Sc-<:. ■M\a\^^(S /2>,/-^'./7 # ^^ t^t S^wlogfra/ ^ '4 PRINCETON, N. J. *A <«? Division. Section ^lf>f / / V EXTRACTS FIIOM THE LETTERS AND JOURNAL OF DANIEL WHEELS E, NOW ENGAGED IN A RELIGIOUS VISIT TO THE INHABITANTS OF 60MB OF THE ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN, VAN DIEMEN'S LAND, AND NEW SOUTH WALES, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS SOX, CHARLES WHEELER. PART I. LONDON : HARVEY, AND DARTON, GRACECHURCH STREET. MDCCCXXXIX. LONDON; JOHNSTOK AND BAKRETT, PRINTERS, MARK LANE. EXTRACTS FROM THE LETTERS, &c. PART I. Our clear Friend, Daniel Wheeler, of Shoosliarry, near Petersburg, in Russia, having for a considerable time past felt his mind strongly- attracted, in the love of the Gospel, tov^ards the inhabitants of some of the islands in the Pacific Ocean, of New South Wales, and Van Die- men's Land ; and believing the time had arrived that he must surrender himself to the service, spread his concern before Balby monthly-meeting in Yorkshire, of which he is a member, the quarterly-meeting of York, and the morning meeting of ministers and elders in London ; in all which meetings much unity and sympathy were felt and expressed with our dear Friend, as appears by the certificates granted to him by the said meetings, bearing date respectively the 20th of 9 th month, the 26th of 9th month, and the 14th of 11th month, 1832. The Committee of the Meeting for Sufterings appointed to forward the object, devoted much time and attention to the subject, frequently met, consulted several persons likely to give accurate information as to the best mode of conveyance, and after very mature deliberation, came at length to the conclusion, as recommended by those whose local knowledge enabled them to form a correct judgment, to purchase a small vessel for the purpose, not only as the most suitable, but pro- bably, in the end, the least expensive ; particularly as the prospect of Daniel Wheeler was, to proceed from island to island. About this time an opportunity occurred of purchasing, on reasonable tenns, the " Henry Freeling," lately a Post-Office packet, of 101 tons register. A number of Friends generously came forward, not only to pay for the vessel, but at a considerable expense, to prepare her for the voyage. This offer the Committee gratefully accepted. Charles Wheeler, son of Daniel Wheeler, believing it his duty to offer himself as a companion to his Father, provided the Committee should approve thereof, wrote a letter to that effect, dated Shoosharry Fami, 2nd of 6th month, 1833, in which he says, " Though by no means unconscious of my incapacity to act in a concern of such importance, and however inexpedient in the eye of mere reason such a step maybe in a temporal point of view, I cannot omit offering my assistance in any way which shall be deemed best to promote the object, allowing that it shall be ultimately deemed proper. Nature, as might be expected, shrinks from a step which involves such important conse- A 2 4 ' quences, and which in itself, simply considered, is by no means such as I should have chosen ; yet my only wish in the case is, I trust, to act faithfully the part designed for me by that Gracious being who has an undoubted right to dispose of His creatures according to the good pleasure of His will ; and keeping my obligation to do so in view, I do not see how I can do other than make the offer which this is intended to convey." The Committee, after due deliberation thereon, believed it right to accept him in that capacity, to which the Meeting for Sufferings agreed, and Balby monthly- meeting signified its concurrence therein by grant- ing him its certificate. The necessary arrangements having been completed, they sailed from the River Thames on the 13th of 11th month, 1833, and were pro- ceeding down the English Channel, when on the 21st they were over- taken by a heavy storm, which induced them to seek for shelter near the Isle of Wight. On the evening of that day Daniel Wheeler writes thus to a Friend. '''■Mother-hank, 2\st o/Utk 7no. 1833, 6 o'clock, A. M. " Some ships that sailed with us have already reached the Mother- bank, but it is thought that many will have to return to the Downs, as the weather is now becoming very stormy, and the wind directly opposed to our course down the Channel, It is indeed a great favour to be enabled to find a place of safety, and demands our humble gra- titude and thankfulness to Him who presides over every stonn, whether outwardly contending elements, or spiritual conflicts ; and though the present dispensation may seem to impede our progress towards Cape Horn, yet it is my belief, and I am comforted in it, that all will be well at last, because ordered by Him, in whose wdll I desire to rest, and in whose tender mercy I trust." On the 31st of 12mo. he writes, " In two days more we shall have been six weeks hereabouts, and I am sometimes ready to think our dear friends will be weary of hearing again and again that we are still buffetted by adverse gales at the Mother -bank ; but the will of the Lord must be done ; and I endeavour to wait patiently to see what He will be pleased to do for his Great Name's sake ; for He knows my downsitting and my uprising, and understandeth my thoughts afar off; and that the sole cause of my being here, is no other, than that I may be found coming up in the path of obedience to what I believe to be required of me ; and therefore the consciousness of not being here in my own creaturely will and activity, reconciles me to all the turning's and overturnings of His holy hand; and that He will continue to bear me up, is my humble prayer, until He shall be pleased to say, ' It is enough.' " During the detention of the vessel, it appeared that advantage would arise from a change being made in the person who had the charge of her; and whilst the Committee were looking out for a more suitable one to Fnipply his place, Daniel ^Vheeler thus writes, under date of l.Oth of 2nd nio. 1834. " In treat inr^ with a person to take the command of our vessel, there are many stipulations wliicli ounlit to be made and insisted upon, besides nautical skill and other qualifications. In the first place it should be understood by the person in treaty for the station, that we are a Temperance Vessel; — secondly, that the crew are regularly assem- bled in the cahin twice on every first day, for devotional purposes, and also that the Scriptures are read every morning and evening in the cabin on other days, when both the captain and mate are expected to (and now do) attend ; thirdly, that as much as practicable, all unne- cessary work is dispensed with, as regards the sailors, on the first day of the week, to aftbrd them a portion of time for themselves : these things ought, I think, to be thoroughly understood in the outset, so that nothing unpleasant may afterwards occur, when perhaps it would be too late to make them obligatory and bring about their establishment. My motive for mentioning these particulars, is not to make the way more difficult for my dear friends, but in order to save both time and trouble, and perhaps prevent much disappointment and uneasiness in future." Owing to sucli a succession of contrary winds and boisterous weather, as is very unusual for such a length of time, their vessel, (with many others,) was detained until the 15th of the 3rd mo. 1834, when they set sail On the 14th, D. W. writes, "It is more than three months since I had my foot on the shore, but if I had not persisted in remain- ing on board, I should not have heen in possession of the true character of our seamen, nor of every minutia of the state and condition of our vessel. We have put her in the best trim which we are capable of doing, and must rely on One who is almighty to help, and if He is but with us, we shall have nothing to fear :" " good indeed," he adds, " has it been for me to be here, and true it is also, that sufferings and tribu- lations have only been permitted in boundless mercy to draw me nearer and nearer to the bosom of my Lord, the only but never-failing source of consolation, in every time of trial and distress ; however dark the hour of conflict, the entrance of His word is light and life." He further observes, that " the jyresent great object of his life, the service before him, revives at seasons with increasing and encouraging bright- ness to his view." The same day, (being that previous to their sailing,) D. W. addressed a farewell letter to the Committee, as follows ; '^ Henry Freeling^ Mother-hank^ \^th of^rd mo. 1834. " Upon reference I find that it is now considerably more tlian three months since I began a letter for the information of my dear friends, when at that time anticipating that ere long w^e shoukl be permitted to direct our course across the trackless ocean to the Soutliern hemisphere, l>ut I had not completed more than half a sheet of paper, when the progress of my pen was arrested, by circumstances, which have pre- vented any further addition being made until this day, when the way now seems to open for resuming the subject, our departure being at hand. " Among the many multiplied mercies and blessings which unceas- ingly flow from the bounteous and compassionate hand of Him, who ' crowneth the year with his goodness,' and ' satisfieth the desire of every living thing,' I feel bound to acknowledge with humble thank- fulness and admiration, our long detention on these shores. Notwith- standing there have been many gloomy days, and days of darkness, ' as the morning spread upon the mountains,' and many long and dreary winter nights to pass through, when the raging storm has again and again whitened with foam the surface of the agitated deep around us ; and not only the strife of elements to witness without, but a con- flicting and spiritual strife within, ' tossed with tempest and not comforted;' yet how unspeakably great the faithfulness of our good and gracious Lord God ; ' his compassions fail not,' but have been, and still continue to be ' new every morning,' as the returning day ; for in moments of greatest conflict and trial there has been something per- mitted, like the 'bow in the cloud,' for the poor mind to look at, to animate, and cheer, and strengthen with hardness to endure, and stand firm. " But although moon after moon hath waned, and faith and patience have been beset as on the right hand and on the left, and the afflictions of the Gospel have at times been permitted to abound, yet to the glory, and honour, and praise of Him, (whose name ever excellent and ador- able, shall he great among the nations, from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same,) the consolations of the Gospel have also abounded, in a degree of the fulness of that heavenly blessing which makes truly rich, and whereunto no sorrow is added : when faith hath been mercifully strengthened, and patience renewed under the tribula- tions of the day. And notwithstanding an untrodden path has been my portion, yet after all, though weakness and fear are my constant companions by the way, safety and peace have been hitherto found. I would therefore encourage all my beloved friends to keep near to their Heavenly Teacher and Leader, who, if faithfully followed, will not only conduct their steppings to a hair's breadth, but will preserve and keep the mind in calmness and serenity, securely, as in a pavilion, ' from the strife of tongues.' " In addition to the marvellous loving kindness I have thus endea- voured to pourtray, many other mercies and blessings have been showered upon our heads, during the apparently long and unaccount- able detention of our little bark upon her own coasts, these I have often had to number with grateful sensations, when the light has shone brightly, and manifested clearly to my finite understanding how much we should have missed, if our progress had not thus been arrested. So that with myself, instead of this delay having been productive of regret, or the cause of letting in fear or doubt, to stagger or depress my trilDulated mind, I do, my dear friends, hail it with gratitude and thankfulness, as the gracious and compassionate dealing of my Lord a,nd Master, not only as a time of Divine favour and condescension, but as an earnest of his love and mercy for our encouragement, instruction, and future benefit, graciously vouchsafed — a time of prepa- ration for the important work before us, and of weaning, from every dependence and guidance which are not of Him, to strengthen our confidence, and put our whole trust in his power, to help and deliver out of every distress, who not only commands the storm, but at whose rebuke the mountain billows cease to undulate, and lo, ' there is a great calm/ " Within the last two or three days the prospect of liberation has begun to dawn with clearness, but I trust, that if even a further deten- tion should be meted out to us, either here or in some other port, the same resignation to the Divine will, will be vouchsafed : for although I have for more than two years past, felt anxious to move forward in a work, which has yet to begin when the decay of nature is visible, and the shadows of the evening proclaim, as they lengthen around me, the steady decline of life's setting sun, yet I have been frequently comforted by a renewed evidence that we have not yet been here 0716 day too long. " It will, I feel assured, afford my dear friends much satisfation to know that the crew of the vessel, notwithstanding the frequent though unavoidable communication with the neighbouring shore for so great a length of time, have given no cause for uneasiness by improper conduct, and have at all times behaved (with scarcely an exception) in an orderly and agreeable manner, and the Captain now provided for us seems to be judiciously selected, and the man who, beyond all expectation, is admirably adapted to aid and assist by example and experience in the accomplishment of the important object before us ; so that I hope what has past, and what may yet be in store for us to come, will be found and acknowledged to be among the ' all things that work together for good.' I must not omit adding, that the solemn covering frequently witnessed mercifully to prevail and preside over us, when sitting together before the Lord, is worthy, with humble gratitude to be commemorated, as the strongest and most indubitable evidence for our encouragement, that at seasons ' He is with us of a truth.' " As it is now a period of the year when ships seldom sail to those parts to which we are destined, whether we proceed by the Cape of Good Hope (which is most probable) or by Cape Horn, in either case a wintry season awaits us ; but my trust is in the Lord, not doubting but that we shall have the privilege of the prayers of the faithful for our preservation, and though conscious of our own weakness and utter unworthiness, and often under a feeling of being less than the least of all my dear brethren and sisters that are alive in the unchangeable Truth, yet I think I can say that these things trouble me not, nor move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of that grace, ' which bringeth salvation, and hath appeared unto all men,' teaching all, that so from the utter- most parts of the earth songs of praise may he heard, and the grateful trihute of ' thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift,' may resound to His glory ; for it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy ; ' it is not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.' " And now, whilst my heart is bearing towards the ' Isles afar off,' the same constraining love, which wrought the willingness to leave all for my gracious Lord's sake and His Gospel's, extends its binding influ- ence to all my dear brethren and sisters, of every age and of every class, wherever situated, and however circumstanced ; desiring in tender and affectionate solicitude, that they may be found stedfastly following the footsteps of those honourable and worthy predecessors in the same religious profession with ourselves, who have long since rested from their labours, and whose memorial is on high, — who bore the burden and heat of a day of deep suffering, in the faithful discharge of their duty for the support of those principles, which have been transmitted in their original purity and brightness to us. If any should feel sensible of having fallen short in this important vrork, let me in tenderest love encourage such to be willing to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, even to the state of little children, and turn inward to the pure, unflattering witness which cannot deceive nor be deceived ; to be willing to enter into a diligent and heartfelt search, and patiently and impartially examine how far those indispensable conditions are submitted to ojx their part, without which none can be followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. Where is that self-denial and the daily cross He first enjoined? Are we denying ourselves those gratifications of time and sense which cherish and keep alive in us the evil propen- sities of fallen nature, which separate man from his Maker, and hke ' the little foxes spoil the tender vines,' designed in richest mercy to bud, blossom, and bring forth fruit, lastingly to remain to the praise and glory of the great Husbandman ? but without faithfulness, there will be no fruitfulness. It is not giving up or forsaking this or that little thing (which to part with is little or no sacrifice or privation) that will sufiice ; a full surrender of the whole will in all things, must be made to Him, whose sovereign right it is to rule and reign in our hearts ;— and let none plead for disobedience in these little tilings on the ground of their being such, for if such they really are, they are the more easily dispensed with, and not worth retaining ; and a tenacity in wishing to preserve them, assuredly indicates that they have more place in onr affections than perhaps we are aware of : — ' He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me ; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me ; and he that taketli not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.' " And now, ray dear brethren and sisters, ' May the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, keep all your hearts and minds, make you perfect in every good work to do his 9 will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever." " In the love of the everlasting Gospel, accept this expression of Fare- well, from your affectionate friend and brother, Daniel Wheeler." " 15th of 3d mo. at Sea, and dear of the Needle Rocks, all icell" Some particulars of the passage of our dear friends to Uio de Janeiro will appear in the following extracts from I). Ws letters. In a letter, dated 2nd of 4th month, 1834, he writes : " After de- spatching our letters by the pilot on the 15th ult., we made sail into the offing at half-past four P. M. and stretching from under the shelter of the Isle of Wight, soon partook of a strong and favourable breeze ; great progress was made during the night ; next morning brought an increase of wind along with it. From the state of the weather and the harassed situation of the crew, and other circumstances, altliough it was the first day of the week, we were compelled to give up the idea of assembhng together in the cabin, and to content ourselves with read- ing the Holy Scriptures twice in the course of the day to the Captain and Mate, At five P. M. we were abreast of the Lizard light-houses on the Cornish coast, from whence owx final departure was taken : as the night approached, the land was lost sight of, and the wind being strong and fair, we launched rapidly away from the mouth of the British Channel. On 5(?co?^6?-r% morning, the 17th, the_ wind veered more_ to the southward, and considerably increasing, soon raised a heavysea, which occasioned one side of the vessel to be frequently buriedunder water. " From the 17th to the 20th there was Httle variation in the weather. The latter being fifth-day, my dear Charles and myself sat down together to wait upon the Lord, (our usual meeting-day when at home,) but although we were scarcely able to retain our seats from the motion of the ship, yet I humbly trust we were favoured, poor outcasts as we seemed to be, to look towards his temple, to fear Him, and think upon his name. Notwithstanding the weather became more and more tem- pestuous, yet the fair wind" never once forsook us, but on the 22nd the sea ran so high, that it was dangerous for any one to be upon the deck, and Captain lK:een began to fear that we should b& under the necessity of turning the head of the vessel towards the sea and wind ; accordingly the storm'^canvass was prepared in readiness to use when it should be- come no longer safe to run before a sea, which now followed in moun- tainous succession, rising to an alarming height, and threatening at times to overwhelm us altogether. In the night of the twenty-second there was some abatement of the wind and the sea, though still very heavy, but runnino- true in more unbroken swells we yet ventured to run before it. 23rd. *From the boisterous state of the weather, although first-day had again revolved, we were prevented from collecting the crew for devotional purposes, and could only read some portions of Scriptureas before. By this time our Httle vessel had been pretty roughly handled 10 and tried, and had given full proof of her capability. The Captain acknowledged that she had done wonders, and had greatly surpassed the idea he had formed of her, and the crew expressed their satisfaction to a man ; and I saw myself no cause to alter the favourable opinion that I had constantly entertained from the first sight of her. We are all aware of the advantage which would have resulted had she been large enough to have carried a greater supply of fresh water and coals, without being so deeply buried in the water, which continually exposes us to the drench of the sea, even in what may be termed favourable weather, but in rough we are frequently debarred from all exercise upon the deck in fresh air, to avoid the risk of being injured from the wash of the sea. I feel, however, grateful and thankful in my present allot- ment, and for the accommodation thus rendered by my dear friends, humbly trusting that we shall be sustained through all to declare the mighty acts of the Lord, and to show forth his praise in the presence of a people who have not heard his fame, nor seen his glory, neither conceived the majesty of his kingdom within, of ' righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost,' which stands mercifully revealed in the hearts of those, who are concerned above all things to seek j^r^^ this ' heavenly kingdom,' and to ' believe therein, to the saving of the soul.' " On the twenty-fourth there Avas an evident change in the tempe- rature of the atmosphere ; the sun shone brightly, and its warmth glad- dened our hearts, as Ave sat on a small space near the stern of the vessel, which had been preserved pretty free from the spray of the sea ; the wind, although still favourable, had lessened ; the white-topped breakers had considerably diminished, and our deck was this day more free from water rushing from side to side, than had been the case for more than a week past ; some floating turtle Avere seen near the ship, and things altogether around us began to wear a brightening aspect ; but what tended most to enliven and make all things smile was the marvellous condescension of my dear Lord and Master, who, in the greatness of his love, was graciously pleased to open my spiritual understanding, and peniiit me to behold, to a certain extent, the nature of the service upon which I should have to enter in some places, where my lot may be cast. " Greatly do I desire for myself, and all my dear friends, that we may be brought more and more into such a state as to be fit and able to bear further portions of the many things which our great and heavenly Teacher, in his wondrous and never-erring counsel, has to say to such as fear, and love, and follow Him in the great work of regenera- tion : ' I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now ;' and if we were but sufficiently willing to hearken to his voice, he would still, I am persuaded, not only have many things to say unto us as individuals, but unto the church also, by that ' Holy Spirit which searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.' Then may all our hearts be so cleansed and purified through the efficacy of his grace, as to be prepared to receive the promised and ever abiding Comforter, who 'will take of the things of Christ, and show them unto us,' yea, ^ He will show us things to come.' " 11 Under date of 7th of 4tli mo. the following remark occurs : " The effect of being transported in about three weeks from the cold winds, which blew at the Mother-bank, to the burning heat of the sun near the equator, can only be estimated by those who have witnessed such a change in a vessel as small as the ' Henry FreeUng ;' even the night- air seems to come off the heated deserts of Africa charged with damp- ness most unwholesome." Under date of 21st of 4th mo. he observes, " After having been nearly twelve whole days and nights within five degrees of the equator, we were favoured to get to the southward of it at an early hour this morning." The following quotation from the Journal under date of 5th of 5th month, will explain the cause of his visiting Rio de Janeiro. " Although hitherto favoured with a passage, such as no person on board had ever before witnessed for favourable winds and weather, yet it now became considerably lengthened out from the unusual prevalence of calms and light airs of wind, not only during our being in the neighbourhood of the equinoctial line, but at a later period. This circumstance seemed to point out at once the necessity of our abandoning the intention of aiming at the Cape of Good Hope for a supply of water, &c., on account of the advanced state of the winter season, and the probability of not being able to reach that place, before those heavy gales set in, that render its approach very difficult : it was also remembered, that if we once made the attempt, and therein failed, there was then no alter- native left to us, but that we must continue to hover about until we did accomplish that object, let the weather be ever so tempestuous, as we must undoubtedly perish at sea for want of w^ater before we could possibly reach Yan Diemen's Land, a distance from the Cape of Goo^i Hope of more than 6200 miles, and from our present situation to the Cape full 3500 miles. After deliberately weighing these considerations, it seemed expedient (however reluctant to our wishes to visit a place where superstition and slavery appear with open face) to bear down towards the South American continent for Rio de Janeiro, and thence procure the needful suppHes, if permitted to reach it in safety." 5th mo. ] 0. " This afternoon at sun-set a brig was seen upon our lee quarter, steering the same course as ourselves, perhaps three or four miles distant from us ; she was soon covered up by the night, and no more thought of. Being upon the deck, (a usual practice with me the fore- part of the night,) between nine and ten o'clock, the carpenter suddenly exclaimed, ' Why here's this brig ! ' Upon looking, I saw the vessel at a considerable distance from us, but soon perceived by the stars that she was approaching with uncommon rapidity in a most suspicious direction, as if intending to cross our fore-foot, and cut us off. We watched her very narrowly, expecting every minute she would open a fire upon us. She continued to haul directly across our head at a very short distance from us, but we steadily kept our course, without the slightest variation, or manifesting any symptoms of hurry or fear, or noticing her in any way. I felt our situation to be at the 12 moment very critical, knowing that these latitudes, and particularly this neighbourhood, are exceedingly infested with piratical vessels, which find shelter in the Brazihan harbours as traders, where they fit out occasionally for Africa with merchandize, and return with whole cargoes of oppressed Africans for sale, landing them on private parts of the Brazil coast ; at other times they act as pirates, when it suits their convenience, or are in want of stores. This was indeed a trial of faith of no common kind ; but my mind was stayed upon the Lord, feeling a good degree of resignation to his holy will, whatever might be per- mitted to befal us. After watching the vessel with anxiety for some time, she passed away, without making the least apparent stop. On considering the matter, we concluded, that when she saw us at sun-set, we were taken for a Dutch galiot, that might fall an easy prey to her ; but when she came up to us in the dark, near enough to examine with telescopes the real shape of our vessel, we were found of such a sus- picious build of a non-descript kind, not seen before in these seas, as might lead to the supposition that we were intended as a decoy, and though very tame-looking without, yet perhaps fiery hot within, if med- dled with. From the jDosition she took, there is no doubt she expected to throw us into confusion by firing into us, and then, in the midst of it, to have boarded us on the weather side. There was not the least glim- mer of light to be seen on board of her, whilst the ' Henry Freeling' was well lighted up in both cabins and the binnacle, and the reflection from our sky-lights was well calculated to puzzle and intimidate the crew, as this circumstance would be sufficient at once to show that we were not a common merchant vessel. The captain, cook, steward, Charles and myself, were all additional persons upon the deck, besides the regular watch, which would give an idea of strength to them, unusual in so small a vessel as the ' Henry Freeling.' Every thing was conducted with great quietness, not the least hint given to any one on board to prepare for an attack : the watch below was not even informed of what seemed to await us upon the deck. The Lord only was our Deliverer, for she was restrained from laying a hand upon our little bark ; and to Him alone our preservation is with gratitude and thankfulness ascribed. The crews of these pirates consist in general of desperadoes of all nations, who frequently commit the most dreadful attrocities on board the ships they seize, in putting to death all those who oppose their boarding them ; they are mostly crowded with men amply sufficient in number to take and destroy some of our large armed traders. This vessel was doubtless a selected one for the work : we thought she actually sailed twice as fast as the ' Henry Freeling,' which is far from being a slow vessel. We saw no more of her, but after midnight I partook of some refreshing sleep." It may be here observed, that D. W. mentions in a letter from Rio, dated the 27th of 5th month, that during their stay there, an American captain, who had seen them at a distance at sea, going on board, D. W. asked him what he thought of the " Henry Freeling," as to her appear- ance when he saw her and his own vessel becalmed ; []near the equator] : 13 hie answer was, that he did not like the look of her, and was glad when he could get farther away from her. D. W. adds, " There is little doubt but we were taken for a pirate by all that saw us, which perhaps might be of advantage, except that it deprived us entirely of sending letters by any homeward-bound ships, as none would have liked to come near, to ascertain what we really were." 5th mo. 11th. First-da^/. " The weather being beautifully fine, the crew were collected upon deck twice in the course of the day, for devo- tional purposes, &c. 12th. Fine weather, with a fair wind all the day, and a prodigious swell of the sea from the south-east. The swell was so immensely large, that we concluded that the summit of one wave was at least half a mile distant from that of another. " A little before five P. M. land was proclaimed by the man at the mast-head ; shortly after we were able to behold from the deck the lofty cliff of Cape Frio on the coast of Brazil, (about sixty miles east of Rio de Janeiro,) just in the position, and about the distance it was calculated to be, from the true time of our chronometers, the lunar observations, and the dead reckoning, all combining to prove the accu- rate navigation of the vessel, and nautical skill we possess on board of her. Although we seem to be destitute of all interest upon this coast, beyond that of the welfare of mankind the world over, yet, after being fifty-eight days from England, during fifty-seven of which nothing was to be seen but water and sky ; without having spoken another vessel, or even seen more than six, the sight of Cape Frio was cheering and animating, and raised in my heart a tribute of thanksgi^ang and praise to our never-failing Helper, who hath in mercy sustained us in perfect safety, across such a prodigious expanse of mighty waters." Arrival in the Rio de Janeiro. The next day they entered the Rio de Janeiro, as appears by the following extract. 5th mo. 13th. " The wind continuing favourable (although not very brisk) the whole of the night, considerable progress was made to the westward -, but when the day broke it was discovered that a strong current had swept us fartlier off the land several miles than was the case the preceding evening. Every possible exertion was made throughout the day, and the different headlands and rocky islands upon the coast were so far recognized as to enable us to steer with confidence towards the mouth of the river, which we entered about three P. M. AVe had intended to run up the harbour till nearly opposite the town before anchoring ; but soon after passing the fort of Santa Cruz, from which several questions were asked, we were compelled immediately to anchor, by an order from the guard-vessel. In a short time after this a bill of health was demanded, and a certificate, signed by the Brazilian Consul in London, but as neither of these could be produced, the vessel was at once declared under quarantine, and as it was in vain to remon- strate, quiet submission was all that was left in our power, which was 14 manifested by our immediately hoisting a yellow flag. Although some- what prepared for this event, I was a little disappointed, having anticipated that we should be once more enabled to stretch our limbs upon the shore, an exercise from which we had long been debarred. For my own part, I had not landed or been absent from the vessel for upwards of six months, except the short interval of enjoyment in the company of our dear friends of the Committee from tJie Meeting for Sufferings at the town of Ryde, in the Isle of Wight ; but I trust, whether we are permitted to land or not on these shores, that the same Almighty Arm of strength will continue to uphold us, which has been hitherto so marvellously stretched out for our support. For although we have been fifty-nine days from the Mother-bank, out of that time twenty -one have been expended in calms and light breezes, fifteen of which occurred while near the equinoctial line, w ithout intermission. But the most remarkable thing is, that we have never made one tacJc^ from the time of leaving England to our anchoring here this day, notwith- standing we have passed over more than 50 degrees of north latitude, and 23 degrees of south, at sixty miles to a degree, with upwards of 43 degrees west longitude. Would it then be accounted presumption in any one to hope that He, under whose constraining influence, in love unutterable, this voyage was prompted, will be graciously pleased to 2:)rosper it, from the beginning to the end, and cause it ultimately to tend to the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom, in the hearts of some of the beniohted sons and dauohters of the human familv, althouoh such blessed effects may never be permitted to come to our knowledge or to gladden onr hearts." After performing a quarantine of five days, Daniel Wheeler thus writes under date of 24th of 5th month : " To day several hours have been spent on shore by Charles and myself, for the purpose of expediting the shipment of the needful supplies, in the course of which we had much satisfaction in unexpectedly becoming acquainted with two serious persons, both natives of Scotland, at the house of James Thornton, (a relation of our kind friend William Tin- dall,) whose family is one of the solitary few in this place who are desiring to do the thing that is right. " Although we were amply provided with introductory letters, &c. to all the ports of importance throughout the whole voyage, viz. The Cape of Good Hope, the Derwent or Hobart Town, New South Wales, Lima, Valparaiso, Coquimbo, and others, besides letters from the Lon- don Missionary Society's Secretary, William Ellis, to that Society's correspondents, upon many islands of the Pacific Ocean, where Mission- aries are established ; yet at last we were in some measure compelled to enter a jDort for which, with all our contrivance, w^e do not possess a single document, and are even unfurnished with a bill of health. After considering the subject, I told my son Charles that I thought our coming here would not be without answering some good end, though at the time there might be nothing in view, nor had any thing occurred to give rise to such a supposition ; but on our meeting with the two serious j^ersons above mentioned, an opening for some service presented to my mind, 15 and from the conversation which took place while we were together, it seemed pretty clear to me that we should see each other again. Before we parted, I was invited to attend a meeting, which is held by the well- disposed English in this town every Jirst-day evening at seven o'clock, which by them is termed a prayer-meeting. I told them (after acknow- ledging their kindness) that I could not give an answer at the moment, that I must wait to see what to-morrow would bring forth, and if the way opened for me to accept the invitation, that I would take care to be in time. Although it was very evident to me that it was no light thing for a member of our religious Society to attend such a meeting, and faithfully supi:)ort the different peculiar testimonies given us as a people to bear, and which to some might appear like opposition to, or slighting the forms and ceremonies which they have been trained, perhaps from early youth, to the daily practice of, yet it did not seem a time for me to shrink or hold back on that account : leaving the matter altogether unfixed, we returned to our vessel for the night. 5th mo. 25th. " Both forenoon and afternoon the crew w^ere assem- bled in the usual manner. At both seasons a quiet feeling seemed to prevail. In the course of the day, the prospect of attending the meet- ing on shore, being as a burden upon my shoulders, increasing as the day wore away, and believing that I should not be clear without giving up to it, accompanied by Charles, I set forward, and reaching the shore just as it became dark, repaired immediately to the house of James Thornton, where the meeting was to be held ; and as soon as some of the principal persons arrived, I thought there would be a propriety in speaking to them privately before the meeting commenced. Taking such aside, I told them, that although we might have the same great and important object in view, yet it was probable tliat we all might not see exactly alike, and therefore I should prefer their going on with their meeting as usual ; and if, after it was over, we might be allowed to come in and sit down amongst them, it would perhaps be the most agreeable on both sides : at the same time, I candidly stated, that we could not engage to kneel when they did, neither was it our practice to sing : and that we were desirous to offend neither Jew, nor Gentile, nor the Church.' After relating some further conversation that passed, D. W. adds : " At leng-th it was concluded that they should proceed as usual, and that w^e should sit by and act as was most easy to ourselves. Accord- ingly, at the time appointed, the company repaired to anotlier room prepared for the occasion, where some otliers were seated in readiness ; and amongst these, several black young peoj^Ie that understood English. It was previously arranged, that when the meeting was quite over, the certificate furnished me by my dear friends of the Morning Meeting in London sliould be read, in order to account to all present for the appear- ance of strangers, and to open the way for any communication on my part that might arise." It may be here proper to observe, that although we have reason to believe that our dear friend Daniel Wheeler is one of those who would 16 be very cautious how he wrote of his own religious services under other circumstances, yet being so far separated from his friends, he lias thought it right to furnish them with the following minute particulars, which we cannot doubt will be interesting and satisfactory to Friends. After describing the manner of conducting their worship, he continues : " We retained our seats the whole time, and my mind being under con- siderable weight of exercise, it was a relief to be left, as it were, in the quiet. The meeting being concluded, James Thornton read the Morning Meeting's certificate, and after commenting awhile on its contents, and the privilege of the company of strangers, we were favoured to drop into solemn silence, which continued until interrupted by my having to state, that it had never been contemplated before leaving England that we should have to touch at a place where bigotry, superstition and slavery stalk unmasked with open face, particularly as it had not come within the range of the prospect before us ; I acknowledged having mentioned to my son some days ago, that I thought our coming here must be for some object unknown to us at that time; but since we had been sitting together, I had found that the Lord had a seed, even in this place, that fear Him, and think upon his name, and unto these in an especial manner, my heart was enlai-ged in the love of the everlasting Gospel, that love which would gather all mankind into the heavenly garner of rest and peace. I had not proceeded much farther in the expression of a desire that their ' faith might not stand in the wisdom of man, but in tlie power of God,' before I had to turn their attention to the solemnity so evidently spreading over us, as the crown and diadem of every rightly gathered religious assembly ; a feeling not at our com- mand, nor in the power of man to produce, aud which could only be felt, when tlie Great Head of the Church fulfils his gracious promise, ' where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.' After this the way seemed fully opened, and a door of entrance also for the doctrines of the gospel in plainness and freedom. I had particularly to speak of the nature of true spiritual worship, and waiting upon the Lord, the necessity of knowing for our- selves the great work of regeneration to be going on — the true faith of the gospel as it is in Jesus, the Author and Finisher thereof, which worketh by love, purifieth the heart, and giveth victory over death, hell, and the grave — stating that I had nothing new to ofi*er — that * other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ' —-reviving the terms prescribed by Himself to those who would become his disciples and followers : — the ' poor in spirit,' were reminded, that to them the blessing appertains, and the kingdom belongs : — and the woe- ful sentence to the unprofitable servant, was contrasted with that of the faithful occupier of his Lord's talents; and the beauty, purity, and spirituality of the true Gospel Church, and the necessity and practica- bility of becoming members thereof, while here on earth, was held up to view. Considerable brokenness appeared in some individuals, and I believe it may be said, that Truth rose into dominion, and reigned over all. For my own ])art, I never recollect being more sensible of such 17 coiitiiiiiod weakness and fear from the beoinnino- to the end — the creature was laid low, and I trnst only desirons that all praise might be ascribed to Ilim to whom it belongs for ever. This was indeed a precious oppor tnnity, and althongh not obtained without ploughing a furrow six or seven thousand miles in length, across the unstable surface of the ocean, yet the love, joy, and peace that remain, are a rich and ample reward. We reached our little bark in perfect safety, with hearts full of comfort, pretty soon after ten o'clock at night, while a torrent of min was falling ; the boat was manned by the natives of Africa, now" held in cruel bond- age in this place ; they are, however, treated by us as fellow-men and brethren, and truly my heart abounds with love towards these poor creatures, not easily to be described. 5th mo. 27th. " At four P. M. I went on shore with my son Charles to procure a few needful articles for the hot weatlicr, which in England had been omitted. Soon after reaching the house of James Thornton, we were invited to meet some of the individuals with whom the meet- ing had been held the preceding first-day evening, for the purpose (as stated) to afford them an opportunity of asking some questions on par- ticular points of Scripture doctrine, at the house of one of them. To this there was no difficulty in complying on my part, feeling more than usual freedom towards these people. " After having previously taken what exercise on foot the interval would afford, we repaired about the time fixed upon to the place where we found the master of the house busily employed in arranging a num- ber of questions, under different heads, intended to be asked, that no- thing might be omitted. After informing us the plan he had thus proposed to himself, he acknowledged that he did not feel satisfied with its adoption, and at once laid it aside." One of these individuals, D. W. describes, as of an " ardent and capacious mind, and of a most ami- able and benevolent disposition, possessing at the same time all the advantages of a scholar, acquainted with several languages, and well versed in the knowledge of the sacred writings." After relating the particulars of some interesting conversation on religious subjects, D. W. adds, " It occurred to me as a suitable opportunity to bring forward the subject of the Scriptures being so frequently termed by professing Chris- tians, ' The word of God,' that although many persons might not be in danger by this practice, of attaching more to the letter than belongs to it, yet it was much to be feared that its tendency was highly injuri- ous, and opposed to the spirituality of the gospel dispensation. I found there was an openness to receive this remark, which was not confined to this person alone, but extended to another present, and that they had previously felt some doubts on this very important point. At last one of them, as if at once convinced in his understanding, exclaimed in the words of the apostle Peter, ' And this is the w^ord, which by the Gospel is preached unto you.* Several other questions were put to us, which I believe were answered satisfactorily to them. I trust that the time expended was to some edification, and that the noble cause did not suffer, though in the hands of such feeble advocates." B IS D. W. adds, " One copy of Bates' Doctrines, and a pamphlet were thankfully received by an individual of the place, who, I am persuaded, will not be disposed to keep them to himself. I was in hopes whilst here of having an opportunity of distributing part of our stock of Bibles in the Spanish language, but I could not find any person willing to undertake the risk of their being found in their possession. In the course of inquiry on the subject, it appeared that a considerable number of copies of the Scriptures in the Portuguese language were at one time brought into this country, and it is supposed were destroyed, under pretence of their being too imperfect a translation to be circulated." On the subject of slavery our dear friend thus writes : " "We were in- formed by respectable authority, that two-thirds of the population of the neighbourhood round St. Sebastian, consists of coloured people, and that nothing could keep them in such a state of cruel and abject slavery, but their having been taken from different tribes in Africa, amongst whom a most inveterate enmity has constantly existed ; and such a care has industriously been taken to keep perpetually alive a spirit of re - venge against each other, as cannot be destroyed even by slavery itself; this is spoken of as a politic measure, lest they should unite and set them- selves free ; dreadful indeed would be the day to the majority of their white masters, should such a thing come to pass, unless controlled by a higher power." He further adds, " although our tarriance in the Rio de Janeiro was little more than a fortnight, yet many of the poor negroes who had been in any manner connected with us by employment or other- wise, in the town or city of St. Sabastian, had become much attached to us ; and some hours after having left the coast, it was fully ascertained that only a very slight occurrence had prevented three of these people from being secreted on board our vessel. 5th mo. 28th. "As all our affairs were completely wound up, and the way clear for leaving this port, fatigue and the lateness of the hour were unnoticed, more particularly as the retrospect altogether of our visit to this place, as well as the prospect of quitting it, could be taken with a peaceful review." Voyage from Rio de Janeiro to Van Diemens Land. After a tempestuous passage from Rio de Janeiro of fifteen weeks (except a few hours) our dear friends were permitted to arrive in safety at Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land, on the 10th of tlie 9th month, 1834, in as good a state of health as when they left England. The following extracts from D. Ws letters and Journal, will give some idea of the perils they encountered during the passage. In a letter accompanying the extracts from his Journal, dated Hobart Town, 25tli of 9th month, 1834, he writes thus : — " In my letter from the Mother-bank, my dear friends may have observed that it was stated, whether we proceeded by the way of the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn, a wintry season awaited us ; and therefore I was in some degree prepared by anticipation, though resigned 19 to whatever might be pennitted to overtake us. It will be seen by the extracts from my journal now transmitted, that we sailed from the coast of Brazil on the 29th of 5th month last, pretty soon after which our rough weather commenced." Daniel Wheeler ultimately concluded to proceed by the eastern pas- sage, as appears by the following extract from his journal, dated 29th of 5th month. " As rounding Cape Horn was my first intention, it has at times passed before me, that if, on our leaving Rio de Janeiro, the wind should be strong and favourable for steering towards it, that I should feel a little difficulty in deciding which route to aim at, but believe I have felt desirous to be guided aright in this particular. 6th mo. 2nd. " Since leaving- the land, the winds have been so strongly opposed to our going round Cape Horn, as nearly to put that out of sight : to-day we are so far off the coast of South America as to be exposed to the swell of the great South Sea, which is no longer kept from us by a point of land which fonns the projecting Cape ; this swell is prodigious, and plainly sliow^s the turbulent state of the weather in that quarter, and seems like a final settlement, and removal of any thing like a doubt in my mind as to our being in the right track at present. After midnight the weather became very rough, and the wind inclining more and more southerly, rendered our position in sailing very critical. Before four A. M. two heavy seas broke in upon us, one of which stove in a part of the bulwark on the starboard side ; happily none of the watch on deck were washed overboard. From this time things got rapidly worse, and the only alternative now left for our choice towards saving the vessel was to bring her to, wdth her head to the wind and sea, under suitable storm- canvass to maintain that position. In addition to the great risk attending at all times any circumstance connected with ^ lying to,' it w^as a position in which we had not yet tried the ' Henry Freehng.' It was not indeed an every-day occurrence for a small vessel (which we have had hitherto no opportunity of proving under more gentle circumstances) to be brought round against a sea, which had nothing to control or break the range of its sweeping influence between her and the south pole. Captain Keen manifested great coolness and ability on the occasion, and soon after day-break all things were ready to accomphsh our intended purix)se, to effect which, an interval was waited for, until the blast should lull a little : and whilst much depended upon a timely re-action of the sails, so as to prevent the vessel from forcing herself with too great violence into the opposing waves, as her head came round towards them, at the same time it was indispensably needful to keep a sufficient quantity of canvass set, to guard against being overtaken and overwhelmed by the mountain waves, which in an awful manner were now threatening us behind. A few minutes relieved us from all suspense and anxiety, and although heavy laden, Avith our newly recruited and increased stock of w\ater, some of wdiich encum- bered the deck, yet we had the comfort to see the vessel rise in a lively manner to the surface of the loftiest billows, before any material quantity of their contents had time to burst over her. As tlie wind blew direct 20 from an immensity of ice, a change ^o sudden from tlie great lieat we had so recently witnessed, to such a cold penetrating blast, was sensibly felt by all on board. 6th mo. 10th. " Towards evening it again became stormy with much rain ; the sea breaking over us with great violence, scarcely any part, even below deck, could be preserved free from wet, and all our ingenuity was called forth to preserve our beds moderately dry. At times the weight of water seemed too much for our little bark to bear, from which she could scarcely extricate herself before another deluge burst in upon her deck. A state of desertion was my lot throughout the day, and although at seasons I was ready to say, ' Lord, carest thou not that we perish?' yet I was not permitted in the darkest moment to cast away my confidence, although for many hours it seemed needful for us to stand prepared as with our lives in our hands, not knowing how soon they might be called for. At midnight the scene was truly awful, the wind blew in a furious manner, and the sea raged with increased violence, with heavy falls of rain. The mercury in the marine barometer, which had been falling all the day, became lower, and the little vessel seemed to twist and bend beneath her heavy burden. At this moment of struggle and extremity, behold a shift of wind to the south-west, which, instead of taking back suddenly the little canvass we were scudding under, (which might have produced consequences above all others the most to be dreaded,) came regularly round ; and the captain, availing himself of this moment, directed that the vessel should be ' hove to.' Captain Keen came to me shortly after this circumstance had taken place, to acknowledge how providentially this change had been ordered, as sensible of the favour thus graciously bestowed upon us. Oth mo. 13tli. " This date has not failed to awaken feelings of painful reflections in reference to days which have long since passed away, it being thirty- three years since it pleased the God of all my mercies to bestow a crown upon the head of a ]30or unworthy creature, even the rich blessing of a truly virtuous wife, at the close of a meeting at Don- caster. Full well at this remote period do I remember the solemn and delightful season with w^iicli we were remarkably favoured, from the beginning to the end of the meeting. Dear Thomas Colley appeared largely in testimony on the occasion, to the tendering of many present. It was indeed an earnest of the Heavenly Master's love, which never ceased to follow us through all the vicissitudes of time, during a life (not a little chequered) for a term of more than thirty-two years and a half, when he was pleased to deprive me of my greatest earthly treasure, and to take back that which he gave ; but it was His own, I verily believe, even His, the same who enabled me to say, in the moment of my greatest distress, ' blessed be the name of the Lord.' In looking over the different relatives and friends present on the above occasion, there is at this period scarcely one of those individuals, at that time about our own age, who now survives, and I find that many of them much younger than ourselves, have been summoned from works to rewards; thus, whilst many of my contemporaries have finished thoir 2J earthly career, I am still spared a little longer, a living monument of the Lord's everlasting mercy, for the purpose, I humbly trust, of declaring unto others what He hath done for my own soul, and to show forth tlio praises of Him, who hath translated me out of darkness into mar- vellous light. And although the sacrifice I am making may appear great, and be rendered more formidable by the late hour in the evening in which it has to be oftered, yet in my estimation it is small indeed, and light as the dust of the balance, when the love and mercy, long- suiFering and compassion of my good and gracious Lord God, are brought into remembrance, wlio hath redeemed my life from destruction, and crowned me with loving-kindness and tender mercies, to myself incomprehensible ; and I am persuaded only known to those in the same degree, whose sin is blotted out as a cloud, and their transgressions as a thick cloud, by repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, who came into the world to save sinners, of whom each of us, in the depth of self-abasement, can say, ' I am chief.' " A narrow escape from shipwreck against the Island Inaccessible is thus adverted to : — 6th mo. 1 8th. " As the day advanced, the wind and sea increased, and the fog was so dense close down to the horizon, that there seemed but little prospect of discovering the land, at a sufficient distance to prevent our running directly upon it. As the afternoon wore away, the danger hourly increased ; but at this juncture, the Everlasting Ann of strength and power, in wonted mercy and compassion, was signally dis})layed for our preservation and relief, and in such a manner as wholly to exclude the slightest pretence of mortal man's having the least share in it. The mist cleared suddenly away ; and though but for a short interval, yet it was sufficient to discover the lofty, rocky island, about half a mile distant, standing nearly perpendicular out of the sea, far above the mast-head of the ' Henry Freeling.' We soon j^erceived that this was the island called ' Inaccessible,' and appropriately so, from its vast height and steep approaeli, no landing apparently on the side next to us, could possibly have been effi^cted. This seemed at once to relieve our anxiety, and the captain now considered all danger as past, and that we should safely run between this island and another called Nightingale Island, although not able to see it on account of the fog, these islands being ten miles asunder. Thus cheered, we pursued our flying course with great velocity, as the wind had increased in violence soon after the high rocky island was first seen. But in another hour, our prospect was suddenly clouded by the appearance of more rugged rocky land on the same side of us. This circumstance, for a time, staggered all our hopes, as it could not be accounted for ; and of course we knev/ not how soon some lurking unknown reef might now wreck our fragile vessel, which was scourged on by a hurricane-blast with greater s]:)eed, it is probable, than at any previous time. In the early part of this sus- pense Captain Keen said to me, ' Now if your friends in England could look at us, they would have a better idea of the sacrifice you are making than they at present possess.' But this would have conveyed to them 22 only a faint idea of what we have since had to pass through, and was only the beginning of those perils, which, in the end, have been so abun- dantly crowned with wondrous mercy. In this situation, the night was gathering blackness and darkness in the midst of a heavy tempest. 6th mo. 20th. " It was observed that the mercury in the barometer, which had risen a little last evening, was this morning again on the decline, and by four P. M. had fallen to 29*53. The wind freshened throughout the day, and at night blew with such tremendous violence, accompanied with heavy rain and some lightning, as compelled us again to seek safety by ' lying to ;' but, however trying to be thus disabled from making use of a fair wind when it blows, yet I believe we are truly thankful in having such a source of relief from the terrors of the storm afforded to us, poor solitary wanderers on the mighty deep. It is three wrecks to-day since w^e left Rio, and up to this time have not seen another ship. 6th mo. 21st. "Still 'lying to,' in heavy gales from the south- west, with frequent squalls still more heavy, with rain and forked lightning, at the same time the weather extremely cold and penetrating. 6th mo. 22nd. " * Lying to,' as yesterday, the storm still raging with unabated violence, squalls, heavy rain and lightning through the night. The sea having risen to a fearful height, has frequently inun- dated the deck of the vessel, and from the continual working of her whole frame, our bed-places have been unfit to sleep in, the water having found its way through numerous chinks. This morning early, a heavy sea broke into us, bringing a larger quantity of water upon the deck than at any time before. To myself a very remarkable and striking event took place this morning. Shortly after the vessel had shipped a heavy body of water, I went up the hatchway to look round for a short interval ; at that moment the sea was running in moun- tainous succession, and I observed that some of the loftiest of the waves w^ere very nearly prevailing against our little vessel ; it seemed as if she could not much longer escape being overwhelmed by them altogether. I made no remark to any one ; but soon after we tried to get some bi;eakfast : while so occupied, one of the men called down to inform us that there was a sight w^orth looking at on deck ; it was a large collec- tion of a small species of the whale, close by the ship. I thought I should like to see them ; there were perhaps more than two hundred of these animals close to us, about twelve feet long each. When I went upon deck after breakfast they were still close to our bows ; and the man at the helm said, that they served as a breakwater for us : their being so was afterwards mentioned by some other person. At last my eyes were open to discover the protection they were affording our little struggling vessel; they occupied a considerable portion of tlie surface of the sea, in the exact direction between the vessel and the wind and waves, reaching so near to us, that some of them might have been struck with a harpoon ; they remained constantly swimming in gentle and steady order, as if to maintain the position of a regular phalanx, and I suggested that nothing should be done to frighten them 23 away. It was openly remarked by some, tliat not one sea had broken on board us while they occupied their useful post ; and when they at last retired, it was perceived that the waves did not rage with the same violence as before they came to our relief. I give this wonderful circum- stance just as it occurred, and if any should be disposed to view it as a thing of chance, / do not, for I believe it to be one of the great and marvellous works of the Lord God Ahnighty. These friends in need, and friends indeed, filled up a sufficiently wide space upon two of the large swells of the ocean, completely to obstruct the approach of each succeeding wave opposed to the vessel, so that if the third wave from us was coming in lofty foam towards us, by the time it had rolled over and become the second w^ave, its foaming, threatening aspect was de- stroyed entirely, reaching us at last, in the form of a dead and harmless swell. They are a very oily fish, and seldom larger than to yield about two barrels of oil ; they are commonly called black fish. 6th mo. 23rd. " Still ' lying to,' sustained througli another rough and perilous night, the wintry storm yet howling around us. We remarked, after having just passed the shortest day in this climate, that our friends in England had returned home from the yearly-meeting, and were enjoying the delightful days of summer at their greatest length. 6th mo. 26th. " The tempestuous and turbulent weather, which our little vessel has had of late to contend with so largely, the great length of voyage still unaccomplished, at the most unfavourable season of the year, have frequently been a subject of serious thought, but more par- ticularly from witnessing, since the last heavy gales, considerable and almost daily increasing leakage from different parts of the deck, owing to the great strain to which her upper works have been subjected, by the enormous weight of lumber, together with part of our stock of fresh water upon the deck. After looking at the state of the things on every side, and taking the different bearings of the whole into deliberate con- sideration, it seemed the most prudent measure, in the hope of contri- buting to the future safety of the vessel, and to enable her to perform the service looked forward to, in its fullest extent, to lighten her deck, by launching overboard every weight of spars, &c. that could be dis- pensed with, the first favourable opportunity. As this could not be done in rough weather, without the risk of injury both to the people and the ship ; and there being less wind and sea to-day, than for some time back, it was resolved, if possible to accomplish it. Accordingly, four heavy logs, a spare square sail-yard (old), a heavy spar intended for a top-mast, with many other cumbrous weights, which had long- tended to increase the weakness of the quarters of the vessel, were cast into the sea without accident. It is truly cause of regret thus to sacrifice articles, which at a future day may be much needed ; but the necessity of thus endeavouring to relieve the present difficulty and distress, compelled us to pass over that, which now can be looked at as remote, and may never occur. " As this step has not been taken suddenly, or hastily determined upon, nor in the moment of impending danger, when fear might have 24 operated, but is tlie result of patieut and deliberate observation, I trust that our dear friends in England will see the propriety of our so doing. Several of the articles thus thrown into the sea, belonged to the "vessel when first purchased, and I believe the sum of five pounds sterling would cover the whole amount of such things as were afterwards bought and intended as extra stores. I was disappointed at finding on inquiry that the name ' Henry Freeling,' which was deeply branded on each of the four logs, had not been previously cut out before they were thrown overboard, lest this omission should give rise to a report of our having been wrecked, gone to pieces, or foundered at sea, if any of them should reach a distant shore, or be picked up by another ship." Some of the succeeding tempestuous weather is described in the fol- lowing extracts from the Journal : — 7th mo. 7th- " Still ' lying to ;' the storm has continued all-niglit, and the sea makes very heavy upon us. The mercury in the marine barometer sunk to 29*30, then rose a little, and again sunk lower in the tube. As the night advanced, the storm increased with awful vio- lence. Captain Keen said his last voyage was forty-six months in length, but that he had never witnessed such a night during the whole of it. The stren£!;th of the wind was incredible, and the liohtninof appalling, with a fall of rain and sleet ; the sea broke in upon our little shi}) in an alarming manner. The poor men were lashed upon the deck with ropes, to prevent their being washed away ; benumbed with cold, and at times floating with the vast load of water upon the deck — their sufferings are not easily described. The bulwark on the larboard side was damaged, and the spray reached more than two-thirds up the main- mast. In the morning the seamen expressed considerable discourage- ment, and I observed rather a disposition to make the worst of things. The captain said ' he hoped he should not see such another night in this vessel.' One person did not expect she would have kept up until morning. When assembled at the breakfast-table, I had to tell them, witli a degree of firmness, that a murmur ought not to be heard amongst us, but rather the expression of thankfulness that ' we are as we are.' On looking round at the ravages of the storm, I was surprised to find tliat so little damage was done ; and the increase of pumping had been comparatively trifling to what might have been expected from the vio- lent and frequent strokes of the sea, and the floods of water that had rolled over the deck of the vessel. " In the darkest part of the night of the 6th inst., a distinct luminous appearance or glow of light remained at our mast-head ; a phenomenon only seen in dreadful weather, when the atmosphere is highly charged with electric fluid. Tlie sailors call it a corposant. I think such a thing is mentioned in John Churchman's Journal, or that of some other worthy.* The countenances of our men were considerably whitened this morning, by the great quantity of salt, whicli having been deposited by the constant wash of the sea had dried upon their * See John Woolman's Journal, Dublin Edition, 1794, p. 21-2. 25 faoee. In the course of the storm yesterday evening, unusual darkness gathered round us, when suddenly the wind, which blew with great violence, increased to a complete hurricane, and roared in a terrific man- ner, and for a time closely threatened our little vessel. The force of the wind was so great, that the waves for the time almost ceased to undulate, and the surface of the ocean became level and whitened with foam. At this juncture I was comforted in beholding the calmness and resig- nation with which my dear Charles was favoured. At one time he remarked, ' What a painful situation those people must be in, who have not a good reason for being exposed to similar distress, when they find themselves overtaken by it ;' I told him, it was fonnidable enough even to those who felt themselves in the line of apprehended duty. As the night approached another storm began to threaten, and the waves ran so cross, and broke in such different directions, that the motion of the vessel for a time exceeded all we had before witnessed, and the waters rushed on board of her on every side. At ten P. M., it was so tempestuous, that we again hugged the howling blast, by 'heaving to :' as the vessel came round with her head to the wind, one heavy wave broke on board, but happily none of the crew were lost. In the afternoon, when it was thought that the storm had arrived at its greatest strength, this hope was suddenly extinguished by the mercury falling in a short ' space of time down to 29'50. The captain said, ' We have done all we can, trust in Providence, only remains.' " The following extract proves the state of our dear friend's mind, about this period : — " Two or three days previously to this tempest, I felt much depressed on account of my Charles, he having drooped more than usual, from the efi^ects of the cold weather ; the great length of time we had already been the sport of the winds and waves since leaving the Rio de Janeiro, could not but excite a painful and discouraging fear lest his strength should prove unequal to the remaining part of the voyage, _ as we had only^passed over about 1000 miles in distance, since beginning to tra- verse the margin of the Indian Ocean, and are still greatly annoyed by the strong currents and heavy gales which prevail from the direction of Madagascar, and are probably attracted down the Mosambique Channel, which separates that island from the coast of Natal, on the south-east shore of Africa. But as the late storm approached, I felt, througli unmerited favour, increasing peacefulness and tranquillity, which nothing during its whole continuance was permitted to disturb ; and in the most awful moment of uncertainty and impending danger, fear had no place to enter; this was utterly banished by the love of the ever-blessed Master that flowed in my heart, and whicli in the true dignity of its heavenly power cast it out ; and the language which at intervals never ceased to prevail and occupy the inner man, with a soothing and encouraging sweetness, was that of the Psalmist, ' Delight thyself in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thy heart.' Thus indeed was strength truly administered, according to the glorious work- ing of his power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulncss, to endure, and give thanks to the Lord Most High. I should shrink from making any remark on the state of my own mind, whilst in the extre- mity out of which we have been so remarkably delivered ; but I feel called upon by a sense of gratitude to our compassionate Lord ; at the same time a hope gleams through my heart, that it will tend to strengthen the faith of some hesitating and doubting fellow-travellers who may eventually peruse these lines, to ' follow on to know the Lord' for them- selves, and thus partake of his love, mercy, and life-giving presence, and be encouraged to forsake all, and follow Him, ' nothing doubting,* wherever He may be pleased to lead : for the declaration, ' Lo I am with you alway,' will assuredly be verified in their experience, and all earthly things will be estimated but as loss and dross, in comparison with the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus. 7th mo. 22nd. " From the 14th inst. to the present date, a succession of stormy weather was our portion, during which we had * to lie to,' with the head of the vessel to the wind and sea, four times, and this with a fair wind too, but the sea ran too high to make it availing. " Whilst ' lying to' in heavy weather the fore part of last night, (the last of the above four times,) I felt much exhausted for want of rest, and not a little depressed and discouraged by surrounding circumstances. " The almost incessant labouring of the vessel, and the heavy strokes of the sea, which have so often assailed her battered sides, could not fail to occasion extra pumping when it blew hard : although upon the whole she had suffered little since her deck had been lightened and freed from dead weights; and yet every returning day seemed to bring a fresh tempest vvlth it, which kept the sea unceasingly agitated. All these circumstances could not fail to occasion renewed thoughtfulness, more especially as w^e have still more than 100 degrees of east longitude to run down, before reaching our intended j^ort, and are so frequently compelled to ' lie to,* for our safety, lest tlie sea should overwhelm us altogether. Tlius I was letting in fear and doubts, and listening to the tempter's insinuations, notwithstanding the multitude of mercies w^hich have been showered upon us for our deliverance ; yet sucli is the frailty of human nature, that when we see the waves of adversity boisterous about us, we begin to sink, by letting in fear at the prospect, although fully sanctioned by the Lord himself; but even the brightest gleam of sunshine soon loses its gladdening influence on our minds unless again and again renewed by the ever-blessed Master, wdio having been touched with a feeling of our manifold infirmities, pities the weakness of poor mortal dust. After passing through considerable mental conflict, in contrition I went upon the deck, supposing from the great motion of the vessel, that the storm had continued all the night, and that w^e were still ' lying to,' when, to my surprise, I found a bright and beautiful morning, the weather apparently entirely changed, the wind fair, and the vessel gradually pursuing her route, but the great and diverse swells of the sea still occasioning her to labour hard, nearly as much as during the storm in the fore part of the night. I could not help feeling ashamed and mortified in abasement of belf, in finding I had been thus duped by 27 the grand adversary, who, ever on the alert, and unwearied, had found the ' watch' neglected in a darkened gloomy hour of trial and per- plexity, and thus improved the opportunity to his own advantage, leav- ing me covered with self-reproach as in dust and ashes. 7th mo. 28th. " The height of the waves compelled us again to ' lie to,' undsr storm-canvass, for thirty hours. Tliis gale increased to a violent degree, but different in most respects from all which we had pre- viously been called to witness. In all the preceding cases there had been a change of a favourable nature to cheer us through the dreary tempest, but now every alteration appeared to be against us, serving only to ren- der our situation more and more alarming. It did seem as if we were now cast off and left to the fury of the wind and waves ; and notwith- standing we had with our own eyes seen as it were Jordan driven back, and the waters of the Red Sea stand as on heaps, for our deliverance, yet now the Glorious Presence was withdrawn, and 'so completely hidden, that no trace could be perceived to administer one glimmering ray of hope in the midst of our complicated distress. On looking at our forlorn and helpless situation, and the overwhelming appearance of the storm, the fury of which had been only aggravated by every change which had so far taken place, it now seemed too late for any thing to occur that could probably operate in our favour, as the sea was running in confused heaps different ways in a frightful manner, caused by the wind having shifted to different points, and from each point blown furiously. About three o'clock in the afternoon the mercury fell lower and lower, when we were overtaken with a squall of wind, truly ap- palling and terrific, which in a short time afterwards was succeeded by a second still more violent and alarming ; but through the medium of these two dreadful blasts, which at first threatened nothing but destruc- tion, our deliverance was marvellously effected. Such was the fury of these two Tyfoons, that they actually, in a short space of time, changed the wild and disfigured surface of the troubled ocean from unruly moun- tains to a rugged level, by their boisterous breath, leaving nothing but a sea white as milk with foam. From this time the storm subsided, and at midnight we were again enabled to bear away for Van Diemen's Land, distant 4,700 miles. 7th mo. 31st. " ' Ikying to,' with an increasing tempest around us ; Charles and myself sat down together, it being fifth-day, though ' trou- bled on every side, yet not distressed, perplexed, but not in despair, per- secuted,' again and again, but verily, ' not forsaken ; cast down, but not destroyed,' however much like two poor outcasts bom out of due time, and tossing on the bosom of the restless waters, far from friends and native home, but under a peaceful feeling of resignation and poverty of spirit. "We are now in lat. 40 south, long. 70 east. The barometer had been low yesterday, but had begun to rise a little. In a short time, however, the mercury began again to sink, and dropped down to 28*50., being an inch lower than when we experienced the hurricane in the neighbourhood of the Cape of Good Hope. This circumstance spread a gloom over us ; having witnessed such dreadful weather about 28 three weeks before when the mercury was at 29*50, and knowing the correctness of the barometer in former cases, our apprehensions were in- creasingly awakened, and under a sense that another close trial was not far distant, we endeavoured to wait patiently the event, (though in a painful suspense,) with, I believe, a full surrender of ourselves to the will of Almighty God ; remembering my poor, scattered orphan family and dear relations and friends everywhere, in the midst of our com- plicated trials and distress, in earnestness and brokenness before Him, who only knows the anguish of a tribulated soul. Towards evening the wind and sea increased in such a dreadful manner, that the horrors of the scene cannot be faithfully described. It blew a perfect hurricane ; and although we had only sufficient storm-canvass set to keep the ves- sel's head to the sea, yet she seemed to be in danger of being torn to pieces with the intense pressure against wl'.ich she had to struggle through a rugged sea, for some hours together. Tlie Captain was much alarmed, and said, ' If she gets through this, she will get through any thing.' The agitated waters broke in upon us on every side, like cas- cades, frequently loading the deck with their weight. The whole frame of the vessel trembled and shook with the strain in an unusual manner. This hurricane at length became a steady and regular gale of wind, but very heavy. 8th mo. 4th. " The weather very boisterous, although we were per- mitted to keep before the wind and sea. To-day we were escorted by an unusual number of birds, the albatross. Cape hen, stormy petrell, &c. On the fifth we were compelled again to ' lie to,' and this day, the sixth, we are again ' lying to.' At three P. M. we were assailed by a most violent tempest, with heavy falls of rain, sleet and hail ; the sea curled in an unusual manner, and raging in opposite directions, our little bark seemed as if she could not long sustain the unequal conflict, as the wind kept increasing to a degree almost inconceivable, except to those who may have witnessed the hurricane with all its furious and angry growl. Every thing was done that could be devised for our relief, but all our efforts seemed overpowered and unavailing, and we could not wholly divest ourselves of an apprehension that she must eventually fill and founder by the lee with us at last, if the fury of the storm were not curbed ; of this, however, there seemed no probability, and the approach of night served only to increase its horror, and renew its force. In this situation one would have supposed that no relief could have availed short of an abatement of the storm ; but true it is, that an increase of its fury produced a circumstance, which at once enabled our weather- beaten little vessel to rise with comparative case to every opposino- mountain-billow. At eight P. M. the wind was so powerfully strono-, that it blew our new stomi-jib away from the duff or bolt-rope alto- gether. Every exertion was made to prevent the total loss of the sail, but it flapped with such violence as to shake the whole frame of the vessel, threatening destruction to all that came near it. At lenoth it was lowered down into the water under the lee of the ship, where it was happily secured, but not without one man beina' hurt by it. For 29 want of this sail, it was now feared tliat tlie sea would make a constant breach over our deck ; but before another sail could be prepared to re- place it, it was truly relieving to find that the vessel bowed to the seas as they met her, in a much more lively manner without it, than she had done with it. Thus, in a very unexpected manner, was a way made for us to ride triumphant through the remainder of the terrific storm, without any material injury to the vessel beyond the loss of her bulwark. ' This poor man cried, and the Lord hoard him, and saved him out of all his troubles,' and to Him be the glory and the praise for ever. In the course of every storm which we had witnessed previously to the last, thunder and lightning had more or less accompanied them, sometimes in an awful manner, but more particularly the lightning, when forked ; and although we left England without conducting chains; yet thus far, not a flash has been peniiitted to harm us. By way of precaution, the pumps have at times been stopped up, to prevent their being split. Such favours I desire to record with thankfulness, and to number them among the many blessings which have descended upon us from our Heavenly Parent, times innumerable. 8tli mo. 8th. " It is now more than ten weeks since we sailed from the Rio de Janeiro ; we are still more than three thousand miles from our desired port, and yet the winds have mostly blown from favourable quarters, but often with such violence as to render them unavailing, on account of the tremendous seas they have occasioned. 8th mo. 10th. " The two last days the weather has been very rugged, but more gentle in the course of last night, and some heavy showers of rain have greatly assisted in stilling the swellings of the restless waters ; which allowed our ship's company to sit down together in a good de- gree of comfort, it being first-day. 8th mo, I4th. " To-day we have again ventured before the wind. In the forenoon, it being the fifth day of the week, Charles and myself were engaged in silent waiting ; I sat under a painful feeling of great strippedness and desertion, which have frequently been my j^ortion of late ; but my Lord knows best what is best for me ; and although his blessed will may not at all times just suit the creaturely desires of a poor finite mortal, yet I think I desire to be patiently resigned, and to be able to say in sincerity of heart, ' I have behaved and quieted my- self, as a child that is weaned of his mother ; my soul is even as a weaned child,' humbly praying, that at seasons an evidence may be granted that all things will work together for good, although the hea- venly, blessed, and only availing Comforter, who alone can relieve my soul, may be so veiled from the view of my mind as to appear far from me. By noon the wind and sea had so much risen that it became needful aguin to ' lie to,' without delay. Soon after the vessel was brought to the wind, every indication was exhibited of another dreadful tempest being close upon us. The interval of suspense was short before our fears were realized by being again surrounded with all the horrors of a furious storm, which kept increasing as the night drew on with aggravated violence, and continued the whole of it with unabated fury. 30 8th mo. 15th. " To-day the sea was considered the most lofty and appalling that had yet been permitted to assail our poor fragile bark. The wind shifted several points in the course of the gale, causing the white crested foaming billows to run one against another in fearful heaps, and breaking as they met in every direction, to exhibit one vast ocean of white foam in confused agitation, not to be described. As the principal weight of this mighty tempest came from the southward and westward, there was nothing to break in any degree the sweeping|range of the seas between us and the neiglibourhood of the Pole ; and the wind coming from off such vast bodies of ice, brought with it most chilling cold, and heavy falls of hail or sleet, which added much to the already accumulated sufferings of our poor, drenched, and benumbed seamen. 8th mo. 16th. " After midnight the stonn became less violent and angry, and only blew a gale of wind, which gradually diminished before day-break this morning, and the mountainous waves having ceased from foaming, though still prodigious, about seven P. M., we again turned the head of our little battered ark, towards the far-distant and long-desired Tasmania, although but small progress could be made, from the lofty swells which were raging around her. During the tem- pest of yesterday it was very evident that several on board were much discouraoed at its awful strength. It was acknowledged by the captain, mate, and others, that they had never beheld such a dreadful sea at any time before, and yet the little ' Freeling was preserved through it all with comparatively slight injury. Such indeed have been the renewed extendings of abounding mercy as ought to be sufficient to cause even those of^little faith to be ashamed, and to cease any longer to doubt ; but, alas ! the rod once withdrawn, is soon forgotten ; as is the loving kindness of the Lord, when the danger is over and passed away : like Israel of old, who sang his praise, but soon forgot His works. 8th mo. ] 7th. " The weather being more gentle the crew were assem- bled twice in the course of the day, for devotional purposes. The evening was crowned with sweet peace. 18th. " At noon this day we have completed full ] 40° of longitude, more than 100 of these since leaving Rio de Janeiro by the way of the South American continent to the Cape of Good Hope ; and we have yet about 46^'' more to accomphsh before entering the Derwent river, besides several degrees of south latitude to fill up. 9th mo. 6th. " Since the 17th ult. to this date, the w^eather has been more favourable, though often rough and boisterous. To-day strong gales and cloudy, but the sea although high, still admits of our steering a direct course : yesterday at noon we w^ere about 340 miles from the southern promontory of Tasmania. If the weather should be clear to- morrow, and the wind continue in this quarter with the same strength, we expect to see the land once more in the afternoon. This evening there is a rumour of land being in sight. 31 Arrival at Van Diemen's Land. On drawing near to Van Diemen's Land they found themselves in a perilous situation, as appears by the following extract : — 9th mo. 7th. " After sailing rapidly with a strong breeze all night, the land was fairly in sight at day-light this morning, but too distant for it to be determined with certainty what particular part we saw. Towards noon the south-west Cape of Yan Diemen's Land, with the south Cape, and the land in the neighbourhood of Tasman's Head were distinguished, but the wind had shifted, almost directly against our vessel, and a considerable swell of the sea had risen, although in the morning these were both in our favour. In the course of the day we had two satisfactory sittings with the crew, it being first-day. About five P. M. the atmosphere assumed a very threatening appearance. The sailors could scarcely get in the sails before it blew in a furious manner. Our hopes, which had previously brightened at the prospect of getting into port, were now unexpectedly and suddenly blighted, and instead of a probability of this being soon realized, we had the mortification to witness a painful reverse ; for before midnight, such was the violence of the tempest that we were literally blown off the land altogether, and our situation rendered doubly hazardous by being in the neighbourhood of rocks and shoals. One of these rocks, from its exact position being unknown, caused more thouglitfulness than others. The storm lasted all night, and brought with it the swells of the Pacific, which, meeting those from the edge of the Indian Ocean, together with the currents occasioned by New Holland, &c., soon raised a cross and outrageous sea. " It was thought that our vessel had not sustained more real damage from any storm she had previously encountered during the whole voyage, except one, which exceeded it in violence. The sea ranged over our deck almost the whole night. She was struck several times in different parts by heavy seas, and part of the bulwark on the starboard side was driven on board. Towards morning on the 9th instant, the strength of the wind was so greatly diminished that by eleven A. M. we made sail, and stretched to the northward to endeavour to get sight of the land again. Soon after noon the small islands of Pedro Blanco and the Eddystone were plainly ascertained, afterwards the main land appeared, and as the wind was favourable, we steered at once for Tasman's Head, and entered Storm Bay just at nightfall. After beating about all the night and next day, without gaining much ground, I determined to endeavour to anchor in Adventure Bay, which was well recommended by the late Captain Cook, but it fell calm before we reached Penguin Island, and from the fear of being driven amongst the rocks, by the currents, this project was abandoned. A light air of wind springing up, we again stretched across Storm Bay, not without some appre- hension of being blown off the coast before morning. With great fatigue to the men we got through the night in safety, but a dismal one it proved, and although we were not in a capacity to ' cast four anchors over the stern, yet I believe we all did most earnestly wish for 32 the day/ At length it broke to our relief, when we persisted in beat- ing- ii]i tlie Bay, and about noon took a pilot on board. After working through the day in very squally weather, we entered the Derwont before dark, and were at last mercifully favoured safely to anchor off Hobart Town, at eleven P. M. on the 10th of 9th month. Next morning we moved again to a place more convenient, and eventually moored with two anchors, opposite the Government House, close to the garden of the Lieutenant Governor, G. Arthur. Next morning I ascertained that our dear friends, James Backhouse and George Washington Walker were still in these parts and well." In the letter from Hobart Town, dated 25th of 9tli month, 1834, accompanying his journal, Daniel Wheeler thus writes, "Though many of the storms and tempests have been enumerated, yet not one lialf of what it has been our portion to witness, has been told to my beloved friends. It may suffice for me to say, that v»'e have been compelled to seek refuge more than twenty times from the fury of the hostile elements, by ' lying to,' with the ship's head to the wind and waves : and this has been resorted to only in cases of extreme danger." It will be seen by the extract from the Journal, under date of 25tli of 6th mo., that it appeared necessary to lighten the vessel, by casting into the sea some heavy logs, &c. In the same letter D. W. alludes to one of the sailors, who, it appears, had been remarkably visited, and brought under feelings of deep condemnation, and who opened his mind to him in a letter: — of this man he remarks, " His obdurate heart was never softened, and subdued, and humbled, until after the last dreadful tempest, when the weight of his burden became so heavy as to con- strain him to confession. I had perceived in his eye, the anguish of his wounded spirit, but knew not the cause until he wrote to me. He had several times been in danger of being washed overboard ; and once nearly fell from one of the yards when aloft, but these dangers were not sufficient wholly to bring down his stubborn heart. I think this one circumstance, independently of our (I trust) timely visit to Rio de Janeiro, cannot fail to animate the hearts of all our dear friends, par- ticularly such as have been instrumental, in any degree, towards pro- moting the great work in which we are engaged, and cause them to feel a lively participation in that heavenly joy, which welcomes the repenting and returning sinner to his Father's house." From a previous extract, it will be observed that Daniel Wheeler, suggested that certain stipulations shoidd be made with any person who might be engaged to take the command of the vessel ; one of these was, that himself and mate should attend morning and evening, when the Holy Scriptures were read ; this appears to have been attended to, and the sailors also have enjoyed the privilege of liearing them read at suitable times ; and from a paragraph in one of his letters, it appears that he had been careful to inform them that he did not consider such reading as a part of Divine worship, " but that true worship is an act between man and his great Creator, and can only be performed accept- ably in spirit and in truth," 33 *' When t]ie state of the weather permitted, meetings were regularly held on first and fifth days, those on first days were attended by the ship's company, and were, it appears, often seasons of favour, com- forting and supporting the minds of these dear friends under trials of faith of no common kind/' It will be seen by the j^erusal of the foregoing extracts, that our dear friends had abundant cause experimentally to adopt the language of the Psalmist, " The floods have lifted up, O Lord ! the floods have lifted up their voice, the floods lift up their waves. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea than the mighty waves of the sea." " Thou rulest the raging of the sea ; when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them." In D. Ws. last communication from Hobart Town, bearing date the 21st of 10th month, the following passages occur. " Soon after my last letters, &c., were finally closed, and a few hours before the Cleo- patra sailed, our dear friends, James Backhouse and George Washing- ton Walker returned to Hobart Town ; as we had previous information of the time they were expected to arrive, w^e were at their lodgings in readiness to receive them. They were not strangers to our l3eing here, as the arrival of the ' Henry Freeling,' had been publicly notified in the newspapers, in connexion with my name, as a member of the Society of Friends. Our joy at meeting, so remote from England, believe was mutual, and can be more easily conceived than described but it has been since not a little heightened by our having been favoured and strengthened to labour unitedly together, for the promotion of the same great and glorious cause in the different meetings which have been held at this place since their arrival, as also in opportunities of a more private nature." Respecting the vessel, he says, " on examination, after reaching this port, it was found that several repairs were necessary, both to the upper works of the vessel, and sails and rigging also, as might be expected from the long and tempestuous passage through wliich we had been favoured so safely to pass ; but these are not of such magnitude as to require more than some blacksmith's work, and timber, in addition to our own strength, and stores, for replacing the bulwarks and rails, which were repeatedly destroyed by the heavy seas : in the partial repairs carried on at sea, all our materials were consumed ; our crew are now mending the sails, and the principal part of the damage is nearly repaired, and I hope effectually so, for some time to come." In another letter, after mentioning the vessel, he adds, " I think we are unitedly of the opinion, that she is as good a vessel as can be put together, and that if she had not really been such, she never would have been here." In reference to the ship's company it is very satisfactory to insert the following extracts : " With a little exception, our sailors have exceeded my most sanguine expectations as to behaviour and conduct in general, but I think no men could have suffered more hardshijDs from the weather than they have endured. For a time we gave them some wine, but whether from its becoming flat and vapid by washing about in the cask, 34 when a quantity of it had been taken out, or with the change from cold to heat, and then to cold again, some of them declhicd drinking it, on account of its not suiting them, so tliat they had nothing but water for months together." Again, " It is a Kttle remarkable, that, although they have been sometimes wet, and in wet clothes not for a day or two, but for a w^eek together, when their teeth have chattered with cold, with no warm food, the sea having put the fires out, even below the deck, and the water filtering through the deck on their beds below, and not a dry garment to change, yet not a single instance of the cramp has occurred amongst them, nor the slightest appearance of the scurvy, even in those who have before-time been afilicted with it, and still bear the marks about them ; and with the sohtary instance of one man, who was forced to quit the deck for two hours during his watch, from being taken unwell, every man and boy have stood throughout the whole in a remarkable manner. They have been plentifully supplied with fresh provisions and vegetables since we arrived, and with some malt hquor also, but their character for sobriety, and temperance, and general good behaviour, has warranted every reasonable indulgence likely to conduce to their health and welfare." Respecting his future prospects, our friend thus writes : " My dear friends will perhaps remember that the Society Islands have always been the primary object before my mind, and this originally gave rise to the intention of our making the attempt to reach them by the way of Cape Horn as the nearest route. And although Van Diemen's Land and New South Wales are also included in the certificates granted me, yet the Society Isles are still the object bright before me, as the first point of destination to be aimed at." He then observes, " It is expected that we shall be ready to leave this port in about a fortnight, and as it appears that our dear friends, James Backhouse and George Washington Walker, are now about closing their engagements in Van Diemen's Land, and will be ready to proceed hence at the same time, we there- fore propose conveying them to Port Jackson, where it is my intention to call, for the purpose of recruiting our stock of coals, oil, &c., all of which, are extremely high in price at Hobart Town, and may be pur- chased in Sydney at a reasonable rate. As our course will be round the northern extremity of New Zealand, we shall have but a trifling distance extra to perform, by hauling in for the coast of New Holland." Since the foregoing, further letters and extracts from his journal to the 12th of 1st mo. 1835, have been received, by which it appears, that soon after D. W. dispatched his letters, &c. of the 21st of 10th mo. he became so seriously ill, as to render his recovery doubtful, both to him- self and others, respecting which, he says, " for a time it almost seemed as if I had come to Van Diemen's Land to lay down my head there, but in this prospect, peaceful resignation to whatever should be the will of my heavenly Father, was the stay and comfort of my mind, bearing it up above the bondage of fear even to a degree of rejoicing, in humble trust and confidence in the inconceivable love of Him who ' came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance,' permitting 35 them to know and sensibly feel the riches of that universal Heavenly Grace, which triumphs over all the depravities of human nature, where its operations arc submitted to ; begetting a faith^ that can remove every mountain of sin and opposition, and give the victory over death, hell, and tlie grave, to all who believe in its powerful and saving efficacy, who ' live not unto themselves, but unto Him who died for tliem and rose again,' and ' because he lives, they live also,' through the mercy of God, in their crucified and glorified Redeemer, and risen Lord. My Charles was also unwell for some time, but is again, with myself, gain- ing strength." D. W. adds, " The complaint at leng-th settled upon my lungs. The season was particularly late and cold, deep snow was lying upon the mountains in sight ; and cold rains almost daily fall- ing in torrents, rendered the streets and roads in the town nearly impassable, excepting a fev7 of the principal thoroughfares that are macadamized. No regularly formed footpaths are 3^et established in any part of the colony ; so that getting about on foot was almost impracticable for invalids, although in an advanced stage of con- valescence. But although our intentions have been thus frustrated, yet I am persuaded that all things which have hitherto been permitted, have been mercifully dispensed, and have worked, and will continue to work together for good, and that the lengthened continuance of cold winterly weather has been best for us, and will much more effectually serve to brace us, and prepare our constitutions for the relaxing and constant heat that v/e shall meet with amongst the Society Islands. Besides the advantages which have been thus derived, I am firm in the belief, that our protracted stay in this neighbourhood will ultimately be found to have been in the ordering of divine wisdom, however appa- rently at the moment, impeding the great object before me, which it has been my earnest and anxious solicitude to accomplish while the earthly tabernacle retains a good degree of strength." In a letter dated 2nd mo. 2nd, 1835, he adds, " By this detention an opportunity was afforded for a complete and satisfactory arrangement not only of our own afKxirs, but of those of our dear friends, James Backhouse and George Washington Walker. The arrival of a siiip, (the Auriga from London,) in this interim, having brought out for them a variety of books, tracts, &c., which were much needed for distribution in Van Diemen s Land, it seemed to crown all their labours, and enable thera to depart in peace." Voyage from Van Diemen s Land to Sydney. After making several visits to their friends, to take leave, previous to their departure, (respecting Avhicli, some interesting particulars are men- tioned,) our friends, in company with J. B. and G. W. W. weighed anchor In the evening of the 11th of 12th mo. having previously had a parting opportunity in the family of the Lieut. Governor, George Arthur, who has uniformly treated them with kindness and hospitality. They had, however, no sooner left the " quiet moorings of the Derweiit River," than they had to encounter the buffetings of the stormy main-. c2 36 He adds, " The pUot left us at day-break, and at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, we were under our new stonn-trysail, and storm -jib, in the midst of strong contrary gales, and rainy weather." This was more or less the case, during the passage from the Derwent to Port Jackson. On the seventeenth, they discovered " Cape Howe on the coast of New Holland." On the eighteenth, in sight of Mount Dromedary and Mon- tague Island. In the night of the nineteenth, they were in considerable danger of being driven amongst the rocks by some unknown current, but were favoured to discover and escape the danger in time, " although the night was dark, and much rain faUing." D. "W. adds, " although the danger which threatened was evident and imminent, yet our little company were preserved in quietness, and divested of fear." At eight A. M. next day, the twentieth, they " were abreast of Botnay Bay ; at eleven, saw the light-house and signal-staff on the South Head, which forms one side of the entrance of Port Jackson. A timely signal having been made, we got a pilot on board on nearing the reef, and imme- diately w^orked up the bay towards the harbour. At two P.M. we were favoured safely to anchor in Sidney Cove, at a convenient distance from the shore ; before anchoring, the mail, with which we had been entrusted from Yan Diemen's Land, was duly conveyed to the post- office at Sidney." Our dear friends met with a cordial reception there, not only from persons to whom they had letters of recommendation, but from many others also; marks of respect, kindness, and hospitality were also shown them by the Governor and local authorities. Meetings for worship, on first and fifth days, were regularly held on board the vessel during their stay, which several persons usually attended. Some particulars of their engagements during their stay, will be found in the following extracts. The deplorable situation of some of the aboriginal inhabitants, is thus described: 12th mo. 23rd. " After dinner, we landed on an uninhabited part of the coast, on the north side of the harbour, to obtain sufficient exercise ; and accidentally met with an aboriginal family, consisting of two females, one of them far advanced in years, and three children, the offspring of the younger woman. There were' two men not far off, who belonged to them, but they kept aloof. These women appeared to be in a poor state of health, and exceedingly shrunk : they could talk a little English, and on our making them some trifling presents, and saying that some of us would see them again, if they should be there to-morrow, one of them said, ' You welcome, come.' It was affecting to behold the degraded condition of these natives of the soil. The state of these poor creatures has been rendered abundantly more miserable and unhappy, since the English have taken possession of their country, from the in- troduction of vices to which they were before strangers ; particularly the use of spirituous liquors. 12th mo. 24th. " AYe sent some biscuit to the native family on the north side of the bay, by the mate and my son Charles, who saw two other famihes of these people in the course of their excursion. Their debased condition is neater than can well be conceived, and such as to render every attempt to assist them frnitless : if money is handed to them, it is immediately exchanged for rmn ; or if clothes, they are forth- with sold or exchanged for whatever will procure strong drink ; such is the curse entailed upon them since their acquaintance with the Bri- tish, who are doubtless chargeable, not only on this score, but for much of the demoralization and degradation of these harmless people. 12th mo. 26th. "This morning we received a visit from William Pascoe Crook, one of the Missionaries that first went to Tahiti, in the ship Duff, many years ago. The letters he had very recently received from the Society Islands, enabled him to communicate much interesting intelligence, some of which, was of an encouraging nature, although many mournful facts were at the same time related in them. A young- man accompanied W. P. Crook on board the ' Henry Freeling,' the son of a Missionary, who was contemporary with him in the ship Duff." Having been on shore in the evening, D. W. remarks, " On returning towards the boat, we were abruptly thanked by a negro for what we had done for their colour. At first, we did not un- derstand what he meant, but soon found he was alluding to the exer- tions of our Society for the ' total abolition of slavery.' He had come from the Mauritius, on his way home to Jamaica, and was waiting for a ship bound for Europe, or America, in order to get thither. Although the abolition of slavery could never have been effected, but through Divine interposition, yet it was pleasant to find that any of the instru- ments employed in the work were remembered with sensations of gra- titude. 12th mo. 27th. " At 10 A. M. we called upon the Colonial Secretary, who accompanied us to the Government House. We were kindly re- ceived by the Governor, Richard Bourke, who being informed that James Backhouse was desirous to visit the penal settlement upon Norfolk Island readily gave his consent, at the same time saying, that no person was ordinarily allowed to go there ; but under present circumstances there would be no objection. He lamented the low state of religion and morality upon that island. The account of the prisoners there, as furnished by Dr. Marshall, of the Alligator sloop of war, is truly deplor- able and affecting. About 1000 persons reside upon the island. When I first understood that it was the intention of our dear friend, James Backhouse, to pay an early visit to the settlement upon that island, I shrunk at the thought of going thither : a feeling which was, I believe, induced principally by the desire of hastening to Tahiti, without any further sacrifice of time. But, as the subject dwelt with weight upon my mind, and as I abode under it, without consulting any one, I had a clear and lively impression, that if I gave up to conveying our dear friends, James Backhouse and G. W. Walker to Norfolk Island, my beloved friends in England would unite in this measure, when all the circumstances of the case were made known and considered. I became willing to inform the Governor that I proposed to convey them in the ' Henry Freeling,' but not until he had made the inquiry how 38 they were to get there, as no vessels are allowed to touch at that island, except those beloiifving to the Government, which are but few in number, and seldom go tliither, and none of them being about to sail at the present juncture. It is therefore jDresumed, that ample time will be afforded to our friends, if conveyed there by the ' Henry Freeling,' to perfonn what service may be called for at their hands, and be ready to return to New South Wales by the first Government vessel which may arrive after their land- ing; or it may be, by the second, as duty may demand, or longer tarriance become needful. Before leaving the Governor, we had an assurance that proper documents and private signals should be furnished by the Colonial Office, to enable us to approach Norfolk Island without difficulty. An allowance of the usual rations for the subsistence of our friends during their residence at that settlement, was also mentioned. Since I have given up to convey our friends to Norfolk Island, my mind has been peaceful and easy, and the way has opened with clear- ness, circumstances at once consoling and confirming. This island is no great distance out of our regular course to Tahiti, and bears from hence about east and by north half-north, distant less than 1000 miles. 12th mo. 30th. "At noon we received a visit from Samuel 0. Mars- den, who has been connected with this colony, in and out, more than forty years, as a Church Missionary. He has been six times in New Zealand, and speaks highly in favour of its enterprising inhabitants, with whom he has so frequently resided in peace and safety, and amongst whom, he would have no fear whatever of dwelling again, if occasion required it. His great experience in these parts, venerable grey hairs — the plainness and simplicity of his manners, and the abun- dant store of authentic information he possesses, made his company not only edifying but animating." * It appears that our friends had, during their stay, several visits from this interesting individual, as also from some other pious characters, several of whom were occupying prominent stations in diffijrent religious societies. 1st mo. 7th, 1835. "Having at times for the last two or three days, felt my mind drawn towards holding a public meeting Avith the inhabi- tants of Sydney, and dear James Backhouse unexpectedly inquiring whether I had thought any thing of such a meeting, I felt a willingness to unite with him in the freedom of the Gospel, to appoint one, and to take the necessary steps to procure a suitable place to hold it in." The old Court diousc was ol)tained, and the meeting held at six o'clock in the evening of the 1 Itli of 1st month, which ap])ears to have been a satisfactory and relieving opportunity : resjiecting which D. W. thus writes : — " Notwithstanding another meeting was to be held under the same roof at seven o'clock, appointed by a Baptist preacher, yet we had the satisfaction to witness a crowded attendance at ours, of nearly 500 per- * 'J'his devoted servant of Christ is buice deceased ; lie died on iLe rith ot'tlie otb mouth of the present year. (1838,) 39 sons ; and many that could not be seated, went away altogether, but a large number stood the whole time : perhaps from the novelty of its being the first meeting of Friends for public worship held at Sydney, and we liope, on tlie part of many, from a desire to be benefited, the room was presently filled. Several present, were persons who held public stations in the town and neighbourhood. It was upon the whole, from beginning to end, a solid opportunity : James Backhouse and myself were largely opened in testimony amongst them. J. B. appeared a second time, and concluded the meeting in prayer. From the quiet- ness and solemnity which reigned throughout the whole time of the meeting, it might have been supposed that the congregation assembled, consisted wholly of persons accustomed to stillness and silence, instead of an audience, of which scarcely an individual had ever before been present at a Friends* meeting, or was even aware of the manner in which they are usually conducted. But the glory was and is the Lord's." The following third day, the 13th, James Backhouse and himself, by invitation, paid a visit to the Governor at his house at Parramatta, on which he remarks, " However humiliating such visits may be to myself, they may have a tendency to promote the great work, and open the way in the minds of those in power, to contribute to its furtherance, and this brings into a willingness to be held up as a spectacle before men for the Great Name's sake. But on such occasions, great circuni- spection and watchfulness are increasingly needful, lest any of our testi- monies should be let fall or compromised, and the enemy have to exult in the loss we sustain." It appears there were present several pubhc functionaries, military officers, &c., together with the son of the Lieu- tenant-Governor of Yan Diemen's Land. D. W. adds : " It was ascertained, whilst on this visit, that it is in contemplation to build a large hospital for insane persons in the neighbourhood, which afforded an opportunity for James Backhouse to furnish the Governor with ' Samuel Tuke's Account of the Retreat,' and with his pamphlet, entitled ' Practical Hints ;' both these contain important information, highly needful for those about to establish such an institution." The following extracts respecting the ship's company, from D. Ws. later letters, give proof of their continued stability. 1st mo. 21 st. "I have found the advantage of placing our sailors upon rather a different, and more respectable footing than those of other ships, and the result has been, so far, that we have had compara- tively no trouble Avith them. It is so common a thing for the shipping to lose their men here, that a few days ago, the question was put to me by General Bourke, the Governor, 'Have you lost any of your men?' and it is satisfactory to know, that some of the strangers who have attended our meetings on board, have, in more than one instance, re- marked, (as if of rare occurrence,) that our sailors look more like healthy, fresh-faced farmers, than men come off a long voyage : the generality of those we see daily, have a thin and worn-down appearance, par- ticularly when they belong to ships that supply them daily with ardent spirits ; while our sailors have each a quart of beer per day, of weak 40 quality, being brewed, as is customary here, with only sugar and hops, both of which are very cheap." D. W. adds : " I found it advisable to keep up a desire in the crew to make themselves acquainted with the art of navigation, and this could not be done w^ithout their being furnished w^ith materials for its accomplishment, such as quadrants, slates, pens, paper, &c. ; and though the expense of such things ultimately devolves upon themselves, yet, at the moment of purchase, the advance of money has been un- avoidable on my part." It is highly satisfactory and encouraging to find, by letters, from time to time received, that the seaman who was so powerfully arrested by conviction of the error of his ways, continues to maintain his integ- rity, conducts himself with propriety, and has recently attended their m3etings. 2nd mo. 4th. " The Metcalf, Captain Phillimore, unexpectedly in- tending to sail to-morrow, I hasten to close this third series of extracts from my Journal, although only transcribed to the 12th ult., as there are several other ships, which will be sliortly ready for sea, and it will be better not to risk too nnicli in one vessel," On the 2(ith of the 9th month, letters to the 4th of 3d mo. and extracts from the journal of Daniel Wheeler, to the 20th of the 2nd month, 1835, were received, from which it appears, that during their stay at Sydney, they had several opportunities of conversation with a number of persons of different religious persuasions, and were also fre- quently in the company of members of the Government. On the 27th of ] st month, they had an interview with the Governor, and another on the 12th of 2nd month, when on the point of sailing, principally on the subject of the visit to Norfolk Island, in which a kind feeling tow^ards our friends was manifested. Whilst they were at Sydney, a Temperance Society was established, as also one for the education of cliildren on the British and Foreign School Society's system. Our friends were detained there longer than they anticipated, the principal cause of which, the following extracts, &c. will explain. 1st mo. 27th, {Third-day :) D. W. writes : " For the last three or four days I have been in a low and stripped situation ; and while anxious to be getting on our way tow^ards the Islands, could not come to any de- cision and clearness sufficient to enable me to fix the time for our sailing. This morning, dear James Backhouse asked me if I had felt any thing as to another public meeting with the inhabitants of Sydney." This subject occupied their close and serious consideration, when they unitedly agreed that one should be appointed to be held the iel, and was helped through, to my humble and thankful admiration. It was indeed a glorious, and I trust to some a blessed meeting. I had, I think, more than once to call their attention to the Heavenly power that reigned over us, with precious solemnity, as a crown and diadem : and before the meeting closed, I had to acknowledge the same with prayer and thanksgiving, to the glory and the praise of my God. After the meet- ing was broken up, I requested an individual out of each ship to step forward, when two hundred and twenty-nine tracts, principally those of Friends, were disposed of, including those sent on board the ' Mariner' in the morning. The above is the substance of what I had to deliver in the meeting ; which as it arose fresh in my memory, when describing this meeting in my Journal, I felt an inducement to transmit thus far, for the satisfaction of my dear friends at home, that they may know what is going on in this remote part of the globe ; and to which, but for brevity sake, much more might be added. The masters of the ' Cambria' and ' Kingston' remained on board, and dined with us. Captain Crocker 57 of the ' Cambria' has proposed to take letters for us to New Bedford, for which place he is about to sail, and forward them from thcucu to E no] and. 19th. "The ' Nassau,' Captain Sampson, sailed early this morning for the coast af California, to prosecute the whale fishing. The Captain was furnished with six Bibles and six Testaments, in the Spanish lan- guage. He said there would be no difficulty in putting them into suitable hands, he being well acquainted in those parts. 20th. " Tlie American ship ' Emerald,' being about to sail for Ma- nilla and the Philippine Islands, and Captain Eaglcstone having kindly offered, on application being made, to forward our views, in circulating the Scriptures in the Spanish language, he being on a trading voyage, and of extensive acquaintance, this morning eighteen Bibles, eighteen Testaments, eighteen letters by J. J. Gurncy on Christianity, with five copies of a ' Practical View,' &c. by the late William Wilberforce, were got ready and delivered to that ship. TVe have met with great civility and willingness to lend a helping hand in many of the American captains : at the same time we are frequently sensible of a mixture which cannot be reconciled. The foregoing remark has no allusion to the inconsistent conduct of the crowds of many of the American vessels, which we have fallen in with here, that are called ' Temperance shijis.' I could not but view these with satisfaction, and with a degree of thank- fulness, as likely to contribute by their example to the welfare of the islanders. But, alas ! I now find, with horror and surprise, that the word temperance applies only to the ships, and not to their crews, none probably of which are members of a temperance society, but are merely bound by articles that the voyage shall be performed without any spirits being on board, except as medicine, if needed, and that their sobriety only exists because they cannot get the liquor ; when on shore, and un- bound by these articles, they are lamentably, in many instances, noto- rious for drinking to excess ; and their immoral conduct, at this place, makes me shudder for the awful and woeful consequences, both as regards themselves, and the daughters of Tahiti. Although great exertion is made and promoted by the missionaries here to stop this overwhelming torrent of iniquity, yet all their measures are abortive, and can never be successful, unless co-operated with on the part of the masters of the shipping. Notwithstanding the disuse of spirituous liquors is rigidly enforced at Tahiti, and no person allowed to have it in their houses, or if the breath of any of the natives smell of it, a severe fine is imposed ; yet this bane of the human race is still to be purchased on shore, and the supply is kept up by the American ships ; it is clan- destinely landed at times, amongst the supposed empty casks which are sent on shore for water, (an instance of this kind took place a few days ago,) and by other methods. A considerable quantity was brought in last week by an American schooner from Valparaiso, and safely landed; but has since been discovered, the casks destroyed, and their contents totally lost. By what is said, I do not mean to infer that this shocking and gross immorality is confined solely to tlie crews of the American 58 vessels, because those of the English are perhaps equally implicated ; but with this diiBference, they do not assume the character of being ' Temperance Ships.' "How dreadful and appalling the consideration, that the intercourse of distant nations should have entailed upon these poor, untutored islanders, a curse unprecedented and unheard of in the annals of his- tory; that one-fourth of the whole population is miserably affected with a disease brought amongst them, and kept up by the licentious crews of the shipping. Will not, shall not the Lord visit for these things ? 22nd. " Early this morning the ' Emerald' sailed for Manilla, and the Philippine Islands. The American schooner, ' Peruvian,' came in before noon from Valparaiso, with horses. In the afternoon, went on shore upon the Queen's Island. On this small spot of ground much is concentrated. A small chapel, with sides of upright bamboos, (wicker- work,) is standing, w4th seats and a pulpit, at one time probably in use. Several pieces of cannon in a useless state, one placed on a jDlat- form, formed of loose stones and coral, and others lying about in a condition equally harmless. These have been left as presents by the ships of different nations, which have visited these seas, and stand as memorials against them, by showing that their dependence is upon the arm of flesh for protection. England, France, and Russia seem to have been the donors of them. Part of one building is fitted up as an armoury, with an inscription to this import over the arms, which con- sists of three worthless muskets without locks. We cannot wonder at young and barbarous nations being eager to possess weapons of a destruc- tive nature, when they see in what high estimation they are held by those that are called Christians ; but, alas ! their conduct proclaims aloud that such are not the followers of the Prince of Peace, nor living under the blessed influence of the gospel. 23rd. " The king came on board to breakfast this morning by him- self, but departed as soon as our reading was over. As attending the Taliitian w^orship has been frequently the companion of my thoughts for several days past, it seemed best for me to be in readiness by having the way opened for the ensuing first-day (to-morrow) should this be my portion. After communicating this to my son Charles, we concluded to go on shore, and mention the subject to George Pritchard. On seeing the latter, I told him that my mind had been drawn to attend the Taliitian worship to-morrow morning. He asked, if I meant to perform service there, or to sit as a spectator. ' To sit as a spectator,' I replied, ' but if required to speak, to have permission to do so.' He just said, ' You must not expect to find things in the same order as if you were at home ;' and added, ' If you could come on shore about half-past eight o'clock in the morning, there would be time to look at the schools before the meeting begins : the meeting for worsliip begins at nine o'clock, but a prayer-meeting commences at sun-rise.' I cannot but admire, with reverential gratitude and thankfulness, how in ever)'- instance of this kind that has yet occurred, mountains have become 59 mole-hills in comparison, as a willingness is wrought to approach them : and if it were not fixing a very high stamp upon ourselves, I should say, surely the blessed Master, in like manner as when He sent forth His disciples two and two formerly to every place where he intended to come, is already not only come, but has condescended to go before, and prepare the way for us poor creatures in a remarkable manner, in the hearts of others with whom we have to do. In returning we walked at the edge of the Bay, and were accosted by a respectable, clean looking white man, who has resided here about fifteen years. He had been a sailor : but a severe hurt in his right hand and wrist was the cause of his being left at this place. It seemed from what he said, that he had been told we were much at a loss for an interpreter : he wished to ren- der us every assistance he could, and was willing to go with us to any part whither we might have to go ; wanting nothing in return, as ho was comfortably ofi", and was not one that stood opposed to the work in which we were engaged ; as he had but a small piece of land, he was at liberty at any time to attend us. We acknowledged the kindness and disinterestedness of this offer, and told him, if occasion required it, we should make application to him. We think him a suitable person to have the care of some tracts for lending out to others, and where some of the writings of Friends may with safety be deposited. Ovifirst-day morning, the 24th of 5th month, my son Charles and self proceeded to George Pritchard's house^ about the appointed time. We were much too early for the school, owing to there being no regular time kept amongst the people ; and some having to come from considerable dis- tances, are the more likely to be out of season when they arrive The principal teacher, who is a deacon in the church, made his appearance, soon after which we followed to the school-house. A considerable number of children were collected ; the boys sitting at one end of a long building, and the girls at the other ; the teacher standing on one side in the empty space, about midway between them. He gave out ques- tions to the boys and girls alternately, which were answered in the same way by a few of the elder children in a singing tone, simulta- neously, the rest seeming to take but little interest in what was going on. We were told, that when the Queen resided here, the number of children was much greater than at present ; but as she now lives at Papaoa, such children as formerly attended here, now go to the school at that place. " It was considerably more than half an hour after the fixed time before we entered (vv hat is called) the church, where a large number of j^ersons were collected and collecting. The whole congregation were squatted on the floor, the building being in an unfinished state, and no seats as yet provided : they appeared to occupy the whole of the floor, which is very extensive. While they were proceeding in their usual manner, I endeavoured to draw near to the fountain of Israel, whose God is, and ever will be, He that giveth strength and power to his people. My heart was softened in an unusual manner, and the creature was brought down into a state of nothingness ; tears flowed beyond a capability of restraint, my mind was as a calm, and I was prepared to stand up when the proper moment arrived. A universal stillness now prevailed over the meeting, probably increased by expectation, which had for some time been stamped upon the countenances of the whole assembly. " ' God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints,' were the first words uttered by me ; which when inter- preted, were followed by — It is not an every-day circumstance for a stranger thus to speak amongst you, probably what you never before witnessed ; but it is according to the true order of the gospel that the prophets should speak two or three, that all might learn and all might be comforted, with some more of the text, repeating again, for ' God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints ;' proceeding with, I have nothing new to offer: the way to the kingdom is the same now as in the beginning ; there is no variableness or shadow of turning with that God with whom we have to do : the things of time may vacillate and change, but the rock of ages unim- paired remains : it changeth not, ' the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal. The Lord knoweth them that are his.' This founda- tion is Christ Jesus ; and no other foundation can any man lay than is laid. Every man's work will be made manifest, the day shall declare it, the fire of the Lord will try it : that only will stand which is built on Christ Jesus the righteous, that tried corner-stone, elect of God, and precious indeed to them that believe, though to the Jews a stum- bling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness. For this cause, ' God gave his only begotten Son, tliat whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,' — with more on this important point. In looking over this large assembly, the love of God has filled my heart as I have sat amongst you. May the Lord in heaven bless you, is the language that has arisen therein. It is this love that induced me to come amongst you ; it is this love that would gather all into the hea- venly gamer of rest and peace ; endless in duration is the mercy of the Lord ; free and unbounded is his love. His love has been long extended to these islands, and covered them as with a mantle. This island has had advantages beyond many others. I reminded them that many years have now elapsed since the sound of the gospel was first heard in their land : they had long had many parts of the Holy Scriptures in circulation, which from their earliest pages point to the Saviour. It was promised soon after the fall of man, that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head. Moses declared to the people in his day, ' A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me ; him shall ye hear in all things ;' and the soul which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among tlie people. Which led to the query of what return had been made for all this, and wherein had they been benefited by these great privileges, &c. They had run well for a season : What had hindered them? What had prevented them that they should have turned again as unto the weak and beggarly elements ? If they had obeyed the gospel this would not have been the case ; they would by this time have been a pure people Gl for their God. That unless there was a thorough alteration and chano-e, the blessing intended for them would be withdrawn, and the rod would be administered for their iniquity. Continuing, ' Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die ;' for your works are not perfect in the sight of God. ' Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent ;' there is a great work to be done ; for where is your hope when the present gene- ration are summoned from w^orks to rewards, if the younger children arc not trained in succession ? " I then had to call upon the parents to step forward before it was too late ; they had all a part to take in it. Tahitian mothers had a large share devolving upon them; much depended upon their influence and example in endeavouring to train up their children with habits of civilized life, by letting them learn to read, (which at pre- sent is much neglected, and much disliked both by parents and chil- dren,) that so they might partake in the advantages which are to be derived from the Holy Scriptures ; reminding them that ' they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament ; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever ;' exhorting them not to be overcome with evil, but to overcome evil with (or by) that which is good ; that the promises are many, great, and precious, recorded in Holy Writ, to them that overcome, &c. &c. Though, perhaps, more might be expressed than above noted, and with some variation as to the words, yet I believe that Avhat is here inserted is the substance and principal part of what was uttered. " Having finished, I took my seat. Soon after this, George Pritchard concluded the meeting. When the whole congregation rose, the elderly people came forward to shake hands ; but being pretty near one of the doors, (of which there are four,) we were soon carried outside by the current of people turning that way. There were upwards of a thousand people inside of the building, and a considerable number outside also. The doors and windows being all open, those without could hear about as well as those within. 28th. (Fifth-day.^ "Soon after breakfast, Charles and myself endeavoured to draw near in silence before the Most High ; and although under feelings of great weakness and inability of ourselves to maintain the w^atch against our subtle enemy, yet we must not shrink or be discouraged from using our humble endeavours to main- tain the unequal conflict, seeing that He w4th wdiom we have to do, knows that we are but dust, pities our frailties and weakness, and re- gardeth with an eye of merciful compassion his poorest creatures ; yea, even the lone sparrow from the house-top cannot fall to the ground without his knowledge. 30th. " Yesterday, C. Wilson and son, from Point Venus, dined with us. They came to inquire for some articles for the latter, who is about to join the mission likely to proceed to the Navigator islands. In the evening, went on shore for exercise. Heavy rain during the night. William Henry having purchased supplies for 62 our vessel, came on board this morning to procure sundry articles of barter goods. In the forenoon, had an opportunity of furnishing a respectable woman with a Testament, Selection of Advices, John Woolman's serious Considerations, and nine tracts on religious sub- jects. This female was taken when a child of four years' old into William Henry's family. She is well acquainted with the English language, and has a numerous family, which she is endeavourino- to bring up in a praiseworthy manner. Her example of industry and notability may be traced in the different appearance of the family from those of others ; and the result is strikingly obvious in the behaviour and habits of the children. She is, doubtless, the offspring of one white parent. Her husband is a native, but we have not yet seen him : they reside in the neighbourhood of Mairi Pehe. " Yesterday morning, a native of Dundalk in Ireland, by name Murphy, lately arrived in the ' Peruvian,' from Valparaiso, came on board. He stated, that his coming here is solely for the purpose of procuring a passage to the Sandwich Islands, but that he is not suffered to remain here, for want of proper credentials, which are required of such as come to reside on shore. It is one of those cases in which I could not render any assistance, there being a decided law in this country that prevents strangers under such circumstances from coming amongst the people, and which applies to all foreigners. At the same tiine, it is pretty evident, that a fear of his introducing the Roman Catholic religion greatly operates against him ; for which it is probable, there may be some ground. Murphy acknowledges to have been six years at a college in Ireland, training for a priest ; but that he never was ordained. He is now come from the Gambler Islands, where, he says, there are six French Roman Catholic priests, and one English ; whatever may be the real cause of his coming here, his present situation renders him an object of pity, which we cannot relieve. 6th mo. 3rd. " For the last three days our time was much occupied by persons coming on board, and in attending to the exchange of some of our articles for barter, to obtain the needful supplies for the vessel of fresh provisions, fruit, and vegetables. " While on shore yesterday for exercise, we met with an aged native, who remembered the first coming to these islands of Captain James Cook. It was clear that he was no stranger to the circumstances of his death at Owhyhee, as he himself alluded to the place. Although we had the advantage of an interpreter being with us, yet the age of this man could not be ascertained, as no record or register of births is instituted amongst them. " In the forenoon, a judge, with whom we were previously acquainted, came on board, bringing with him the Queen's mother, and a third person, to us a stranger ; it evidently appeared to be one of those visits made only with a^view to extort something from us in the way of present : signs were made by the female of chopping with an axe ; but as I could only talk to her in English, she found there was nothing to be got, and I did not consider it at all necessary to satisfy demands 63 which were altogether unreasonable ; and especially from knowing, that if her wishes had been complied with, numerous applications would be made by her colleagues, which it would have been more difficult to refuse. 4th. (Fifth-day.) "The King and his brother came on board to dinner, but did not remain long after it was over. Their coming now is in a plain way : they come and go as they please ; we treat them witli civility, but no longer as strangers, or they us. This seems to suit their habits and inclination, which, like their bodies, are not accustomed to restraint. They paddle themselves off in a canoe, with no other clothing than check shirts, and a loose piece of blue cotton tied round the waist, with low crowned straw hats, with a broad blue ribbon round them, upon their head. 5th. " This morning a respectable Spaniard came on board, wliom I had seen several times when on shore. He was presented with J. J. Gurney's ' Essays' in his own language, with which he seemed highly gratified. He had been an officer in the Spanish army, and was banished from his country by the last revolution in South America : he has resided here about three years, and bears a good character. He is promised a copy of the Holy Scriptures, and other books in his native language. I never saw any person so much pleased and thankful at the prospect of having these books furnished him in this country. On inquiry, we find that there are three Manilla men here, one of vvhom was in the canoe at the time. This man read very intelligibly in J. J. Gurney's ' Essays;' and his willingness to receive any books we were disposed to give, for himself and comrades, made us glad that we are in possession of such a variety in their language. 6th. " At G. Pritchard's we met with John Davies, the missionary from Papara, who has been engaged here about thirty-five years, an in- telligent elderly man. From his long residence he has acquired the greatest fund of satisfactory information respecting these islands, and their inhabitants, of any person we have yet met with, and which he imparted in a manner to us highly interesting, and more valuable than what is generally collected, because authenticity may be relied on. In speaking of the idols formerly in great repute liere and in the neighbour- ing isles, he said, ' that when expostulating with the people, and en- deavouring to convince them of the worthlessness of these wooden deities, which can neither see, nor speak, nor stand, nor go, &c. ; that the most sensible amongst the natives in answer, would say, that they did not worship them as God ; but that they served only to remind them of God, who is invisible, and in some manner connected witli those images ; but how they knew not.' He considered that the re- ceived opinion of these islands having been originally peopled from South America, was altogether fallacious, and without foundation, because their having been peopled from Asia can be proved by striking- facts ; particularly that of, when traversing to the Westward, the same language is invariably to be found on the islands, though, perhaps, in a variety of dialects ; and that this may be traced to Sumatra, Borneo, 64 Malacca, &c. And the same tradition as regards a deity may also be traced throughout them, more or less in degree and varying in some particulars ; but in going to the Eastward, the language is less and less to be recognized, and eventually disappears altogether.' The intelligent natives seem to be awakened to a confused idea of a general deluge having taken place at some time or other, from their having discovered, that upon the tops of the highest mountains in this island and others, the same marine substances are met with as they are accustomed to find at the bottom of the sea. It has been the opinion of some that the whole of these islands formed at one time a vast continent, but that by an unaccountable convulsion of the earth this continent became water, except the tops of the loftiest mountains, which constitute the Islands as they stand at this day. 7th. (First-dai/.J "" From the appearance of George Pritchard on the seventh-day ^ evening, it did not seem probable that he would be equal to the fatigue of accompanying us to Papaoa ; and as the morning proved rough, and the wind contrary, it was not looked for on my part. Notwithstanding some information had spread that I should be gone to Papaoa, yet the state of the weather perhaps induced some to come on board about the time that we usually assemble the crew together. We had not sat long before some otliers arrived. The forepart of the time the children were a little restless, owing to the great heat of the place below, the deck being too wet to allow us to sit in the open air with safety ; but a solemn feeling spread over our little company, and re- mained with us. My mind was gradually drawn into exercise, and at last I had to break through the silence with the expression of, — True it IS that 'God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh rigliteousness, is accepted with Him.' ' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.' And ' If the righteous scarcely be saved, Avhere shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?' Also, true it is, that no man can save his brother, nor give to God a ransom for his soul : the work is our own, &c. &c. It was one of those favoured times of which it may be said, that the latter end surpassed the beginning, ' because of the truth.' It was afterwards ascertained, that George Pritchard was too unwell to venture on the journey to Papaoa." The following reflections occur in D. Ws Journal, under date of 8th of 6th mo. — " The organization of the language, so as to admit the trans- lation of the Holy Scriptures into the native tongue, is a work, the importance of which cannot be duly estimated nor conceived, as to the happy result, under the Divine blessing, that is in store for generations yet unborn, any more than the boundary of extent can be defined to which they may be permitted to circulate and diffuse revealed truth in the language of Holy Inspiration. This work now considered to be near its completion, has been the labour of many years, in a climate wasting to the constitution of every European, as oppressively relaxing from the heat. Henry Nott has been a very laborious servant in this cause ; without any regard to the many hardships and privations which 05 tlie earliest settlers had particularly to encounter, and in which he deeply shared ; his constitution is now sinking from long residence, and the eiFects of close sedentary application : who can doubt for a moment the devotedness of such a man ? Great and important are the advantages which such a work is calculated to bestow on mankind, beyond every other, or in comparison with any other outward means of help and comfort, for where can the excellency of the Holy Scriptures be equalled, or to wdiat can they be compared, seeing the WTiters were divinely inspired ? And being thus of heavenly origin and descent, they ever stand unrivalled as profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect and thoroughly furnished to every good word and work, and above all they are able to make wise even to salvation ; but it is only through faith which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom their inspired pages point from the earliest age of recorded time. 10th. " This morning received information that a public meeting of the principal chiefs and people of the island was about to take place, to consider the case of the supposed Roman Catholic. Although I had not been invited to a missionary conference which had taken place on this subject, yet I felt my way more than usually opened to attend the council of the Tahitians, then about to meet. Accordingly myself and Charles hastened to the shore, and landed opposite to the building where the people were assembling. " The Queen, with her mother and attendants were seated, or squatted upon the floor, surrounded by the chiefs of seven districts. The sister of the principal chief, or King of Rarotogna, was one of the party. The business commenced with the examination of the Irish Roman Catholic ; the place was now crowded with people, but the examination proceeded very slowly and unsatisfactorily; which I could not help perceiving, w^as entirely for want of an able interpreter, who thoroughly understood the English language as well as the Tahitian. The people were restless and unsettled from this circumstance, the most part, not seeming to know for what they had come together. None of the mis- sionaries appeared willing (for sufficient reasons) to have any hand in the business ; and seeing the real cause of the dilemma they had got into w^as still undiscovered, it seemed best for me to step forward, at a suitable moment, and state plainly to the heads of the meeting, that it was impossible for the business to proceed satisfactorily without a com- petent interpreter was appointed ; and turning to Captain Henry, who stood near me, I requested him to inform the chiefs w^hat I had said. This being done, the council agreed that Captain Henry should be chosen ; and he having consented, things began to move more readily forward, until the Catholic made some assertions highly injurious to the mis- sionary cause, and offensive to the Queen and all her chiefs, who felt very indignant on the occasion ; and which I knew to be incorrect. There did not seem any other part for me to act, however unpleasant, but publicly to contradict what he had said, and to declare that some of the language he had used had never been expressed by the person whom he E 66 M^as cliargino- with liaving spoken it. This for a time caused consider- able altercation ; but having three witnesses on my side, this difficulty- was soon got over, and order again restored. The examination continued, until the Catholic, unable to prove the statements he had made on first coming to Tahiti, and finding himself foiled on every side, made a hasty retreat, to all appearance not a little offended. One of the chiefs then expatiated on the case, and stated to the assembly as follows : — ' This man (meaning the Catholic) held out that he should not come to this meeting ; and it is seen that he did come to the meeting. He declared that he had a letter sealed with King William's seal, (of England,) and he had no such thing. That he had a letter from the British Ambas- sador at Paris, and he had no such thing ; and now, by his running away, he has shown himself to be a deceiver.' Then turning the attention of the assembly to my Charles and myself, he said, ' On their coming amongst us, we had no occasion to ask for letters ; they gave them themselves into our bands. It is known to every chief in the island there was no trouble with them, because they are not deceivers.' He then finished his speech, by proposing that such a man should never be allowed to come amongst them. After this the Queen's speech was delivered by a clear-headed middle-aged chief, which concluded with a call upon all her faithful subjects to unite in never permitting this man (the Catholic) or any other of the same profession, to come to disturb the peace and tranquillity of Tahiti. " Another chief made a very animated oration, which we were in- formed contained a proposition, not only to banish this man for ever from their shores, but to follow him on the sea, and not allow either him or his comrades to remain so near them as the Gambier Islands, but to banish them from thence, lest the plague should come amongst them : throwing his long stick upon the floor, to describe them as trampled under foot, never again to rise. 1.1 til. " Yesterday we went to George Pritchard's to become ac- quainted with Alexander Simpson, the missionary from the Island of Eimeo. He had come over to attend the meeting that had been appointed for the missionaries of all the districts, to take into considera- tion the arrival of the Irish Roman Catholic, Murphy. Alexander Simpson's wife and daughter were with him. He seems kindly disposed to forward our views, when visiting the island upon which he resides. 1 4th. (First day.) " In the forenoon a few strangers assembled with our own crew. In the course of the time we were together, I had a short testimony to bear to the indispensable duty of loving one another. How can we expect to be forgiven our trespasses, if we from our hearts do not forgive every man his brother his trespasses. Soon after one P. M., George Pritchard called, accompanied by Alexander Simpson's wife, in a whale boat, to convey Charles and myself to Papaoa. We reached in time for the meeting of the Tahitians, which consisted of a large body of the people. Throughout much of the day, and much of the time also that their religious engagements were going forward, my mind was under no small weight of exercise, and it seemed doubtful to 67 myself whether I slioukl liave any thing to communicate or not ; but towards the latter part, I only waited for a proper interval of silence to stand upon my feet. George Prit(;hard observing this, asked whether I wished to say any thing then, or after tlie next singing was over ; but the present moment seemed the right one ; which being signified, lie then exhorted the people to stillness and attention, and waited by my side for me to begin." Daniel Wheeler then communicated what was upon his mind. " Shortly after this," he observes, " the meeting broke up : when the people drew towards us, and commenced the usual cere- mony of shaking hands. The Queen was present, but I did not know it until afterwards. We called at her house on our way to the boat, but she was gone off on foot to Papeete. Half-past eleven P. M. " My mind is peaceful and easy, and relieved; and the God of glory has the praise, who thus continues to bear up a poor tribulated way-worn traveller, renewing my youth as the eagles, and as the day is, so causing my strength to be. I observed, while at the meeting of Papaoa, that the countenances of some of the Tahitians who sat opposite to mo manifested undeviating attention ; others ap- peared more indifferent and careless ; and the protracted length of the meeting, together with the tropical heat, made the younger children unsettled. ]6th. " Yesterday employed nearly all the day on board. Last night had some conversation with George Pritchard about accompanying me to Bunaauia this afternoon. It was proposed that we should lodge at David Darling's, the missionary at that station, in order to attend the Tahitian worship at sun-rise to-morrow morning. We set out in a whale-boat about three P. M. Our company consisted of Alexander Simpson, wife and little daughter, Mary Darling, a daughter of David's, Louisa Barf of Huahine Island, George Pritchard, my son Charles, and myself, with four Tahitians at the oars. We had a fine passage while within the reef, but on reaching the opening which leads out into the main ocean, the rollers broke with so much violence, that some of our company were discouraged from making the attempt to force a passage through it. To myself there appeared no difficulty, but what might have been with ease and safety surmounted, as at one view might be seen the whole danger that threatened. This opening consisted of a narrow channel, (but amply wide enough,) with the crags of the coral on each side of it, upon which the sea broke more than usual, from the wind having been rather brisk for several hours. But that which weighed most in the scale to deter from attempting to pass through this place, was the probability of our being unable to get through the next opening to pass within the reef again, nearly opposite David Darling's house, which is in a situation still more exposed to the constant invasion of the breaking surf, and rendered much more hazardous by the great strength of current that usually prevails there when the pre- sent wind is blowing. If on reaching this place the pass should have been found impracticable, we must then have had to go over the same ground a second time, to get back again, if no accident have happened E 2 68 to the boat, and the danger would be increased manifold by being then thrown into the dark. At length it was concluded to run the boat on shore upon a sandy beach, nigh unto some of the huts of the natives, who sallied forth in a body, and soon hauled her up beyond the reach of the surf. Our party being all landed, we proceeded on foot, and should soon have reached the mission-house, and in good day-light, but having a considerable river to encounter, the night overtook us before we had all passed over it. This river is rapid, and of uncertain depth ; and notwithstanding the bed of it is covered with loose round stones, the natives are so dexterous, that an accident but rarely occurs. A number of these people soon came to our assistance, and the company were all landed on the other side before my turn arrived. Soon after dark we reached the hospitable mansion of David Darling, and were received with great kindness by his wife and family ; himself being from home among the Marquesan Islands, whither he had gone to assist in establishing a missionary, by name, Rogerson, whom I had seen at the Missionary Society's House, in Austin Friars. At this place we found the wife and three children of T. M. Orsmond, the missionary at the Taiarabu station. They had been tossing about for a considerable time in a clumsy boat of their own, not at all likely soon to reach their abode, unless the wind should blow from a direction seldom witnessed at this season of the year. Being rather unwell in the evening, and having passed an almost sleepless night, I felt in poor condition when it was time to get ready to attend the sun-rise meeting of the Tahiti ans on the morning of the .1 7th instant. There was a large number of the people collected together, and when the usual service of their own was gone through, I stood up, and George Pritchard interpreted for me, as at other times. " The principal burden that rested upon my mind, was to turn the attention of the people to the light of Christ Jesus in their own hearts, that their conversation might be such as becometh his gospel. I had to tell them, that although I did not understand their language, yet I "was fearful for them, seeing that for every idle word a man shall speak, he must give an account in the day of judgment, for by our words we shall be justified, and by our words we shall be condemned ; believing, and declaring this belief, that a very loose and wanton conversation was a besetting sin amongst them. I had to remind them of the superior advantages bestowed upon these islands, over many others of this part of the habitable globe, by the introduction of Christianity amongst them. Had they obeyed the gospel, the effect of the contaminating example of evil introduced amongst them by distant nations, would have been prevented : that the Lord is looking for fruit, and the earth that drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for the use of him by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God : but that which bringeth forth briars and thorns is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned : that the desire of my soul was, that the lamentation once taken up by the Saviour of the world, might never be applicable to them as a people : ' O Jerusalem, 69 Jerusalem, &c. liow often would I have gathered thy cliildren tooether, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not !' That the love of God had overshadowed these islands in an eminent degree ; and I never heard of an instance where the Lord in matchless mercy, was pleased to send any of his servants amongst a people, but that his love was still towards that people. Tliat Christ Jesus had been often preached to them, but they liad not obeyed his gospel : they must repent and obey, and the way to repent and obey is to fear God, and give glory to Him. That it is the same gospel now as was proclaimed by the angel, which John saw fly through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto every nation and kindred, and tongue and people ; saying with a loud voice, ' fear God and give glory to him ; for the hour of his judgment is come ; and wor- ship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.' Desiring that they might be sensible of that day, when the Lord's judgment is come u]^on all that is of a sinful and transgressing nature. That so tliey might indeed fear Him, and in thought, word, and deed, give glory unto Him, and thus be prepared to worship Him in Spirit and in truth ; for it is such the Father seeketh to worship Him. That ' God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, had sinned in our hearts,' and to this saving light I wished to turn tliem, &c. &c. The people were generally very attentive, and a solemn cover- ing was permitted to prevail over us. On rising from our seats, they gathered around us in the usual way. Being previously acquainted with Utami, a principal chief in that neighbourhood, we met like old friends, who knew and loved each other, if his love for me was the same as I felt for him. We got out into the air as soon as we well could, in order to escape some of the usual greetings, not feeling in condition, from weakness and exhaustion, to accept of all the kindness intended by these people. " It is indeed worthy of humble gratitude and thankfulness, to wit- ness how my gracious Lord, from time to time, has opened the way for me amongst the missionaries. The printing-office is establislied at this place : we looked into it, but as the principal conductor of that work, David Darling, was absent, the press was standing still. Whilst here, we were waited upon by Utami, in the capacity of chief, to request per- ' mission to feed us, as they term furnishing strangers with a supply of food, which with them is considered the greatest respect that can be shown to a stranger : but we were compelled to decline their kind attention, as the materials could not be procured from the different parts of the district before the morrow, and we were bound to return to the * Henry Freeling' that night, if practicable, tlie chronometers from being locked up in our cabin, could not be wound up until we returned on board again. The quantity of food usually furnished at such times, is quite preposterous ; consisting of a hog, fowls, fish, plantains, bananas, &c., yviih a quantity of cocoa-nuts, and if hinted at, there is little doubt but a dog would be prepared, according to the ancient custom of the island. As the chief tJtami has undertaJien to repair a building for a 70 school, I agreed to furnish a few pounds of nails, and a lock for the door, for his encouragement to proceed in this useful work. In the course of the day our boat was brought from the place where we landed the preceding evening ; and after taking leave of this family, we again re-embarked, and in a short time got safely through the most dangerous pass in the reef into smooth water, and reached the Bay of Papeeti be- fore dark, not a little fatigued, and in much poverty of spirit, and unable to write for want of sleep. 19th. " Principally employed on board. Consulted in the forenoon with Samuel Wilson on the best mode of visiting the district of Point Yenus, where his father resides, and that of Tiarei, (Teear'ay) the resi- dence of William Henry. In the afternoon wo went on shore for exer- cise until dark. Samuel Wilson, who has kindly offered to accompany us to the distant districts as interpreter, came on board to tea, with whose plainness and simplicity we were much gratified. 20th. " George Pritchard came on board in the forenoon, and assisted in arranging a plan for accomplishing our visit to the remaining, and most distant districts upon the island of Tahiti. It was concluded best for us to set off this afternoon towards Tiarei. As the wind blew fresh, about sun-set was considered the proper time to proceed as far as Point Yenus, presuming the strength of the wind would lessen as the evening approached. It was proposed that we should remain at Point Yenus until two o'clock in the morning, and then push forward so as to reach Tiarei about day-break, before the trade-wind set in, which is mostly pretty strong, and generally from the quarter to which we were bending our course. All things being ready, we left the ' Henry Freeling' soon after four o'clock, the wind having materially lessened by the fall of some rain, and it still continued to get lighter as we proceeded. As there was every indication of clear and serene weather long before reaching the first place of intended destination, it was suggested by our native boat's crew, that we should not malce much stay there, but push forward while the wind and sea were gentle. The principal motive for wishing to stop by the way at all, was to lessen the fatigue of these men by divid- ing the journey into two parts, so that they might rest between them : but they were well aware that the whole distance could be performed at once in calm weather, with much more ease than if divided, and time given for rest, if the wind and sea should rise against them, although but in a moderate degree. Just before dark, we landed upon the shore of Point Yenus, the place from whence the celebrated navigator. Cap- tain James Cook, observed the transit of the planet Yenus on the disk of the sun. Opposite this part of the coast of Tahiti, which we had next to traverse, there is no sheltering coral-reef for its protection ; so that the remainder of our journey was now exposed to the whole beat of the Pacific ocean, and can only be performed when the weather is moderate, " Having with us Samuel Wilson, we were readily conducted to the habitation of his father, Charles Wilson, the resident Missionary at this station, and were kindly entertained by the family. Ah the passage 71 round Point Venus is very intricate, and the water particularly shoal, the boat was taken round to the other side, while we were partaking of some refreshment. We lost no time in preparing again to embark. The crew met us with a native torch, made of the dry branching leaves of the cocoa-nut tree, which with our own lantern, lighted the intricate narrow path among the bushes, and was particularly useful at the sea- side, the night being now very dark. As the night advanced, we were helped by a gentle land-breeze, so that the labour of the oars was a little diminished by the addition of a sail being set to catch it. There was an experienced elderly native employed at the stern-oar of our whale-boat, whose course seemed to he principally directed by the white tops of the rolling surf, as it broke upon the coast near to which lie mostly kept. Off one rocky point of land it became needful to turn off with a wide sweep towards the offing, to escape a projecting ridge of rocks, the outermost extremity of which was defined by the ter- mination of breakers. By ten P.M. it was declared that we were abreast of Tiarei ; but the night was so dark, that the narrow entrance through the reef to it could not be distinguished even by the eagle-eyed Tahitians. The boat's mast was struck, and one of the natives stationed in the front with Samuel Wilson, to look out ; and her head being turned shorewards, we edged gently down towards the foaming breakers, which were bursting on the rocky strand witli thundering noise. As the rowing ]iad now altogether ceased, the boat drifted only at the rate at which the swell of the sea hove her along ; a measure highly prudent until the dangerous pass we had to go through was clearly ascertained, as was quickly afterwards sufficiently demonstrated, though at the mo- ment such tardy proceeding might seem to protract the term of sus- pense. Having silently proceeded for some tin^ in this way, and from the increasing roar of the restless waters, evidently drawing nearer and nearer to the margin of the crags : on a sudden there were symptoms of alarm, which could not be mistaken, on the part of the boat's crew, who now perceived that we had missed the only entrance that afforded a passage to the shore ; and from our present ]50sition, a large lump of rock was in the way to the mouth of the channel, which the boat could not possibly escape. Our poor Tahitians immediately jumped into the sea, and did all they could to save the boat from being dashed to pieces, but they could not prevent her from striking. She however only struck once, and lay quiet, the w^ave having so far receded, that slie did not float enough to beat, and the next roller that came in, in- stead of filling her with water, carried her completely over this obstruc- tion. But it was difficult for some time to ascertain whether the worst was now over or not, for our men began to howl and shout, the mean- ing of which we could not comprehend. It afterwards appeared, that this was done to rouse the sleeping natives on the shore, who, well understanding this yell, shortly came running with lighted torches to our assistance, and a few minutes placed us once more upon terra flrma. As the boat could not get close in, one of these men very soon had me upon his back, to prevent my getting wet. Samuel Wilson and my 72 son Charles, were landed in the same way. The journey altogether had been more speedy, and in many respects more favourable than is often witnessed, until we came to the last pinch, when the never- failing arm of Almighty power was again displayed in the needful time for our relief. As we were strangers to the language of the people, and could render them no assistance whatever, and as any attempt to direct their efforts must only have increased the general confusion, w^e therefore sat silent beholders of what was going forward ; committing ourselves to Him, who saw our perilous situation through the darkened gloom, and did not suffer the briny waters to prevail against us, but in love and mercy, and compassion, stretched forth his hand to save. As to my- self, I may say, my heart was fixed, trusting in tlie Lord, whose loving - kindness is better than life. He was with us of a truth, in fulfilment of his gracious j^romise, and we were not confounded. I desire to record this signal favour with humble thankfulness and reverence, to His praise, and to His glory. We soon reached the mission-house, where William Henry resides, to whom we were all personally known, and by whom and his wife w^e were kindly accommodated for the night, although from their secluded situation, but little in the way of receiving strangers, and in so abrupt a manner, at an hour so unseasonable, as they could not have had the least idea of our coming. Much sleep could not be obtained, yet we passed the night in quietness, and I felt refreshed at rising. " Tiarei, 21st. — Previously to the commencement of the Tahitian worship at nine o'clock in the morning, the time was pretty fully occu- pied with the family devotion and taking breakfast ; after which we repaired to the meeting-house, it being agreed if I should have any thing to speak to the people, that Samuel Wilson was to stand as in- terpreter. This was a relief to William Henry, (and also to myself,) as he had quite as much to go through as his strength was equal to, he being far advanced in years. After William Henry had shown us to a seat, he went into the pulpit, Samuel Wilson remaining not far from us. At this distance, although not very remote from the con- taminating effects of the shipping, the difference in appearance, and in the general deportment of the people was discernible throughout the greater part of the congregation, which was large. Being comforted by the sensible presence of the great Master, my mind was strengthened in an unusual manner, but not until after a season of humiliating con- flict had been passed through in order and preparatory, I believe, that the excellency of the power may be felt and known, and acknowledged to be of God, and not of us, nor of any thing that we can command or call our own." — When the usual engagements of the meeting were gone through, (Daniel Wheeler observes,) " I stood up, and beckoned to Samuel Wilson to draw nearer to me. We went into a position a little more central, near the table, and under a solemn covering, after a short interval of silence, I said — I am fully persuaded in my own mind, that you, my beloved people, will suffer a few words from a stranger, who is with you in the fear, and in the love, and I may add, 73 in the will of God, and not in ray own ; and therefore I stand amongst you with innocent boldness, because I seek not yours, but you, that immortal part in you which must sooner or later have a being in end- less felicity, or in endless misery. Declaring unto them, that there is no alteration in the Christian course, the warfare is continual, and can only be maintained and accomplished with burning and fuel of fire — by the cleansing operation of that burning, which the spirit of judgment produces, and that unquenchable fire of the Lord, which consumetli the chaffy and transgressing nature in our hearts ; and if submitted to, would prepare and purify us, even as He is pure, for a kingdom, con- sisting not in meats and drinks, but in righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost ; a kingdom, where nothing that is unclean, nothing that is impure, nothing that worketh an abomination, or that maketh a lie, must ever enter. Whilst I have been sitting with you, my heart has been filled with the love of God towards you ; raising in it a fervent desire that every individual, from the least to the greatest, might be numbered among the ransomed and redeemed of the Lord, who shall return and come to Sion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads, from whom sorrow and sighing shall flee away. But I had to tell them that a great and individual work must be accom- plished before these gracious and prophetic promises are realized. Tlie indignation of the Lord must be patiently borne for sin, and for trans- gression, until he should arise and plead their cause, and execute judg- ment for them, and in his own time say, it is enough ; and bring them forth to the light, even the light of Christ Jesus, in whom they will then behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. This light shineth in every heart, and is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world, in which only the righteous- ness of Christ Jesus is witnessed to be brought forth and beheld. That when the precious blood of Christ was shed for the sins of all mankind, he ascended up on high ; he led captivity captive, and received gifts for men, even for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them, even among sinners, such as themselves, and me. That a measure or manifestation of the gift of the Holy Spirit is given to every man to profit withal ; and well will it be for those who are profiting thereby, and faithfully occupying therewith. I then had to remind them of the great things which the Lord had done for them ; that the gospel sound had long been heard in their land ; that many parts of the Holy Scriptures had been translated into their native tongue, which directed them to the Saviour — to the Word which was in the beginning, that was with God, and was God. And after enlarging much further, (although I think what I have stated are the principal heads that werd touched upon,) I sat down poor and empty, yet satis- fied with favour, and full with the blessing of the Lord. Instead of the congregation beginning to separate immediately in a hasty manner, as we have sometimes witnessed, even the dear children kept their seats, with the whole of the company ; a delightful pause ensued, (short, but crowned with that solemnity not at our command,) during which 74 I humbly trust the thanksgiving of many redounded to the glory of God. Silence was at last broken by one of the chiefs, expressing, on behalf of the assembly and himself, their thankfulness and satisfaction, and how welcome my visit had been to them, and received ; because, he said, ' You have preached to us the everlasting gospel, and have shown to us the propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of mankind, Christ Jesus ;' with something furtlier, which when interpreted, I was fearful attached too much to the creature ; and I requested Samuel Wilson to tell them not to look to the creature, but to their Creator. The whole of the people still continued together, (about eight hundred persons,) and seemed as if they knew not how to begin to separate, until some person (I think) proposed their shaking hands with us, which imme- diately commenced, and exceeded all we had before met with. " On our return the difficulty of passing through the reef was trifling and insignificant ; the light of day had dispelled all our fears and its terrors ; we could now see what we were about to encounter. In a few minutes we were clear of the breakers, and forthwith spreading our sail, directed our course shorewards towards Point Yenus, where we arrived in something less than two hours, the wind having kept on the increase the whole of the way ; and having a fine lively whale- boat that could run from the swell, there was no danger to apprehend so long as it continued to follow her. We were soon ready to go to meeting, but a very different scene awaited us, for instead of another feast of heavenly dainties, the Bridegroom was taken away, and a fast was proclaimed ; ' Then shall they fast in those days.' It was a time altogether the most discouraging that had yet befallen us. The con- tinual talking, and light behaviour of a large portion of the people were truly affecting and painful ; although several attempts were made to restore order amongst them, and the sound of some sharp strokes of the long sticks distinctly heard amongst the younger people, inflicted by the agents employed to keep order. I requested Samuel Wilson to say. That although I had brought nothing with me, a little matter had arisen which I did not wish to take away. The attention of the people being somewhat arrested, I proceeded with — ' Be not deceived ; God is not mocked ; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption ; but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.' The Lord is good unto them who wait for Him — to the soul that seeketh Him ; and eternal life is the reward of all those, who, by patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory, honour, and immor- tality ; but those who are contentious, and obey not the truth, indig- nation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil; of the J( w first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honour, and peace, to hfm that worketh good.' ' That God is no respecter of persons, for in every nation all that fear Him, and work righteousness, are accepted of him.' I then had to turn their attention to the sure and only foundation, Christ Jesus ; and to the necessity of their believing in his inward and spiritual appearance in their hearts. Tliat without 75 faith it is impossible to please God, pointing to the Holy Author and blessed Finisher thereof, from whom alone it is to be derived. With- out they live by this faith of the Son of God, who loved them, and gave himself for them, all their profession of religion is vain. With some furtlier additions, I sat down. The meeting soon after closed. " We called at the house to bid the family farewell, and immediately put off for the Bay of Papeete. We should have reached the * Henry Freeling' by dark, but having lost our pilot and interpreter, Samuel Wilson, who remained at home at Point Venus, we were twice en- tangled in the mazy reef, and forced to row back again each time to get clear of it. 23rd. " To-day employed in arranging matters to enable us to set out again for the Tiarapara journey, to visit the district where T.M. Orsmond resides. 24th. " A whale-boat having been procured last evening, we pro- ceeded, after an early breakfast, to George Pritchard's and from thence accompanied by our kind friend, Samuel Wilson, set forwards towards Papara. We reached Bunaauia in good time, and were again hospi- tably received by David Darling's family at the mission-house, he himself being still from home. After resting our crew more than an hour, we were again seated in the boat, fearful of wasting time, as the difficulty in some parts of the passage, going out and in between the reefs, on account of the alarming currents which prevail, renders day- light indispensable in passing through them. We landed at a place where a large English barque had been broken up by Captain Ebril. Here we met with three Englishmen, employed in preparing to build a new vessel, with part of the materials selected from the old one. These poor men seemed to be left in a very destitute and neglected situation ; and it is to be feared, strangers to the great work yet to be accomplished for the salvation of their immortal souls, if not altogetlicr unconcerned about it. A parcel of tracts were left for their perusal, which Avas pro- mised by one of them. We reached Papara before sun-set, and on landing were met by (Tati,) with whom I was previously ac- quainted. This man is considered to be the greatest orator upon the islands, and one of the two who stand as champions for the general welfare of their country. After little more had passed than the usual salutations customary among the islanders, the natives began to flock round us as we stood upon the beach, when an interesting conversation took place in their hearing. " After this, Tahtee invited us to his house, and refreshed us with the milk of the cocoa-nut. He said, that although many improvements had been introduced by foreigners coming amongst them, yet we might perceive they still retained many of their old habits and customs, allud- ing to their domestic arrangements, squatting upon the floor, &c. The house exhibited more of an air of comfort and industry than any we had before seen: — native cloth, fishing-nets, &c., were lying about of their own manufacture. The approach of night occasioned us to hasten to the house of John Davies. a Wclehman, from Montgomery- 76 slnre, one of the oldest Missionaries upon the island, where we were kindly received and entertained. 25th. " Rising by the break of day, and partaking of an early breakfast, we departed, as soon as the family devotion was over, for Tiarapara, (Tyra-boo) the south-eastern extremity of the island. We landed at Mairi Pehe and visited Samuel Henry and family, who is commonly styled Captain Henry, from having been several years the commander of a vessel. He is son to William Henry, the Missionary at Tiarei. Here the whole process of making sugar was going for- ward, from pressing the juice out of the cane by rollers, and all the different stages that it passes through, until reduced to the granu- lated state fit for use. The wind being pretty fresh against us, the journey became tedious, until reaching the narrow neck of the isthmus which connects the two peninsulas which form the island of Tahiti, when our sail became available, and helped us more speedily forward to the furthermost part of the island, then in sight. The sun was nigli setting when we reached the missionary station to wliich we ^vere destined; but the beauty, and various scenery of this part of the island served to enliven the last hour of a long day's exposure to the sun, and to quiet in some degree the sensations of hunger and weariness, by wliich we had long been assailed. The stupendous mountains, however steep and rugged, were clothed in the richest and fullest manner, with every kind of fruit and forest-tree, which flourish in these tropical cli- mates, where perpetual summer reigns, their luxuriance only now and then interrupted by falls of water hurrying down the steep declivities in beautiful cascades to the vales beneath : but the noise of these nu merous cataracts is at once overpowered and lost in the roar of the mighty Pacific, whose waves incessantly thunder in endless succession upon the shores and reefs of Tahiti. The rattle of our oars on the ocean's glassy surface as we approached near the shore, soon drew forth the natives, with the missionary, John Muggeridge Orsmond, who were ready to welcome and assist the strangers at their landing. Having before become acquainted with the wife of J. M. Orsmond at Bunaauia, together with the hearty reception of her husband, produced feelings somewhat like having reached a home, being favoured to feel refreshed and well the next morning. 26th. " We went to look at the children who had assembled for school at sun-rising, with a considerable number of adults of both sexes. Every thing here looked clean and comfortable, as if under diligent care and superintendence, as did the different buildings, the whole being in a respectable state of repair. Being aware that the children would be gratified by notice being taken of them, I shook hands with every individual, both young and old, that were collected. Whilst here, the people present exceedingly urged our staying with them over the next sabbath-day : but as my engagements were such as could not be altered, and would prevent my consistently complying with their request, I asked J. M. Orsmond to interpret my answer, and also to tell them, that as the whole congregation was to meet me in the afternoon, 77 I tnisted, that the Divine presence would be with us, and if so, we should be satisfied with favour, and filled with the heavenly blessing of the Lord. In returning from the school, we had to pass through a long train of provisions, which the natives had procured or provided in readiness to present to us, and which, through the medium of J. M, Orsmond, wx were informed, were intended for our food and refresh- ment. Although this provision was, as unnecessary as it was undesired, I felt sensible of tlie kindness and good-will of the people towards us, w^th which, at my request, they were made acquainted. The quantity of food thus furnished was enormous, sufficient it seems, probable, to have sunk our boat, if it could have been taken into her. Besides large quantities of the mountain plantain, and a variety of other vege- tables and fruits, there were several fowls ; and I observed among the crowd, a black pig tethered. The native boat's crew, who had brought us from Papeete, fared sumptuously for two days on the occasion ; and I believe the major part was consumed, or carried off by them, as is customary, and expected at such times. " At four P. M., the people assembled in the meeting-house, where I had full opportunity to clear my mind towards them. The district on this peninsula being quite distinct from those on the other, it was need- ful that my certificates should be read, as none of the people could have previously heard them. They were read accordingly, with ample ex- planation, by J. M. Orsmond, before I stood on my feet. The people were turned to the light of Christ Jesus in their own hearts. They were told that their being members of an outward and visible church would not avail them in the great and awful day of account : that they must be members of the true gospel church, the church triumphant, whose names are written in heaven ; and unless this was attained whilst here, it would be too late, for it cannot be done hereafter : there is no work nor device in the grave, &c. Showing them how the primitive believers, through the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel, attained to it in their day, and that it is equally as attainable at this day, through the purifying operations of the Holy Spirit. I urged and encouraged them to persevere in this great and im- portant work, earnestly desiring that thvj might not rest satisfied with an empty profession, but that they might come into the possession of the inestimable pearl, the pearl of great price, the truth, as it is in Jesus. " It was indeed a solid and solemn opportunity, and one of those which I afterwards learned left the people hungering, I trust, for hea- venly bread ; whilst to myself it was productive of that soul-enriching peace, which can only be purchased by sharing in the blessed Master s cup of sufferings, of which I had drank, and under which I had been heavily bowed down during the afternoon, before going to the meeting, and there also. And now how can I sufficiently acknowledge and de- clare the condescending mercy and loving-kindness of my gracious Lord God, who in a particular manner was pleased to warm the hearts of those dear people with his life-giving presence, making it an occasion truly memorable, and causing many of them to rejoice and abound with ?8 tlmnksgiving to his praise and to his glory. The same evening the deacons of tlie church, (two,) Tetohi and Puna by name, came to J. M. Orsmond's house, and being seated with us, one of them produced a letter, written on behalf of the congregation at Tea-hu-poo ; which being directed to Daniel Wheeler, was opened by myself, and when literally translated b)'- Samuel Wilson, and examined by. J. M. Orsmond, and by him approved, was found to contain the address that fol- loweth : — Translated Copy, dated at Tea-hu-poo^ 26^7* of Jime^ 1835. " Dear Friends. — The ministers with the Brethren and Sisters in London. " Peace be unto you, in the true God Jehovah, and in Jesus Christ his Son, who came into the world to save sinful men : — we indeed are sinful men. Here is Daniel Wheeler amongst us ; and he has made known unto us all the good words of Jesus Christ. And comfort has grown in our hearts ; and great pleasure has been to us from liis w^ords, concerning the words of Jesus the Messiah. " It was indeed very great pleasure in his saying to us, Jesus is the pearl of great price. It is a pearl good within, and good without. And many have been the good words that he has spoken to us. Now indeed we know assuredly he has true love to the brethren and sisters in all places where the things of Jesus are held. In that love he has come amongst us : and indeed our love is grown towards him and his son, in their making known on their way the things of Jesus, and in their visit of love to all the brethren, and in inviting all to enter in to Jesus the Messiah. " Signed on behalf of the Church, " Puna." " At the break up of the meeting in the afternoon, I told J. M. .Ors- mond, that I felt so much love to these people I thought I should see them again. When he proposed to meet me at the out-station on the other side of the peninsula next first day but one, where he said he would collect the whole of the people from this place, and from the two other stations. I could not speak decisively at the moment, though expectation was given that it might probably be so. Since this conver- sation I have recollected, that on leaving Tiarea last first day, we were told that the people from an out-station of that district hadjust arrived, in expectation that we should be again at the meeting in the afternoon. It seems right for me to go to the out- station on the other side of the peninsula, called Tautira ; and I find, on inquiry, that the Tiarei out- station can be visited at the same time, but that it will require fine weather and a smooth sea to efi*ect it. It must, however, be left for the present with Him who knows the thoughts of all our hearts, before xA'hom I desire to stand in humble resignation and willingness to go or I 79 to stay, as seemeth him good. The two men who came with the letter before mentioned, (Tetohi and Puna) remained with us until near mid- night ; and I think it may be said, that by the breaking of bread our spiritual eyes were opened to perceive, that the great Master was there in marvellous condescension and mercy to bless the opportunity. It was indeed a heavenly banquet : and some of us, who had lain many days in the grave, wT^re now, like Lazarus, permitted to sit at the table with their Lord. I was reminded of the passover, and was constrained to declare amongst them, — This is the true supper — this is the sacrament indeed, as you call it. It could not be denied, for the Lord's power was over all. One of those present observed more than once, ' This is what is so much wanting amongst us — spiritual religion : this is what is so much wanting." Daniel Wheeler then proceeds — " Hearken to the invitation of the Bridegroom of souls, held forth in the language of holy inspiration : ' Eat, O friends ; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved!' Sweet is his voice, and his countenance comely. Let us hearken that so we may be favoured to hear it. Let us wait for it with our lamps trimmed, and our lights burning, with girded loins, like men tliat are waiting indeed for the coming of their Lord, for sweet is his voice, even the voice of Him, the same, and no other, who said, ' Be- hold I stand at the door and knock ; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.' Then let us hearken, so that V7g may hear, and be ready to open the doors of our hearts, that the King of Glory may come in. Blessed and happy are tliey that hear and obey ; they share in the highest, greatest., and richest heavenly favour bestowed on earth by the quickening Spirit of the Lord from heaven, upon poor, frail, mortal dust. These ' behold the King in his beauty,' and cannot refrain from declaring to others, that sweet is His voice, and his countenance comely. 27th. " Rose early, and after breakfast took leave of the family, and embarked forthwith for Papara. We reached Mairi Pehe, (about forty miles,) before two o'clock, P. M. ; Samuel Henry rode on horse- back to the Marai, whilst we pushed on in the boat, intending to meet together on the spot. This Marai was, during the days of idolatry, considered the most sacred place upon the island. It is spoken of by Captain James Cook, who visited it when in its fullest splendours. At present it appears to be nothing more than a stupendous heap of stones, almost hidden, with bushes and trees that have grown over it and the neighbourhood of it, where formerly human sacrifices were plentifully offered. Parting with Samuel Henry, we continued our course to Papara, and passed through the opening of the reef with a strong current, before the sun went down. At this place the boys were amusing themselves in the surf, by lying at full length on their backs upon boards, and letting the rolling, curling breakers whirl them precipitately down the liquid precipice to the g-ulf below. Some of the boys best acquainted with this slippery sport, by watching the proper moment to launch forth, were hurled with great velocity to con- siderable distances, without being dislodged from their slippery board, 80 ^'hile the unskilful would be impetuously rolled over by the curling "wave, and for a time altogether hidden in the foam below. We were received with kindness by the ancient Missionary, John Davies, at whose house w^e passed the night. 28th. {First-day.) " At nine A. M., the Tahitian worship com- menced. John Davies had previously told me, that if I should have any thing to speak to the people, he himself would interpret for me. When the customary service was gone through, and John Davies come down from his pulpit, I rose and stood near him." When the attention of the people was attracted, and stillness prevailed, Daniel Wheeler communicated what was upon his mind, and he adds, — " notwithstand- ing there was reason to apprehend that many would be able to collect but a small part of what was said, on account of the feeble state of the interpreter, yet it was so evident that the Divine presence and power reigned over all, that I had to appeal to the people as witnesses to the solemnizing influence with which we were favoured. I trust the Lord alone was exalted this day and magnified ; and the people turned to their true teacher, Christ Jesus, whose name shall be great in every nation, from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same. Whatever might be the feelings of others on this occasion, I am not aware. It was to myself a highly favoured, precious season, the sense and remembrance of which is relieving, and still abiding : and although some days have now passed away since this event took place, it yet raises in my heart a tribute of thanksgiving, and a song of praise to my great, and bountiful, and ever merciful Creator and Preserver. " One part of this journey from Papara to this place, was attended with considerable risk, by a violent current, (occasioned by some altera- tion which had occurred in the wind, driving immense bodies of water from the ocean, through the open parts of the reef,) causing broken water in every direction, through the midst of which we were com- pelled to pass, surrounded by innumerable spires and cones of coral rock that presented themselves in every direction ; and through the narrow winding intricacies of which we were sometimes whirled in a frightful manner, but safely conducted through them all w^ithout any disaster ; although the Tahitians were thrown into confusion, which added ma- terially to the risk we were encountering, by their hastily rising from their seats. " We staid a short time at the house of David Darling, and then proceeded with a fresh and favourable wind towards Papeeti. Soon after passing through the opening from the ocean, to get within the next range of reef, the wind which had been fair, died away, and then sprung up directly opposite to the course of the boat. We were favoured to reach the ' Henry Freeling,' about an hour after dark, and to find all well on board. 30th. " Yesterday employed on board most of the day. In the evening wrote late to bring up my journal, which had fallen behind for want of opportunity suitable to write it, while absent from the ship. To-day still looking forward towards the Tautira journey, and shall be thankful to feel clearness and strenoth from my heavenly Father, whether by staying or goino." On this day Daniel Wheeler received the follow- ing letter from the Queen of Tahiti. A literal translation of the letter, by Samuel Wilson, of Point Venus. " Tahiti, 30th of June, 1835. " I do away Math the money for the anchoring of the vessel. This is the reason why I do away with it, because thine is a visit of love, and not a trading voyage. If it w^as a trading voyage, it would not be done away with : I would still demand the money for the anchorino- : but because thine is a visit of love, I have not therefore demanded the money. {Signed J "Pomare V." " Plealth to thee and thy son in your (two) voyaging." " Na Daniella Wira." 1st of 7th mo. " In the forenoon busily employed in preparing pack- ages to send to the stations of Papara and Taiarapu, to make some amends for the trouble our late journey had occasioned. The eldest son of Tati, the principal chief at Papara, came on board to dinner. His behaviour throughout would have done credit to a people much farther advanced in civilization than the Tahitians. Before going away he was furnished with a razor, a pair of strong scissors, a pocket-knife, and a pen-knifo for his father ; and also with articles of the same de- scription for himself, and a work-bag for the wives of both parties. Before he left us, George Pritchard came on board to bid us farewell, as the vessel in which he was about to sail was getting under weigh. Pie was going to visit the missions at the Leeward Islands, forming the Society group, and afterwards intending to proceed to the Marquesas to see the state of things there, and to bring back David Darling, who went thither several months ago to establish the missionaries, Stalworthy and Rogerson, on those islands. Got on shore for exercise towards the cool of the day. In the evening, Samuel Wilson and Dr. Vaughan came on board. 2nd. " Prepared ourselves, expecting that we should have to be in readiness to proceed on our way towards Tautira, either late this evening, or at a very early hour to-morrow morning, so that we might have a few hours to spare to contend with the wind, if it should prove too strongly opposed to us, A whale-boat and a crew of Taliitians were accordingly provided for our journey. After our interpreter, Samuel Wilson, came on board, we were soon convinced of the propriety of moving forward this afternoon, in order to make sure of the object before us, as much as laid in our power. " With exertion we got off at half-past four o'clock, and were scarcely seated in the boat, when it was discovered, that the wind which had blown favourably all the day, was now changed against us. The men had a heavy pull up to Point Venus, (of late F 82 years called Matarai,) where we landed, and drank tea at Charles Wilson's. There was a little delay at the sea-side, while our men finished their vegetable meal, and then set forward again ; but the wind continning fresh against us, it was eleven at night before it was reported that we were abreast of the narrow entrance to Tiarei ; and the moon which had shone beautifully all the evening, was now sunk behind the island, just at a moment when most needed to light us through the dif- ficult opening in the reef. But having witnessed beforetime the danger of missing the passage in the dark, and seeing the great utility of timely rousing the sleeping natives, I did not fail to urge this precaution being adopted, as soon as we began to steer shorewards. As we drew near the breakers, the crew shouted and yelled in true native character, until answered by one of the people on the shore, who was presently seen running with a lighted torch in his hand, and soon took up his' station directly opposite the narrow pass through the reef. On nearing the coast, it was found that we were only a few yards to the eastward of it, and sufficiently distant to allow of the boat's head being turned m a fair direction, without touching the rock. A few surges hove us through this little gulf into smooth water; and the crew taking us upon their backs, soon placed their burden upon the sandy beach, beyond the reach of the agitated waters. " Upon arriving at the ancient missionary's dwelling, it was ascertained that the family were all asleep ; but, however undesirable, there was no alternative but that of disturbing them, to afford us shelter for a few hours, as the boat's crew were too much exhausted by having had so long to contend against both wind and swell of the sea, to proceed fur- ther without rest. I believe, as regarded ourselves, we should have preferred spending the remainder of the night in the boat, as the wind is most gentle in the night season, when it has been strong during the day. Wilham Henry himself soon gave us a hearty welcome, and allowed us to set out in the morning as early as we thought proper, witliout waiting for breakfast. 3rd. " Rising before day, we departed without seeing any of the inmates belonging to the house, and continued our course towards Tau- tira. As the morning advanced, the wind freshened against us, and before noon was so much increased, that it was concluded best to run in the boat at the first aperture that the coral-clad shore should present for our relief : and just at the moment when the united strength of the men was scarcely able to impel her forward, we found ourselves opposite to a narrow passage, but sufficiently wide, with skilful management, to admit of our entering it with safety ; and a native from the nearest hut placed himself as a beacon for our guide. On landino;, the boat was immediately hauled up to rescue her from the invasion of the breaking surf. The hut, not far distant, proved to be the residence of a chief, who, we were informed, was gone forward to Tautira with our friend J. M. Orsmond, who had arrived from Taiarafu that morning at Pahua, the place we had now reached. From hence it seemed best to despatch a letter by a, messenger to J. M. Orsmond, at Tautira, to say we ])ad 83 arrived at this point, and were only waiting for the force of the wind to lessen, when it was our intention to proceed, so as to reacli the place of destination as early as might be, that evening, which would allow the whole of next day (seoentL,) for the information to spread, in the hope that the meeting-house would be filled with people the next morning. " Having had but little to refresh us since leaving Point Venus the preceding evening, two o'clock the next afternoon was rather a late breakfast hour ; tlie resident natives had, however, lost no time in pre- paring some food for us. After our arrival, they killed and roasted whole a good sized pig upon hot stones, covered over with leaves and then witii wood ashes, with bread-fruit, tarro, and the mountain plan- tain. When this ' feeding' (as they term it) was ready, and the floor covered over to a considerable extent with the large leaves of the purau- trec, it was presented to us in a formal manner, with a bundle of the island cloth, (made from the beaten bark of the bread-fruit tree,) ac- cording to the custom of the country. The company then sat down upon the floor, consisting of Samuel Wilson, Charles, and myself,_ with the boat's crew close to us, but according to usage, forming a distinct party. One of our men, who had acted the part of cook, cut up the pig, using a knife with one hand, and holding the victim with the other. We had a solemn pause before beginning to dine, and all remained still until this was over. When the carver had well separated the pig into a variety of shapeless lumps, he threw some of them to us, and the rest to his comrades, and the whole was pretty soon out of sight. The milk of fresh-pulled young cocoa-nuts furnished our drink, and salt water, in calabashes, fresh from the Pacific to dip the food in was used instead of salt : this we found to be an excellent substitute. When about ready to depart, about six yards off a piece of pocket handkerchiefs was given to the man that had charge of the premises during the absence of the owner. It may be said that we dined in public, as the place was pretty well crowded with lookers on, principally women and children. " We o-ot nicely out of the creek, and the wind, now much lower, although still opposing, allowed us to proceed with less difliculty. The day was nearly closing when we reached Tautira, situate at almost the easternmost end of the island ; it is a straggling village, and is only about ten miles distant from Teaa-hu-poo, where we had been the preceding week ; the whole belonging to the district under J. M. Orsmond's care. On approaching the mouth of the river, this active missionary was dis- covered in waiting to welcome our arrival. He conducted us to the residence (when here) of the Queen, at which place we remained during our stay in the neighbourhood. In a short time after reaching these premises our attention was awakened by the voice of a person speaking aloud, in as high a tone as could be well imagined. This man, we were told, was the Queen's speaker, who was come in ha' name, the churchy and the whole of the hikabitanfs, to welcome us to Tautira. On going to him at the door, he delivered a sort of congratulatory address, which happil y was soon over ; as the man spoke so loud as to be quite fearful to our' ears. After partaking of some refreshment, in true Tahitian f2 84 style, tlie deacons and some others of the congregation, assembled In the room, and one of them read a portion of Scripture, and prayed at considerable length. When this was finished, a general conversation followed, principally on our coming to visit them, and of a serious nature. We retired to rest about nine o'clock ; J. M. Orsmond stretched himself upon a strong bench with a back to it, something like a sofa, Samuel Wilson upon a mat on the floor, and Charles and myself upon a mat spread over a raised frame, and supported by open work, made from the bark of a tree, which I thought an excellent bed. At this place I found my gimlets particularly useful, not only to keep my clothing a consider- able height above the floor, out of the damp, but to avoid the vermin, which were very annoying, and of various kinds. A house-lizard was caught upon the wall in the course of the evening ; and although the house had been built several years, it had never had doors ; so that dogs, rats, &c. had free access to any part of it. It was however to myself a peaceful and comfortable asylum. " Next morning, the 4tli of 7th mo., we visited the principal part of the town or village, after having been presented with an ample feeding in due form by its inhabitants, accompanied, as usual, by a bundle of island-made cloth, and many assurances of welcome. This feeding fell into the hands of our boat's crew. A quantity of vegetables were unconsumed when the place was left, and they took away with them at least seven fowls alive. In the afternoon the body of the congregation assembled to receive us, where my certificates were read, and three per- sons spoke in strong terms of approbation and thankfulness at our coming amongst them, and of the satisfaction that had been conveyed to their minds by the language contained in the certificates. I had to speak a few sentences to them in reference to the certificates, declaring that I had no other motive for visiting them, than that the fulness of the blessing of the gospel might be theirs ; that some of them then present must have witnessed what the effect had been, as far as it had already been faithfully embraced ; what then must be the resiilt, when all the dreadful passions which pervade the human breast are brought under its benign and heavenly influence ? nothing less than peace on earth, good will towards men : at which none of them could refrain from rejoicing in the prospect, and uniting together in giving God the glory. On their being informed that my intention was to stay with them over the forenoon meeting to-morrow, and then endeavour to pro- ceed to Hitea, they came forward, and in a pressing manner, desired us to stay over the sabbath, and spend the whole day with them. This, however, I could not decide upon at the moment ; but a reason being given, which made its probability doubtful, they were in measure prepared not to expect it. Some of the people seemed much disap- pointed at my not being wiUing to accept of small presents of shells, &c. I requested J. M. Orsmond to inform them, that I sought not theirs, but them ; their souls to God. 5th. (First-day.) " It is a little remarkable, that to-day should be the opening of a newly erected meeting-house, (only finished yes- 85 terday) of large dimensions. This building is erected upon the site of an ancient Marai, a place wliere preposterous scenes of idolatry and superstition had for ages been exhibited. At half-past eight the chil- dren of the soliool assembled to be catechized, and at nine o'clock the regular congregation gathered. The meeting was well attended ; and Samuel Wilson performed the duties, which at other times devolve upon the resident missionary at each station. Towards the close of their meeting, I was strengthened to stand up, and to recite the query of our blessed Lord, ' Who is my mother ? and who are my brethren ?' Avhicli led on to the gracious answer given by himself, after looking round upon his disciples ; ' Behold my mother and my brethren ! for whoso- ever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.' " The people were very attentive in the neighbourhood of the place wdiere I stood, and full opportunity was afforded for me to clear my mind, and the everlasting blessed truth was set over all. It had been previously fixed for us to set off towards Hitea as soon as this meet- ing was ended, in order to reach that place in time for the afternoon gathering there, yet it did not seem as if I had fully done with them at Tautira. The morning had been rainy, witht hunder, and the general appearance of the weather now became more than ever threatening. The wind had shifted, and it was blowing strong from the jDoint to which we wanted to go. Upon inquiry of those best acqu,aiuted Avitli the distance from place to place, and the effect which the present strong- wind and swell of the sea would have in retarding our progress, with the probability of our not being able to make much headway in the heavy gusts which frequently broke forth, it appeared to be the general opinion that it was not practicable for us to arrive in time for the after- noon meeting at Hitea. This, with the information tliat the natives never travel themselves in rainy weather, nor expect strangers to do so, determined me without hesitation to remain with the people of Tautira, and I had satisfaction in believing, that I should be in the right place ; the tempestuous state of the weather, as the afternoon advanced, served to confirm the propriety of the measure adopted. " In the afternoon meeting, I had to tell the people, on standing up, that however contrary to my expectation, I was fully persuaded that my sitting amongst them again was not only in the will of God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, but in his everlasting love to their im- mortal souls, in which my heart was greatly enlarged. Many solemn and incontrovertible traths were brought to my remembrance to speak before them, imder a fresh and renewed influence of heavenly strength, Graciously vouchsafed, enabling me to sound an alarm, and to point out the repenting sinner's sure and never-failing friend and refuge, Christ Jesus, the Lord of life and glory ; I humbly hope to the exaltation of the great and adorable name of the just and merciful, and only true God, and our Saviour. " Just as the meeting was about to break up, the attention of the people was arrested by an individual asking me in English, whether I could 86 speak enconragingly, and with confidence, that the day was not far distant when the reign of the Messiah would be universal in the earth. I told him that I could speak with the fullest confidence of all the great and precious promises recorded in Holy writ, connected with this im- portant and interesting subject. As to the day being not far distant which he spoke of, I was one of those who believed that it was already come into the hearts of those who believed in the inward and spiritual appearance of the Lord Jesus by his Holy Spirit — who loved him, and obeyed his voice. The substance of what had passed was then im- parted to the people at large. We then separated, under a solemn feel- ing, better and more easily to be conceived than described. The wea- ther cleared up in the evening ; and a feeling pervaded, as if nothing had been lost by the delay, which it had apparently occasioned. " After a break-of-day breakfast, the 6th of 7th mo. of baked pork, the mountain plantain, and cocoa-nut milk, we took leave, and de- parted, witli a favourable prospect, for Hitea. We had not rowed much more than an hour, when the trade -wind sprung up in our favour, and drove us along the coast so quickly, that by ten A. M. we were abreast of the out-station about to be visited. On landing, we met witli Etoti and Paofai, two brothers, and principals amongst the inland chiefs, then on travel towards Papara. With both these men I had been acquainted from almost the first of our setting foot on Tahitian ground. We were informed that the people had been collected, in ex- pectation of our arrival the preceding day to the afternoon meeting, but that the weather had accounted for our absence. At first I thought, that having made two attempts to see these people, viz., when first at Tiarci, they arrived too late, and now again on returning from Tautira, on each occasion, prevented by the weather from seeing them assembled as proposed, that I might venture to move forward towards the Bay of Papeete, where we left our vessel lying : but on being informed and assured that if I would stay till next morning, a meeting would be held in due course at sun-rise, and that many people would attend, I found that I could do no less than make the sacrifice of another day, by remain- ing on the spot, however inconveniently circumstanced. The idea that I might venture to move on, and pass by these people, had been none other than a plausible suggestion of the grand enemy ; but I was delivered out of his hand. This being agreed upon, and made known, we were shown to an empty house, similar to a large bird-cage in appearance, perhaps occasionally occupied, though but little trace of that to be seen. " This house was built with open lattice-walls, and screens of cocoa- nut branches to keep out the wind. The floors were covered with withered grass, from long use, in very dirty condition, because laid upon loose earth, in a low and damp situation. There were latticed divisions vvhich made four apartments, but not a door either within or without. The people soon brought us a supply of food, according to their custom of treating strangers ; and in due time beds were prepared upon posts driven into the earth, which consisted of clean mats spread upon frames n7 for us to lie on. We paid a visit to the resident chief, to whom I was no stranger, having seen him more than once on board the vessel. At his house a large feeding was preparing, to which we were invited, hut declined to partake of it. In the course of the afternoon we looked round the neighbourhood ; and after the evening's refreshment of our- selves and boat's crew, the governor, and the elders, or deacons of the church, with a native teacher, came to visit us. Tliese were soon fol- lowed by a number of men, w^omen, and children, and when the room in which we sat was pretty well filled with guests, squatted on the floor, the adjoining room was occupied by others as they came in, which were only separated from the rest by open lattice-work ; through this they could distinctly see and hear, and be heard, as well as if we had been together in the same place. The result of what followed was truly comforting and consoling. On inquiring of the native teacher, through the medium of Samuel Wilson, our interested and highly interesting- companion and interpreter, whether there was any indication that would encourage and justify a hope that some few among the people were desirous to improve in those things that accompany life and sal- vation ; ho said that there were, instances where this was, he thought, discernible, and that he himself was very desirous and anxious that this should be the case ; that he laboured hard for it, greatly desiring to work, while it is day. I said, where there is sucli a desire in the teacher, and a correspondent one in the object of his care, a happy result, under the Divine blessing, could scarcely fail to be produced (or to this import.) I told him, however, that although the text he had mentioned might in some degree be applicable to the work in which he was engaged, yet I did conceive it was more so, as regarded the great work of regeneration in the heart of man. That this great and important, and indispensable work, could be done only while tlie light of the day of merciful visitation was extended, and if this unhappily be over- looked and neglected, a night of darkness will assuredly follow in which no man can work. ' If, therefore, the light that is in thee be dark- ness, how great is that darkness.' That there was a day of visitation extended to every son and daughter under heaven, sufficiently long for them all to work out their own soul's salvation, with fear and tremb- ling ; and it w^as also as certain, that this day might, from one cause or other, be overlooked and withstood, or suffered to pass away unim- proved and neglected. That this was evident from the language of the compassionate Saviour, when he lamented and wept over the city of Jerusalem : ' If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes.' ' How often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not.' Which plainly shows that her children might have been gathered ; but, alas ! they would not, because they knew not the day of their visi- tation; their destruction was of themselves. As we proceeded Avith this kind of conversation, the company more and more settled down into serious thoughtfulness. One person, however, seemed very de- 88 sirous to understand what was my real object in coming to their island; several reasons were alleged, but they were evidently not compre- hended or satisfactory. The spirituality of the gospel dispensation was gradually brought before the view of their minds, and it was strikingly evident, that there was a fertile soil, or good ground prepared by the ever-blessed husbandman, in the hearts of some present, for the recep- tion of the sacred truths that were afterwards disclosed to their vie w. " At the close of tliis opportunity such a solemnity spread over us, as could not be mistaken, even had the doors been shut, for peace be unto you, althougli not outwardly proclaimed, was known and felt to be amongst us by some present. Some of them could not forbear ex- pressing their inward state, and their fear, from the uncertainty they were in, as to the future well-being of their immortal souls. It was indeed a season never to be forgotten, for it seemed as if some of their hearts were laid open by the Almighty searcher, and a willingness w^rought to confess their sins, and to call on the name of the Lord, through the powerful efficacy of redeeming love shed abroad tlierein, and working in them to will and to do of the Lord's good pleasure. To the praise of the riches of his grace be it faithfully recorded, in characters which can never be defaced whilst memory holds her place. At a late hour we adjourned until sunrise next morning, the 7th of the 7tli month, when the people generally assembled in a commodious meet- ing-house. " As this was a meeting held in regular course of their own, the accustomed duties were performed by Samuel Wilson, who acted in- stead of their native teacher. My certificates were then read, which seemed to prepare the minds of the people for the solemn season with which we were afterwards favoured. I had a fine open time amongst them, during which the path to the kingdom was pointed out, and set before them ; wherein a wayfaring man, though a fool, cannot err : the state of mind which, must be attained to by all, before true spiritual worship can be performed, and accepted by him, who only is wor- shipped in spirit and in truth, w\as, I trust, declared in plainness. I had largely to treat on the all-sufficiency of the ' light,' the ' grace,' which hath appeared to all men, bringing salvation to all men ; teach- ing all ]nen that by denying ungodliness and the world's lusts, they should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world ; and commending them unto God and the word of his grace, w^hicli is able to build us up, and to give us an inheritance amongst those that are already sanctified by faith that is in Clirist Jesus. I sat down with a thankful and peaceful mind. Before we separated, one of the 2)eople stood up, and thanked me, in the name of the Queen and of the church. I requested Samuel Wilson to say, that no thanks were due to me. I had done no more than tliat which was my duty to do, and was only an unprofitable servant. After taking some refreshment, we proceeded to the boat, and the wind being fresh and fair, we sailed briskly along the coast to Tiarei. Our stay here was limited, for fear of losing the wind, yet we did not like to pass by the mission-liouse altogether, whose 80 inhabitants we might never see again. We liad from hence a rapid passage to Point Venus, and were favoured to reach the ' Henry Free- ling' the same afternoon, though late, and to find all well and comfort- able on board. 9th. " Since returning from Hitea, my attention has l>ecn turned towards the white residents in this neighbourhood, and I have endea- voured to dwell under the prospect of collecting them together, with those from the diiFerent vessels, (now here) at eleven o'clock next Jirst- day. 11th. " After breakfast, went by boat to inquire of Eliza Pritchard, (her husband having sailed for the Marquesan Islands,) whether there would be any meeting for the English to-morrow ; as in the morning matters so far opened, that I found it best to tell my Charles, I did not see that I could do less than endeavour to meet the English residents to-morrow forenoon. But little information could, however, be obtained on the subject, until late in the evening, wdien a missionary from a distant station came on board to tell me that he had given notice of a meeting to be held on his own account, but that he should be glad to turn it over to me. As he had ajipointed it himself, it seemed best to tell him that he must go on with it, but that I intended to be there ; and if I should have anything to offer, it would be only according to gospel order. Our captain took considerable pains, late in the evening, to spread the information, that all persons inclining to attend might have an opportunity of knowing there would be such a meeting hold. 12th. {First-day^ " Called at George Pritchard's house a little be- fore the time appointed, to be in readiness, it being near the meeting- house. I met there with the missionary tliat had given notice last evening, who wished me (as he expressed it) to begin the service of the meeting. I was best satisfied to decline the offer, as he had per- sonally given notice of it, and by those unto whom he had spoken, it was certainly understood to be for himself: if it had been appointed for me, it could only begin in silent waiting upon God. It afterwards occurred to me, however, that at a proper time it would be safest for me, if found needful, to spread the subject before the meeting when collected together, and believing that I should have to speak to the people, I availed myself of an interval, (when the missionary had read the fourteenth chapter of Luke, and said a prayer,) to step upon the base of the pulpit, which was raised more than a foot above the floor, and state that, — As this meeting was not specifically appointed on my account, it might be considered out of order to open my mouth in it ; but as we might never have the opportunity of meeting together again, I had been made willing to attend it, and in the ability which might be given me, to minister in it if called upon : that such a mode of pro- cedure would be still only in accordance with the true order of the gospel : but, if any should consider it an intrusion, I hoped they would speak and object, and I believed I should be satisfied with having made this offer. No one spoke, until the missionary said, ' he believed there was not the least objection in the minds of any present.' In the course 90 of the meeting Daniel Wlieeler expressed what was upon his mind at considerable length. The people behaved in a solid manner, and a solemn covering prevailed. 13th. " Employed on board most of the day. Omitted mentioning that last week a canoe from Tea-huu-poo, and another from Tautira, reached the shiji. In both these canoes were persons with whom we had social and religions intercourse at the places where they reside. Their, coming afforded an opportunity to send clothing and slates for some of the most diligent children at the district schools in those parts ; and nails suitable for general purposes, to the different congregations. As the dear people composing them had abundantly more than administered to my wants when amongst them, it was a relief to be enabled to return their kindness. " There are so many aggravated circumstances which contribute to lessen the desire of the people for religion, that the present prospect of things here is truly discouraging ; added to which, the landing of spi- rituous liquors is permitted or winked at, from the English traders and whalers to the colonies of New South Wales, and of those from America, which are much more numerous than the British. Hopeless indeed will be every attempt to Christianize the natives of those islands, that are labouring under and exposed to these disadvantages, which must ever obstruct the free course of the gospel. 15th. " This afternoon went up to Papaoa in one of our own boats. On our return we called to take leave of the Queen. "We found her sitting on the step at the back-door, with several of her chiefs squatted round about her, one of whom had been reading to the others, until interrupted by our approach. Tlie King was sitting on a wall, eating part of a cocoa-nut. For want of an interpreter, I had no opportunity to acknowledge the indulgence of the Queen, Pom are, for remitting the port-charges upon our vessel. Reached the ' Henry Freeling' before dark. Soon after our return, the carpenter of the vessel was seized with violent inflammatory symptoms, which had increased so raj^idly by 11 P. M., that a boat was despatched for Doctor Yaughan. John Norris, one of our strongest seamen, has for some days been rendered totally unfit for duty, by a similar attack, and the apprentice is nearly useless with an inflamed leg. Many persons on shore, both natives and foreigners, are in a weak state, occasioned, it is thought, by tlie cool- ness of the nightly air, Vvdiile the sun by day emits a scorching heat. We have great cause to to be thankful for the blessing of health so gra- ciously bestowed upon us, whilst visiting the difterent stations on every part of the island, notwithstanding the great dampness of the lodging- places which fell to our lot, and the variety of food, to which we were for the most part wholly unaccustomed ; at the same time exposed to every sort of weather in an open boat, in strong nightly dews, at times for hours together. The distance travelled on these occasions exceeded three hundred miles ; but, for the most part, under the reefs of shelving- coral, which skirt the island in many places in a wonderfully providen- tial manner; but where these do not extend, the swellings of tlie 91 Pacific had to be encountered. The rapid boiling currents, in some places, rendered our situation perilous at times ; but the Lord was nigh, sustaining us through all, and making our way prosperous in a re- markable manner, as already described and recorded in some of the most favourable interviews with the people, and I humbly trust, to the exaltation of His own great and ever excellent name. Who would not fear Him ? Who would not serve Him ? 16th. {Fifth-day.) " The fore part of the morning much unsettled by the natives being more numerous on board than usual ; but a large ship appearing in the offing, served to attract most of them away, as she approached nearer to the reefs. This ship proved to be the ' Charles Carroll,' Reuben Weeks, master; out twenty months from Rhode Island, in America. It was quite a relief to be permitted to sit down in quiet silence this morning, although much was found still remaining to cause a painful struggle between flesh and spirit. 18th. " Yesterday, (with the exception of taking our usual exercise on shore about sun-down,) busily employed on board, amongst other tilings, in selecting copies of the Scriptures in the English, French, Spanish and Portuguese languages ; a large number of religious tracts, and some standard works and writings of Friends for Samuel Wilson. This morning, called on board the American ship, ' Charles Carroll,' for a short time. My mind has at times, both yesterday and to-day, been occupied with the prospect of holding another meeting with the white inhabitants residing in tliis neighbourhood, together with the crews of the vessels in the bay, and any other person that understands English. On considering this subject, it seemed best to hold this meeting on board the ' Henry Freeling.' It was late in the afternoon, before I ventured to disclose my prospect to my son Charles and Captain Keen, lest instead of being found following my heavenly guide, I should be detected in having, through mistaken zeal, got before him, and missed the way. 19tl]. {First-day.) " In the morning early, the deck of the ' Henry Freeling (with the assistance of some planks furnished from the 'Charles Carroll,' and our own resources) was prepared with seats in readiness for the intended meeting. At half- past ten o'clock, our own boats, and one from the American ship, were employed to convey the people on board from the different parts of the shore, and soon after eleven, the meeting was comfortably settled. As there were a number of persons present who had never before attended a Friends' Meeting, and were wholly unacquainted with the manner in which they are conducted, it seemed best, after we had sat for some time, to suggest the necessity of our endeavouring to restrain all wandering thoughts and imaginations, :^hat we might be sensible of the Lord's life-giving presence, if perad- venture we should be favoured therewith ; and also be the better pre- pared to receive any thing He might please to give for expression, for our edification and refreshment, or words to this import. A covering of solemnity now drew over the assembly, and continued in a precious manner, under which, I was strengthened and raised up, to speak of 92 the ways of the Lord amongst them ; repeating the expressions to his disciples, which so beautifully illustrate the immediate connexion be- tween himself and the church, under the similitude of the vine and its branches. * I am the vine, ye are the branches ; he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit : for without me ye can do nothing/ And if we stand in need of help to wade through the common occurrences of human life, how much more needful then the aid and assistance of his Holy Spirit, when thus assembled toge- ther for the professed purpose of worshipping that God, who ' is a Spirit,' and must be worshipped '■ in Spirit and in truth/ After this, I had to speak of the excellency and efficacy of silent waiting upon Almighty God, in order to be qualified for the right performance of this spiritual worship, which we as a Society have always borne a faithful testimony to, that mankind might be turned to the only true teacher of His people, Christ Jesus, without whom we can do nothing, but all things by and through the strengthening influence of his Holy Spirit. Contrasting the worship under the law, with that under the present glorious gospel dispensation, unlimited in its extent as to time and place, but which can never be acceptably performed, while we con- tinue in sin and transgression, because it must be done in the beauty of holiness, and in newness of life, through the blessed aid of the Holy Spirit, in Spirit and in truth. I had strongly to press the necessity of every individual's turning inward, and of diligently seeking an ac- quaintance with this manifestation of the Holy Spirit, a measure of which is mercifully bestowed upon every son and daughter of the human race ; and which, if sought unto, would set their sins in order before them, in love and mercy, that they miglit repent and be saved from them. Appealing to them, whether they had not been sensible of the strivings of this blessed Spirit, when sin had been committed : at the same time declaring that it might be withstood and rebelled against, until it ceased to strive, and themselves be suffered to go on, adding sin to sin, without feeling its reproofs and checks. If this light (of Christ) in thee become darkness, how great is that darkness ! thus would the day of their visitation be passed over, and they know it not ; and this light, if once withdrawn and extinguished in Divine displea- sure, could never be rekindled, although before they might often have been gathered, like Jerusalem of old. The heads above quoted may suffice to show the substance of what I had to express amongst them, though but a small part of the whole. The Lord has been pleased to favour us with many blessed meetings; but this, for solemnity and stillness, excelled all. ' Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things ; and blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen, and Amen!' " Our two sick men continue ia a precarious state, and their absence from duty seems to protract our stay here, but I believe it is in the Divine will ; and though sensible of almost daily increasing infirmities, arisino- from the decay of nature, yet I am mercifully supported in 93 liumble resignation to whatever may be yet in reserve for me to accom- plish, being fully persuaded and taught to confide in the all-sufficiency of that Almighty power, that can, at His pleasure, help me to run through a troop of difficulties and besetments, and to leap over a wall of opposition and unbelief. And as I believe it to be so, why should I not say, in the language of the apostle, ' I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me/ " On second-day morning, the 20tli inst., began to prepare the vessel for sea, in the hope that our two invalids will soon be restored to health, though at present much reduced and extremely weak. " On third-day^ the 21st, Elijah Armitage arrived from the island of Moorea, or Eimeo, charged with a packet of letters for us, from London, which had been left there by the ' UHtea', Captain Hunter, from Sydney, New^ South Wales, on her way to Raiatea. Our joy may be more easily conceived than described, more especially on finding an un- interrupted series of favourable accounts from home, as well as, in the general, from others whom we also dearly love. They did not fail to raise in my heart a tribute of thankfulness and gratitude to the great Preserver of men, our almighty and merciful Benefactor. 23rd. " By the mission, which is nearly ready to proceed to the Navigator's Islands, or Samoas, an eligible opportunity is affi)rded, through the medium of Samuel Wilson, for an extensive circulation of the Sacred Writings, and other books of a religious nature. We have accordingly furnished a supply of the Scriptures in the English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese languages. As many white people and Euro- peans are known to be mingled amongst the inhabitants of this ex- tensive group of islands, a large quantity of Friends' tracts, and of those from the Tract Society, were also selected for distribution through this channel. 24th. " This forenoon the ' Harmony' sailed for the Sandwich Islands. By this vessel, the mail brought from Sydney by the ' Henry Freeling,' was duly forwarded. It would have been better for the peo- ple of Tahiti, if she had never entered the Bay of Papeete, having been a fruitful source of wickedness, from having landed a considerable quantity of rum ; although all spirits are strictly prohibited by the present laws of that island. If all persons that are found thus contri- buting to the destruction of their fellow-creatures, in this or any other evil practice, were publicly stigmatized as the agents of Satan, by being at all times shunned by virtuous characters, as unworthy of being noticed while persisting therein, it might, I think, be a means of com- pelling some of them to desist and be ashamed of their conduct, and perhaps deter them from further adding sin to sin, in causing others to sin by their means. The ' Raiatea,' a vessel engaged to convey the mission to the Samoas, sailed soon after noon for Eimeo. " In the departure of Samuel Wilson for the Samoas, we have lost a most willing, competent, and faithful interpreter : but as he was pro- vided for us in a manner altogether unexpected and unlooked-for, we 94 may safely trust that we shall yet be cared for in this respect while amongst the islands which we have to visit of the Society group. 25th. " At the close of the public meeting on board the ' Henry Freeling,' last first-day morning, Reuben Weeks, the master of the ' Charles Carroll,' expressed a desire that a meeting might be held on board his own vessel, when all the crew would be collected together. Of this I was afterwards informed. This did not escape my recollection, and my attention was frequently turned to it in the course of the past week, though until this morning never mentioned ; wdien I did not see how I should stand acquitted, without availing myself of the oft'ered opportunity, and embracing it. Having mentioned the subject, after breakfast, to our Captain and my Charles, I wished to ascertain whether if the meeting should be held on board the American ship to-morrow forenoon, it would be attended by the whole of the crew. Tliere ap- pearing no doubt on this head, I felt willing that Captain Keen should inform Reuben Weeks, that I had no objection to the meeting being held on board the ' Charles Carroll,' provided the whole crew, without any compulsory measures being adopted, should bo found willing to attend it, but that they should be left at their liberty to choose for themselves in this matter. It is a regular custom, on board whaling- ships, when lying here, to allow one half of the seamen to be daily on shore for exercise; and therefore I am desirous that all who may attend our meeting should do it of their own accord, as it was known that only one half of the ship's company attended our meeting last first-day^ the other half having claimed the privilege of their liberty. As this doubt was removed to my satisfaction, the meeting was appointed to be held, as proposed, at eleven o'clock to-morrow morning. Care was taken that this intention was spread to all the vessels in the bay, and on the shore also. At noon, Reuben Weeks came on board to say, that William Henry, the missionary from Tiarei, (now here on account of sickness in his family,) had given notice that Service for the English would be performed by him to-morrow, at their chapel, on shore, at eleven o'clock. I did not see it my place to flinch from the arrange- ment which had been made as to our meeting, more especially as no invitation had been extended from the shore to the crews of the shipping. In the evening, I called upon William Henry, who having heard of our intended meeting, at once said that he should counter- mand the notice he had given, and would come himself to our meeting, not doubting but his hearers would be very willing to join him in so doing. Our sick men still very weak and unfit for duty. 27th. " Yesterday morning, repaired on board the ' Charles Carroll,* in time to attend the meeting appointed. About fifty persons were assembled on the occasion, and the Lord was graciously pleased to give us a precious season together, and to magnify his ever great and adorable name. With those that attended from the shore, were the missionary and his wife from Roratogna, Eliza, the wife of George Pritchard, and William Henry, of Tiarei. " After the meeting had sat a considerable time in silence, it was with 95 me to make a few remarks, to wean the expectation of tlie people from words, and to prepare them for a longer time of silence, (if that should be permitted.) I had to tell them, that if I was to read to them, or to speak to them in my own strength, it would only be an act between one man and others ; but that worship, for which very solemn purpose we were met together, could only be performed between man and his Almighty Creator, who is a Spirit, and must be worshipped in spirit and in truth, with our spirits, through the Spirit of his dear Son, the Truth. A precious covering of solemnity now spread over us, under the feeling of which we continued until the time was fully come for clearing my mind amongst them, and declaring the mercy, loving-kind- ness, compassion and faithfulness of my God, who willeth not the death of a sinner, but rather that all should return, repent, and live for ever. The means were amply provided by His sending his only-begotten Son into the world, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life ; who came not to kill or destroy — He came, that we might have life, and that we might have it more abundantly, declar- ing himself to be ' the Way, and the Truth, and the Life ;' and he continues to be so to all such as not only believe in His outward ap- pearance upon earth, and in His sufferings, death, and resurrection, but in his inward and spiritual appearance also in their hearts, and in the operation of his Holy Spirit there, even that of burning and fuel of fire, to the consuming of the chaffy and transgressing nature therein ; and if waited for, submitted unto, and abode under, would prepare us for an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, in the kingdom of Christ Jesus, that shall never have an end. I had largely to treat on the subject of Divine worship, and to contrast the difference between that under the Mosaic dispensation, and that under the Gospel. That, with the Jews under the fonner, it was outward, ceremonial, and superficial, but under the latter, altogether inward, in the inner temple of the heart ; simple, but spiritual and substantial, because in spirit and in truth ; declaring the beauty, purity, and spirituality of the true Gospel church, of which none are members, but the ransomed and redeemed of the Lord ; that have passed through the great work of regeneration ; ransomed by the blood of Jesus ; with much more, with a voice of warning, and exhor- tation, and encouragement, as ability and utterance were graciously affbrded. " After I had sat down, my heart was filled with humble gratitude, and a tribute of thanksgiving and praise was raised to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who had thus graciously condescended to make himself known amongst us, (what if I say,) by the breaking of bread. Under a sense of which, I had publicly to acknowledge the same, that the Lord should have the glory due unto his holy name. The meeting held longer than usual; but the weight and solem- nity so strikingly apparent, (as afterwards openly acknowledged,) remained to the last undissipated and undiminished. — What, indeed, is man, or the son of man, that the Lord Most High is thus mindful of him, that he thus visiteth him. 96 28th. " I may mention, for the encouragement of others, who at a future day may have to follow in a similar track to this in which it is my highly-favoured and happy lot to tread at this time, — that pre- viously to attending this meeting just alluded to, I had felt very poor, and empty, and disqualified : and yet w\as not depressed with any par- ticular feeling of discouragement as to the result. When the time came for me to stand up, although w^eakness and fear were my wholesome companions ; yet the further I proceeded, the more I was strengthened and furnished for the work before me, and even to the end unexhausted. The remainder of the day, and through the night-watches, my peace flowed undisturbed and uninterrupted, as the stream of a mighty river : and a song of praise filled my heart, for I was indeed made joyful in the house of prayer, as on the mountain of the Lord : to the glory of the riches of his grace be it spoken. " Our two invalids still unfit for duty, though reported to be in a convalescent state. A ship in the offing under the American flag. 26th. " The ship seen yesterday, got this morning safely into the bay, and anchored near to our vessel. She proved to be the ' Frances' of New Bedford, John Briggs, master, that beforetime rode by our side, fourteen months ago, when at Rio do Janeiro. It is like meeting with an old acquaintance, as we were known to each other at that time. The chief, Paofai, came on board this morning, staid breakfast, and over our reading. He was desirous to buy cloth, and to possess one of our iron boxes ; neither of which could be spared to him. In the afternoon, Charles Pittman, the missionary from Rarotogna came on board. John Norris, seaman, seems slowly recovering, but the carpenter, William Bush, is no better, and the doctor is fearful of an attack of dysentery coming on. 30th. {Fifth-day.) " In the forenoon, Charles and myself sat down in the usual way, but under a renewed sense of dryness and barrenness, perhaps a food most convenient for us, to keep the creaturely part in subjection. Charles and Sarah Pittman, Eliza, the wife of George Pritchard, and Mary DawHng, paid us a visit. The impaired state of the health of C. Pittman has compelled him to quit his station at Rarotogna for the present, being no longer able to attend to the duties devolving upon him. His wife is also far from well. They have resided about ten years upon the island, where their united labour has been eminently crowned with success, amongst the natives. The cir- cumstance of there being no harbour for shipping, except for vessels of very small tonnage, and that insecure, although the cause of subjecting them to many privations, is a great blessing to the people, because they are thereby preserved from the contaminating example and effects which the sailors invariably introduce wherever they go ; and to this may, in great measure, be attributed the success of C. and S. Pittman's endea- vours : at the same time, it is only just to say, they are a truly devoted couple, and well qualified to fill the station they have occupied. by example as well as precept. They hope to return to the island in a few months : and being desirous that the natives might be furnished « 97 with cotton dresses, for want of which they evidently suffer much in their winter seasons, it seemed a g'ood opportunity afforded for me to furnish them with a stock of knitting-needles, as cotton grows sponta- neously and plentifully upon the island : this was accordingly done, together with a knitted worsted vest, as a pattern to begin the work with. They need only commence the work, and their wants will soon be supplied, and industry promoted, of a kind not too fatiguing, and which they are capable of sustaining ; but hard labour cannot be borne in this climate ; and I think the ample supply of food provided for them by a bounteous Creator, i:)lainly indicates it was never intended or required. 31st. "This morning arrived the bark 'Active' from Panama, after a passage of nine weeks, touching at Valparaiso by the way. Wishing to ascertain whether she had picked up any letters for us accidentally on the road, and other particulars respecting her, Captain Keen went on board to make these inquiries, and soon returned, bringing with him Charles, Baron de Thierry, as he styled himself, wdio with his wife and five children, and servants, had arrived in this vessel, which had been chartered by him at Panama. Tlie baron's object in coming with our captain, was to inform me, that he was going out to New Zealand, exactly on the same plan as our predecessor, William Pcnn, w^ent to establish the government of Pennsylvania ; but I found, on investigat- ing a little into his views, that he was a perfect stranger to the prin- ciples w^hich actuated William Penn in his government of that colony : as he was taking with him a military force, with arms, ammunition, &c., and a Polish major, (Edward Fergus, formerly employed in the staff of Russia, and at Petersburg, with whom we soon became ac- quainted,) to organize these troops in New Zealand, and direct their operations as needful. I told the baron that I could enter into his plans, just as far as they went uj^on gospel principles, and no further ; inform- ing him that no weapon more formidable than that of a constable's staff, was made use of or known for more than sixty years, for the support of the government of Pennsylvania, or vdiile the peaceable principles of William Penn and his friends w^ere suffered to prevail. 8th mo. 1st. " To-day, I did not feel as if I dared omit endeavour ing to hold another meeting on board the ' Charles Carroll' to-morrow, if that ship's deck could be again procured : I did not mention this until the afternoon, wishing to try the fleece both wet and dry. On a request being made to Reuben Weeks, the master of the said ship, for the use of her deck, it was immediately granted, and the crews of tlie different ships in the bay invited to attend the meeting. In the evening the invitation was extended to the shore. 2nd. (First-daT/.) " At half-past ten A. M., a w-arnlng-flag was hoisted on board the ' Charles Carroll :' and about eleven o'clock the meeting was completely gathered. The number of sailors who attended was considerably increased from the newly-arrived vessels. C. Pittman, Mary Darling, and Eliza Pritchard, attended from the shore, with Charles de Thierry, his wife, and the Pole, Edward Fergus. After the 98 attention of the people had been arrested by the object of our meeting together being explained, a general silence prevailed. At length, I stood up with the words, — ' The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid ; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together : and a Httle child shall lead them,' &c. After alluding to the fulfilment of this prophecy in the Gospel dispensation which lias followed, as then shadowed forth by Isaiah, I had to tell them that these are the very days in which we live, and that they are of universal extension to the whole human family ; every individual had a share in it, and a part to act in it, though of general appHcation : that the Gospel was not a mere outward declaration of good things, but the power of God unto salvation, to all who beheve, repent, and obey it, and that its privileges could only be attained to through Christ, that the early promulgators of the Christian religion were constrained to turn all men to Christ. ' We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake,' was the apostle Paul's declaration to the primitive believers, on behalf of himself and fellow-labourers ; but he himself had a more special and divinely au- thorised commission, communicated immediately by the voice of that Saviour whom he had so long and cruelly persecuted, wherever His appearance could be found : it was stamped with a double seal, for a twofold purpose, both as a minister and a witness of those things which he had seen, and of things which were hereafter to be shown to him, in which his Lord would appear unto him, to open the eyes of mankind, to turn men from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God ? — That Christ was the Light, the true Light, that lighteth every man that cometh into the w^orld, unto whom all mankind must be turned, and must come if they are saved, &c. &c. It was a highly-favoured solemn meeting and owned by the great Master of assemblies, whose power reigned gloriously amongst us, causing thanksgiving and praise in many hearts. From the 3rd to the 6th. " Except in taking exercise for our health's sake, employed in preparing Extracts, &c., to send to England, (on the return of the ' Active' to Panama, via. Jamaica mail from thence.) 7th. " Walked in the evening to George Bicknell's, and had an opportunity of seeing the master of the ' Olivia,' schooner, of Boston, lately arrived from the Paumotu Islands. He seemed in the last stage of a consumption, was unwell when he left home, and has been exposed to great hardship amongst those islands. His complaint has been much increased and aggravated by having long to subsist on fish and cocoa- nuts. He appeared glad to see me ; and after sitting awhile by the bed-side, I began to advert to his appaUing situation, winding gradually on as matter opened. On saying it was little matter how soon we leave this world of trouble, if we are but prepared for the event, he said, ' I am not prepared, and cannot prepare myself.' I told him I was rejoiced to find he was thus sensible of his own inability and weakness, because it was a conscious feeling of the want and neces- sity of the Saviour's help. I endeavoured to turn his mind to the dear Redeemer ; but he said, *" the time was too short to expect to accomplish 90 the great work,' and spoke as if it had been too long deferred. I re- minded him that the invitation was extended even as late as the eleventh hour ; and then mentioned the thief upon the cross, with the words, ' To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.' He seemed to be a little encouraged before we parted. I was afraid of staying too long, and of causing too much excitement, but a prayer ascended in secret for him both then and since. When about to leave, he expressed a wish for me to come again, and I hope to comply with. it. I was comforted in find- ing he had got into a place w^here he would want for nothing, and be well attended to. I consider it an act of true Christian benevolence in George Bicknell, with his large family, to take in, without solicitation, a poor, exhausted, sick stranger, and cheerfully administer to all his wants, without a j)rospect of remuneration. 8th. " Busily employed on board, closing our letters for England, to be despatched this day by the ' Active' for Panama, touching at Val- paraiso for a short time on her way. Got some exercise on shore in the evening. It has occurred to me since the last meeting held on board the ' Charles Carroll,' that the chapel on shore would be the next place for me to be in, although I mentioned it to no one, desiring to see the way clearly open, before any steps were taken. " Charles Pittman came on board yesterday : and in the course of conversation said, that EHza Pritchard had been thinking whether I would not come on shore the next Sabbath-day, to have a meeting ; and himself was desirous that some arrangement should be made, in which he expressed a willingness to assist. I told him it was yet un- certain, but that I intended calling at George Pritchard's house in the evening. On arriving there, I found C. Pittman under the verandah, talking to a sailor, who had belonged to the ' Charles Carroll,' and had then come to have some conversation on the subject of religion. It appeared, that this young man had been reached to, at the last meeting held on board that ship, and was desirous of help and advice. He found it very hard work to stand against the strong current of evil to w^hich he was exposed on ship-board, amongst a rude and wicked com- pany, who continually annoyed him in one way or other. He was encouraged to watchfulness, and to perseverance in resisting every temp- tation ; and if faithful, he would doubtless overcome them all, through the strength of Him, who, for our sakes, ' endured such contradiction of sinners against himself.' Whilst at George Pritchard's, I inquired whether any missionary was expected, or whether any meeting would be held there to-morrow, which was replied to in the negative. I said that I felt a little difficulty about their meeting-house, as it belonged to the people on shore, and they might be disappointed at not finding one of their own ministers there, and I could not answer, if I attended the meeting, but that it might be a silent one, which to some would be a disappointment ; but Eliza Pritchard said, they knew very well ; I suppose she meant, the manner in which the meetings of Friends were usually held. Having believed it right for me to hold a meeting there, previously to leaving the ship, what had passed served only to show G 2 100 that the way was open before me ; and going out, I said, — Then I think we must venture to give notice to the shipj^ing, that a meeting will be held at eleven o'clock to-morrow forenoon. As we returned on board, some information of the intended meeting was given by ourselves, and our captain engaged at once to invite the crews of the shipping generally, and to spread the information more widely on the shore. 9th. {First-day.) " At the time appointed repaired to the shore, landing at George Pritchard's, whose family, with C. Pittman, and wife, accompanied us to the meeting. The attendance was much larger than at any time before. The baron, his wife, and the Pole, appeared amongst others. We sat long in silence, when I stood up with, — It was never said to the wrestling seed of Jacob, seek ye my face in vain ; for the sighing of the needy now will I arise, saith the Lord. Let us remember the example of Jacob, who wrestled for the blessing until the break of day, although the angel said, ' Let me go, for the day breaketh ;* but the patriarch refused to grant the request, saying, ' I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.' The result of his faithful perseverance was, that his name should be no longer Jacob, but that he should be called Israel ; for said the angel, ' as a prince, hast thou power, and hast prevailed with God and with men.' After urging upon all present, the necessity of our wrestling for the blessing this morning, that so we might be numbered amongst the princes of Israel, and, like him, pre- vail, &c. with some further addition I sat down. The meeting then settled down in quietness, and remained long under a solemn feeling ; when I had again to stand up and declare the blessedness of those who trust in Mount Zion, the city which the Lord hath founded, which can never be moved ; whose children are j oyful in their King ; because poor in spirit, to whom only the Gospel was preached, and is still preached : these are filled with good things, but the rich and the full are sent empty away.^ It is the poor of the Lord's people — the poor in spirit, whose provision will ever be abundantly blessed. Yea, they shall be satisfied — and no wonder ! when made to partake of that bread which came down from heaven ; whosoever eateth thereof shall live for ever, for this soul-sustaining bread is Christ, who said, ' I am the bread of life : he that cometh to me shall never hunger ; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.' There is nothing in this perishing world to be desired, or worth hungering or thirsting after by those who have tasted of this true and living bread that cometh down from heaven. Who would not desire to be a citizen of this city which hath foundations, whose maker and builder the Lord is ? This Sion which he hath founded for the poor of his people ? There is no other way to accomplish this, but that of doing the will of God, and not our own, through Christ Jesus, by the help of his Holy Spirit in our hearts, &c. I was largely opened to declare many great and heavenly truths to these people for about an hour, under a weighty feeling of a power to myself irresistible; all seemed brought down and laid low under its dominion, and the pillars of my frail tabernacle were shaken. I had to rise a third time to say, that if words would avail any thing, I was willing to spend and be 101 spent amongst them ; for I had been poured out as water for their sake, &c., turning their attention to the Word nigh in the heart, and in tlie mouth, of wliich the apostle spoke ; commending them to God, and to the word of his grace, &c. Returned on board after the meeting. In the afternoon read portions of Scripture to our own crew, who had been on shore to the meeting in the morning. 14th. " Yesterday afternoon, Charles being too feeble, though better, to go on shore for exercise, I took with me a native boy, towards sun- down, and went on shore. This boy was born at the Peumotu Islands, and had been very useful to us for several weeks, and ready, on all occasions to plunge into the sea ; or to bring down the cocoa-nut from its lofty tree ; and never more delighted than when permitted to accom- pany us on excursions for exercise, or to search for shells among the coral reefs. 27th. " For several days past but little has transpired to vary the customary routine of duties. As regards myself, I have not been able to discern any particular line of service called for at my hands, and hope to be preserved watching and waiting as at the door-posts of Wisdom's gate. In vain, indeed, would an attempt be to move forward, v/hile the cloud thus, as it were, rests upon the tabernacle. In the afternoon went to Taunoa to visit the American captain, who is not expecting to survive many days. Here is an affecting and mournful instance of the great business of life being neglected, and little thought of, until brought upon the bed of death. The ^ Olivia of which vessel he is part owner, sailed yesterday, and I thought he would now have nothing left relating to worldly matters to harass him, which induced me to make the present visit. I liumbly trust, yea, I pray, that this poor dear man may yet so bow in humble resignation to the name and power of Jesus, and from heart-felt conviction, confess that he is Lord, to the glory of God the Father, as to obtain the salvation of his own soul. For, though he is now bowing, under heavy judgment, to this power, — great is my desire, that he may yet bow to it under a sense of the Lord's ever- lasting mercy, and forgiveness ; for mercy still covers the judgment-seat, even to a hair's breadth. With God all things are possible to them that believe. Departure/rom Tahiti for Eimeo. " I told the captain yesterday evening, that I did not see any thing to prevent our sailing this morning for Eimeo. At an early hour. Jemmy, the pilot, came on board, when the vessel was unmoored ; and there being a light breeze of wind off the land, the last anchor was weighed. We were towed out of the bay by a boat kindly sent by Captain Davies, of the ship ' Balance,' of Bristol, Rhode Island. Just as the anchor was weighed, a man came from the shore with a note from George Pritchard, and a packet containing letters. Yearly Meeting- Epistle, &c. from England, which had been brought by an English whaler, (supposed to be the ' Caroline,') to the Marqnesan Islands, from 102 which George Pritcharcl liad arrived in the night. We could not but admire how exactly we had been cared for, in being permitted to receive accounts from our beloved family at Petersburg, contained in four letters, (though old dated,) truly acceptable, with letters also from some of our dear friends. Having discharged the pilot, cleared the reefs, and beginning to stretch away from the island, the delightful employment of reading our letters had commenced. While sitting on deck, the vessel made a formidable pitch, and occasioned immediately a loud and sudden crash, as in a moment. It was soon ascertained, that our mizen- mast was gone by the board, and had fallen over the very centre of the stern. Not only the man at the helm escaped unhurt, but every other person on board ; and nothing short of an Almighty, all-merciful, and all-superintending providence could possibly have screened and sheltered us from every harm. My Charles had been sitting for some time quite near the mast, but had removed just before from the place of danger. Our captain immediately represented the vessel as so crippled, that she would not stay, or tack, and wished to know whether I thought of proceeding, or of endeavouring to return to the Bay of Papeeti, in the island we had just left. I paused for a moment, and then signified that we might safely proceed for the Island of Moorea, or Eimeo, although at the time it was nearly calm, and a heavy tumbling sea heaving around us. In a few minutes, however, the regular trade- wind sprung up, with a fresh gale in our favour, which in a few hours drove us to the desired haven of Talloo, into which the 'Henry Freeling' worked as well as could be desired, notwithstanding she had lost one of her wings ; but it became dark before she reached the proper anchorage. The wreck of the mast, and the rigging, sails, &c. were all cleared away, and got on board, before the strength of the trade- wind set upon us, and before the sea had time to rise, which soon afterwards became unusually heavy. The great superiority of a small vessel over a large one was fairly proved on this day. As we were beating through a channel beset with coral reefs, in a masterly manner, our j)ilot frequently cried out ' Maitai, Maitai !' good, good, to denote his approbation ; and would occasionally say, in tolerable English, ' She works well.' He told us, that one of the American ships now here, beat about for five days in the same place, and was towed in at last by six boats, when the wind died away. We just looked into the harbour, as we passed, where Cook had formerly anchored, but it is more exjDOsed to the heavy seas, which some particular winds occasion at times on the coast. 11th. " Talloo Harbour^ Island of Moorea^ or Eimeo. This morning sent on board the American ships, for assistance to repair the damage recently sustained in the loss of our mast. We were soon visited by the captains of those two vessels, bringing their carpenters along with them. It Qippeared that the dry rot, even w^ith the deck, had been the cause of the accident. On examination, it was concluded best to make the same mast do again, which could be accomj)lished by making a tongue below^ the deck, and securing it with plenty of strong iron bands, which would only reduce its original height five feet. Tliough this 10?> reduction will not improve the look of the vessel, yet, in otlier respects, may be considered a decided advantage. In tlie afternoon we landed, and for the first time visited the school, the residence of Alexander Simpson, his wife, and their little daughter. The children, about twenty- two in number, were at play upon the grass-plots in front of the house, which gave the place quite an air of English comfort. This ground is fenced in with strong stone walls. We did not purpose stopping long, having detained the boat, not being acquainted with the safest landing-places, nor sufficiently so with the road from A. Simpson's, as to find our way back to the boat in the dark. " In one of our letters recently arrived from England, was found a copy of a short testimonial drawn up at Shoosharry, in Russia, by my beloved children, of that illness which deprived them of their sainted mother, intended to have a place in the Annual Monitor for 1835. The perusal of this document brought afresh to my recollection the days of distress and affliction, which my endeared family had to pass through, in the loss of their precious parent, when already almost ftxtherless, from my having previously left home, to pursue the path of apprehended duty in the South Seas. A wound so deep, and but slightly healed, can never be forgotten when touched. But, I believe, that bitterness and anguish of soul is not offensive, when not accompanied with repining at the will and pleasure of my gracious and compassionate Lord ; who when passing through the straits and difficulties of humanity, wxpt at the tomb of Lazarus in love divine. His compassions fail not ; neither is the greatness of his faithfulness to a poor frail mortal, one particle diminished, who, in the depth of affliction and anguish, still endea- vours to breathe in humble resignation and sincerity, the language of ' Thy will be done.' 12th. " The carpenter of the American ship ' India,' at work, sphc- ing our mizen-mast. This morning the natives began to visit our vessel, but only few in number. One man brought a hog, but seemed rather shy at first : taking but little notice of him, soon brought him to rea- sonable terms. > Having been paid for the hog, he went away, but soon returned with bananas, guavas, nonitas, &c. in ample quantity, de- manding for the wdiole, forty small sized clasp nails, which were given him witli a little addition. When the heat of the sun lessened, we went on shore and drank tea at the school with all the children. When about to return on board, A. Simpson asked me, if I would favour them witli a few words to-morrow ; meaning the sailors that might come on shore, the few white residents, and the school family. I said that I thought of being at the native meeting at nine o'clock, to which there was no objection ; but he still urged my speaking to the English after the native meeting was over. I told him, I could not answer for that, even if there, as I had nothing, and was nothing; I said I intended to come in time for the native congregation, and then asked, if he would interpret for me, to which he at once assented. Thus my way is open and provided for upon this island, if it pleases my heavenly Father to qualify me for the work, and open my lips ; that in the ability 104 which he alone giveth I may show forth his praise, and cause the thanks- giving of manyto redound to his glory, for truly without him we can do nothing as it should be done. 13th. {First-day.) " Although w^e landed apparently in ample time, yet on reaching Alexander Simpson's house, we found it shut up, and the family gone to meeting ; and although we hurried to the place of worship, yet the singing had commenced. We remained at the door until this was finished, then woit in and sat down on a form. When the Tahitian exercises were all gone through, A. Simpson began reading my certificates ; when these w^ere finished, I went and stood by his side, to be ready ; and when all was gathered into stillness, alluding to what they had heard read, I said, they were now aware that I had left all that was near and dear to me on earth, to visit them ; that I had sailed over the trackless ocean, during many moons for this purpose, in order that I might be found standing in the counsel of that most holy will, which is ever excellent ; and that the desire of my heart was, that the gospel might not be to them an empty sound, or a mere out- ward declaration of good things, but that they might believe, repent, and obey it ; and that it might be to them indeed ' the power of God unto salvation.' As I proceeded, I was strengthened as by ' the mighty God of Jacob, by the extension of that love which enlargeth the heart, to declare to the people the unsearchable riches of Christ, and the neces- sity of tiieir coming to the knowledge of Him in whom they believed, for themselves, by the Holy Spirit : that nothing short of their being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by this Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever, could make them members of his church, which is without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. That, unless they came to hear the voice of the true Shepherd, and know it for themselves, they could never be his sheep, nor be known of him. '• My sheep hear my voice,' said Christ : ' I know them, and they follow me : I give unto them eternal life ; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all ; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.' Turning their attention more and more to the Holy Spirit of the Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, whose light shineth in every heart, that so they might come to sit under his teach- ino-, and know the voice of the only true and great teacher of his people. Tiie speaker in righteousness, mighty to save his people from their sins, but never in them ; appealing to the islanders, if they had not heard this voice in their own hearts, reproving them when they had com- mitted evil, &c. That they must be w^illing to hear it and obey it, and to bear the indignation of it for sin and for transgression, until their cause was pleaded, and judgment executed, and themselves brought forth to the light, the light of Christ Jesus : ' the true hght which lighteth every man that cometh into the world,' in the secret of the heart ; the Holy Spirit of Him that speaketh in righteousness, mighty to save. That they might know Him experimentally to be the ' Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world,' from having witnessed their sins 105 and transgressions washed white in his blood, and remembered no more, &c. Sic. " The people were very attentive in the general ; and although the house is large, and was more filled tlian usual by natives from distant parts of the island, and others from Tahiti, I felt as if I could pene- trate its most distant crevices with comparative ease. There might be twelve hundre