Revised Jun 21 2021
The islanders also addressed a letter to Captain Charles Hope, who commanded the Thalia in the Pacific in 1844, but who was prevented, much to his regret, from paying them a visit. He, however, sent them some useful presents. These did not reach them till February, 1847. In their letter of acknowledgment to Captain Hope, dated July 1847, is the following passage:—"Our number now amounts to one hundred and thirty-eight, and is rapidly increasing. Our teacher, who is a worthy man, and whose services are of great value to us, has never received the sanction or licence of the proper authorities in the Church, to qualify him for the very important and prominent situation he fills. He is most anxious, and we are no less so, that he should be more formally inducted into the office of pastor; and for this purpose our humble request to you is, that you will (if it can be done with propriety) make our case known to the Bishop of London, or some other competent dignitary, who would send a pastoral letter to cur teacher, sanctioning and confirming him in the sacred office he for nineteen years has held among us."