198 LETTERS FROM THE ISLANDERS. 
God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be 
with you all. Amen. 
U I am, Reverend Sir, your grateful Servant, 
" MIRIAM CHRISTIAN.'* 
From the Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn's Island. 
" Pitcairn's Island. April 6th, 1848. 
" DEAR FRIEND, Long have I heard of you, 
though not acquainted with you, but have often 
heard of your friendship towards us Pitcairn 
islanders. Now, I have taken this opportunity 
to write these few lines to you, informing you 
of the state of things in our little island. We 
are all getting on very well. I hope that you 
and the rest of our friends are getting on well, 
as we are. I return you thanks for your kind 
letter, which I have received from H. M. S. 
Calypso ; also the present which is sent by you 
and the rest of the kind gentlemen at Valparaiso. 
.We have received from you all such things as 
are very .valuable to us, spades, saws, pots, 
and other articles. We have received them all 
with the greatest pleasure, and I return you all 
a thousand thanks for them. The presents are 
divided equally amongst us all, from the oldest 
woman to the youngest child. 
" Kind friend, this is the first opportunity I 
have had to write to you. I will thank you 
very much if you will take this fund of money 
which you will see in this paper, and buy me 
a few fish-hooks of the size you will see in the 
paper ; and also for my family's use six copies 
of Watts's Hymn-books, and one Family Bible* 
