’It was a most impressive service.  The dear Primate looking worn and somewhat aged, very full of feeling; the two most advanced, George and Henry, in their surplices, reading the Lessons; the nine candidates looking so reverent and grave, yet not without self-possession.

’As he signed each one with the sign of the Cross, his left hand resting on the head of each, the history of the Mission rushed into my mind, the fruit of the little seed be sowed when, eight years ago, he thought it wisest not to go ashore at Mota, and now more than twenty Christians of the Banks Islands serve God with prayers night and day.

’What would you have thought, if you could have been there?  Our little chapel looked nice with the red hangings and sandal-wood lectern.

’Then we had a quiet cup of tea, and the old and new baptized party had a quiet talk with me till 8.30, when I sent them away.

’And then after an hour I was alone.  That I should have been already five years a Bishop, and how much to think of and grieve over, something too to be thankful for.  Perhaps after all, dear Edwin and Fisher stand out most clearly from all the many scenes and circumstances.

’And now what is to come?  This move to Norfolk Island?  Or what?” Something,” you say; “perhaps in time showing the Governor that the Melanesians are not so very wild.”  But it is another Governor; and so far from the Melanesians being wild, it is expressly on the ground that the example of the school will be beneficial that I am asked to go!

‘Tell all who may care to know it about our St. Matthias’ Day, I must give myself the pleasure of writing one line to Mr. Keble.  I won’t write many lest I weary him, dear good man.  I like to look at his picture, and have stuck the photograph of Mr. and Mrs. Keble which Charlotte Yonge sent me into the side of it.  How I value his prayers and thoughts for us all!

’Your loving brother,

’J.  C. P.

’P.S.—­No terms of full communion between the Home and the Colonial Church can be matter of Parliamentary legislation.  It is the “One Faith, One Lord,” that binds us together; and as for regulating the question of colonially ordained clergy ministering in English dioceses, you had better equalise your own Church law first for dealing with an Incumbent and a Curate.’

’Auckland:  Tuesday in Holy Week.

’My dear Uncle,—­I have long owed you a letter, but I have not written because I have had an unusual time of distraction.  Now, all my things being on board the " Southern Cross,” I am detained by a foul wind.  We can do nothing till it changes; and I am not sorry to have a few quiet hours, though the thought of a more than usually serious separation from the dear Primate and Mrs. Selwyn, Sir William and Lady Martin, hangs over my head rather gloomily.  Still I am convinced, as far as I can be of such matters, that this move to Norfolk Island is good for the Mission on the whole.  It has its drawbacks, as all plans have, but the balance is decidedly in favour of Norfolk Island as against New Zealand.  I have given reasons at length for this opinion in letters to Joan and Fan, and also, I think, to Charlotte Yonge, who certainly deserves to know all my thoughts about it.