In the beginning of February we took up our abode at Cornwall, in the old “busha house,” which had been repaired for our use, and rejoiced that we were so soon and so well provided for, both in respect of place of residence and sphere of labour. The house stood on a considerable eminence facing the sea, with a high range of hills behind, covered with wood, and surrounded by fertile fields of the sweet cane. It was in the vicinity of the negro village, and overlooked the sugar works; the finest fruits grew in abundance everywhere, and an unfailing spring of delicious water gushed from the rock at the foot of the hill. The great charm and attraction of the place, however, was, that it was encircled by numerous estates, within an hour's ride, containing thousands of people, to whom I expected to obtain access, that I might preach among them the glorious law of God, and the more glorious gospel of Christ Jesus, which magnifies the law and makes it honourable, and among whom I had the prospect—yea, the ambition—of founding a Christian Church, that would endure and confer blessings for ages to come.

Earthly cares irresistibly commanded our first attention. Missionaries are “flesh, and not spirit,” and cannot live in empty houses, even in the most inviting spheres of labour. We had brought household supplies with us from home, which were lying in a wharf-store in Falmouth; but we found it was no easy thing to get them to our place, though only twelve miles off; and, ere we did so, learned our first lesson of colonial life and manners.