Mary Crook's Letters, 1822-23

from the Hassall Family Correspondence, Vol. 2 (Mitchell Library)

Mary Crook, Tahiti to Rev. T. Hassell, 10 Oct. 1822
(Hassall Family Correspondence, Vol. 2, pp. 495-497)

Mount Hope, Tahiti, Oct. 10 1822
My dear Sir,

I received your kind letter for which I felt obliged to you - You must think me very negligent in not writing before, but I can assure you no opportunity has offered till the present which I embrace with pleasure - I was, as you expected a little surprised at receiving a letter from you, especially as you did not come to . . . might after the Ship came in. We were glad to hear afterwards of your safe arrival in the Colony. You say you suppose I have almost forgotten you; me, Dear Sir, I can assure you I have not, nor any of your dear family. I often think of the pleasure I felt in the society of your sisters though we were then but children and many of the pleasing scenes that I beheld while we were in Port Jackson are as fresh in my memory as though I had witnessed them but yesterday. We all through mercy enjoy a pretty good share of health and we have certainly met with less trials than many Missionaries familys [sic] experience. We of course have not been entirely exempt from them, that is more than any one can expect in this world of Sin, and consequently of troubles and trials. - I will now endeavour to answer the question you put to me in your letter; you ask if I have put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness which he wrought out for us etc. I reply that I often doubt whether I have or not, but it is my sincere desire and prayer to God that I may be clothed in that precious robe. My own righteous [sic] I know is as filthy rags before God. Though I cannot be so certain as Peter was of his Love of the Lord yet I trust I have some love to him and it is my greatest grief that I love him so little.

Perhaps you would like to hear a little more of our family. There is now nine of us, Rebecca and Lydia the 2 last were born here. We are situated on an hill in a pleasant part of the Island not far from the sea shore and we have our health much better than before we lived on the hill. There is no Missionary on the spot with us but there is one station about 4 miles to the right of us and an other 9 miles to the left and we are very frequently visited by Ships so that we have Society enough both European and Tahitian. - I think you enquire after Mr G. Bicknell in your letter. I am sorry to say he is in a very sad state of health and has been for some time past. The loss of his Uncle with some other light trials seemed to increase his indisposition. Mrs B’s son Thomas Scott has stayed with us these 2 years. Father took him in order to instruct him. - The Familys of the Missionaries are increasing very fast. There are at present about 50 children. O that they may be a seed to serve the Lord but if they become a grief and a reproach to the people of God as some have, it has been better if they had never been born. - As my paper is now nearly full I must think of concluding. My Father and Mother, and all the family join with me in affectionate regards to Yourself your dear Mother and all the family.

I remain Dear Sir,
Yours sincerely,
Mary Crook

Mary Crook, Hope Town, Tahiti to Rev. T. Hassell, Sept 1823
Hassall Family Correspondence, Vol. 2, pp. 643-6 (Mitchell Library)

My dear Sir,
The receipt of your letter afforded me much pleasure but the perusal of it caused various sensations in my mind. I felt, as may be expected, rather uneasy, on finding that reports had been circulated to our disadvantage but, I felt grateful to you Sir, for your kindness in inquiring into those reports. I also felt anxious to know the particulars of the reports hinted.

I am not anxious that any of our family have been guilty of . . . either immoral a pitable or uncivil. Almost the greatest trials we have experienced during our residence in these Island have been of that nature. Reports have been circulated and believed by friends without any inquiries respecting the truth of them; those persons have avoided us and thus our Missionary friends have appeared to be our greatest enemies they can come repeatedly . . . to visit the Ships in the harbour and return without even calling on us. That however we are at present on friendly terms with all the Missionaries except two or three.

Port Jackson is certainly a most notorious place for slander, but the greater part of the Error that have been visited these Islands are equal to them in that respect when a Vessell arrives here from the Colony reports are almost instantly spread to the discredit of persons there and I imagine it is the same when a Ship from here returns to the Colony.

I will now relate a circumstance which I doubt not will surprise you. A Master of a Vessell now about these Islands (perhaps I may mention his name) Capt. Charleton, now a most violent enemy of my Father’s and indeed of many other here, he mentioned in pro.. several times here that you had previous to his coming here cautioned him not to visit our family as ours was a house of Slander but the person himself being such a notorious Slanderer we could not credit it for a moment. You will pardon my having said so much on the subject of slander but what I have committed . . . But let us remember that these and other things must turn all to good to those who love the Lord and hope they will to us. No one who sees the vanity of earthly enjoyments can wish to remain here for ever; here those who appear to be our real friends may at the same moment be our most bitter enemy. The best actions are construed into the most vile; and here the best of characters are despised and ill treated. it is made thus to nto our continuing . . we seek and find the one to come.

I have written largely to your Sister Eliza she will probably acquaint you with any intelligence you are not acquainted with. Father, Mother, Sister Hannah etc. join me in cordially remembering to yourself, Mrs H. and the whole of your family. And I remain with esteem dear Sir Yours etc

Mary Crook