’I imagine that we, the clergy, are chiefly to blame, for not only not protesting against, but most contentedly acquiescing in such a state of things.  You ask now for something really demanding a sacrifice.  “I can’t afford it.”  “What, not to rescue that village from starvation? not to enable that good man to preach the Gospel to people only accessible by means of such an outlay on his vessel, &c.?  Give up your carriage, your opera box; don’t have so many grand balls, &c.  “Oh no! it is all a corban to the genius of society.

’Now, is this Scriptural or not, my dear father?  I don’t mean that any individual is justified in dictating to his neighbour, still less in condemning him.  But are not these the general principles of religion and morality in the Bible?  There are duties to society:  but a good man will take serious counsel as to what they are, and how far they may be militating against higher and holier claims.

’August 24.—­Why I wrote all this, my dearest father, I hardly know, only I feel sure that unless men at home can, by taking real pains to think about it, realise the peculiar circumstances of colonial life, they will never understand any one of us.

’I have written Fan a note in which I said something about my few effects if I should die.

’One thing I should like to say to you, not as venturing to do more than let you be in full possession of my own mind on the matter.  Should I die before you die, would it be wrong for me to say, “Make the Melanesian Mission my heir”?

’It may be according to the view which generally obtains that the other three should then divide my share.  But now I would take what may seem the hard view of which I have been writing, and say, “They have enough to maintain them happily and comfortably.”  The Mission work without such a bequest will be much endangered.  I feel sure that they would wish it to be so, for, of course, you know that this large sum of which you write will be, if I survive you, regarded simply as a bequest to the Mission in which I have a life interest, and the interest of which, in the main, would be spent on the Mission.

’But I only say plainly, without any reserve, what I have thought about it; not for one moment putting up my opinion against yours, of course, in case you take a contrary view.

’We sail, I hope, to-morrow, but the Bishop is more busy than ever.

’Again, my dearest Father,

’Your loving and dutiful Son,

‘J.  C. Patteson.’

The history of this voyage was, as usual, given in a long letter for the Feniton fireside; but there was a parallel journal also, kept for the Bishop of Wellington, which is more condensed, and, therefore, better for quotation.

The manner in which the interest in, and connection with all English friends and relations was kept up is difficult to convey, though it was a very loveable part of the character.  Little comments of condolence or congratulation, and messages of loving remembrance to persons mentioned by playful names, would only be troublesome to the reader; but it must be taken for granted that every reply to a home packet was full of these evidences that the black children on a thousand isles had by no means driven the cousins and friends of youth from a heart that was enlarged to have tenderness for all.