Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Henry Fricker - letter received from Mary Johnson, 21 Dec 1795
MLMSS 6722

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My Dear friends

We received your Letter By mr Shortland for wich we thank you for

I am almost ashamed to write to you after an absence of seven Years But I hope you Goodness will forgive me But I assure you that I still Bear in Greatful remembrance the many Great civilities we received from you when at Portsmouth it would be a Great pleasure to see you a gain in this world But God only knows whether I shall have that pleasure But if not I hope we shall meet in a Better to part no more for ever

I wish that I could tell you that the Gospel flourished in this Distant part of the world But on the Contrary every sermon is treated with Contempt they neither regard the joyes of Heaven nor the torments of Heal it is all a Like to them But they will be Left with out excuse for they cannt say that they have not been tould the Consequences of

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Sin - I trust mr Johnson has been faithful to these poor hardened souls and he can Do no more Conversion is the Lord own work and when he is pleased to work non can can hinder

I can assure you mr mr Johnson path has been very rugged he has meet with many fiery trialls in the path of his Duty But I trust his God has Been with him else he must have sunk long ago under the many difficulties he has meet with

Our new Governor arrived here in September since that time the Lord Day has Been Better obsearved we have a tolerable Congregation not quite so good as yours - the Governor and his family always attending on Sunday morning I wish the other officers would take example By him - I still hope to se a reformmation among these poor unhappy people - and that will make up for all the trialls we have meat with

The native Girl that we had is Gon into the woods as Great a Savage as ever She pays us a visit now and then quite naked - the native man that went to England with Governor Phillip is very near as Bad he has Been in the woods several times and will I have no Doubt go quite off soon theay seem to prefer their own way of Life

I am happy to tell you my two Dear Babes are well I think - harry Bid fair to Be as fat as your self he is Determined to Be a Butcher so if you should

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want an aprentice I can recommend him a very Good natured honest fellow he is three year old - milbah is five year and a half old she has made pritty good progress in her Book she can read a chapter in the Bible pritty well they are very promising Children I pray God to Give them Grace and that they may know the Lord in their youth

I often think of and Long to Be with you all those Blessed priveleges you injoy Be thankful for them - my friends for you Do not know the value of them except Like me you should be Deprived of them - But I will not Complain it is the Lords will that I should Be here - we Beg our united respect to mr and mrs Horslay mr and mrs miles and all inquiring friends Likewise all friends at Lymington - God Bless you

Your affectionate
friend
mary Johnson
Port Jackson
Des 21 1795

pleas to make my kind Love to mrs Collins and watson I should Be happy to have a few Lines from mrs Collins when she has half an hour to spare
send me more if you mean to take my son
Excuse all fault for I write in Great hast