take a good deal to shake their confidence in us.  At the same time it was and is a matter of great regret that I did not at once follow up the openings of the former year, and by returning again to the New Hebrides and Solomon Islands (as in the contemplated six months’ voyage I intended to do), strengthen the good feeling now existing.  Moreover, many scholars who were here last year would have come again had I revisited them and picked them up again.  But the Mota sickness, the weather, and Mr. Tilly’s illness made it more prudent to return by what is on the whole the shorter route, i.e., to the west of New Caledonia.

’You should have been with me when, as I jumped on shore at Mota, I took Paraskloi’s father by the hand.  That dear lad I baptized as he lay in his shroud in the chapel, when the whole weight of the trial seemed, as it were, by a sudden revelation to manifest itself, and thoroughly overwhelmed and unnerved me.  I got through the service with the tears streaming down my cheeks, and my voice half choked.  He was his father’s pride, some seventeen years old.  A girl ready chosen for him as his wife.  “It is all well, Bishop, he died well.  I know you did all you could, it is all well.”  He trembled all over, and his face was wet with tears; but he seemed strangely drawn to us, and if he survives this present epidemic, his son’s death may be to him the means in God’s hands of an eternal life.  Most touching, is it not, this entire confidence?

’At Aruas, the small island close to Valua, from which dear Sosaman came, it was just the same; rather different at the west side of Vanua Lava, where they did not behave so well, and where (as I heard afterwards) there had been some talk of shooting me; but nothing occurred while I was on shore with them to alarm me.

’At Ambrym I landed with Talsil (Joval, from the same place, had died), a great crowd, all friendly, walked into the village and sat down, speechifying by the principal man, a presentation to me of a small pig; but such confidence that this man came back with me on board, where I gave him presents.  I much wished to land at Taman’s place, but could not do so, though I tried twice, without causing great delay.

’I could have brought away any number of scho1ars from almost any of these islands, probably from all.  I have great reason to regret not having revisited Ambrym and other islands, but I think that a year hence, if alive, I may feel that it is better as it is.

’These Norfolk Islanders, four of them, I take as my children, for I can’t fairly charge them (except Edwin Nobbs) to the Mission, and I wish to give Norfolk Island some help, as it is really, though not by letters patent, part of my charge.  Edwin Nobbs is a thoroughly good fellow, and Fisher Young is coming on very well.

’Now, my dearest Joan, good-bye.  My hats will come no doubt in good time, my present chapeau is very seedy, very limp and crooked and battered; as near green as black almost—­a very good advertisement of the poverty of the Mission.  But if I go about picking up gold in Australia, I shall come out in silk cassock and all the paraphernalia—­very episcopal indeed!