Church Missionary House, London, Augt 3/19 Dear Mr Hall We acknowledged the receipt of your Letter of March 7th, and of your Journal from Decr 15/18 to Feby 24/19, in a Letter to Mr Kendall on July the 20th. The perusal of your Journal was a refreshment to our spirits, notwithstanding it contains some details of a painful nature. While it shall please God to prepare and keep your heart, as the contents of your Journal encourage us to hope that he has done, your walk will be consistent; and we doubt not, but your labours in His service will be successful. A close walk with God, much prayer, and constant watchfulness over your own heart, are, however, indispensable, in order to maintain the lively exercise of grace in your soul; and, we may add, the tokens of His presence and blessing, which he has graciously vouchsafed, constitute, of all others, the strongest obligations to such a course; and, at the same time, the most powerful stimulus steadily to pursue it. The case of Tooi shews, that when God, the means of grace, and our own hearts are neglected, the consequences are soon apparent in an altered spirit and conduct. May the grace of Christ be richly shed abroad in his heart, that “the power of godliness” may be revived in his soul, and manifest itself afresh by its inseparable and blessed effects! We mourn over Teeterree, and pray for him. We cannot give up the hope that God will visit him in mercy, “converting his soul.” How painful is the contrast between the conduct which you describe, and his own feelings, as expressed in his Letter to Mr Bickersteth when on the point of embarking for New Zealand. (Decr. 14/18) “I am very sorry I go away, and leave you behind. When I get home to my country I remember you and all kind friends in England; & I tell my Countryman, how Englishman pray for New Zealandman.” [f] “I hope Jesus Christ will go along with me.” “When I get home to my country I pray for Englishmen, & Englishmen pray for me.: “Hope Jesus Christ will help Missionary to take away from New Zealandmen bad heart & give new heart.” We have joyfully related the hopeful dispositions with which he left us; now we must declare the disappointment of our raised expectations; and that by his own pride, obstinacy and self-will. May the God of all grace “open his heart” to your reproofs and entreaties, & make him a partaker of his saving mercy, and an instrument of conveying spiritual blessings to his benighted Countrymen! The Committee are highly pleased with the labours bestowed, by you and your Colleagues, on the Convicts &c on board the “Baring”. It is one of the best tests of real religious principle, promptly and faithfully to improve those opportunities of usefulness, which God, in His providence, brings in our way: And they cannot withhold their commendation of the affectionate solicitude, with which you have watched over Tooi and Teeterree, and laboured to win their souls to Christ. We request you will continue to keep your Journal with the same care; and transmit copies of it, from time to time, as opportunity offers. Remember us kindly to Tooi and Teeterree. We shall hope to hear from them. Praying that every needful grace and blessing may be richly vouchsafed, We remain, Dear Sir, Your affectionate friends (Signed) Josiah Pratt Edwd Bickersteth