• Title
  Rowland Hassall - Letter received from Pomare II, King of Tahiti, 3 July 1817, being a true copy with translation by John Eyre
• Creator
  Rowland Hassall, 1768-1820
• Call number
  MLMSS 7085
  
• Level of description
  fonds
• Date
  
  3 July 1817
• Type of material
  Textual Records
• Reference code
  414062
• Issue Copy
  Microfilm : CY 4194, frames 50-57 (MLMSS 7085)
  
• Physical Description
  1 folder - 0.01 Meters
  Textual Records - (manuscript)
  
• ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
  
  Rowland Hassall (1768-1820) missionary, lay preacher, landholder and store keeper sailed for Tahiti with his family in 1796 on the London Missionary Society ship 'Duff'. Hassall arrived at Tahiti in March 1797 and in 1798 joined a group of missionaries who decided that it was unsafe to remain in Tahiti, and who travelled to Sydney aboard the ship 'Nautilus', arriving at Sydney in May 1798. The Hassall family settled at Parramatta where Rowland Hassall was a lay preacher, a landholder and store keeper. Hassall maintained his connection with the London Missionary Society after leaving Tahiti. He corresponded with the missionaries at Tahiti and his home at Parramatta became a base for visiting missionaries. He regularly provided supplies and basic requirements to missionaries from his store.
  
  John Eyre (1768-1854), missionary and schoolmaster, was born at London. He was accepted as a candidate for the ministry by the London Missionary Society and was ordained in 1796. In the same year he sailed for Tahiti on the 'Duff', arriving in 1797. He was posted to the Society Islands where he remained until October 1809 when he sailed for Sydney. He was appointed schoolmaster to a school at Parramatta in 1810 and was appointed assistant coroner at Parramatta in 1820. He was involved in the Sunday School Institution and the Parramatta Bible Association along with other benevolent and educational societies.
  
  Pomare II (1780-1821), King of Tahiti, converted to christianity in 1812 under the intruction of the missionaries of the London Missionary Society. His conversion was extremely important to the missionaries and was widely celebrated by the directors and supporters of the London Missionary Society. The conversion of Pomare II meant that the missionaries came under the protection of the King and were less vulnerable to attack from warring Tahitians. It also meant that Tahitians loyal to Pomare II were more receptive to christianity.
• Scope and Content
  3 July 1817; Rowland Hassall, letter received from Pomare II, King of Tahiti, being a true copy and translation by John Eyre, ms. four pages. The letter, a true copy in John Eyre's hand, is written firstly in Tahitian language and then in English translation. Pomare begins the letter with greetings to Hassall and informs him that 'The word of God has taken great Root...here in Tahiti, and also in Raiatea' explaining how the 'vile Gods' and associated customs are being abolished in Tahiti. Pomare explains that he has 'lost all remembrance' of Hassall, having known him for such a short time, but appeals to him to send paper, pens and ink so that Pomare's work of writing a Dictionary can continue. He also notes that 'Mr Ellis and others are preparing to publish the bible'. (Call No.: MLMSS 7085/1)
• Finding Aids
  Read the transcription here: archival-classic.sl.nsw.gov.au/_transcript/2017/D00007/a306.html
• General note
  
  Digital order no: Album ID : 823895
• Creator/Author/Artist
  Eyre, John, 1768-1854
  Pomare II, King of Tahiti, 1780-1821
  
• Name
  Ellis, William, 1794-1872
  
• Subject
  Christianity--Tahiti.
  Missionaries--Tahiti.
  Missions--Oceania.
  
• Place
  Tahiti (French Polynesia : Island).
  
• Open Rosetta viewer
  IE3153567

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