Ship Baring Feby 21th 1819
Island of St. Jago
Revd & Dear Sir
   With heartfelt gratitude to the God and Father of our Lord jesus Christ; the God of grace, and of all comfort, through his mercy I have to announce to you that we are all in good health at this time (except Sister Kemp) who is very poorly she is weak in body, but I rejoice to say, she is a little better this morning, prayer is made for her continually, the Lord has heard our prayers in times past, and literally fulfilled them, and we still trust, that according to his tender mercy, he will yet hear our petitions, and restore her to perfect health. We sailed from the Downs on the 27th Jany [18]19 after experiencing a very heavy Gale for two preceeding [sic] days and nights, our Ship surged her Anchor and drifted a Mile and half. Several ships received much damage, but the Lord protected us, and we praise and bless his Holy Name, through Jesus Christ, for all his mercies and compassions towards us his unworthy servants. We had another heavy Gale in the Channel on Thursday night Feby 28, the Boom of our ship went overboard, and we received some other trifling damage. Janry 30. the weather became very fine and has continued so ever since. We distributed [f] 48 Testaments among the Sailors, Soldiers and Convicts on the 5th Feby. Sunday 7th Feby we had Divine Service on eck. Soldiers & Sailors under Arms, we delivered 300 tracts to the Convicts after Service. In the evening (as usual) we had Divine Service in Mr Halls Cabin. Myself and the Revd Cross administered the Holy Sacrament to eleven communicants. Wednesday Morning 10th Feby. Porto Santo was in sight at six Oclock, At 10 we saw the high Land of Madeira above the Clouds, we arrived at Funshal the Capital of Madeira at 5 Oclock in the evening. Cap[t]ain Lamb, with four others went on shore, to purchase Wine, fruit, & other business. It was thought advisable that we should purchase some Fruit for our party. Mr Kemp and myself went on this expedition in company with Mr & Mrs Cross and an officer of the guard. It was quite dark when we got on shore, and we found we were under the necessity of stopping all night as no boats are permitted to leave the shore after Sun set. Next morning we went to Captain Lamb at the House of Messrs Blackburns British Merchants he informed us we might remain on shore until two Oclock. We wished to embrace this opportunity of seeing the town and adjacent country we had a Portugese [sic] for our guide and interpreter after going through several parts of the town [f] we went to St Peters Church, and from thence we went up into the Mountains, which are full of Vines Orange trees, Lemons &c, we went also to see a Church dedicated to Stg Mary. Called St Mary in the Monk [?] We returned into the town at 12 OCK, and found brother Hall, Tooi, Tetteree, & Saml Butler at our Inn, called the British Hotel, Mr Hall informd me Captain Lamb had alterd his mind, and had determined to stop a day or two longer and take in water for the Ships Company. It was therefore determined that Mr Kemp should go on board to our wifes, and the rest of us remain on shore. We all wished much to go up into the Mountains. Nexct Morning— We engaged 5 Horses for this purpose, the Horses are about the size of our English Ponies, they are very sure footed and climb the rough & craggy mountains with great certainty. Mr Hall (with his accustomed Philanthropy paid the expence, (with many other things) out of his own purse. He also bought Tooi and Tetteree some light garments for the hot weather. We bought our fruit &c and returned on board on Friday morning much gratified— We sailed from Madeira on Saturday with a very fine breze [sic]. Sunday 14th Feby we had Divine Service on deck in the Morning. Mr Halls cabin in the evening, several Sailors attended [f]
   Monday 15th we saw the Canary islands, & Peak of Teneriffe. We have had a fine breze [sic] all this week and reached the island of St Jago Sunday Feby 21th I now turn to another and very pleasing part of my letter, that is to inform you that we have established a School  among the poor Convicts we have already 70 Scholars, Men and Boys. They are all very attentive and obedient. P/I am persuaded that the Lord has many precious souls in this ship , many for whom Christ died, and believe there is a great work to be done in this ship in name [sic] and through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we pray the Lord to make us the humble instruments in hand of accomplishing it. We endeavour to share the the [sic] labour and unitedly pray for success In speaking to them from 5 & 6 St Matthew, of the love of God in jesus Christ, several shed many tears, It is delightful to see the sailors, several of them readin g their Testaments when off duty. One in particular begged of us to hear him read the word of God daily. We earnestly request your prayers for us, that our Lord Jesus Christ may enable us to glorify him with our bodies and souls which are his— [f] Our dear friend Mr Hall is very diligent in endeavouring to instruct Tooi & Tetteree in English and especially in the knowledge and love of our Lord Jesus Christ and of their need of him as a Saviour the only hope of lost sinners. We devote some part of every day (or nearly) to the acquirement of the New Zealand Language in which which [sic] we find much difficulty, but we shall do the best we can. Some of the sailors have expressed a desire to attend our evening prayers, this gave me much pleasure, I told them we should be happy to see them at any time, and that I should be happy at all times to instruct any of them in the knowledge and fear of God. It [is] a matter of the greatest joy and comfort to us, that it hath pleased our gracious God to restore our dear friend Tooi to perfect health, we have reason to hope that his afflictions have been sanctified to him, and that the Lord has begun awork [sic] of grace in [his] soul, may he in mercy purfect [sic] it until the day of Christ. I forgot to mention one Convict in particular [f] in the name of Davis. This man I believe is a true Christian, he has a Bible that was given him when on board the Hulk at Sheerness. He related to me his first hearing the truth to any saving purpose, it was on board the Hulk at that place— about 7 months since. He related his history with tears in his eyes, acknowledged the justice of his sentence, and said, it is amercy [sic] that I am out of hell. He repeated part of the 34” 37” & 103 Psalms and the Gospel of St. John he said was very precious to him. He pulled out of his pocket an hymn book pointed to several precious hymns. I have since had oppurtunity [sic] of reading and conversing with him several times, may the Lord make it ablessing [sic] to him and we. Tooi, Tetterree, Mr Hall Mr & Mrs Kemp Myself and family, join in sincere love to you & your family Rev Mr Bickersteth and his spouse and all friends,
   Dr Sir I am ever faithfully your
   Ob[edien]t Serv[an]t
   Jno Butler