SECRET ART'S LETTER, 111 
( To John Adams, and others on Pitcairrfs Island. 
'CALCUTTA, July 15th, 1819. 
' IT is with peculiar pleasure that I take an 
opportunity of sending to you by Captain Hen- 
derson, of the ship Hercules, a small stock of 
religious books, of which, probably, your society 
on Pitcairn's Island may stand much in need. 
They are a present from a Committee of the 
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 
established in this country ; and I am sure that 
the prayers of this Committee attend their pre- 
sent, that the books may lead to the advance- 
ment of you all in religious knowledge, and in 
Christian holiness of life. You will find books 
of instruction fitted for all ages ; and may God 
Almighty prosper you in the use of them ! 
c At some future time, perhaps not very dis- 
tant, you may find opportunities of imparting 
the knowledge which you acquire, to the natives 
of other islands, in which the name of Jesus 
Christ is not known ; and may become blessed 
instruments in the hand of God for extending 
the kingdom of his Son our Lord. I trust that 
you will eagerly seize any such occasion ; and 
that by the example of your own lives, and by 
bringing up your children in habits of piety 
and virtue, you will recommend the Christian 
religion to others, as the only means of attaining 
true happiness here and hereafter. The Com- 
mittee would be very glad to hear of the welfare 
of your little society; and I am, with every 
good wish and prayer, 
* Your faithful Servant, 
6 J. HAWTAYNE, Joint Secretary.'" 
