mr Osmond is the tutor, & a great deal has been done at the station in the [indecipherable] - - Built the large buildings for the school - the have built a new Chappel a very neat place which was opened for worship on the second Sunday of this month. Young [indecipherable] the [King?] & the rest of the family came over from Tahiti on purpose - Our new missionary and his wife - Mr & Mrs [Pritchard?] Mr [indecipherable] were present The months, of April & May are the vacation [indecipherable] [indecipherable] at present the children are all at home [indecipherable] there were 17 in the school when they broke up, and more is expected when the school reopens in June. Mr & Mrs Osmond & their three fine children were all well when we left them - but Mrs O expected to be confined every day - but we have all heard of [indecipherable] - - About a month ago there was one one of the greatest hurricanes that has been [indecipherable] in these islands since the missionaries came to them - it did much mischief about the neighbourhood of [Papasa?] in Tahiti & at Hareaitu in Enneo - it blew down many houses - & great numbers of trees - But it did not lash us being on the Lee side - -