LETTER FROM THE ISLANDERS. 173 
be conferring a most essential service. Ele- 
mentary books for the younger classes in the 
school, -and Walkinghame's or other books on 
arithmetic for the more advanced scholars, are 
greatly needed. In short, the want of school 
requisites generally impedes the progress of the 
rising generation. 
" The next thing we would respectfully state 
our want of, is a medicine chest ; for there is a 
vast amount of sickness among us, and serious 
accidents frequently occur. Our teacher pos- 
sesses considerable skill as a physician, but his 
knowledge is often rendered comparatively value- 
less from the want of the necessary remedies. 
" One thing more, before we conclude, we 
earnestly present to your consideration ; and 
as it comes in an especial manner within the 
province of your holy office, we would indulge 
the hope that our application will be attended 
with success. The case in question is this : 
Our teacher, who has been with us for nineteen 
years in that capacity, and whose services to us 
are invaluable, has never received the licence or 
sanction of the proper authority in that Church 
of which we are a component part. This cir- 
cumstance is a source of much anxiety both 
to him and us ; and as our number amounts to 
138 (71 males and 67 females), and is rapidly 
increasing, we do most urgently, but most re- 
spectfully, solicit your application to the proper 
quarter for a pastoral letter, inducting or sanc- 
tioning our teacher into the holy office he has for 
so long a space of time 'unceasingly, untiringly, 
and worthily, filled on this island. That he is 
