hich came to their hands not long before
they left the Islands. The first is from John Rowntree, and is dated the
13th of the First Month, 1834.

On my own account, and on behalf of the Friends of our Monthly Meeting, I
feel grateful for the information respecting your proceedings. There is
some difficulty in satisfying the eager anxiety of my friends to know all
that is to be known about your engagements, and I may truly say that the
kind interest which you feel about us is reciprocal. Often do I picture
you to myself, laboring in your Master's cause, receiving as
fellow-partakers of the same grace all whose hearts have been touched
with a sense of his love, who are hoping to experience salvation through
Him alone.

Our reading meetings are pretty well attended this winter. We have been
reading James Backhouse's journal: he was still engaged, when he sent the
last account of his proceedings, in Van Diemen's Land. Like you, he and
his companion rejoice at meeting with those to whom, although not exactly
agreeing with us in some respects, they can give the right hand of
fellowship as laborers under the same Master. Like you, too, they devote
considerable attention to the improvement of schools, and the improvement
of the temporal condition of the poorer classes among whom they labor.

In a letter from William Allen, written the 31st of the Third Month, occur
the following words of encouragement:--

I have heard, through letters to your relations and others, that you have
been much discouraged at not finding a more ready entrance for your gospel
message; but really, considering the darkness; the sensuality, and the
superstition of the people in those parts, we must not calculate upon much
in the beginning. If here and there one or two are awakened and
enlightened, they may be like seed sown, and in the Divine Hand become
instruments for the gathering of others. Should you be made the means of
accomplishing this, in only a very few instances, it will be worth all
your trials and sufferings. And again, you must consider that, in the
performance of your duty, seed may be sown even _unknown by you_,
which may take root, and grow, and bring forth fruit to the praise of the
Great Husbandman, though you may never hear of it. Be encouraged
therefore, dear friends, to go on from day to day in simple reliance on
your Divine Master, without undue anxiety for consequences; for depend
upon it, when he has no more work for you