'November 17, 1857: St. John's College.

'My dear Miss Neill,--Thanks for your £21. 2s., and more thanks still
for your prayers and constant interest in this part of the world.
After nearly seventeen weeks at sea, we returned safely on Sunday
morning the 15th, with thirty-three Melanesians, gathered from nine
islands and speaking eight languages. Plenty of work for me: I can
teach tolerably in three, and have a smattering of one or two more.

'One is the wife of a young man, John Cho, an old scholar baptized.
His half-brother is chief of Lifu Isle, a man of great influence.
The London Mission (Independents) are leaving all their islands
unprovided with missionaries, and these people having been much more
frequently visited by the Bishop than by the "John Williams," turn to
him for help. By and by I will explain all this: at present no time.

'We visited sixty-six islands and landed eighty-one times, wading,
swimming, &c.; all most friendly and delightful; only two arrows shot
at us, and only one went near--so much for savages. I wonder what
people ought to call sandal-wood traders and slave-masters if they
call my Melanesians savages.

'You will hear accounts of the voyage from Fanny. I have a long
journal going to my father, but I can't make time to write at length
any more. I am up before five and not in bed before eleven, and you
know I must be lazy sometimes. It does me good. Oh! how great a
trial sickness would be to me! In my health now all seems easy.
Were I circumstanced like you, how much I should no doubt repine and