How can I grieve and sorrow about my dear dear Father’s blessed end? . . . I shall like the photograph of Hursley Vicarage and Church, the lawn and group upon it. But most shall I like to think that Mr. Keble, and I dare say Dr. Moberly too, pray for me and this Mission. I need the prayers of all good people indeed.

My dear Cousin,

I do not like to leave New Zealand without sending a line to you. We sail probably in a week or two for Melanesia, and I hope to make a long voyage among many islands, leaving Revs. Pritt, Kerr, and Dudley, some in one place and some in another (including native teachers), visiting them frequently, so as to remove them, if rendered desirable by fever, ague, or other causes.

You know my feeling about ... continue reading

My dear Cousin,

The ‘Southern Cross’ arrived safely this morning. Thanks to God!

What it is to us even you can hardly tell; I know not how to pour out my thankfulness. She seems admirably adapted for the work. Mr. Tilly’s report of her performance is most satisfactory: safe, fast, steers well, and very manageable. Internal arrangements very good; after cabin too luxurious, but then that may be wanted for sick folk, and as it is luxurious, ... continue reading

My dear Cousin,

This date, from this place, will surprise you. We returned yesterday, after a short voyage of only three months. I had arranged my plans for a long voyage, hoping to revisit all our known islands, and that more than once. We sailed to Norfolk Island, thence at once to Mota. I spent two days there, and left the Rev. L. Pritt in charge of the station; Mr. Palmer being with him and the ... continue reading

My dear Cousin, I returned on the 24th from Australia. I visited the dioceses of Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. Everywhere I met with great encouragement; and indeed, I thank God that (as I had hoped) the special work of the Mission became the means of exciting unusual interest in the work of the Church generally. It was a great opportunity, a great privilege in the crowded meetings to tell people face to face their duties, ... continue reading

I cannot but feel sorry that the Central African Mission is given up, though I am most willing to believe that it was unavoidable. How often, when it was started, have I heard my good and wise master say, ‘I feel most thankful that some attempt should be made, but I greatly fear some disaster.’ He meant that such expectations had been raised, and so much pressure was applied from behind, that some precipitate action ... continue reading

It was a great delight to me to receive a letter from Mr. Keble, by the February mail from England. How kind of him to write to me; and his words are such a help and encouragement.

I dare say I shall see Merivale’s Lectures soon. Nothing can well be so wonderful, as a proof of God’s hand controlling and arranging all the course of history to those who need it, as a subject for adoration ... continue reading

My dear Cousin, I write a line at once in reply to a letter of January 29, for I see that a great sorrow is hanging over you, is perhaps already fallen on you, and I would fain say my word of sympathy, possibly of comfort.

One, perhaps, of the great blessings that a person in my position enjoys is that he must perforce see through the present gloom occasioned by loss of present companionship on to ... continue reading

You know that I look upon the training up of native scholars as the real hope of something being done. But it is during the immediate stage that men of the right sort would be so valuable.

It is in my want of managing and organising an English staff far more than in my direct dealings with Melanesians that I am conscious of my great deficiencies, unfitness, in short, for the leader’s place. Think if [[person:929]Bishop ... continue reading

And so, my dear Cousin, the blow has fallen upon you, and dear Mr. and Mrs. Keble have passed away to their eternal rest. I found letters at Norfolk Island on October 2, not my April letters, which will tell me most about him, but my May budget.

How very touching the account is which my Uncle John sends me of dear Mrs. Keble, so thankful that he was taken first, so desirous to go, yet ... continue reading

My dear Cousin, You know why I write to you on this day. The Communion of Saints becomes ever a more and more real thing to us as holy and saintly servants of God pass beyond the veil, as also we learn to know and love more and more our dear fellow-labourers and fellow-pilgrims still among us in the flesh.

Such a day as this brings, thanks be to God, many calm, peaceful memories with it. Of ... continue reading

My dear Cousin, I enclose a note to Miss Mackenzie, thanking her for her book about Mrs. Robertson. It does one good to read about such a couple. I almost feel as if I should like to write a line to the good man. There was the real genuine love for the people, the secret of course of all missionary success, the consideration for them, the power of sympathy, of seeing with the eyes of others, ... continue reading

My dear Cousin, Our last New Zealand season, for it may be our last, draws near its close. On Monday, only two days hence, the ‘Southern Cross’ sails (weather permitting) with our first instalment. Mr. Palmer has got his house up, and they must stow themselves away in it, three whites and forty-five blacks, the best way they can. The vessel takes besides 14,000 feet of timber, 6,000 shingles for roofing, and boxes of books, &c., ... continue reading

My dear Cousin, One line to you to-day of Christmas feelings and blessings. Indeed, you are daily in my thoughts and prayers. You would have rejoiced could you have seen us last Sunday or this morning at 7 A.M. Our fourteen Melanesian Communicants so reverent, and (apparently) earnest. On Sunday I ordained Mr. Palmer Priest, Mr. Atkin and Mr. Brooke Deacons.

The service was a solemn one, in the Norfolk Island Church, the people joining heartily in ... continue reading

My dear Cousin, I write you a line: I have not time for more in addition to my other epistle, to tell you that I purpose to baptize, on Sunday next, eight Melanesian youths and one girl. You will, I know, thank God for this. Indeed I hope (though I say it with a kind of trembling and wonder) that a succession of scholars is now regularly established from the Banks Islands.

These nine are being closely ... continue reading

He has been with me for some years, always good and amiable; but too good-natured, too weak, so that he did not take a distinct line with his people. He is a person of some consequence in his neighbourhood. Now he gives all the proofs that can well be given of real sincerity. He wonders himself, as he contrasts his present with his former thoughts. I feel, humanly speaking, quite convinced that he is thoroughly ... continue reading

I add one line, my dear Cousin, to assure you of my prayers being offered for you, now more especially when a heavy trial is upon you and a deep sorrow awaiting you. May God comfort and bless you! Perhaps the full experience of such anxiety and the pressure of a constant weight may, in His good Providence, qualify you more than ever to help others by words put into your mouth out of your ... continue reading

My dear Cousin, I must write you a few lines, not as yet in answer to your very interesting letter about Mr. Keble and about Ritualism, &c., but about our great event of yesterday.

George Sarawia was ordained Deacon in our little chapel, in the presence of fifty-five Melanesians and a few Norfolk Islanders. With him Charles Bice, a very excellent man from St. Augustine’s, was ordained Deacon also. He has uncommon gifts of making himself thoroughly ... continue reading

My dear Marianne I have had a beautiful letter from Lady Martin, which I think you must see as well as Mrs. Moberly's equally beautiful comment on it. The palm and the white garment and the crystal sea seem to come like music back in answer to the 'Who knows' in the Lyra Innocentium! I have been living in it a great deal with the Wilsons who were at the Park, their hearts ... continue reading

There is a full detail of all that is known in a letter from Mr. Brooke in the new number of Mission Life . . . both bring out more of the pain and grief than the first, which rests on one like a vision of the crystal sea and the palm. But the sweet smile bears one on through it all. I go to Lichfield on Monday; ... continue reading

I am going to Lichfield from Monday to Saturday of next week - to talk and look over letters of our noble martyr with the Selwyns. I believe I am to manage the putting his life together but it will be more editing than writing. I seem to have thought of nothing but the wonderful symbolism of the work of those unconscious savages.

Your affectionate C M Yonge

My dear Sir William- Your letter has come on to me here. I came on Monday to be instructed respecting Bishop Patteson's life, which I am to try to draw up from the very full materials that his family and Bishop Selwyn can provide. I hope to return on Saturday.

Thank you for letting me see Mr. Faithfull's decision; I think he is wise to give his name, and so obtain the subscriptions of all his friends. ... continue reading

My dear Cousin Thank you for your note. The character you give dear Coley is I think almost exactly what Bishop Abraham, [in] the papers in St Luke’s Magazine, and his own letters, have been helping me to trace, but I am very glad of your confirmation of it. Can you remember anything about his giving a seal to Bishop Selwyn when he came to take leave at Eton before his first going out. ... continue reading

My dear Lord Bishop, I had been thinking of writing to you, if I could not meet you for some time past and the being asked to send you this card gives an impulse. I wanted to ask you whether you published - or have any record of a sermon which you preached at Eton on the 31st of October 1841, when Bishop Selwyn was taking leave for the first time. I am doing my ... continue reading

Dear Mr Richmond Could you and would you do me a great kindness? The charge of writing my cousin Bishop Patteson’s life has been given to me and I feel that a personal description of him as he was when he left England is much wanted. I do not recollect his appearance distinctly enough to judge between hearsays and it would be a great boon if you could set down for me what you ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Coleridge Alas, I have had so much Tyrol in the Monthly Packet as I am writing to tell Mrs Prichard I find no series of travels ever answers, people do not keep up their interest - though single papers succeed well.

I hope Bishop Patteson’s life will be out in a few week’s time. How soon do you return to Mapledurham for I should like my ‘Cousin Edward’ as he insists on my ... continue reading

My dear Miss Yonge, I have to thank you for your kindness in presenting me with a copy of your Life of Bishop Patteson which I assure you I regard as no ordinary favour; - with a still deeper feeling, however, for the book itself is a lasting benefit to the Christian world and I trust to the Heathendom yet to be reclaimed. He being dead still speaketh. Such an example will do ... continue reading

My dear Mr Archdeacon At last I return all the precious letters you lent me. I ought to have done so sooner

I have not been able to use many as they went so much on the same ground as the journal letters.

With many thanks Yours sincerely C M Yonge

Dear Mr Macmillan I am trying the abridging process upon Bishop Patteson, but I hope the latter part can wait to be reprinted till I get the corrections from the Mission itself.

I am much afraid that Lady Martin’s recollections about New Zealand, about which I wrote to you have been lost on the voyage. They were announced, and enquired after, but never appeared

I see the third volume of the Scripture Readings must stop with Daniel’s ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan I send the two vols of Bishop Patteson by train today, having done all the abridging that I think they will bear, I believe it is about 100pp in each volume, and a good many lines besides so that with smaller type and thinner paper I think it will be reduced enough.

Since I began this has come the enquiry after the author of the Children of the Forest or the Three Knights. I ... continue reading

Dear Mr Macmillan, This is all very satisfactory, thank you much. One thing more. Should not there be a facsimile of the autograph - I should like a page of that exquisitely neat distinct writing which never altered from the time it formed itself at Eton - and which spreads into sheets upon sheets of mine and yet I never stumble at a word.

I must put in a page with a list of the islands arranged ... continue reading

My dear Madam Pray thank Mrs Codrington very much for her kind present of Mota photographs I did not possess any of them before, though I have some of Norfolk island and Florida

yours truly C M Yonge

Dear Mr Craik ‘Enquiring friends’ kept me in such a whirl on Saturday from the moment I came home that I could not acknowledge the very agreeable parcel I found waiting me, which I need not say I was very glad to see. It is certainly a pleasant amount to look forward to and I see that it does not include the sum for the Abridged Edition of Bishop Patteson, any more than for Lady Hester.

I ... continue reading

My dear Mr Graves

I am afraid I must not take Second Fiddles though I am much obliged to you for it. We are changing our printing house, and I want to have only matters of necessity on my hands just now.

Mr Craik is going to send me a photograph of Bp Patteson’s sculpture. I hope we shall have it in the next edition.

yours sincerely C M Yonge

Dear Mr Craik

I enclose the receipt with many thanks for the cheque, also for Bp Patteson and the loan of Islam.

When I can, I should like to add to Bp Patteson that the mission has learnt the manner of his death, and that it was the women who placed his body in the canoe and sent it out to meet the boat. I have not a copy left of Pioneers and Founders, so could you ... continue reading

Dear Mr Craik

I send 4 chapters of the Story of the Moors I will send some more as soon as I have touched it up. I think you may reckon on 30 chapters - 22 are written and bring me to Peter the cruel, but the actual siege of Granada will take up a good deal of room

About the little French history, I went over and added to the sheets as far as I ... continue reading

My dear Fanny Yes, I think it is an excellent little paper and shews a good deal more knowledge of Sir Tristrem than I have, inasmuch as I have never got up Modern poems, and it is a good while since I poked in the ancient[.] I have a curious old Italian one printed in Italics called La Tavola Rotonda and with a good deal about Sir Tristram in it - which was bought ... continue reading

Sir I waited until I should have received the photographs to thank you for them. Most of them are beautiful impressions, that of the Hen and Chickens is superior to the copy in my possession, and I am extremely obliged for the kind manner in which you have sent them

your obt servt C M Yonge

My dear Cousin, I have received at length from my father a distinct statement of what you have given to the Melanesian Mission. I had heard rumours before, and the Bishop of Wellington had spoken to me of your intentions, but the fact had not been regularly notified to us.

I think I know you too well to say more than this. May God bless you for what you have lent to Him, and ... continue reading

Dear Mr Craik It was like old times to see your writing again. I have no doubt that it is right about Forget me nots but I see so many stories advertised even before they are really finished in their serials that I thought it was time to see about the matter. In fact it is a ‘goody story’ only about school mistresses and quite short. I think it might in time be ... continue reading