as having irrevocably forfeited through my long negligence. For, though I have hitherto hardly found any leisure, as I would have wished, for writing to you, yet I have always found sufficient time for remembering you, and for carrying my wishes on your behalf before the throne of Sovereign Disposer of events, with prayers for your personal happiness and welfare, as well as also for prosperity and an abundant success in the discharge of your many benevolent and arduous duties; and I can truly venture to say that in this I have never been neglectful. Often, indeed, have you been in our thoughts here, and often has your name been mentioned here by my dear wife, as well as by myself; and many a time have we both mutually indulged in the fond or pleasant hope of seeing you you unexpectedly step in, and as an old beloved friend and visitor, take your seat amongst us by our homely fireside; until now our hopes in this respect, have, not without our regret, been in vain; but still they continue as strong and lively as ever to make us look forward to some time or other when they shall be realised, and then that will be joyful! Many a happy season have you and I spent together in familiar converse. They are gone past! but they will never, never be forgotten. If ever they should return, I indeed would hail them with the freshest welcome; but if circumstances, or distance of space, over which we have no control, should render them henceforth rare, or even entirely impossible, happy hours of bygone days will always to continue to live in my recollection; and whilst the reflections of of pleasures past afford enjoyment at every pleasant moment, that friendship of ours, from which they originally sprang forth, and upon which they are based, will ever, I trust, notwithstanding our personal separation, and notwithstanding the various circumstances by which we are guided or controled, in our respective callings and occupations, maintain its old love and warm-hearted character. May then, also, our correspondial intercourse occasionally be impeded by unavoidable hindrances, it will never entirely die away; nor will the sympathetic interest, which we have ever been wont in each other's welfare, ever cease, as long as our life's day shall last. I have often been wondering where you really are, and with what success your labours are crowned. But I have never been able to get any positive information in these respects. However I hope you are right well and happy, and that you are succeeding in your work to your heart's satisfaction. Thank God, we have been, and still continue to be happy here. For although the natives here do their best to make our life here amongst them, as unpleasant and trying as they can, and to render it impossible for us to enjoy even such little comforts and happiness, though we have to derive it almost entirely from the only resources of our mutual affection and help. But this makes it in the end all the sweeter to us, and at the same time keeps us from being too much under obligations to the natives. I have indeed great cause to be thankful that I have got a wife, whilst on the one hand she is to me all I could wish, is, on the other hand, so well adapted for the station and situation which has fallen to het lot to occupy. Thus she is indeed a double treasure to me. Our little William is already past the tenth month of his age. He is a strong and healthy child, and is thriving fast. For some time already he has been crawling about on the floor; and is now every day, making resolute attempts to stand erect on his own legs, as a further preliminary for walking. His first four teeth, which are now all fairly through, he has cut without any particular inconvenience. In fact, I am glad to say, he has never yet been seriously ill. Being so very healthy and hearty as he is, he is much disposed to be very noisy and obstreperous too; not however, (fortunately) so much by way of crying as much rather by way of a loud and unintelligible sort of talking; which, though it often rather disturbs the peace and quiet of the house, is, for all that, very pleasing and amusing to us. Our Station here, (small as it is), is now in a very decent order, and exhibits, on the whole, a comfortable and homely aspect. Our dwelling-house is not over-large, yet it is large enough for out present wants; and moreover, affords sufficient room for entertaining an occasional visitor. Our garden, (about one acre of ground), is all fenced in, and is divided into orchard, flower, and vegetable garden. We had some fruit last year already from several of our trees, and hope to have more next forthcoming season. The only thing I lament is that we can get no land for fields or pastures; and especially that even