A second time he brought forward his proposal, but again without success.  Was he then to be beaten?  Far from it.  He would change his tactics, however.  He would first set himself to show what could be done by native efforts; he would travel about, wherever he found a road, and after inquiries, settle native agents far and wide.  The plan had only to be tried, under God’s blessing, to succeed.  Here again we trace the Providence that shaped his career.  Had his wishes been carried into effect, he might have spent his life training native agents, and doing undoubtedly a noble work:  but he would not have traversed Africa; he would not have given its death-blow to African slavery; he would not have closed the open sore of the world, nor rolled away the great obstacle to the evangelization of the Continent.

Some glimpses of his Mabotsa life may be got from a letter to his mother (14th May, 1845).  Usually his letters for home were meant for the whole family and addressed accordingly; but with a delicacy of feeling, which many will appreciate, he wrote separately to his mother after a little experience of married life: 

“I often think of you, and perhaps more frequently since I got married than before.  Only yesterday I said to my wife, when I thought of the nice clean bed I enjoy now, ’You put me in mind of my mother; she was always particular about our beds and linen.  I had had rough times of it before.’...

“I cannot perceive that the attentions paid to my father-in-law at home have spoiled him.  He is, of course, not the same man he formerly must have been, for he now knows the standing he has among the friends of Christ at home.  But the plaudits he received have had a bad effect, and tho’ not on his mind, yet on that of his fellow-laborers.  You, perhaps, cannot understand this, but so it is.  If one man is praised, others think this is more than is deserved, and that they, too (’others,’ they say, while they mean themselves), ought to have a share.  Perhaps you were gratified to see my letters quoted in the Chronicle.  In some minds they produced bitter envy, and if it were in my power, I should prevent the publication of any in future.  But all is in the Lord’s hands; on Him I cast my care.  His testimony I receive as it stands—­He careth for us.  Yes, He does; for He says it, who is every way worthy of credit.  He will give what is good for me.  He will see to it that all things work together for good.  Do thou for me, O Lord God Almighty!  May his blessing rest on you, my dear mother....

“I received the box from Mr. D. The clothes are all too wide by four inches at least.  Does he think that aldermen grow in Africa?  Mr. N., too, fell into the same fault, but he will be pleased to know his boots will be worn by a much better man—­Mr. Moffat.  I am not an atom thicker than when you saw me....

“Respecting the mission here,