placed but I know will not be degraded by the dross with which you may be placed in contact; but that like the better metal, will come through the fire refined, strengthened and purified—that with your trust in honors star, that you will not permit yourself to be dragged down to the level of those beneath you. Those with whom necessity may force you in contact but cannot in association. Use your trials to the end that you may, "Know what a sublime thing it is to suffer and be strong."
Christmas comes to greet you with a new face—not the old familiar on of bygone and happier years, but Christmas still, bringing bringing with it sacred memories of home and friends: your only consolation to know that they miss you at home; your only hope that your next and each successive one will be still brighter. You need a Christmas story—each of you has one in his own heart; and He who gave you Christmas time will cause the holy influence of the day to fall as sweetly on you here, on the desolate ocean, as under happier skies and auspices.
You will find the bond of empathy that binds you all together can give you a pleasure second only to the ties of home. I bear you the prayers of those that are dearest, for your happiness and welfare, mingled with a hope that the time may soon come when they can again wish you "Merry Christmas" and a "happy new year". Hearts are beating for you, from which time or space cannot separate you. Those worthy of their interest in you, and for the rest—Courage, and trust in God. Adieu.
The Future
It is very proper at this moment, that those good qualities of our nature on which we have always inclined to dwell with favour should prove themselves and that we should now and patiently review our good resolutions, with a desire that nothing may be wanting to the wisdom and soundness of our views, or the prudence of our steps: and to Confirm and strengthen our resolves to persevere to the last in the honorable and orderly course of conduct which reflects such a brilliant lustre in all that belongs to us. Nothing is more common that to see persons of a refined tone of mind and feeling when driven to arguments in self-defence, and urged to bring forward to the very best they can, at once seize up that one that is nearest to them, as the blush of honourable pride rises to their cheek, protest they should never be suspected of anything unbecoming a Christian and a gentleman. But let us reflect that we are going to a country where nothing whatever will be taken for granted, outside our own breasts, of the distinguished qualities which we prize so highly and so justly; but the number of men lately arrived in the colony and their names will be sufficient introduction for the work of actually observing who amongst them will pass through the crucible the true Christian and the true gentleman.
You should never forget that it is not those who begin well, but those who end well, who will be crowned; we must therefore be on our guard against actions which are bad, or which, if not bad, are devoid of merit; because performed without any particular motive; for if we have not in view the intention of pleasing God, some sinister motive will very probably creep in and spoil our best deeds.
The first thing we should have in ones mind is, indeed, the last thing we shall attain to—namely, our End. We are not created to attend to the comforts and follies of life: God places His glory in being loved by us and receiving our good actions and tribute from our free choice. No one
