Hazlewood, David (Rev), 1820-1855: Letter to his brother William Hazlewood

Letter by Reverend David Hazlewood dated Auckland, 14 October 1850, addressed to his older brother William in Suffolk, England.

Content of the letter acknowledges receipt of letter from the addressee and makes reference to the grief suffered by the writer through the loss of his wife some two years earlier. Mentions the names of his surviving children Sarah, Mary Ann and Joseph McIntyre who were also in New Zealand at the time, being cared for by the wife of another missionary. Also mentions the periodicals 'The Wesleyan Juvenile Offering', and 'The Wesleyan Missionary Notices', both published in London by the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society.

The letter goes on to describe the purpose-built missionary ship 'John Wesley' on which the writer has arrived in Auckland from Fiji together with fellow missionaries Walter Lawry and J G Millard. Also gives an account of the occasion when the vessel struck a reef on a voyage between Somosomo and Rewa in Fiji. Notes that at the time of writing the ship has just left Auckland harbour bound for Fiji with the missionary Joseph Waterhouse on board.

The author of the letter makes reference to Governor George Grey, and describes the demographics of the New Zealand population and missionary presence at the time, while also contemplating the possibility of marrying again - "as we need the society and comforts of a wife, in Feejee especially."

In the latter part of the letter the writer discusses themes of Christian belief with references to biblical texts and would appear to be preaching to the older brother on the missionary themes of salvation and prospects of eternal life.

The manuscript letter is written in a regular cursive hand and bears postal markings in the form of an "Auckland - New Zealand - Oc[tober] 22 1850 A", circular datestamp, and two receiving postmarks, including a green circular datestamp "Bury St Edmunds - M[a]R[ch] 21 1851 A", indicating that the letter arrived at its destination in England some five months after dispatch from New Zealand.

Source of title - Supplied by Library

English linguist and missionary Reverend David Hazlewood arrived in Sydney in 1842 and served the Wesleyan mission in Fiji from 1844 to 1853, when he returned to New South Wales due to poor health, and died in Maitland in 1855. At the time when the letter in this collection was written, Hazlewood was on a visit to Auckland where he attended the Annual Meeting of the District Auxiliary to the Wesleyan Missionary Society, and reported on Fiji. (See 'Wesleyan Missionary Meeting', The New Zealander, volume 6, issue 481, 23 November 1850, page 3).

Quantity: 1 folder(s). 0.01 Linear Metres.

Physical Description: Mss, holograph letter on folded sheet of wove paper, 34 x 43 cm.

Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Purchased from Hordern House, Sydney, April 2015