scarcely
able to walk without the crutches, we called privately a preliminary
meeting of friends for consultation and advice. The conditions were laid
before them and discussed. The Insurance Company had paid L2000 on the
first _Dayspring_. Of that sum L1000 had been spent on chartering and
maintaining the _Paragon;_ so that we required an additional L2000 to
purchase her, according to Dr. Steel's bargain with the owners, besides
a large sum for alterations and equipment for the Mission. The late Mr.
Learmouth looked across to Mr. Goodlet, and said, "If you'll join me, we
will at once secure this vessel for the Missionaries, that God's work
may not suffer from the wreck of the _Dayspring_."

Those two servants of God, excellent Elders of the Presbyterian Church,
consulted together, and the vessel was purchased next day. How I did
praise God, and pray Him to bless them and theirs! The late Dr.
Fullarton, our dear friend, said to them, "But what guarantee do you ask
from the Missionaries for your money?"

Mr. Learmouth's noble reply was, and the other heartily re-echoed
it--"God's work is our guarantee! From them we will ask none. What
guarantee have they to give us, except their faith in God? That
guarantee is ours already."

I answered, "You take God and His work for your guarantee. Rest assured
that He will soon repay you, and you will lose nothing by this noble
service."

Having secured St. Andrew's Church for a public meeting, I advertised it
in all the papers. Ministers, Sabbath School Teachers, and other friends
came in great numbers. The scheme was fairly launched, and Collecting
Cards largely distributed. Committees carried everything out into
detail, and all worked for the fund with great goodwill.

I then sailed from Sydney to Victoria, and addressed the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in session at Melbourne. The work
was easily set agoing there, and willing workers fully and rapidly
organized it through Congregations and Sabbath Schools. Under medical
advice, I next sailed for New Zealand in the S. S. _Hero_, Captain
Logan. Reaching Auckland, I was in time to address the General Assembly
of the Church there also. They gave me cordial welcome, and every
Congregation and Sabbath School might be visited as far as I possibly
could. The Ministers promoted the movement with hearty zeal. The Sabbath
Scholars took Collecting Cards for "shares" in the New Mission Ship. A
meeting was held every day, a