’Your affectionate and grateful friend,

‘G.  A. New Zealand.’

By the same mail Patteson himself wrote to Miss Neill:—­

’If it please God to give us some few native teachers from Bauro and Grera, not to be sent before, but to go with or follow us (i.e.  Bishop and me), in a short time the word of God might be heard in many a grand wild island, resplendent with everything that a tropical climate and primeval forests, etc., can bestow, and thickly populated with an intelligent and, as I imagine, tolerably docile race, of whom some are already “stretching out their hands unto God.”

’All these Solomon Islanders here would answer questions about Christianity as well, perhaps, as children of nine or ten years old in England.  Some seem to feel that there is a real connection between themselves and what they are taught, and speak of the love of God in giving Jesus Christ to die for them, and say that God’s Holy Spirit alone can enlighten their dark hearts.

’That beautiful image of light and darkness seems common to all nations.  The regular word used by the Nengone people, who are far more advanced in Christian knowledge and practice, for all heathen places is “the dark lands.”

’On Sunday week, February 22, we had a deeply interesting service in the College chapel at 7.15 P.M., just as the English world was beginning its Sunday.  Simeona and his infant boy of four weeks and three days old were baptized.  The College chapel was nicely lighted, font decorated simply.  I read the service in Nengone, having had all hands at work setting the types and printing on Friday and Saturday.  The Bishop took the part of the service which immediately precedes the actual baptism, and baptized them both—­first the father, by the name of George Selwyn, then the baby, by the name of John Patteson.  This was the special request of the parents, and as it is my dear Father’s name, how could I object?  He is, of course, my godson, and a dear little fellow he is.  At the end of my sermon, I added a few words to “George,” and besought the prayers of the Nengone people for him and his child.  We have now four regular communicants among them--Wadrokala, Mark (Kainwhat), Carry and Sarah.  George is baptized, and baby; and Sarah’s child, Lizzy, I baptized long ago.  In about two months (D.  V.), we are off for a good spell of four or five months among the islands, taking back this party, though some of them will, by and by, rejoin us again, I hope.’

The plan of starting in April for a four or five months’ cruise was disconcerted, as regarded Bishop Selwyn, by the delay of Bishop Harper and the Archdeacons in arriving for the intended Synod, which was thus put off till May, too wintry a month for the Melanesians to spend in New Zealand.  After some doubt, it was decided that Mr. Patteson should make a short voyage, for the mere purpose of returning his scholars to their homes, come back to Auckland, and make a fresh start when the Bishop was ready.