’But I know that if God gives me grace to become more simple-minded and humble, He will order even this aright.  You I know will pray more than ever for me.  My kindest regards to Mrs. Keble; I hope she is better.

’Your affectionate and grateful young Friend,

‘J.  C. Patteson, Missionary Bishop.’

Before the first joy of the arrival was over, ere the ’Southern Cross’ could make her first voyage among the multitude of isles, a great calamity had fallen upon St. Andrew’s.  Whether it was from the large numbers, or the effect of the colder climate, or from what cause could not be told, but a frightful attack of dysentery fell upon the Melanesians, and for several weeks suffering and death prevailed among them.  How Bishop Patteson tended them during this time can be better guessed than described.

Archdeacon Lloyd, who came to assist in the cares of the small party of clergy, can find no words to express the devotion with which the Bishop nursed them, comforting and supporting them, never shrinking from the most repulsive offices, even bearing out the dead silently at night, lest the others should see and be alarmed.

Still no mail, except during the voyages, had ever left New Zealand without a despatch for home; and time was snatched in the midst of all this distress for a greeting, in the same beautiful, clear minute hand as usual:—­

’Hospital, St. Andrew’s:  Saturday night, 9 P.M., March 22, 1863.

’My dearest Brother and Sister,—­I write from the dining hall (now our hospital), with eleven Melanesians lying round me in extremity of peril.  I buried two to-day in one grave, and I baptized another now dying by my side.

’God has been pleased in His wisdom and mercy to send upon us a terrible visitation, a most virulent form of dysentery.  Since this day fortnight I have scarce slept night or day, but by snatching an hour here and there; others are working quite as hard, and all the good points of our Melanesian staff are brought out, as you may suppose.

’The best medical men cannot suggest any remedy.  All remedies have been tried and failed.  Every conceivable kind of treatment has been tried in vain.  There are in the hall (the hospital now) at this moment eleven—­eleven more in the little quadrangle, better, but in as anxious a state as can be; and two more not at all well.

’I have sent all the rest on board to be out of the way of contagion.  How we go on I scarce know....  My good friend, Mr. Lloyd, is here, giving great help; he is well acquainted with sickness and a capital nurse.

’I have felt all along that it would be good for us to be in trouble; we could not always sail with a fair wind, I have often said so, and God has sent the trial in the most merciful way.  What is this to the falling away of our baptized scholars!

’But it is a pitiful sight!  How wonderfully they bear the agony of it.  No groaning.