The note to his cousin Arthur written at this time thus ends:  ’We worked together once at Dresden.  Whatever we have acquired in the way of accomplishments, languages, love of art and music, everything brings us into contact with somebody, and gives us the power of influencing them for good, and all to the glory of God.’

Many were touched when, on the first Sunday in Lent, as Sir John Patteson was wont to assist in Church by reading the Lessons, it fell to him to pronounce the blessing of God upon the patriarch for his willing surrender of his son.

After all, the ‘Southern Cross’ was detected in leaking again, and as she was so small that the Mission party would have been most inconveniently crowded for so long a voyage, the Bishop was at length persuaded to relinquish his intention of sailing in her, and passages were taken for himself, Mrs. Selwyn, Mr. Patteson, and another clergyman, in the ‘Duke of Portland,’ which did not sail till the end of March, when Patteson was to meet her at Gravesend.

Thus he did not depart till the 25th.  ’I leave home this morning I may say, for it has struck midnight,’ he wrote to Miss Neill.  ’I bear with me to the world’s end your cross, and the memory of one who is bearing with great and long-tried patience the cross that God has laid upon her.’

He chose to walk to the coach that would take him to join the railway at Cullompton.  The last kisses were exchanged at the door, and the sisters watched him out of sight, then saw that their father was not standing with them.  They consulted for a moment, and then one of them silently looked into his sitting room, and saw him with his little Bible, and their hearts were comforted concerning him.  After that family prayers were never read without a clause for Missionaries, ‘especially the absent member of this family.’

He went up to his brother’s chambers in London, whence a note was sent home the next day to his father:—­

’I write one line to-night to tell you that I am, thank God, calm and even cheerful.  I stayed a few minutes in the churchyard after I left you, picked a few primrose buds from dear mamma’s grave, and then walked on.

’At intervals I felt a return of strong violent emotion, but I soon became calm; I read most of the way up, and felt surprised that I could master my own feelings so much.

’How much I owe to the cheerful calm composure which you all showed this morning!  I know it must have cost you all a great effort.  It spared me a great one.’

On the 27th the brothers went on board the ‘Duke of Portland,’ and surveyed the cabins, looking in at the wild scene of confusion sure to be presented by an emigrant ship on the last day in harbour.  A long letter, with a minute description of the ship and the arrangements ends with:  ’I have every blessing and comfort.  Not one is wanting.  I am not in any excitement, I think, certainly I do not believe myself to be in such a state as to involve a reaction of feeling.  Of course if I am seedy at sea for a few days I shall feel low-spirited also most likely, and miss you all more in consequence.  But that does not go below the surface.  Beneath is calm tranquil peace of mind.’