MR. NOBBS AT VALPARAISO. 213 
a letter to the author, much sympathy with the 
Pitcairn islanders, and their Pastor. 
Mr. Nobbs, though a well-tried traveller, and 
equal to the endurance of no small anlount of 
hardship, experienced a full share of the trouble 
and annoyance for which the journey over the 
Isthmus of Panama is proverbial. He had pur- 
posely avoided taking much luggage. Not only, 
however, was the charge for conveyance exorbi- 
tant; but, notwithstanding all his care, he, for 
some time, lost sight of a trunk, containing, 
among other articles of importance, a beautiful 
set of silver communion plate, which had been 
entrusted to his care by a friend at Fulham, for 
use in the church at Pitcairn. This painful 
event, added to the ill effect of the climate, 
brought on an attack of fever, the symptoms of 
which were serious after his leaving Panama. 
By God's blessing, this sickness passed away. 
Through the active zeal of Mr. Perry, the British 
Consul at Panama, the goods, which had been 
missing for a week, were restored to Mr. Nobbs's 
hands. On his arrival at Valparaiso, he found 
his son and daughter in good health ; but he 
was just too late for a vessel which had left 
for Pitcairn. Writing to the author from 
Valparaiso, he said : 
" After some detention and sickness, I was 
graciously permitted to arrive here on the 12th 
of February ; and I am still detained, waiting 
for the Portland. Oh, how I wish to be at 
home ! The Admiral is in tolerable health, and 
so is the Eeverend Mr. Hill, who, I believe, cor- 
responds with you. I have divided the duty 
