the plantations, as to food, pay, &c., the time of service, the date of their being taken home, but they know that the whole thing is dishonest.  The natives don’t intend or know anything about any service or labour; they don’t know that they will have to work hard, and any regular steady work is hard work to South Sea Islanders.  They are brought away under false pretences, else why tell lies to induce them to go on board?

’I dare say that many young fellows go on board without much persuasion.  Many causes may be at work to induce them to do so, e.g., sickness in the island, quarrels, love of excitement, spirit of enterprise, &c., but if they knew what they were taken for, I don’t think they would go.

’November 2nd.—­In sight of Norfolk Island.  All well on board.

’November 6th.—­Yesterday we all landed safely, and found our whole party quite well.  Our new hall is finished, and in good time to receive 134 Melanesians.’

Before the full accumulation of letters arrived from Auckland, a report by a passing ship from Sydney stirred the hermit Bishop deeply, and elicited the following warm congratulation:—­

’Norfolk Island:  November 17, 1869.

’My dear Dr. Moberly,—­Since my return—­a fortnight since—­from the islands a rumour has reached us, brought hither in a small trader, that the Bishop of Winchester has resigned his see, and that you are his successor.  It is almost too good to be true.  I am waiting with great anxiety for a vessel expected soon; I have had no English news since letters of April.  But in all seriousness, private news is of small moment compared with the news of what is to become of that great Diocese.  And especially now, when almost all the south of England is so sadly in want of officers to command the Church’s army.  Exeter, Bath and Wells, Salisbury, Chichester (very old), and till now (if this rumour be true) Winchester, from old age or sickness almost, if not quite, unfit for work.  If indeed I hear that God’s Providence has placed you in charge of that great see, it will give a different hue to the prospect, dreary enough, I confess, to me; though I hope I am mistaken in my gloomy forebodings of the results of all those many Dioceses being so long without active Bishops.  Salisbury of course I except, and Chichester is a small Diocese comparatively, and the good Bishop, I know, works up to the maximum of his age and strength.  But if this be a true rumour, and I do sincerely trust and pray that it may be so, indeed it will give hope and courage and fresh life and power to many and many a fainting soul.  If I may presume to say so, it is (as Mrs. Selwyn wrote to me when he was appointed to Lichfield) “a solemn and anxious thing to undertake a great charge on the top of such great expectations.”  But already there is one out here anyhow who feels cheered and strengthened by the mere hope that this story is true; and everywhere many anxious men and