The bell has just struck half-past one, which means, as my watch reads, quarter to eleven in England, and I know that the first hymn is being sung at the morning service at Mill Hill. Another stage of our voyage, generally reputed to be the worst, is over, and if there is no worse in store for us, we shall indeed have done well. It has of course been warm, but not oppressive. A pleasant head breeze has never failed us, and as I sit now on deck writing, I have difficulty in keeping the paper fiat. This will be posted at Aden, and our next stop will be at Colombo in five days' time. There I page 5 shall learn whether or not I am to stay at Freemantle, but certainly I shall be a fortnight at Adelaide, and letters will reach me if sent to the Post Office.

I referred to Jonah in my note from Port Said, and the story has been much on my mind since. We are apt to think of it in connection with the whale, and marvel how rational and thoughtful men could ever have brought themselves to believe in the tale. But this may be omitted, and the book will be left a quite credible story to believers in God. Jonah has a call I to preach to the Ninevites, and seeks to evade it. A storm drives him back and he is forced to go on his unwelcome errand, the result of which proves the Almighty infinitely more pitiful than his poor prophet. I too have had my call, though of a very different kind. I have a message to a few in Australia, or I am wasting time and money. I am glad that my growing reluctance to undertake the work did not come to effect in my refusing to do it. I gave a copy of my Australian letter, which was printed in The Inquirer and Christian Life, to our Bishop, and he distinctly approved it, and in fact gave me every encouragement I am not going to preach against anyone, but to declare that religion is reasonable, and that its offers and claims are such as demand the grave attention of all men; that I too hold a form of religion which can justify itself against all objectors. I have your goodwill with me, my beloved brethren of Mill Hill, and I feel strong in the encouragement it gives me.

C. H.