Revised Jun 22 2021
It is pleasing to notice the terms of respect and regard in which the teacher is mentioned in the several communications from the island. Indeed, many valuable qualities appear to be united in him for the due discharge of his office. His good common sense, and plainness of speech, accompanied with an inoffensive firmness of conduct and manner, and that kind and Christian demeanour, without which all other important points of character in the "messenger of grace" are useless and unmeaning, distinguish him as the man for the situation to which it has pleased God to call him.
His remuneration had for many years been wholly inadequate to the necessities of his family, and to the maintenance of that respectable appearance, which a teacher among the community ought to hold. For instance, in writing to a clergyman at Valparaiso, in August, 1844, Mr. Nobbs said,—
"My stock of clothing which I brought from England is, as you may suppose, very nearly exhausted, and I have no friends there to whom I can with propriety apply for more. Until the last three years, it was my custom to wear a black coat on the Sabbath; but since that period, 1 have been obliged to substitute a nankeen jacket, of my own making. My only remaining coat, which is quite threadbare, is reserved for marriages and burials; so that it is customary to say, when a wedding is going to take place, 'Teacher, you will have to put on your black coat next Sunday,' which is equivalent to informing me that a couple are going to be married,"
In 1849 Captain Fanshawe said, "Mr. Nobbs appears to be very much respected by all; and his virtuous demeanour, and careful education of the young, bear testimony to the faithfulness with which he has discharged his duty, The heads of families have obviated the necessity of his seeking elsewhere some more remunerative employment, by making over to him so much land as to place him, in that respect, on an equality with themselves."
It will gratify the reader to learn that this worthy and humble-minded pastor has since had a sufficient provision made for his comfort, and suitable appearance as a clergyman.
The Rev. Wm. Armstrong, writing in 1849 respectmg the islanders, reported that they continued to receive much benefit from the services of Mr. Nobbs, "as their religious teacher, their schoolmaster, and their doctor." During an epidemic which prevailed in 1848, from the attacks of which not more than twenty out of one hundred and fifty escaped, Mr. Nobbs attended them from house to house, day and night, for a period of two months, with great success; only one, an infant, having died.