LETTEES. 75 
I the first unhappy victim who has been 
torn from his dear family, his connexions, 
and his all, though conscious of his own 
integrity and thorough innocence of the 
crime for which his life must be the unjust 
forfeit ? No ! Why then should I for a 
moment repine? I do not, nor ever will! 
For that idea alone, if placed on a good 
foundation, is sufficient to make any man so 
light that he can buoyantly float upon the 
ruffled tide of misfortune. And I own to you, 
my dearest sister, it is that only which now 
enables me to support my life and spirits, 
which, without it, would soon bend beneath 
the ponderous load under which I have long 
tottered. But by and by, I shall, with 
God's assistance, throw it off; then all will 
be well, and then shall I be a joyful partaker 
of that bliss of which I can now have but a 
very faint idea ! Cheer up, then, my dear 
Nessy ! Cherish your hope, and I will exer- 
cise my patience ; both, I know by experience 
to be productive of the same fruits of present 
content. James is gone to dine with Mr. 
Spranger, and I am employing my leisure 
hours in making a vocabulary of the Otahei- 
