My dear Darwin

Snows conduct on the Mission vessel was so bad, that the Clergyman who went out to take charge of the mission had to put him out of the vessel which he did with advice and approval of the Gov^r & Col officers.¹ The fact was he had been caring more about exploring than the work of the mission, shamefully neglected the station and those there—and knowing the clergyman coming out as superintendent would put a stop to this, on his arrival he disputed his authority, refused to obey his orders & claimed to act as he liked with the vessel. The Clergyman tried every thing he could to show him his folly—and only when there was clear proof he was going off with the vessel he appealed to the authorities & Snow was put out of her.

He brought an action against the Committee & “in forma pauperis”—he took his own case & for six hours abused us all like pickpockets & told no end of falsehoods, & even then Cockburn told him on his own statement alone without calling on us to reply he must non suit him—but on his declaring there were documents at Falklands to bear out his statements. Cockburn said if we would not object he would adjourn the trial to give time to send out for them. This was done; eight months after the trial went on with the documents they proved that he had been making false statements. Cockburn showed him up thoroughly in his address so the jury saw through the motives of his conduct clearly—and the jury without leaving the box instantly gave us a verdict—but it cost us 500£ as we could not get a penny from him²   since then I have heard of some [quere] think getting some one to go with him & his wife³ to America & then leaving them—& the wife in great distress. I did not know he had turned up in England again— He threatened me again and again with actions for personal defamation. Merely because I stated what was the truth but finding he could get nothing out of me by threats he gave it up.⁴

I believe him to be a most dangerous and unprincipled man. that it is better to keep quite clear of.

He is a sailor, & did pretty well at first—but soon got to treat the vessel as a yacht for his pleasure & amusement & for pretended exploring and discovery trips that would enable him to write letters and puff himself—and he did not like being entirely controlled & having to do real work for the Mission.

His conceit & self esteem is unbounded—& sometimes it made me think he must be a little out of his mind. Do not mention my name to him in any way or I shall have more threats of actions.

Even for your own sake I should advise you to keep clear of him—for you will never hear the last of him if you once give him an opening.⁵

I have been gradually getting over the bad state of my head; every year I can trace improvement—& now a sneeze (which is my barometer) which used to give me pain for two or three days—and even a year since for two or three hours—only gives me slight pain for some minutes—so I think there must be very great improvement. sometimes I am so well that I forget, and do what I ought not in the way of exertion—& then I am pulled up for a few days.

I was glad to hear pretty good accounts of you all from Langton, M^rs. L & baby are going on well.⁶

With our kind regards to all your circle Believe me | Dear Darwin | yours most sincly. | B. J. Sulivan

PS. I entirely forgot to tell you what wonderful accounts we have from Beagle Channel   Bishop Stirling found the station going on very favorably & quite a revival commencing with the natives.⁷ Several of those trained at Station he was able with confidence to Baptise & I suppose some others, as—with their young children—he baptised above 30. & of the adults he says he had not a doubt about their fitness for it. On one occasion he accidentally heard a party all natives holding a prayer meeting in a hut and one of them was praying earnestly for the conversion of their fellow natives.

He also married several couples some had been living together before others not—

I have been very anxious that some of those finer natives from the East coast should be got over to the Falkland station. It would be great thing to do something for them.

I was much interested in Musters book—but the natives sunk in my estimation as hunters from letting that Bull escape. We would have had him at Falklands in Phelomel days even without horses or trees to aid.⁸

BJS.