’Kohimarama.  Anchored on October 8, after an absence of exactly six weeks; all well on board and ashore.

’Thanks be to God for so many mercies.  The mail is gone, and alas! all my letters and newspapers were sent off a few days since in the “Brisk” to Norfolk Island.  We passed each other.  They did not expect me back so soon, so I have no late news, and have no time to read newspapers.

’May God bless you, my dear Cousin,

’Your affectionate Cousin,
‘J.  C. Patteson.’

In spite of this deep veneration for Mr. Keble and for his teachings, Bishop Patteson did not embrace to the full the doctrine which had been maintained in ‘Eucharistic Adoration,’ and which he rightly perceived to lie at the root of the whole Ritualistic question.  His conclusions had been formed upon the teachings of the elder Anglican divines, and his predilections for the externals of worship upon the most reverent and beautiful forms to which he had been accustomed before he left home.

After an All Saints’ Communion, the following letter was written:—­

‘All Saints’ Day, 1866.

’My dear Cousin,—­You know why I write to you on this day.  The Communion of Saints becomes ever a more and more real thing to us as holy and saintly servants of God pass beyond the veil, as also we learn to know and love more and more our dear fellow-labourers and fellow-pilgrims still among us in the flesh.

’Such a day as this brings, thanks be to God, many calm, peaceful memories with it.  Of how many we may both think humbly and thankfully whose trials and sorrows are over for ever, whose earthly work is done, who dwell now in Paradise and see His Face, and calmly wait for the great consummation.  To you the sense of personal loss must be now—­it will always be—­mixed up with the true spirit of thankfulness and joy; but remember that as they greatly helped you, so you in no slight measure have received from God power to help others, a trust which I verily believe you are faithfully discharging, and that the brightness of the Christian life must be not lost sight of in our dealings with others, would we really seek to set forth the attractiveness of religion.

’I don’t mean that I miss this element in any of your writings; rather I am thankful to you because you teach so well how happiness and joy are the portion of the Christian in the midst of so much that the world counts sorrow and loss.  But I think that depression of mind rapidly communicates itself, and you must be aware that you are through your books stamping your mind on many people.