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X ^ THE 
 
 MISSIONARY'S FAREWELL; 
 
 ITalelrictors Serbices 
 
 OP THE 
 
 REV. JOHN WILLIAMS, 
 
 . PREVIOUS TO HIS DEPARTURE FOR THE SOUTH SEAS; 
 WITH HIS 
 
 ^Partiitfl ©clricators ^trJrress, 
 
 TO THE 
 BRITISH CHURCHES AND THE FRIENDS OF MISSIONS. 
 
 " And they accompanied him unto the ship." 
 
 NEW- YORK : 
 D. APPLETON & CO., 200, BROADWAY. 
 
 1838. 
 
H. LUDWJG, Printer, 
 72, Vesey-street. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The present departure of Mr. Williams for the South 
 Seas, the circumstances attending it, and the leading" 
 object of his voyage, are matters of a nature sufficiently 
 extraordinary to authorize, if not to demand, a more than 
 passing notice. The present publication has originated 
 in this conviction. Its object is to extend and perpetu- 
 ate the knowledge of the truths and facts which it com- 
 prises ; to rear a little monument to the honour of a 
 good man, a distinguished benefactor of his species ; and 
 to record the commencement of a great enterprise of 
 Chistian philanthropy. 
 
 The Addresses are wholly authentic. The experi- 
 enced Reporter of the " Patriot''^ Office, Mr. Johnson, 
 was engaged to take a verbatim report of the whole 
 proceedings ; and the entire manuscript was submitted 
 to the speakers, compared with their own notes, and re- 
 vised by their own hands. The publication of the 
 Prayers presented was essential to the completion of the 
 plan. This step, though not common, is neither with- 
 out precedent in history, foundation in reason, nor sanc- 
 tion from Scripture ; it is believed, too, that the day 
 draws on when the prayers on such occasions will cease, 
 whether to the present auditor or the distant reader, to 
 be the least interesting portion of the services. Such, 
 most assuredly, was the case on the night associated 
 with this little volume. From delicacy, however, the 
 manuscript was not submitted to either of the beloved 
 and venerated ministers by whom the prayers were 
 offered up ; this is doubtless a disadvantage, but if there 
 be any inaccuracy, let the censure rest upon the Editor. 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 Of the Hymns selected for the occasion, some were 
 necessarily abridged, and others omitted. They are all 
 here given at length, and in their proper places. They 
 are considered peculiarly and unusually appropriate to 
 the occasion ; they^ also, were necessary to the plan ; and 
 the fact that, with one, or at most, two exceptions, none 
 of them are to be found in our popular congregational 
 Hymn-books, is a further ground of their publication. 
 
 Concerning the '■'■ Narrative^'' the Writer has only to 
 remark, that it is believed to be correct, and that he 
 who knows most of human nature, will consider its mi- 
 nuteness to be, not a blemish, but an excellence. It is 
 designed to be a record of friendship ; this accounts for 
 the free use which is made of names. A cold, general, 
 anonymous style of narration would have defeated that 
 design. Of those mentioned, it is certain that each will 
 be gratified to see every other name, if not his own, and 
 the Christian public will be pleased to see them all. 
 The Writer, moreover, has had in view the generation 
 to come, for he doubts not that this artless, unpretending 
 tale will be read by them and their children, not for its 
 own sake, but for that of its subject ; and that the ob- 
 jection, if there be any, of the present, will be a strong 
 recommendation to the future age. 
 
 It only remains to be stated, that the Writer derives no 
 benefit from this undertaking, and has no interest in its 
 success ; it is altogether a labour of love on his part, 
 and, however humble, he sincerely considers it — a la- 
 bour of honour ! 
 
 JOHN CAMFBELL. 
 
 Tabernacle House, 
 April 20, 1838. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Parting Dedicatory Address, 7 
 
 The -Missionary Farewell, 11 
 
 VALEDICTORY SERVICES. 
 ■.Hymn—" Who are those that go with gladaess," 13 
 
 I. 
 ^Introductory Prayer.— Rev. J. P. Smith, D. D 14 
 
 n. 
 
 •Opening Address.— W. Bateman, Esq 19 
 
 m. 
 
 Origin, Progress, and FtrTURE Prospects of the South Sea 
 
 Mission,— Rev. William Ellis, 21 
 
 Hymn—" Softly blow, yefav'ring breezes!" 31 
 
 IV. 
 Christian Friendship, and Considerations which Mitigate 
 
 THE Sorrows of Separation,— Rev. J.Clayton, Jun.,M. A. 42 
 Hymn—" Ye Messengers of Christ," qq 
 
 V. 
 
 Success of Mr. Williams's Labours ; his Position as a Mis- 
 sionary : AND Presentation of Books,— Rev. J. Campbell, 62 
 •Hymn—" Father of mercies ! condescend" 72 
 
VI CONTENTS. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Page 
 Missionary Objects, Means, Motives, and Encouragements, 
 
 —Rev. John Williams, 73 
 
 Hymn— " Farewell to my country and home," 106 
 
 VIT. 
 
 Commendatory Prayer,— Rev. George Clayton, 107 
 
 Hymn — " Obedient to thy great command," 115 
 
 vm. 
 
 Narrative of the Excursion to the Missionary Ship, and 
 Subsequent Events, — Rev, J. Campbell, 116 
 
 EX. 
 
 Report of the Committee of the Common Council of the 
 City of London, on the Petition of the Rev. John 
 
 W^ILLIAMS 139 
 
PARTING DEDICATORY ADDRESS. 
 
 To the British Churches^ supporters of the London 
 Missionary Society^ and the Friends of Missions 
 generally, resident in the Provinces, 
 
 Beloved Friends, 
 
 This day has removed me once more from my native 
 soil, and placed me on the mighty waters. The vale- 
 '^ictory services, connected with my departure, are over. 
 1 have now bid adieu to the Church and Congrega- 
 tion with which I was originally connected, and whose 
 affectionate solicitude I have deeply felt; also to the 
 Metropolitan Churches generally, from whom I have 
 received so much attention and kindness; and it only 
 remains that, from the fulness of my heart, I address 
 myself to you. 
 
 I count it no ordinary felicity that Providence has 
 brought me into contact with so many of the excellent of 
 the earth, and honoured me with the acquaintance and 
 friendship of such a multitude amongst you. I avail 
 myself of this opportunity of tendering my most sincere 
 and cordial thanks to all and each of you, for the innu- 
 merable acts and expressions of Christian sympathy 
 which I have received at your hands during my late 
 sojourn in our beloved country. But grateful — very 
 grateful as I feel, for all such acts and expressions, they 
 sink into insignificance when compared with that profu- 
 sion of kindness and generosity which you have display- 
 
8 PARTING DEDICATORY ADDRESS. 
 
 ed towards that great and glorious object, which is 
 dearer to me than life — the diffusion of the Gospel in 
 the Islands of the South Seas. The Master must pre- 
 cede the disciple, and the servant give place to his 
 Lord. With me the romance of youth has long passed 
 away, and all is now become sober and serious reality. 
 I feel daily more and more that life, and health, and all 
 things are desirable and valuable, chiefly as connected 
 with the service of God in the Gospel of Christ. My 
 sun hath somewhat passed his meridian, and I find that 
 now there is not an hour to be lost; while it is yet day, 
 1 must about my Master's business, and he who helps 
 me onward is twice my friend. 
 
 The leading design of my present voyage to the South 
 Seas is detailed in that portion of the following publica- 
 tion which is ascribed to me — a portion which, I am 
 fully aware, presents but slender claims to public notice, 
 unless as connected with that design. Amid the hurry 
 and distraction of the present hour, and the tumult at- 
 tendant on preparation for our departure, and the mani- 
 fold occupations of the last few weeks, there was little 
 leisure and less quiet, and not much disposition for in- 
 tellectual labour, or the refinements of composition. 
 As it is, I now present it to you, and hope you will re- 
 ceive it as a humble token of grateful and affectionate 
 remembrance. I am also pleased with the privilege of 
 presenting, at the same time, the other articles which ac- 
 company it, and which, I hope, may contribute to divert 
 attention, somewhat, from a too severe and undivided 
 notice of that which falls to my share. 
 
 The whole service is here given in order. This cir- 
 cumstance is somewhat extraordinary, but so was the / 
 occasion. By this means the pleasures of that memo- / 
 rable night will be multiplied, and the impression, in a /' 
 small degree, diffused over a wider surface. I feel very 
 confident that this will supply not a little gratification 
 to multitudes of the friends of Missions generally, and 
 especially of this my particular division of the field — the 
 South Seas. From the Addresses of my beloved and 
 honoured brethren here recorded, I anticipate that some 
 
PARTING DEDICATORY ADDRESS. 9 
 
 pleasure and much good will result. May the blessing 
 of the Most High acconnpany them to every reader ! Is 
 it too much to expect that the beautiful, tlie affectionate, 
 the appropriate, and devout supplications here contained, 
 will be offered up afresh by thousands of readers at a 
 distance ? If this be realized, the end of their publica- 
 tion will be answered ; if not, it will principally, but not 
 wholly, fail ; for it will be a comfort, in after months 
 and years, to my companions in voyaging and labour, 
 and to myself, in seasons of discouragement and de- 
 pression, to sit down and peruse those prayers afresh, 
 and to think that they have been already presented to 
 the God of Heaven, and recorded before the eternal 
 throne. I do also persuade myself, that the exquisitely 
 beautiful and most appropriate hymns will excite much 
 interest amongst young people of both sexes, and stir 
 up a spirit of Missions in their tender bosoms. The 
 Lord of the harvest grant it, for his name's sake ! 
 
 In conclusion, I would beg you and all my friends to 
 cherish moderate and reasonable expectations respecting 
 my exploratory voyage. You will doubtless remember 
 that we are only instruments, and that no undertaking, 
 however well devised, liberally supported, and zealously 
 conducted, and prudently executed, can succeed without 
 the Divine blessing, or beyond the measure of that bless- 
 ing. " It is not by might, nor by power, but by his 
 Spirit ;" he alone " giveth the increase." He has, ne- 
 vertheless, connected means with ends ; the former are 
 ours, the latter his own. He has conferred high honour 
 on you, beloved brethren, and upon other British Chris- 
 tians, in making you and them the instruments of his 
 goodness, and the heralds of his mercy, to nations still 
 sitting in the region of the shadow of death. Oh ! breth- 
 ren, be sensible of this. To promote the cause of Mis- 
 sions is Britain's first duty, true glory, and best interest ! 
 
 I came to England in "weakness and fear, and in 
 much trembling ;" but the cordial welcome with which I 
 was greeted, the kind acceptance with which my imper- 
 fect public services were every where received, the 
 manner in which my missionary labours have been ap- 
 
10 PARTING DEDICATORY ADDRESS. 
 
 predated, the cordial approbation with which my plans 
 of promoting the work of Missions have been approved, 
 and the signal liberality with which they have been 
 supported, have all tended to encourage my heart, and 
 to cheer me on in the course which Providence has 
 marked out, and to follow which is felt to be not more 
 my duty than my choice. With this course and this 
 cause I am now identified. Need I say, that in this 
 service I am seeking not my own but my Master's glo- 
 ry ? I beg distinctly, deliberately, and solemnly, as in 
 the sight of God, to avow, that I am not conscious of 
 having in view any selfish object which in this world 
 can be of the slightest benefit to me ! 
 
 If after many years' bitter experience and frequent 
 deception, I know any thing of my own heart, I leave 
 my country with a single eye, with a single aim ; and 1 
 therefore go forth with the promise of God to Moses for 
 my support : " Certainly I will be with thee. " But next 
 to the Divine presence, approbation, and aid, I desire 
 the prayers, confidence, and co-operation of his people ; 
 I rely upon the enjoyment of them, and feel assured I 
 shall not be disappointed in my expectations. 
 
 It may be that I am looking on the spires of the me- 
 tropolis, with all its greatness and glory, and the banks 
 of the Thames, with all its wonders, wealth, and beauty, 
 for the last time, and that I " shall return no more, nor 
 see my native country." Great, of course, are the 
 perils that await me. I may not again come back to 
 rejoice at the first sight of the lofty cliffs and lovely 
 plains of Old England : well, the will of the Lord be 
 done ! I shall be entombed in the ocean, or sleep in a 
 foieign land, in the Isles of the South, on the field of my 
 labours, and among the graves of my children ! Should 
 this be the case, it is a matter of sincere satisfaction to 
 leave behind me this small memorial of my strong affec- 
 tion ; but, on the other hand, should the Lord preserve 
 my life and prosper my undertaking, I may yet again re- 
 turn to tell of his goodness, and to receive the gratu- 
 lations of you, my Christian brethren and beloved friends. 
 Time alone can reveal the will of Heaven. I would 
 
PARTING DEDICATORY ADDRESS. 11 
 
 wait that revelation in the spirit of holy submission, 
 love, and obedience. 
 
 Finally, brethren, farewell ! Pray for us — pray for 
 us ! We are now rapidly moving down the river, sur- 
 rounded by the Directors and a multitude of faithful 
 friends, who, in the true spirit of Christianity, are come 
 to " accompany us unto the ship," which lies off Graves- 
 end. Another hour or two, and we part ; they return to 
 their avocations, and we pursue our voyage. This 
 moment of excitement will have passed away as a 
 vision of the night. To one and all I now say — adieu ! 
 To friends in England, Scotland, Ireland— Farewell ! 
 Farewell ! Peace be with you ! Peace now and ever- 
 more ! Peace and prosperity to the Churches of Christ 
 — peace and prosperity to my native land ! 
 
 THE MISSIONARY FAREWELL. 
 
 Yes, my native land, I love thee !* 
 All thy scenes, I love them well ; 
 
 Nor for aught do I reprove thee, 
 Though I bid thee now^ — Farewell, 
 Can I leave thee, 
 
 Far in heathen lands to dwell? 
 
 Home ! thy joys are heart-entrancing, 
 Joys, no stranger heart can tell ! 
 
 Home ! my thoughts to thee are glancing ; 
 Can I say to thee — Farewell ? 
 Can I leave thee. 
 
 Far in heathen lands to dwell? 
 
 Scenes of sacred peace and pleasure. 
 
 Holy day, and Sabbath bell. 
 Sweetest joys, and richest treasure! 
 
 Can I say a last — Farewell ? 
 Can I leave you. 
 Far in heathen lands to dwell ? 
 
 * This and all the following Hymns are taken from Campbell's 
 " Compreheusive Hymn Book," published by J. Snow, raternoster-row, 
 London. 
 
12 PARTING DEDICATORY ADDRESS. 
 
 Yes ! I hasten, though full sadly, 
 From the scenes I love so well ; 
 
 Grievinp, still I leave them gladly, 
 Home and native land — Farewell! 
 Pleas'd I leave you. 
 
 Far in heathen lands to dwell. 
 
 I to God would be approved : 
 On the mountains I would tell 
 
 How he died, God's Son beloved, 
 To redeem a world from hell : 
 Home ! I leave thee. 
 
 Far in heathen lands lo dwell. 
 
 Bear me on, thou restless ocean ! 
 
 Let the winds my canvass swell ; 
 Heaves my heart with warm emotion, 
 
 While I £^o far hence to dwell ! 
 Home! I leave thee ; 
 Native land — Farewell ! Farewell ! 
 
 J. WILLIAMS. 
 
 On board the City of Canterbury, 
 
 Steam Vessel.— April 11, 1838. 
 
VALEDICTORY SERVICES. 
 
 These services excited a veiy^ftttense- interest. 
 Six o'clock was the appointed hour for the meet- 
 ing to commence, but people began to assemble 
 so early as three in the afternoon. After the 
 opening of the doors, the Tabernacle soon became 
 considerably filled. By five the spacious building 
 was densely crowded by one of the most respect- 
 able assemblages that ever met within its walls. 
 Hundreds upon hundreds continued to flock, and 
 press for admittance, but without success. 
 
 Arrangements had been made at the Tabernacle 
 House for the neighbouring ministers, for the mis- 
 sionaries, and others, to take tea at four o'clock. 
 At six, William Bateman, Esq., Manager of the 
 Tabernacle and Tottenham-court Chapel, and 
 Chairman of the Board of Directors, took the 
 chair, and the service was commenced, by the 
 Rev. Edward Mannering, giving out the following 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 For his name's sake they went forth. — John iii. 7. 
 
 Who are tliose that go with gladness 
 
 Far from friends and native land? 
 By the world 't is counted madness, 
 But they do not understand : 
 
 God is with them, 
 And tliey go at his command. 
 2 
 
14 INTRODUCTORY PRAYER, 
 
 These are citizens of Zion ; 
 
 Once ihey loved the world alone : 
 Inow his promise they rely on 
 
 Who has claimed them as his own; 
 And he bids them 
 
 Go, and make his mercy known. 
 
 Theirs are toils, and theirs are dangers, 
 While they traverse land and sea; 
 
 Far from home, 'midst foes and strangers. 
 Is their lot ordained to be, 
 W^hile they publish 
 Grace to sinners, rich and free. 
 
 Grace be with them, truth and mercy^ 
 In the work they have to doj 
 
 Theirs an awful controversy — 
 Awful, and yet glorious too: 
 
 Grace be with them, 
 To whatever clime they go ! 
 
 Blessings from the Saviour speed them, 
 And make every burden light ! 
 
 May the hand of mercy lead them 
 Safe to yon celestial height, 
 
 Where for ever 
 All is pure, and all is bright! 
 
 INTRODUCTORY PRAYER. 
 
 REV. J. P. SMITH, D.D. 
 
 Great art thou, Lord, in the churches of 
 thy saints ! Unto thee shall the vows be paid 
 which thy children have made in the time of their 
 distress and anxiety. The encouragement of mer- 
 cies bestowed shall awaken confidence, united with 
 gratitude. And now we are permitted to unite in 
 approaching thy holy throne with thanksgiving, 
 supplication, and intercession. What hath God 
 wrought ! 
 
BY THE REV. J. P. SMITH, D.D. 15 
 
 We praise thee, O Lord, that thou reignest, and 
 that thou wilt reign, with uncontrollable power, 
 with wisdom which shall meet every machination 
 of thine enemies, and with that overflowing grace 
 which triumphs through righteousness unto eternal 
 life, by Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to 
 the Holy Ghost — the one God, for the eternal 
 purpose of love, for the holy law, for the plan of 
 redemption, for the preparatory dispensation of 
 Moses, and of the prophets ; for the arrangements 
 of that providence by which thou didst prepare 
 the nations of the earth, and adjust all temporal 
 events to the most suitable point of time, when 
 thou didst send forth thy Son, made of a woman, 
 made under the law. We praise thee, O Father, 
 for the Divine testimony borne to him; for his 
 doctrine and his example ; for his holy obedience, 
 by which he magnified the law, and conferred 
 honour upon it ; for his expiation of sin by his 
 sufferings, and death, and atonement ; for his re- 
 surrection, and exaltation, and his reign in glory ; 
 for the progress of his kingdom ; for the pouring 
 out of his Spirit ; for the preservation of his truth 
 through so many ages of apostacy, corruption, 
 persecution, carnality, lukewarmness, and mani- 
 fold enmity. 
 
 We praise thee, O God ! we acknowledge thee 
 to be the Lord ; and we ascribe thanksgiving, and 
 honour, and glory, and majesty, and blessing, with 
 gratitude to thee, for the thousands and millions 
 who have found mercy. Blessed are our eyes, for 
 they see, and our ears, for they hear, the glorious 
 things which our fathers would have exulted in, 
 but were not permitted to witness. Blessed be 
 
16 INTRODUCTORY PRAYER, 
 
 God, that in these latter days thou hast raised up 
 a spirit in the minds of thy servants ; thou hast 
 awakened sympathy to the long-neglected duty of 
 caring for the world at large ; and thou hast, in 
 our time, effected what the most sanguine hopes 
 would not, a few years ago, have dared to look for. 
 Praise to thy name for the triumphs of thy truth 
 in the different regions of the world to which mis- 
 sionary operations have been directed! Glory for 
 ever be to God, that many have been brought out 
 of darkness into marvellous light, and from the 
 power of Satan into the kingdom of the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, to experience the pardoning and purifying 
 efficacy of his blood, and to be made partakers of 
 the inheritance of the saints in light ! Especially, 
 amid so wide a field of delightful considerations, 
 we bless thee for the association which this meet- 
 ing holds with the islands of the great Pacific 
 Ocean. How wondrous thy mercy there ! 0, 
 how should we be humbled, how should we be 
 quickened and encouraged ! Lord, we do not 
 presume to think that by our prayers we can 
 work upon thine infinite mind, or produce an 
 effect upon thy disposition ; for we know that thy 
 counsels of old are faithfulness and truth, and 
 that thy love is infinite. We praise thee that 
 thou hast united success with prayer ; that thou 
 hast made it our duty, as it is our high privilege, 
 to inquire of thee ; to plead at thy footstool ; to 
 entreat thee to arise, and show the glory of thy 
 face ; to make thy cause a praise in the whole 
 earth. We bless thee for the union of the faith 
 of Christians, and for the express supplication of 
 thy children in connexion with the grand success 
 promised in thy word. We praise thee, that weak, 
 
BY THE REV. J. P. SMITH, D.D. 17 
 
 and poor, and feeble as we are, we are permitted 
 to join with the universal Church of God on earth, 
 and with the glorified Church in heaven, in crying, 
 How long, Lord, how long shall thine enemies 
 triumph ? How long shall Satan, anti-Christian 
 apostacy, heathen corruption, Mohammedan im- 
 posture and wickedness, — how long shall cor- 
 rupted and abased Christianity, — how long shall 
 the many evils which we see, exercise their dread- 
 ful influence upon the understanding and the 
 passions of men 1 But thou hast determined 
 to overcome these evils, and thou hast fixed the 
 instrumentality — the preaching of the Cross. 
 
 Now, then, as we are come together to commit 
 to Thee our beloved brethren, and their families 
 and associates, who are going upon this great ex- 
 pedition of pity and mercy, great God, we beseech 
 thee to pour upon this great assembly the Spirit 
 of grace and supplication ! Grant to every mind 
 an appreciation of the important object ! Grant 
 to every soul a tender love for the souls of fellow- 
 men, a just and scriptural estimate of the method 
 that thou hast appointed for making known thy 
 way upon earth, and bringing the heathen to the 
 love of Jesus ! grant that every heart may 
 be moved to social union and fellowship with our 
 beloved friends of whom some of us have taken 
 leave, and with whom the majority of us must 
 take leave this evening ! God, to thee we 
 commit them ; and we rejoice that thou art every 
 where present. They cannot go from union with 
 us at the throne of grace ; they cannot go from 
 oneness of mind and spirit with their brethren 
 and sisters here, who, while they are in opposite 
 2* 
 
18 INTRODUCTORY PRAYER, 
 
 parts of the globe, still will hold fellowship with 
 them by the Spirit of grace and of supplication. 
 
 Heavenly Father, smile upon the addresses and 
 various exhortations which shall this evening be 
 delivered, and let an impression be made upon 
 every mind here that shall be productive of sancti- 
 fication in our hearts, of renewed devotedness to 
 thee, of more constant, and fervent, and assiduous 
 exertions, and of all those blessed results which, 
 in the heavenly world, shall unite us indissolubly 
 to our beloved friends, and shall lead us with 
 them, and the missionaries who have gone before, 
 and who may follow after, and who, in every part 
 of the earth, have erected the standard of the 
 cross, to unite before the throne, to unite with 
 the countless multitudes redeemed from among 
 men, to unite with the angels who never sinned, 
 and to say. Blessing, and honour, and glory, and 
 power, and might, and majesty, and dominion, be 
 unto Him who sitteth upon the throne, and unto 
 the Lamb that was slain, and who hath redeemed 
 us to God by his blood. 
 
 Now, Lord, pour upon us the spirit of love, of 
 faith, of submission, of confidence, of united hu- 
 miliation, and yet delightful expectation, resign- 
 ing all to thy sovereign disposal, and rejoicing 
 that thy will shall be done on earth as it is in 
 heaven. Come, then. Lord Jesus, come quickly! 
 Come, by the grace of thy Spirit, and fill every 
 heart, and prepare the way for thy progress 
 throughout the earth ! Send forth thy light and 
 thy truth ! Glorify thy name ! 
 
 Now, our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, 
 even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath 
 
BY THE REV. J. P. SMITH, D.D. 19 
 
 given us everlasting consolation, and good hope 
 through grace, comfort our hearts, and especially 
 the hearts of our beloved missionary brethren and 
 sisters, and stablish them and us in every good 
 word and work, to the praise of the glory of his 
 grace ! Amen. 
 
 The Chairman then rose and said, I must 
 apologize to you for having taken the chair upon 
 the present occasion, but I felt it to be an impera- 
 tive duty. I was induced to accede to the wishes 
 of my friends, on various grounds. I have been 
 appointed chairman of the Board of Directors of 
 the London Missionary Society for the current 
 year, and I am unwilling that my friends, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Williams, should suppose by my refusal now 
 to preside that there is a want of respect to them. 
 I have also the consolation of knowing that the 
 duties which will now devolve upon me will be 
 but trifling. Thus much for myself ; but I cannot 
 resume my seat without recalling to your recollec- 
 tion what took place forty-two years ago, when 
 it was announced from the pulpit of this place, 
 that the Missionary Society would commence its 
 operations in the South Seas. What has God 
 wrought subsequently to that time ! What has 
 been the effect of the mission in that part of the 
 world ! Our beloved friend is here this evening 
 to remind you of his labours in that part of the 
 heathen world to which he was sent, and where 
 such beneficial results have accrued. He is not 
 now about to depart to Otaheite only, but to ex- 
 plore islands yet unknown. We hope and trust 
 
20 
 
 INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 
 
 that he will be successful ; and that we shall have 
 the happiness of hearing, by the goodness and 
 mercy of God, that he has been instrumental in 
 unfurling among them the standard of the Cross ; 
 that from time to time we shall hear of results 
 similar to those which have warmed the hearts of 
 Christians in this country, and tended so much to 
 promote the missionary cause. I apprehend that 
 the successful efforts made in the South Seas have 
 been the means of impressing British Christians 
 with the importance of missionary labour. Hav- 
 ing said thus much, I will now call on the Rev. 
 Wm. Ellis to furnish a statement of the rise, pro- 
 gress, and future prospects of the mission in the 
 South Seas ; and in doing so, 1 apprehend that you 
 will all agree with me, that no individual can be 
 found who could give that account with more pro- 
 priety than he, having laboured there for so many 
 years ; and I feel grateful that he is with us this 
 evening. 
 
 Allow me, in conclusion, to remind you of the 
 enlarging sphere of the Society's operations, and 
 the consequent increase of expenditure. It is a 
 fact, that this year upwards of sixty individuals 
 will be sent forth to various regions of the world, 
 to promote the knowledge of the Redeemer. This 
 circumstance calls for gratitude and praise to the 
 Lord of the harvest. Let us, therefore, sustain 
 them by the prayer of faith, and by generous con- 
 tributions. 
 
ADDRESS 
 
 BY THE 
 
 REV. WILLIAM ELLIS, 
 
 On the Origin^ Progress, and Future Prospects of 
 the South Sea Mission, 
 
 My Christian Friends, — The present is one 
 of those occasions of deep and holy joy with 
 which the Church has been but rarely favoured. 
 Half a century has nearly passed away since a 
 meeting was convened for a purpose similar to 
 that in connexion with which we are now assem- 
 bled. It is true, that during this period our 
 vessels, at the call of patriotism, or of fame, or for 
 the purpose of advancing the interests of science 
 or commerce, have gone forth ; their canvass has 
 whitened the waters of every sea, their banners 
 have floated on every breeze, and their exploits 
 have enhanced our nation's glory. It is true, 
 that a southern continent has during this period 
 been discovered, and the question of a north- 
 west passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific has 
 been answered. In addition to these achievements 
 of science, our commerce has been extended to 
 every port, to almost every creek or bay ; and 
 there is scarcely a continent or island, a city or 
 town, or village, in any part of the habitable 
 globe, in which the traveller will not now find 
 evidence of British enterprise, industry, and skill. 
 
'*''* ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 The advancements of science have favoured this 
 intercourse between nations the most remote : 
 distance is almost annihilated, and, in regard to 
 he means of communication, we are now nearer 
 to India than we were to America fifty years 
 
 o 
 
 fn^ful' *^^^^ ""^ ^^''^ ^^^^^^ have been put 
 foith for what the nation has considered its hiohest 
 and most important objects, no Missionary^Ship 
 has left our shores, no vessel has departed from 
 
 tTJl? l?"7n- ^^' '^^ '^^" P"^P°^^ of conveying 
 the .ght of Divme truth to the nations, and carry- 
 ing to the utmost ends of the earth the messengers 
 
 Dnff'^'^'i-Q^^ r^'?^' ''"^" '^' departure of the 
 Duff, in ] /96, has left England for these im- 
 portant purposes. At the period referred to 
 meetmgs in kind similar to the present were held 
 n this city, and m this neighbourhood, and in 
 those services-a Haweis, an Eyre, a Hdl, a 
 
 bank, a Townsend, and a Piatt engaged. The 
 impressions left by the services precedhig the de- 
 parture of the Duff were retained by these vene- 
 
 murhTr f /^'''' ''''^ distinctness, and with 
 much of the holy intensity of feeling which they 
 produced at the time; and they were retained by 
 thousands who shared in the holy joy they pro- 
 duced even till the latest period of life 
 
 These honoured men have finished their course ; 
 hey have closed their labours ; they have en- 
 
 onTv h'h M K T'^'t ^"^ '^''' '''' 5 and they not 
 only beheld before they departed from the scene 
 ot their labours, success attending those labours 
 ar beyond what in the most sanguine moments of 
 their brightest hopes they expected would be 
 
REV. WILLIAM ELLIS. 23 
 
 realized, but we have reason to believe that they 
 have had the happiness of welcoming to the 
 realms of glory and blessedness the purified and 
 ransomed spirits of those who were brought to the 
 knowledge of the truth, and to the exercise of 
 faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, through the tidings 
 borne by the messengers conveyed in the ship 
 which they on those occasions met together to 
 commend unto God in their prayers. 
 
 The great Head of the Church, my Christian 
 hearers, is granting unto us at the present time a 
 privilege similar to that which they enjoyed. An- 
 other xMisswiiary Ship is now on the waters. The 
 cargo of that ship consists of the elements of use- 
 ful knowledge — books for the purpose of com- 
 municating Divine instruction, copies of the Holy 
 Scriptures ; and in addition to these, this vessel 
 is about to bear a band of holy and devoted 
 brethren, who are going far hence to the heathen, 
 to proclaim amongst them the unsearchable riches 
 of Christ. The vessel thus freighted, and bear- 
 ing a far more important cargo than ever the fleets 
 of our merchants conveyed from our shores, is 
 about to follow the track of the Duff to the far 
 distant islands of the sea, and we meet on this oc- 
 casion to testify our deep solicitude in the success 
 of this holy enterprise; to assure our honoured 
 brother, who is about to lead this devoted band 
 to the field of their labours, of our entire confi- 
 dence, of our sincere afl^ection, of our fervent 
 desires unto God on his behalf. We meet thus to 
 encourage his heart, to endeavour to brighten his 
 prospects, by assuring him that whatever diflicul- 
 ties may attend his progress, we will bear him on 
 our hearts ; that he is not alone, is not going 
 
24 
 
 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 forth unaided by the sympathies and prayers of 
 his brethren who remain behind. We meet to- 
 gether for the purpose of thus encouraging him, 
 and commending him and his beloved family, and 
 the companions in his future labours, to God, and 
 to the word of his grace, and bidding them God 
 speed in the important enterprise on which they 
 are about to embark. 
 
 It may not be unsuitable on the present occa- 
 sion briefly to glance at the remote part of the 
 world to which they are destined, and the work 
 which has been commenced and carried on there 
 — a work which God has signally favoured, and 
 on which His blessing continues to rest ; a work 
 which, we believe, will not only be continued, but 
 will be the means of extending the glorious change 
 which has commenced there to islands still more 
 remote, until all the islands that spot the bosom 
 of the ocean shall be enlightened by the truth, and 
 pervaded by the principles of the Gospel of the 
 grace of God. 
 
 I need not now occupy your time by describ- 
 ing the circumstances which led (about sixty years 
 ago) to the discovery of the island of Tahiti, and 
 the group called the Society Islands, or the cir- 
 cumstances under which they were subsequently 
 visited. I will not allude to the vivid and delight- 
 ful impressions produced by the fascinating ac- 
 counts given of the beauties of the country, the 
 salubrity of the climate, the fertility of the soil, or 
 the prolific richness with which nature had there 
 poured forth her bounties, of the comparative 
 simplicity of the manners and customs of the in- 
 habitants of the islands, of the imagined happiness 
 in which they dwelt, and of the theories which 
 
REV. WILLIAM ELLIS. 
 
 25 
 
 were deduced from these reports of the compati- 
 bility of a state of nature with a high degree of 
 enjoyment, All these visions have been dissi- 
 pated by the evidence of truth adduced by those 
 who have gone and dwelt amongst them. You 
 will recollect, that after they had been visited, after 
 curiosity had been excited, from one end of the 
 kingdom to the other, and most amply gratified, 
 after the purposes of science had been answered, 
 and it had been discovered that there were no 
 mines of gold, that there was nothing to tempt the 
 cupidity of commerce, or induce the investigator 
 of nature to revisit them, they were about to 
 abandon them, and leave them, not only the vic- 
 tims of that superstition under which they found 
 them, but a prey to the vices and evils which our 
 countrymen had left among them. 
 
 At this time the attention of the Founders of our 
 Society w^as directed to the Tahitian and Society 
 Islands, the Marquesas, and the Friendly Islands, 
 and the interesting group called the Pelew Islands. 
 The first effort made by the Society was to pur- 
 chase a ship. With the furnishing of that ship with 
 stores for the commencement of the mission, and 
 the embarkation of upwards of thirty individuals ; 
 with the history of the interesting voyage of the 
 Duflf ; the circumstances under which the missions 
 in Tahiti and other islands were commenced ; most 
 of those I address are familiar ; but, for the pur- 
 pose of magnifying the grace of God, of exalting 
 the Gospel, as the grand antidote to wretchedness, 
 allow me to direct your attention to the state in 
 which our brethren and fathers, who preceded us in 
 this work, found the people, of whom these inte- 
 resting accounts were given, It is true they found 
 3 
 
26 
 
 ADDPwESS BY THE 
 
 the country, as described, one of the most charm- 
 ing ever presented to view ; the cUmate salubrious, 
 verdant, and lovely : all this is true, and I would 
 not for a moment detract from the impression pro- 
 duced by the statements of these navigators. 
 
 But what was the state of the people 1 The 
 land was full of idols, from the house of the highest 
 chief to the hut of the lowest peasant. From one 
 end of the group to the other there were to be 
 found the idols of individuals, the idols of fami- 
 lies, the idols of districts, and the idols of the 
 nation. I need not say that the idols are graphi- 
 cally describeg by the pen of inspiration, which de- 
 clares, "Eyes have they, but they see not — ears 
 have they, but they hear not — mouths have they, 
 but they eat not — feet have they, but they walk 
 not;" and in reference to which, it is added, 
 They that make them are like unto them — they 
 were altogether rude, senseless, shapeless objects. 
 The land was not only filled with idols, but with 
 idol temples ; every point of land which projected 
 into the sea was generally surmounted by a hea- 
 then temple ; every lovely valley was generally 
 disfigured by the rude marae erected there for the 
 purpose of idol worship. Whether you travelled 
 across the mountain range or the deep ravine, 
 along the sea-shore or the verdant valley, you saw 
 the temples of the idols of the country. It was also 
 a land of priests — but they were priests of dark- 
 ness ; you would scarcely find a family in which 
 some member of it was not a priest. If I were 
 to select one designation by which the inhabit- 
 ants of the Tahitian and Society Islands, as com- 
 pared with those of other groups in the Pacific, 
 might be characterized, it would be that they were 
 
REV. WILLIAM ELLIS, 27 
 
 a nation wholly given to idolatry. Their rites 
 were of the most sanguinary kind. You are 
 aware of the horrid circumstances under which 
 human sacrifices were offered, and of the frequency 
 with which they were presented ; this was the re- 
 ligimis state of the people, a state peculiarly dis- 
 tinguished by barbarity, degradation, and cruelty. 
 
 Their social state was not better, lou have 
 heard of the extent to which infanticide prevailed 
 amongst them. Our honoured brother who has 
 been there, and who is about to return, has him- 
 self had an opportunity of conversing with in- 
 dividuals whose own hands have been imbrued in 
 the blood of not fewer than eishteen of their own 
 innocent offspring. The crime existed to such an 
 appalling extent, that but for the character of the 
 parties who had communicated the information, 
 we could scarcely believe their statements to be 
 consistent with truth. Other parts of the system 
 were equally cruel ; not only did they murder 
 their children, but the helpless and aged were 
 often destroyed. They were pierced with a spear, 
 they were buried alive, they were starved to death, 
 in order to avoid the inconveniences of nursins or 
 attending to them in sickness or old age. War, 
 you have heard, is the delight of savages — war 
 prevailed among the inhabitants of the South Seas 
 — war and superstition appeared to be the great 
 objects of their lives, and war was carried on with 
 the most unrelenting cruelty; wars of extermina- 
 tion were pursued under the influence of the most 
 implacable hatred and malice. These are some of 
 the chief points of the character or state of the 
 people, as they existed at the time when the mission 
 was commenced among them. Men appeared 
 
38 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 demons in human form, and women appeared an 
 odious personification of all that is impure and 
 cruel. This was their social character. 
 
 You may think, perhaps, that the picture has 
 been darkly coloured, and that Tahiti must have 
 been a gloomy place — a dark spot amid the isles 
 of the sea ; but such was not the fact, this was 
 the condition not only of Tahiti and the adjacent 
 islands, but of all the islands which spread over 
 the bosom of that vast ocean, from South Ame- 
 rica on the one hand, to New Holland on the 
 other, from the junction of America with Asia on 
 the North, down to the furthest extremes in the 
 South, where Islands have been discovered. The 
 description given of the Tahitians is equally ap- 
 plicable to the hundreds of thousands of immortal 
 beings by which the other islands were peopled. 
 
 It was among this people, in the centre of all 
 this vast expanse of degradation, superstition, 
 cruelty, and murder, that our brethren commenced 
 their labours. If you take a map of the Pacific 
 Ocean, and look over the space from South Ame- 
 rica on the one hand, to New Holland on the 
 other ; look at the islands from Easter Island and 
 the Marquesas in the East, and the Sandwich Is- 
 lands in the North, the Austral Islands in the 
 South Sea, the Society Isles in the midst; look 
 still farther West, and you will perceive the Her- 
 vey, the Friendly, the Navigators, the Fijii Is- 
 lands, the New Hebrides, New Caledonia, and 
 afterwards New Guinea, with Tahiti in the centre 
 of this vast expanse of the ocean, and the nume- 
 rous islands thus spread over its bosom ; and 
 when you have surveyed the map, and borne in 
 mind the description I have given you, you will 
 
REV. WILLIAM ELLIS. 29 
 
 have some idea of the field in which our honoured 
 predecessors commenced their labours. Many 
 whom I am addressing took too deep an interest 
 in that mission, watched its progress with too 
 much solicitude, waited with too much anxiety 
 for intelligence to allow their children to be unin- 
 formed as to the progress of that mission, the trials 
 which attended it during its early stages, the long 
 night extending to nearly sixteen years, during 
 which their brethren laboured among the people, 
 and remained without fruit to encourage them in 
 their labours. Many of those whom I am now ad- 
 dressing are not only familiar with this, but with 
 the wonderful manner in which God has shown that 
 his ways are not as our ways, nor his thoughts as 
 our thoughts. When our hopes were almost gone, 
 and the prospect threatened ultimate and complete 
 failure, God made bare his own Almighty arm, 
 put his hand to the work, showed that it was not 
 the work of man but of God, by producing that 
 astonishing, entire, and universal change, which 
 led to the overthrow of idolatry, the reception of 
 instruction, and the establishment of Christianity 
 among the Tahitian and neighbouring islands. 
 
 After the rapid glance I have taken of the state 
 of that people at the time our brethren arrived, 
 allow me, in contrast therewith, to present to your 
 attention the state of the islanders now. 
 
 Throughout the entire group called the Georgian 
 and Society Islands, and others within some hundred 
 miles around that group, which, at the time our 
 brethren landed, were full of idols, there is not now 
 a single idol to be found, and I was about to say, 
 not a temple, or a vestige of a temple; but the ruins 
 of a fevf temples, standing on projecting points of 
 3* 
 
30 
 
 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 lands, in uninhabited parts of the country, may 
 still be seen. The relics of some temples form 
 the foundations of the sanctuaries of God — build- 
 mgs in which assemblies as large as that now be- 
 fore me are accustomed to meet, and to call upon 
 his name. You find them not only made the 
 foundation of buildings for the worship of God, 
 but levelled, and constituting the solid foundations 
 or floors on which large schools are erected, and 
 in which hundreds of children are daily assembled 
 to read, in their own language, the wonderful 
 works of God. 
 
 In addition to the destruction of the idols, there 
 is now not to be found a single priest. The priests 
 became members of our churches, teachers of our 
 schools, helpers to the missionaries ; or they have 
 become native missionaries, who have gone forth to 
 preach that faith which they longlaboured to destroy. 
 I take this opportunity of stating, as manifesting 
 the power of Divine grace, that among the men 
 who had been the most devoted priests of idol 
 worship, were found, after the Gospel had been 
 established among them, some of the most efficient 
 and devoted helpers of the early missionaries. 
 
 There is not only no idols, no temples, and no 
 priests, but there is not a single heathen rite pub- 
 licly maintained among them : all have passed away 
 as if it had been a vision, all is now only a matter 
 of history or tradition among them. If we be 
 asked now, in the language of the prophet, " Hath 
 a nation changed its gods?" we answer, A na- 
 tion hath changed its gods ; and we look to the 
 entire rejection of idolatry, and its accompani- 
 ments, in the islands of the South Sea, with 
 perhaps one or two exceptions, as an earnest of 
 
REV. WILLIAM ELLIS. 31 
 
 what will take place in India, in China, in Africa, 
 and in every other part of the world, when the 
 time shall come that the Redeemer shall reign 
 from the river to the ends of the earth. 
 
 Not only has their idolatry been entirely de- 
 stroyed, but they have been raised from the ab- 
 ject state of wretchedness and degradation to 
 which idolatry had reduced them. Science did 
 nothing towards this end. Philosophers, who 
 went out to watch the transit of Venus, did nothing 
 towards this. Their early visiters sunk them still 
 lower, and left them in still more affecting 
 wretchedness and degradation than they found 
 them. But the missionary raised them ; the prin- 
 ciples of that Gospel which the missionary carried 
 purified them ; the missionary elevated their moral 
 character ; and though the missionary still has to 
 deplore the remains of that depravity which 
 nothing but the grace of God can subdue, yet 
 he can point to Tahiti and the adjacent islands, 
 as irrefragable evidence of the influence and 
 power of the Gospel for raising the most polluted 
 and degraded people to a state of moral rectitude, 
 corresponding with that, I hesitate not to say, 
 which will be found among an equal portion ot 
 many parts of the population of our own country. 
 Marriage was unknown among them, but it has 
 been introduced, and prevails universally. All 
 the household comforts, all the domestic happiness 
 that flow from it, not only exist, but are exten- 
 sively enjoyed by the inhabitants of those lands. 
 Their children are now no longer destroyed, but are 
 cherished with all the tenderness that the kindest 
 Christian parents could bestow. The aged are no 
 longer buried alive, nor left to perish for want, 
 <nor transfixed by the spear for the purpose of 
 
32 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 relieving their children from the trouble of taking 
 care of them ; but they are nursed ; their wants 
 are supplied ; medicine is administered ; and per- 
 sons in many places are appointed to visit them, 
 to read the Scriptures, and to pray with them. 
 And while they thus smooth their passage to the 
 grave, they endeavour to open to them the pas- 
 sage leading to a glorious immortality. These 
 are the advantages which have resulted to them 
 in their social state. Their lano-uage was rude 
 and unformed ; letters were altogether beyond 
 their comprehension ; but their language has been 
 reduced to a system ; orthography has been given 
 to it ; books have been printed in it. Schools 
 have been established ; the natives have been 
 taught reading ; the holy Scriptures have been 
 translated, and are now in circulation amongst 
 them. The press has been at work for a number 
 of years ; and in addition to other things, they 
 now have the commencement of a periodical 
 literature, diffusing intelligence, and, we trust, 
 piety also, among all classes of the community. 
 There were, according to the last accounts re- 
 ceived from the islands, upwards of 15,000 scho- 
 lars under instruction, besides those who had re- 
 ceived instruction in previous years. I will only 
 mention one other fact illustrative of the change, 
 and that is, that there are in these islands eighteen 
 Christian churches. The returns from many of 
 the islands have not been made for some time ; 
 but according to the last returns there were be- 
 tween two and three thousand natives who were 
 in fellowship among these eighteen churches. 
 
 In the progress of the mission there were 
 many trials to be endured ; trials arising from 
 various quarters. One heavy trial sprung from 
 
REV. WILLIAM ELLIS. 33 
 
 the natural indolence of the people ; but this was 
 partially removed when that great change took 
 place to which I have adverted. When the ma- 
 jority adopted Christianity, only a few experienced 
 its power, and the mere profession of Chris- 
 tianity could not restrain vicious propensities. 
 Another source of trial was the introduction of 
 foolish heresies among them, and a third source 
 of trial was the existence of civil war. But the 
 most formidable difficulties have not been found 
 to arise from the natives themselves. With all 
 the drawbacks incident to their defective Chris- 
 tianity, the greatest impediments ha^^e arisen 
 where we ought to have expected the greatest 
 encouragement and aid. The greatest discourage- 
 ment has arisen from the unprincipled seamen, 
 who, for the purpose of gratifying a depraved pro- 
 pensity, have left their vessels, settled among the 
 natives, and created vast mischief; the power of 
 man to do mischief is amazingly greater than his 
 power to do good. One wicked man among a 
 people like the South Sea Islanders is capable of 
 effecting immense mischief. Another source of 
 evil has arisen from the introduction of ardent 
 spirits. That has been carried on with an 
 industry most shameful, and has required, on 
 behalf of the natives exposed to its deadly evils, 
 the tenderest sympathy, and the vigorous efforts 
 of Christians to check the evil. 
 
 But notwithstanding all this, I am happy to be 
 able to state, that the Lord has not forsaken the 
 work of his hands. During the last few years, 
 many throughout the islands have embraced the 
 Gospel. Within the last two years the Lord has 
 put his hand a second time to the work ; and 
 
34 
 
 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 appears to have revived his work in the midst of 
 
 the years. By the gracious outpouring of the Holy 
 Spirit, the missionaries have reason to beheve 
 that there has been a revival of the work of grace 
 on the hearts of multitudes of the people. 
 JVumbers in Tahiti have flocked to the places of 
 worship, and many are desirous of enrolling them- 
 selves among the disciples of the Lord. 
 
 There is one other feature, connected with the 
 history of this mission, to which I will briefly ad- 
 vert, namely, that the islanders have shown the 
 great principle of the Gospel to be one of self- 
 propagation, and the spirit it implants to be one 
 of self-consecration. No sooner did they them- 
 selves understand the Gospel, and feel its power in 
 their own hearts, than the prayer was offered up 
 that God would graciously have compassion on 
 the ignorant around, and efforts were made for 
 the purpose of communicating to them that know- 
 ledge which they themselves possessed. In addi- 
 tion to this, they came forward, expressing their 
 readiness to go and tell others of the name of Jesus, 
 and point them to the Lamb of God who taketh 
 away the sins of the world. It is a pleasing fact, 
 that there is no group of islands within about three 
 or four thousand miles of Tahiti, now favoured with 
 the light of the Gospel, which has not in part, if 
 not altogether, been thus visited through the in- 
 strumentality of the Christians of these islands. 
 The Paumotu or Palliser, the Marquesas, the Aus- 
 tral, the Hervey, and the Navigators' Islands, have 
 received the Gospel through their labours. They 
 assisted in introducing Christianity into the Sand- 
 wich Islands, and were the pioneers of our Wes- 
 leyan brethren in the Friendly and Fijii Islands. 
 
REV. WILLIAM ELLIS. 35 
 
 God has eminently honoured the native Chris- 
 tians as the means of diffusing the Gospel far 
 and wide amongst the nations of the Pacific. 
 I have great pleasure in stating, that at no period 
 in the history of the missions in the South Seas 
 have the stations been in a state more encouraging 
 than at the present time. In the island of Raro- 
 tonga between three and four thousand persons 
 assemble for worship every Sabbath-day ; and 
 nearly three thousand children are receiving in- 
 struction in the schools. At the Samoa or Navi- 
 gators' Islands there are not fewer than 15,900 
 persons under instruction, in connexion with our 
 different stations. The last accounts state, that 
 on Savaii there were 3000, on Manono 400, on 
 Upolu 6500, and on Tutuila 6000. 
 
 A number of the native converts in these 
 islands are now united in church-fellowship ; and 
 when we contemplate the short period during 
 which the missionaries have been engaged in their 
 labours, we cannot but thank God, and take 
 courage. 
 
 I have thus endeavoured briefly to present to 
 your attention the origin, and the results of the 
 work of God among these distant islands. We 
 rejoice in the opportunity now afforded us of re- 
 inforcing the stations which already exist, and of 
 making increased efforts to render them still more 
 efficient for retaining the Gospel among them- 
 selves, and of extending it to others. In con- 
 nexion, therefore, with this object, we contem- 
 plate the departure of our honoured brethren ; 
 some of whom are going to Tahiti, to reinforce our 
 first station ; others to Raiatea ; some to the 
 
36 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 Marquesas, others to the Hervey Islands, others to 
 the Navigators' Islands; that important group which 
 is supposed to contain a population of from 120,000 
 to 150,000 ; and where those at present under the 
 influence of the Missionaries exceed to 15,000, a 
 number greater than the inhabitants of Tahiti and 
 the Georgian Islands together. In addition to 
 this, we are looking to those important groups 
 which form part of the chain that stretches across 
 the Pacific, from the Marquesan Isles in the east, 
 along by the Society Islands, the Navigators, and 
 Friendly Islands, still further to the west, through 
 the New Hebrides and New Caledonia, where they 
 approach New Holland on the south, and extend 
 by New Britain and New Guinea, to the Asiatic 
 Archipelago, where our missionaries will meet their 
 brethren from Americaand England, extending their 
 operations eastward from Singapore and the Straits, 
 till they unite and form one vast chain of mission- 
 ary stations from America across the Pacific Ocean, 
 and the various tribes shall form one holy brother- 
 hood, united in the spirit and principles of the 
 Gospel of Christ. 
 
 These are the ultimate effects which we contem- 
 plate in sending forth our beloved brethren, now 
 about to proceed to the places of their destination. 
 
 They are not going to a part of the world in 
 which there will be no difficulties. Our honoured 
 brother who is to lead them forth, is aware, to 
 some extent, of these. Difficulties existed at the 
 commencement of the mission, difficulties exist 
 now, and may be expected to continue. The chief 
 difficulty is, not the idolatry or the ferocity of the 
 natives, but will in part be found to arise from the 
 
' REV. WILLIAM ELLIS. 37 
 
 unholy influence exercised by our countrymen, or 
 others from civilized countries, who may go among 
 them. After the missionary has braved the dan- 
 ger of venturing among cannibals and savages; has 
 landed and dwelt safely among them ; has secured 
 that protection for the white man, without which no 
 one would dare trust himself on their shore ; those 
 who go for the purposes of trade and commerce prove 
 sources of the greatest trial to the missionary, 
 and of most extensive and destructive injury to the 
 people. 
 
 There are difficulties also to be experienced of 
 another kind. I allude to the vigorous efforts now 
 put forth by the Roman Catholic church, in send- 
 ing missionaries to the islands of the Pacific, en- 
 tering the fields of labour we have occupied so 
 long, and endeavouring to turn the people from 
 the faith and simplicity of the Scriptures to the 
 unmeaning rites and ceremonies connected with 
 the Romish church. Within the last two or three 
 years the most vigorous efforts have been made to 
 introduce popish missionaries to Tahiti, and other 
 parts of the Pacific, occupied by Protestant mis- 
 sionaries, and to islands where there were native 
 teachers from our stations. In reference to the 
 latter they have succeeded ; our native teachers 
 have been obliged to retire and leave the Roman 
 Catholic missionaries there. I understand, by 
 persons from the islands, that on almost every 
 eminence in the Gambler islands they have planted 
 a cross, and accustomed the people to cross them- 
 selves ; and that they have baptized vast numbers. 
 In a Catholic journal which I receive from France 
 it is stated, that one of the Romish missionaries 
 has returned, has had an audience with the Pope 
 4 
 
38 
 
 ADDRESS BY THB 
 
 and the Cardinals at home. This missionary is 
 about to return, accompanied by a number of other 
 priests ; they are taking out a handsome present 
 for the purpose of exciting a strong impression in 
 their favour. It is said that the Pope is sending 
 out a handsome dress as a present to the king, 
 and another to the queen, and to confirm them, I 
 suppose, in the new faith, he is sending a marble 
 statue of the holy Yirgin. 
 
 I have no objection to the Roman Catholics 
 commencing missions in the South Seas ; there are 
 many islands still destitute of missions from any 
 church ; but it is cowardly and mean, and betrays 
 a spirit entirely incompatible with every just and 
 honourable feeling that belongs to the missionary 
 cause, to come to stations which others have oc- 
 cupied for so many years. There are fields open 
 before them which we have not occupied — why 
 not send their missionaries there ? why not break 
 up new ground ? Why not send their missionaries 
 to New Guinea, to the Caroline Islands, or to 
 others with which Catholic countries are connected? 
 Why confine their efforts to obtruding themselves 
 upon stations where others have laboured, in some 
 instances, for forty years 1 I have mentioned this 
 circumstance in order to excite the sympathy of 
 friends at home — to show the kind of difficulties 
 that are to be expected — the necessity there is for 
 keeping our loins girt and our lamps burning — for 
 uniting in earnest, fervent, and persevering prayer 
 that He, in dependence on whose protecting 
 care this work was commenced, that He at whose 
 bidding the first brethren went forth and still 
 continue to labour, may watch over the cause, 
 may preserve the infant churches of the Pacific, 
 
REV. WILLIAM ELLIS. 39 
 
 may fix them firm on the Rock of ages, against 
 which the gates of hell shall not be able to pre- 
 vail, and may honour them to be the instruments 
 of diffusing a knowledge of the Gospel to the 
 uttermost ends of the earth. 
 
 We meet on the present occasion under not 
 ordinary circumstances — I trust the Holy Spirit is 
 present with us. There are, no doubt, many 
 here who are deeply affected by the solemnities in 
 which we are en^ao-ed ; who look at the brethren 
 and sisters before us, some of whom they never 
 saw before, and whom, perhaps, they never expect 
 to see again in the flesh, and on whose behalf their 
 emotions are now most delightful and intense. 
 There are many to whom this occasion is one of deep 
 interest, but perhaps to no one is it more so than to 
 myself. It was my privilege more than twenty 
 years ago, to go forth as a missionary of the cross 
 to those distant islands, to bear my humble tes- 
 timony, in the name of Jesus, to aid in carrying 
 forward the work in which my predecessors had 
 been honoured to engage. It was my privilege to 
 aid the progress of the work during one of the 
 most interesting periods of its history ; it was 
 my happiness and honour, and I take pleasure in 
 thus publicly stating it, to be associated with my 
 honoured and beloved brother, who, like myself, 
 was called from the field, but who has now the 
 delightful prospect of re-entering it. I esteem it 
 matter of devout acknowledgment to God, that 
 he has that prospect. No event that may tran- 
 spire among the present generation of the inhabit- 
 ants of Tahiti and the adjacent islands will cause 
 a deeper thrill of holy delight than will be experi- 
 enced when tidings shall be conveyed to their shores 
 
40 
 
 ADDRESS, ETC. 
 
 that a vessel is approaching, on board of which 
 their honoured, revered, and valued friend and teach- 
 er, is returning to them again. I can well imagine 
 the thrill of ecstacy with which the shout will run 
 along the beach on which the gathering multitudes 
 will throng to bid him welcome. He goes forth 
 attended by many prayers and much affection ; I 
 am sure this will be grateful to his heart, and will 
 encourage him in his labours. I should have been 
 happy had my course been directed, as his is now, 
 back to those islands. Some years ago I felt it 
 my duty to propose to the Society, as he has done, 
 to return to those islands, to accompany a number 
 of missionaries thither to assist in settling them in 
 their respective stations, and either to remain or 
 return, as circumstances might then determine ; 
 but the Directors of the Society thought it was 
 my duty to remain in this country, and Divine 
 providence has still appeared to indicate that I 
 should continue here. But though we are thus 
 called to occupy different fields, T rejoice that we 
 are engaged in one cause, and I trust aiming at 
 one object, that we are animated by one spirit, 
 and depending on one Divine and gracious Lord 
 for success. I trust that Christ will be magnified 
 by us both — that the savour of his knowledge 
 will be diffused far and wide — that we shall have 
 grace to be faithful even unto death — and at last — 
 may the day be far distant as regards my brother 
 — that at last we may enter into the rest and 
 blessedness that remaineth for the people of God. 
 
HYMN. 
 
 Softly blow, ye fav'ring breezes ! 
 
 Winds of heaven, propitious smile ! 
 Speed tiie ship across the ocean 
 
 Safely to lier destined isle. 
 Now she rides the bounding billow, 
 
 Proudly urging on her way : 
 He who holds the storm is with her— 
 
 God, the missionary's stay ! 
 
 Fathers, faint not : those departing 
 
 To a friendless, heathen shore, 
 Go to toil 'mid scenes of peril, 
 
 Where Immanuel toiled before. 
 Mothers, weep not : those, your offspring, 
 
 Bound to yonder pagan coast. 
 Go to reap the noblest laurel — 
 
 Go to seek the poor and lost. 
 
 Who are these that haste to greet thee, 
 
 King of men, in gathering crowds? 
 AVho are these that fly to meet thee, 
 
 Rapidly as summer's clouds? 
 Lo! the ships of Tarship, bearing 
 
 Nobler freight than Ophir saw. 
 Thither, where the isles are waiting — 
 
 Waiting for Messiah's lawj 
 
 4* 
 
ADDRESS 
 
 REV. JOHN CLAYTON, Jun. 
 
 Christian Friendship^ and considerations lohich 
 mitigate the sorrows of Separation. 
 
 That part which ic assir^ned to me in the truly 
 interesting and delightful services of tais hallowed 
 eve, is to offer a short address to that band of 
 missionary brethren and sisters who are about 
 shortly to embark upon the mighty waters, to 
 reach, we trust, the destined haven, and to pay 
 the visit of Christian benevolence, to that cluster 
 of islands in the Pacific Ocean, commonly known 
 by the name of the Navigators. Of course, I am 
 not called upon to present you with any exact 
 account of their geographical position, nor to fur- 
 nish you with any detail of the character of their 
 inhabitants, their productions, their customs, or 
 their manners : these particulars may be obtained 
 from other sources. It is quite sufficient for my 
 present purpose to say, that the mass of those who 
 dwell on these Australian isles are still sunk in 
 ignorance, superstition, vice, and wretchedness ; 
 and that they therefore present claims the most 
 powerful which we can imagine on the compas- 
 sion, the liberality and zeal of the Christian world, 
 and more particularly of those countries who, being 
 favoured with religious privileges, and having the 
 command of commercial facilities, should feel them- 
 
REV. JOHN CLAYTON, JUN. 43 
 
 selves unquestionably urged to the noblest exer- 
 cises of that philanthropy which wills that all men 
 should be saved, and come to the knowledge of 
 the truth. 
 
 To those distant spots on the surface of our 
 globe, to which I have just now alluded, this 
 goodly fellowship of Christian missionaries is 
 about to proceed. A vessel has-been obtained for 
 the Missionary Society, by the generosity of the 
 British public. And happy am I to state, that 
 noblemen in their palaces, the municipal body of 
 citizens in the metropolis, as well as many private 
 Christians, have united in this effort of generosity 
 and benevolence. And cold, and callous, and des- 
 titute of the best feelings of piety, must the heart 
 of that individual be, who can look on an assem- 
 bly like the present, and regard our valued mis- 
 sionary brethren and sisters, and think on their 
 destination and object, without strong and devout 
 wishes that God, the Lord of heaven and earth, 
 may favour them with a prosperous voyage ; may 
 take them to the place they are destined to reach ; 
 and, above all, by his blessing upon their labours 
 and services, secure to them that holy success in 
 winning souls to Christ to which their hearts so 
 warmly aspire. 
 
 For it must be always remembered that 
 Christianity, the religion of the Bible, is not a 
 mere body of orthodox opinions, however im- 
 portant ; or an array of outward forms and ce- 
 remonies of ecclesiastical discipline or polity, 
 whether more or less expedient ; or a display of 
 external morality, however useful ; but it has 
 much to do with the passions and affections of the 
 heart. It awakens supreme love towards its great 
 
44. ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 Author, and it calls forth our warm attachment 
 towards those who bear his image ; so that we are 
 disposed, with the tenderest sympathy, to weep 
 with those that weep, and rejoice with those that 
 rejoice. It excites in our bosoms an anxious 
 interest in the welfare of our fellow-Christians, 
 and of our fellow-labourers who are engaged in 
 preaching among the heathen the unsearchable 
 riches of Christ, whether they reside in the cot- 
 tage or the mansion, whether they rove across the 
 plain, or traverse the seas, whether they are oc- 
 cupied in advancing the honour of our Lord in 
 the home circle, or ii) foreign climes. Where its 
 possessors fail in the power to communicate other 
 expressions of regard, it^ breathes the catholic and 
 importunate prayer, *' Grace, mercy, and peace, be 
 with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sin- 
 cerity i" And when its ministers or missionaries 
 are about to enter on some new enterprise of duty 
 and zeal, this will be the appeal to Him, without 
 whom nothing is wise, holy, or strong, " Lord, 
 I beseech thee, send now prosperity !" 
 
 Of all the narratives contained in the inspired 
 volume, there is not to be found one of a more 
 deeply interesting and impassioned character than 
 that which records the separation of the apostle 
 Paul and the members of the Christian church at 
 Ephesus. Paul, like one of our brethren, to whom, 
 if he were not present, I should more fully refer 
 — was no ordinary man, no ordinary minister or 
 missionary ; and he stood in no ordinary relation 
 to the parties to whom he was bidding a very af- 
 fectionate farewell. He had just told them that 
 he was going to a distance to labour and suffer in 
 the cause of Christ. He gave them at parting 
 
REV. JOHN CLAYTON, JUN. 45 
 
 some faithful admonitions and warnings ; and af- 
 fectionately commended them to God, and to the 
 word of his grace. He charged them to increase 
 in the gentle and liberal virtues of the religion of 
 his Master ; — to "support the weak," and to re- 
 member the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 
 *' It is more blessed to give than to receive." And 
 thus the narrative closes : " And when he had 
 thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with 
 them all ; and they all wept sore, and fell on 
 Paul's neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of 
 all for the words which he spake, that they should 
 see his face no more. And" — mark this peculiar 
 phraseology, — 
 
 " And they accompanied him to the ship !" 
 My beloved brother Williatns, ?.nd ye his com- 
 panions in the kingdom and patience of Jesus; 
 you whom we have been committing by solemn 
 prayer to the care of the Lord of providence and 
 grace ; — suffer me also to give you, in fulfilment 
 of the instructions which I have received, a {ew 
 words by way of valedictory address. To night 
 we express to you our best and most affectionate 
 sympathies and wishes. To-night we accompany 
 you, in fact, to the ship provided for your con- 
 veyance to a distant portion of the world. But 
 before you step on deck, allow me, in connexion 
 with the words which I have repeated, to indulge 
 in a few reflections not inappropriate to our reci- 
 procal position and mutual feelings at this hour ; 
 and that I may not be so desultory as to embar- 
 rass and impede the exercise of your memory, 
 allow me to place the following remarks in order 
 before you for meditation. 
 
 L — Mark the superiority of that friendship 
 which has religion for its basis. 
 
46 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 Comparatively rare and unfrequent as true 
 friendship is in this selfish and hollow world, yet 
 I cannot bring myself to the cynical opinion, that 
 it is but a shadow and a name. There are many 
 delightful examples of its existence, in which the 
 kindly instincts of our nature are reciprocally ex- 
 ercised, and where there is a union of sentiment, 
 of affection, and often of interest and pursuit. We 
 have some instances of it, apart from piety, in 
 which the friends have given the strongest proofs 
 of mutual attachment, and have even been ready 
 to shed their blood for each other's preservation or 
 defence. 
 
 But I wish you to remark concerning all these 
 ordinary friendships, that thay are founded on in- 
 ferior and perishing principles and objects : on 
 benevolent instincts and sympathies which are 
 liable to become cool and to decay — on outward 
 distinctions, such as beauty, talents, genius, cele- 
 brity, fortune, and success, which fade, or which 
 make themselves wings and flee away — or simi- 
 larity of common tastes and enjoyments, which 
 may alter and terminate — and on alliances which 
 may be impaired or dissolved. Hence it is that 
 we can readily account for the extinction as well 
 as the formation of these amicable unions ; and 
 hence, of the friendships which are formed, the 
 grand majority soon perish, and only a few sur- 
 vive and continue, until death breaks up the happy 
 alliance. 
 
 Now genuine religion is calculated to inspire, 
 to cherish, and perpetuate a friendship superior to 
 all these. It rests on nobler principles ; it re- 
 lates to higher objects ; and is rooted in better 
 feelings. Both the parties feel that they are guilty 
 sinners— that they can be saved by Christ alone — 
 
REV. JOHN CLAYTON, JUN. 47 
 
 that they must be justified by the plenary right- 
 eousness of the Son of God — that they must be 
 pardoned in virtue of his atoning sacrifice — that 
 they must derive all their stability from living 
 upon his fulness — that they must have one Lord, 
 one faith, one baptism, and one glorious hope of 
 immortality — that they must be bound by the law 
 of Christ — that they must breathe his Spirit — that 
 they must copy his example — that they have the 
 same path in which to walk, and the same hea- 
 venly home to pursue. Their hearts are cemented 
 by a participation in the same regenerating influ- 
 ence : they are joined by the love of Christ, and 
 have the same great objects to follow ; their sym- 
 pathies, therefore, are more refined, and the tie 
 which binds them more firm. But when these 
 principles and feelings associate themselves with a 
 similarity of general opinions, of constitutional 
 affection, and an accordance of tastes and manners, 
 they form the foundation of the best, the sweetest, 
 and the most advantageous friendships which can 
 be constructed in this lower world. 
 
 Christianity, then, which conquers the pride, self- 
 ishness, and the asperity too, of our fallen nature, 
 and imbues with the love of Christ, awakens the 
 purest affection towards our fellow-creatures, and 
 often links its subjects together by an attachment 
 strong as death, and which many waters cannot 
 quench. It has cordially united those who were 
 once malevolent enemies ; it has broken through 
 national antipathy, sectarian prejudice, political 
 hatred, jealousy of interests, constitutional pecu- 
 liarities ; and has joined parties together in an unity 
 of spirit which has been perpetuated until death. 
 
48 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 It has brought together the angry persecutor of the 
 Church of Christ, the injurious Paul, and the ido- 
 latrous Ephesians ; formed one holy character, and 
 knit them together in charities, which seas and 
 continents, which prison walls and exile, could not 
 tear asunder — charities which never fail. 
 
 Another observation to which I wish to call 
 your attention is — 
 
 II. — That the most affectionate friends are suh' 
 jcct in this world to separations. 
 
 It was obviously the intention of the great 
 Creator, that mankind should not be crowded to- 
 gether on any one given spot, but that as they mul- 
 tiplied they should replenish the earth. Its ex- 
 tended surface is to be overspread with inhabit- 
 ants, the bounds of whose habitation he has de- 
 termined. As the God of providence, too, he has 
 given to men a variety of talents and tastes, by 
 which they are adapted to and qualified for, very 
 different pursuits. Moreover, he has established 
 certain laws, in obedience to which particular spots 
 can only yield a certain amount of useful produce, 
 in order that others may be sought out and culti- 
 vated, and rendered serviceable to man. It there- 
 fore often happens that friends who may have 
 formed the closest attachments are necessitated to 
 separate locally, some to reside in this, and some 
 in a distant region of the world. 
 
 That which often arises out of the general ap- 
 pointment of God, frequently springs from the 
 peculiar circumstances in which men are placed. 
 How often have we seen separations effected by 
 the formation of new but remote connexions in 
 life — by elevation or depression in rank and sta- 
 
REV. JOHN CLAYTON. 49 
 
 tion in society — hy the afflictions which occur in 
 the lot either of the one or the other. Of this latter 
 kind we have a striking illustration in the history 
 of David and Jonathan, who found it needful 
 to separate, but wept together and embraced each 
 other until David exceeded. Sometimes a dif- 
 ference of occupation will separate : this man 
 consecrating himself to secular, and the other to 
 religious pursuits. Sometimes a difference of de- 
 nomination to which the parties may attach them- 
 selves, and with which they may cast in their lot. 
 Sometimes a prudential regard to the peace and 
 interests of families may render separations desir- 
 able ; an exemplification of which we have in the 
 case of Abraham and Lot, the first of whom made 
 this proposition — " Let there be no strife, I pray 
 thee, between thee and me, and between my herds- 
 men and thy herdsmen — for we be brethren. Is 
 not the whole land before thee 1 Separate thyself, 
 I pray thee, from me. If thou v/ilt take the left 
 hand, then I will go to the right — or if thou de- 
 part to the right hand, then I will go to the left.'* 
 Sometimes there arises a mournful difference of 
 sentiment ; and of this we have an instance in the 
 case of Paul and Barnabas, as recorded in the Acts 
 of the Apostles. 
 
 But even where there may be no variance of 
 opinion or of feeling, there occur separations which 
 are voluntary. Many of the faithful servants of 
 God who show unto men the way of salvation, 
 have separated from Christian congregations, from 
 kindred, from friends, for purposes of the highest 
 possible utility — for the more wide and extensive 
 diffusion of that blessed Gospel which is to prove 
 the saving health of all nations. 
 5 
 
50 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 Such is the character of the separation which 
 takes place this evening — it is one which is volun- 
 tary on your parts^ my brethren and sisters, who 
 readily forsake fathers and mothers, sisters and 
 brothers, kindred and friends, that you may go 
 and preach and diffuse the Gospel of the blessed 
 God. The separation is one which is voluntary 
 on our part, also, who bid you farewell ; and I 
 will say, even grateful to our feelings, amidst the 
 mingled emotions of which we are the subjects ; 
 because we cannot but rejoice, that, loving not your 
 hves even to the death, you are willing to spend 
 and to be spent in the cause of that blessed Re- 
 deemer who gave himself to sprinkle and redeem 
 many nations. This separation is one which has 
 for its object and result — not the discoveries of 
 science or art — not the conquest of distant terri- 
 tories — not the oppression of the feeble and the 
 enslaved, nor the extension of the plans of worldly 
 commerce or ambition, at pleasure. No ; these 
 are trifles compared with those in which the 
 Christian world is engaged — it is for the redemp- 
 tion of souls from the ruins of the fall — it is for 
 the accomplishment of His gracious purposes, who 
 has said, " And I, if I be lifted up on the cross, 
 will draw all men unto me." It is to hasten on 
 that golden age when the kingdoms of the earth 
 shall be those of God and of his Christ. You 
 separate from us for the important purposes of 
 communicating to those who are far off upon sea, 
 and the inhabitants of the isles, and who are wait- 
 ing for the manifestation of the law of God — that 
 blessed Gospel which is to place them in the pos- 
 session of those privileges which it is our happy 
 lot to enjoy, and that they may hereafter partici- 
 
REV. JOHN CLAYTON. 61 
 
 pate in the glory that is to be revealed at the con- 
 summation of all things. 
 
 III. — Allow me to make another remark, which 
 is, that there are numerous expressions of attach- 
 ment which are often given at such parting sea- 
 sons. 
 
 On the occasion referred to in the chapter before 
 us, there were many indications of tenderness, 
 kindness, and good-will. There were many tears; 
 and these, owing to the infirmity of our present 
 state of being, interpret both sorrow and joy. 
 There were many embraces : the indications of 
 those benevolent wishes which glowed in the 
 heart. There were many verbal assurances of 
 reciprocal regard. And. doubtless, there were 
 other tokens and memorials of affection which 
 might be seen after many days. But I principally 
 wish to impress upon your minds the iact, that 
 the grand indication of good-will one towards 
 another, and their anxious wishes for their re- 
 ciprocal welfare, was the act of prayer — of ardent 
 and repeated prayer. I hold up this feature of 
 Christian separation to more prominent view, as 
 characterizing the grand difference between the 
 separations which take place among the children 
 of this worlds and the children of light. World- 
 lings, when they separate, usually furnish each 
 other with the ordinary indications of their good 
 wishes ; but not unfrequently it is at the tu- 
 multuous and riotous festival, amidst the shouts 
 of intemperance and of profaneness. Christians, 
 and Christian missionaries, and their friends and 
 relations, when they separate, give themselves 
 unto prayer. And not without reason. Prayer 
 has a wonderful influence in composing the spirits 
 
52 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 — in tranquillizing the passions and affections — 
 and in regulating-and correcting those irregularities 
 and eccentricities, which mere nature, when pow- 
 erfully roused and excited, would usually discover. 
 Prayer is a recognition of the agency of God in 
 all our eno;ao;ements and movements, and is a 
 confession of our dependence upon him in all the 
 possible circumstances of human life. Prayer is 
 the means of obtaining from above all the best 
 supplies of mercy which Christians can desire for 
 themselves, or for their friends ; — protection amidst 
 exposures to danger, in guidance in the wilder- 
 ness, or along the road — wisdom to form, and 
 strength to pursue plans of usefulness — and all 
 that success which can give full effect to the la- 
 bours of a strenuous ministry, whether at home 
 or abroad. Prayer is the cement of the hoUest 
 affections, and knits heart to heart in strong and 
 lasting ties. Prayer gives the instructive intima- 
 tion, that by its engagements, Christian brethren 
 and sisterhood may hold communion with each 
 other in spirit, and may converse freely, though 
 their bodies are separated by mountains and val- 
 leys, by rocks, and rivers, and oceans, and con- 
 tinents, which roll across, or spread themselves 
 between them. Prayer, in short, on such partings, 
 is a copy of the best examples — of apostolic pat- 
 terns ; — as when we find Paul kneeling down and 
 praying with those assembled around him, on this 
 important occasion — of the highest model, also, 
 namely, that of Christ himself, who thus shows 
 us, by his own devout procedure, that whether 
 we part in life for a season, or at Bethany bid the 
 lasting farewell, as one or another may be ascend- 
 ing to the skies, this devout transaction is the 
 
REV. JOHN CLAYTON. 53 
 
 best prelude to that engagement in which we 
 hope to be employed when mortaUty shall be 
 swallowed up of life, — to the praises and services 
 of the temple, where saints shall be as pillars to 
 go out no more for ever. ' 
 
 IV. — I have one more remark to make, to 
 
 which, however, 1 attach considerable importance, 
 
 That there are valuable considerations which may 
 
 serve to mitigate and remove the regret usually 
 
 felt upon such occasieus. 
 
 1. The first is that which is derived from the 
 Omnipresence of God^ and the great Master whom 
 we serve. This attribute of God, and of God even 
 our Saviour, has a most formidable aspect towards 
 the wicked, but yields the most cheering and con- 
 solatory influence to the servants of God. They 
 can adopt the language of David, the man after 
 God's own heart, not only as cautionary against 
 the commission of sin, but as cheering and re- 
 viving those who are about to separate from each 
 other, whether for a shorter or a longer period, 
 and as imploring preservation in all places in 
 which their lot may be cast. " O Lord, thou 
 hast compassed my path and my lying down, and 
 art acquainted with all my ways. Whither shall 
 I go from thy Spirit, or whither shall I flee from 
 thy presence 1 If I ascend to heaven, or descend 
 into the deep ; if I take the wings of the morning, 
 and fly to the uttermost parts of the sea, there 
 shall thy right hand hold me." I ask, is not this, 
 my dear brethren and sisters, sweetly refreshing 
 and consolatory to your spirits 1 Is it not a com- 
 forting truth to relatives and friends, when they 
 are at a distance from each other ] The same eye 
 that looks on me looks on my companion, though 
 5* 
 
54 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 thousands of miles distance us. The same hand 
 which feeds this multitude will feed your little 
 band of holy missionaries, who are occujDied in 
 diffusing abroad the glorious Gospel of the blessed 
 God. The same wing overshadows us ; the 
 same arm guides and sustains us. To the ever- 
 lasting hills, whence comes our reciprocal help, 
 we may look ; and that good Shepherd of Israel, 
 who never slumbers nor sleeps, is our shade and 
 our keeper on the right hand and on the left. 
 And, hearken, my beloved brethren and sisters ! 
 What promise is that v/hich sounds in your ears 
 at this moment? Is it the voice of your Master, 
 which says, " Lo, I am with you always, even 
 to the end of the world." 
 
 2. Another alleviation to our separation arises 
 from the consciousness of bavins: « dear and 
 obvious call of Divine Providence to the work to 
 which you have dedicated yourselves. This is 
 indeed a subject of considerable difficulty, and 
 often disquiets the best of men with considerable 
 embarrassment. Yet there are combinations of 
 events and circumstances, which appear to those 
 who soberly and seriously contemplate them, to 
 furnish what we mean by a call in Providence. 
 It is as though a voice said, " This is the way, 
 walk ye in it ;" a voice as distinct, as unequivo- 
 cal, as imperative as that which was addressed to 
 Abraham, when Jehovah said, " Get thee out of 
 thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy 
 father's house, unto a land which I will show 
 thee. And I will make of thee a great nation, 
 and I will bless thee, and make thy name great, 
 and thou shalt be a blessing:. And I Vvill bless 
 them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth 
 
REV. JOHN CLAITON. 55 
 
 thee, and in thee shall all the families of the 
 earth be blessed." No audible voice naay speak 
 to you from heaven ; no angel may descend to 
 you on a specific embassy ; no vision may appear ; 
 no miraculous agency may be employed ; but yet 
 you may have such an association and tendency 
 of circumstances as virtually lays a foundation for 
 a confident assurance that you are doing the will 
 of God. Such circumstances are connected with 
 your present position. You have the call of 
 Christian ministers ; the invitation of Christian 
 friends. You have had a deep and overwhelming 
 impression upon your own spirits that it was your 
 duty to go forth, and to make known the Gospel 
 to the heathen world. You have, most of you, 
 had that kind of preparatory training which was 
 appropriate to the occupations in which you hope 
 in future to be engaged. Numerous circumstances, 
 which I need not detail, have transpired in re- 
 ference to some, to show that you are walking in 
 the path which God has destined you to tread. 
 Now I think that nothing tends to bring rest to 
 the mind on these occasions more than the deep 
 persuasion that we are doing the will of our 
 Master which is in heaven ; that we are in the 
 position and circumstances, and in the very occu- 
 pations and relations in which he would have us 
 to be. Does God require me to abide in my 
 calling, or does he demand of me to resign it, and 
 are the intimations of his will unequivocal and 
 conspicuous ? w^hat can furnish so much repose 
 and confidence, whether I go or stay, as this deep 
 and abiding conviction, that I am not acting with- 
 out an imperative call ? 
 
 3. But I must limit myself, although, when one 
 
56 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 speaks on these occasions, the fire begins to burn. 
 I will say, however, that there is another allevia- 
 tion which may be deduced from the improved state 
 of the sciences and arts of the worlds at the present 
 time. This idea is not unconnected with the pas- 
 sage on which this address is founded. It is said 
 that the elders of the Ephesian church " accom- 
 panied Paul to the ship." Of the origin of the 
 art of navigation, we have no intimation so an- 
 cient and distinct as that which relates to Noah, 
 who, " being warned of God, moved with fear, 
 prepared an ark, to the saving of himself and 
 his house." But of the improvement of navi- 
 gation we have authentic historic details, by 
 various authors, and we are furnished with 
 abundant proofs of it in this maritime country. 
 Our vessels have better accommodations ; and 
 we manage them with more skill. We have 
 been permitted, by the God of providence, to 
 make discoveries, both in geography and in nau- 
 tical science, by which we can move more swiftly 
 than ever, and, in a sense, more securely than 
 ever, over the trackless deep. Through the pre- 
 cisions of calculations, as to distances and po- 
 sitions, passages are now made in a few months 
 to places which, in centuries which have passed, 
 could not have been accomplished in less than 
 several years. Thus, you perceive, that you live 
 in an age in which science facilitates your con- 
 veyance to the places where you intend to plant 
 the standard of the Cross. 
 
 And when you arrive at the places of your des- 
 tination, there are numerous facilities open to you. 
 I can venture to say that a phrase, at which we 
 are sometimes disposed to smile, contains much of 
 
REV. JOHN CLAYTON. 
 
 57 
 
 valuable meaning. There is, blessed be God, in 
 the day in which we live, a grand " march of in- 
 tellect." It is a happiness to know that there is 
 an amelioration of those difficulties which once 
 had to be encountered. With the exceptions of 
 those parts of the world whose inhabitants are in 
 a savage state, we know that the doctrines of 
 sound political liberty and of religious freedom 
 are gaining ground. The rights of conscience are 
 better understood ; more hcense is given to dis- 
 cussion on all subjects ; commercial regulations 
 are so easy and swift, that the friends of Christ in 
 foreign lands may receive assistance and accom- 
 modation without those painful delays which for- 
 merly exposed them to hazard, and threatened 
 them with starvation, if not utter destruction. 
 Then there are certain fixed institutions now in 
 existence in civilized countries, which supply the 
 means of a quick interchange of correspondence, 
 through which intelligence of reciprocal welfare or 
 wo may be transmitted with punctuality and des- 
 patch. 
 
 4. Suffer me to say that there is another con- 
 sideration with which 1 wish also to impress your 
 minds ; and it is the last to which I shall refer : 
 it is, the confident anticipation which may he in- 
 dulged as to^the final triumphs of the cause in 
 which you have embarked. This, also, alleviates 
 the pain of separaticm. Wherefore is it, my bre- 
 thren and sisters, that you are going into a sort of 
 voluntary exile from your native land 1 Is it not 
 that you may circulate that blessed volume which 
 makes wise unto salvation, through faith which is 
 in Christ Jesus 1 that you may preach among the 
 Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ t that 
 
58 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 you may subvert the dominion of the prince of 
 darkness, the spirit that worketh in the children 
 of disobedience, and sways his sceptre over so 
 many wilUng hearts ; that you may diffuse that 
 Gospel which is God's saving health to all na- 
 tions, and hasten on the arrival of that blessed 
 period when the knowledge of the Lord shall cover 
 the earth as the waters cover the sea 1 And have 
 you not the revealed purpose, the promise, the 
 oath of God, that unto Jesus every knee shall bow, 
 and every tongue confess that he is Lord of hea- 
 ven and earth 1 Are you not assured that the 
 preaching of the Cross is the grand lever which is 
 to move the world ; and that, though to them that 
 perish it is foolishness, yet to those who believe it 
 is the power of God unto salvation? Are you not 
 instructed to believe, that whatever changes tran- 
 spire in this lower world, amidst all the fluctuations 
 of opinion, amidst the vicissitudes of events, 
 amidst the downfall of successive states and em- 
 pires, he will " overturn, overturn, overturn, until 
 HE shall come whose right it is to reign," until 
 " his enemies shall be clothed with shame, but on 
 his head shall the crown flourish," until all his 
 foes shall be put beneath his feet ? As, therefore, 
 you are not going a warfare at your own charges, 
 but with the assured promise, that as your day is 
 so shall your strength be, and that the strength of 
 God in Christ shall be made perfect in your weak- 
 ness, so you do not fight uncertainly, as one that 
 beateth the air, but with the sure and certain pros- 
 pect of ultimate triumph. He who is the Cap- 
 tain of your salvation is going with you ; he is 
 before you, and leads you on from conquering to 
 conquer ; and although it is true that you may be 
 
REV. JOHN CLAYTON. 59 
 
 employed by him at first but as pioneers, to en- 
 gage in preparatory labours, yet you are part of 
 his grand army. He has girded his sword upon 
 his thigh ; he will accompany you in your sacred 
 enterprise, he will lead you forward from one suc- 
 cess to another, till the day shall come when those 
 delightful predictions shall be fully realized, which 
 represent the removal of the evils of the fall, by 
 the substitution of all the blessings and privileges 
 of the Gospel of Christ. Then " instead of the 
 thorn shall come up the fir-tree, and instead of the 
 brier shall come up the myrtle-tree ; and it shall 
 be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign 
 which shall not be cut ofi*." '] 
 
 My dear brother, and my dear brethren and sis- 
 ters — Farewell ! Farewell, ye servants of the 
 Most High God ! who are destined to show to the 
 multitudes in the isles afar off from our shores, 
 the great truths of everlasting salvation. We ac- 
 company you by our most affectionate solicitudes ; 
 we attend you by our generous sympathies ; and 
 we shall follow you by our united, repeated, fer- 
 vent prayers, by which we hope, as a band of holy 
 wrestlers, to succeed in obtaining the blessing, 
 and to take the kingdom as by holy violence and 
 force. Remember that the omnipotent Saviour is 
 your guard — Divine providence is your call — 
 heavenly grace is your animation and support — 
 science and art are your encouragement — and the 
 decrees and predictions of a God of truth and 
 power, guarantee the ultimate success of your 
 order. Across the mighty deep, may you have pro- 
 pitious gales ! May the winds and the waves soon 
 waft you safely to the desired haven, with the 
 earnest hope that God will ensure to you the 
 
60 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 success you desire ; and that ere long Maouna, 
 Oyolava, and Pola, those fine and beautiful 
 islands of the Pacific, with the surrounding group, 
 may, through your instrumentality, offer a pure 
 offering on the altar of Him who is destined to 
 receive the homaore of a redeemed and renovated 
 world ! 
 
 May God grant us the privilege, if it be consistent 
 with his will, to salute each other again ! But if this 
 be forbidden to us, may it be the delightful pri- 
 vilege of all^ when we have closed the labours of 
 this mortal scene, to meet in the presence of God 
 and the Lamb, and there to swell the delightful 
 anthem of the ransomed of the Lamb, " Worthy 
 is the Lamb which was slain, and hath redeemed 
 us to God by his blood !" 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 They prayed, and sent th&m away. — Acts xiii. 3, 
 
 Ye messengers of Christ, 
 His sovereign voice obey ; 
 Arise, and follow where he leads, 
 And peace attend your way ! 
 
 The Master whom you serve 
 Will needful strength bestow j 
 Depending on his promised aid, 
 With sacred courage go. 
 
 Mountains shall sink to plains, 
 And Hell in vain oppose ; 
 The cause is God's, and will prevail 
 In spite of all his foes. 
 
 Go, spread the Saviour's fame, 
 And tell his matchless grace 
 To the most guilty and depraved 
 Of Adam's numerous race. 
 
REV. JOHN CLAYTON. 61 
 
 "We wish you, in his name, 
 The most Divme success ; 
 Assur'd that he who sends you forth, 
 Will all your labours bless. 
 
 The Chairman said, Mr. Clayton has stated 
 that he considered it an honour to be associated 
 with our esteemed friend, Mr. Williams ; he will 
 allow me, on behalf of the church and congrega- 
 tion assembling in this place, to say that we also 
 claim this honour. Mr. and Mrs. WiHiams, prior 
 to their departure for the South Seas, were mem- 
 bers of this church. We are anxious to present 
 them with some small token of our esteem, and 
 have on the present occasion deputed our beloved 
 friend and pastor to present that mark of respect 
 and affection. 
 
 6 
 
ADDRESS 
 
 BY THE 
 
 REV. J. CAMPBELL, 
 
 On the Success of 3Ir. Williams's Labours, and 
 his present position as a Missionary. 
 
 Mr. Chairman—You will now permit me to 
 direct a ^q\w words to our much-valued friend who 
 has come to bid us farewell. In doing this I shall 
 speak not merely in my own name, but as the 
 representative of the church and congregation 
 statedly assembling in this venerable house. ° 
 
 Mr. Williams, in the name of that church and 
 of that congregation, and in my own, I now ad- 
 dress you. Would, my dear friend, that I could 
 in a few words embody and express the views we 
 entertain, and the feelings we cherish respecting 
 you ! We will not, however, « accept any man's 
 person," neither will we "give flattering titles 
 unto man, for we know not to give flattering 
 titles ; m so doing, our Maker would soon take us 
 away." We nevertheless do most sincerely and 
 most gratefully "glorify God in you "—you are 
 exceedingly dear unto us. We claim a property in 
 your Christian and missionary character, a share 
 m your usefulness and honour ; you are our son, 
 you were born here. In this house did the light 
 of Heaven first dawn upon your benighted youth- 
 ful mind ; here you were first convinced of sin, 
 and reconciled unto God ; here you first professed 
 your faith in the Deity and death of his Son ; here 
 the Lord of the harvest called you from the fellow- 
 
ADDRESS BY THE REV. J. CAMPBELL. 63 
 
 ship of the church, and sent you to the Gentiles 
 of the Southern Ocean, " to open their eyes, and 
 to turn them from darkness to light ; and from 
 the power of Satan unto God, that they might re- 
 ceive forgiveness of sin, and an inheritance among 
 them which are sanctified, by faith that is in him ;" 
 and here too you found the beloved partner of your 
 pilgrimage — the gentle, sympathetic sharer of all 
 the joys and sorrows, toils and triumphs of your 
 eventful life. Beloved brother ! on these and 
 on other grounds, we know that this house is 
 sacred, and this people very dear in your estima- 
 tion. Permit me to assure you that the regard 
 is reciprocal ; we respect you, nay, we greatly 
 esteem you. It is, therefore, a source of su- 
 preme satisfaction to have, and to see you once 
 more in our midst ; and this pleasure is much 
 enhanced by the circumstance that you are 
 this night once more to bid adieu to us, and to 
 your native country. Our pleasure, indeed, we 
 are free to confess, is mingled with sadness ; for 
 we are reluctant to part with you. Our separation, 
 however, is attended with circumstances which sup- 
 ply to us both the most abundant consolation. 
 These circumstances are obvious on every hand. 
 How instructive and encouraging is the compa- 
 rison of your present with your former departure ! 
 Your youth has passed away, but you are still in 
 your prime, and possess a large experience, de- 
 rived from an extended survey of men and things. 
 It is true you have lost many friends since you last 
 left your native shores ; what changes have taken 
 place in this house of prayer ! All the ministers 
 and managers of that day are dead ; and, I be- 
 lieve, with a soUtary exception, all the supplies 
 
64 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 are gathered to their fathers. A vast proportion 
 of the entire church with which you were first 
 united here, are now sleeping in the dust ; and, 
 perhaps, nearly half of those who have this night 
 come to meet you, and greet you, were then un- 
 born. But notwithstanding all this, you are not 
 desolate, for one friend you have lost here and 
 elsewhere, you have found a hundred. You are 
 this night surrounded by a host, who, did you re- 
 quire it, would share their last loaf with you. 
 What a return, and what a welcome have yours been 
 to your native land ! What a contrast do they pre- 
 sent to those of the mere selfish though successful 
 adventurer ! When he, after a lengthened resi- 
 dence in foreign climes, whither he had gone in 
 quest of treasure, returns, laden with it, to his 
 native country, to visit the graves of his fathers, 
 he finds himself a stranger on the very spot where 
 he drew his infant breath, and spent the days of 
 his boyhood. He feels that he is desolate and 
 lonely. The hearts that once loved him in the pa- 
 rental home, may all have ceased to beat, and of 
 such hearts there is no succession. Few know, 
 and none regard him. He is, and he is no more, 
 a poor rich man ! Beloved brother, how difl^erent 
 from all this is your condition ! How improved, 
 extended, and multiplied, are your friendships ! 
 While the circle of the worldling passeth away, 
 and he is left as in a desert, does not experience 
 prove that the family of the faithful missionary 
 never diminishes, and that the line of his friend- 
 ships is immortal 1 Your sojourn in England 
 proves that every Christian household is a mis- 
 sionary's home, and every believer a brother or a 
 sister, a father or a mother. How enviable, how 
 
REV. J. CAMPBELL. 05 
 
 honourable, your position on this the eve of your 
 departure to the scenes of your former labours ! 
 That poshion serves the double object of present- 
 ing a cheering stimulus to yourself, as well as an 
 impressive example to those your junior brethren 
 in the missionary field. Here you stand this night 
 approved of God and of man. How ample has 
 been your reward for all your self-sacrificing toils, 
 for your prolonged, voluntary exile from home 
 and country ! Whether we look at your abundant 
 labours abroad, and their success, or at your di- 
 versified exertions at home, and their results, we 
 see nothing but goodness and mercy following 
 you. The Lord Jesus hath caused you to triumph 
 in every place. 
 
 Your four years' residence in Enghand has not 
 only not been lost to the cause of missions, but 
 has been the most productive and important in 
 your whole life. Yours has been the privilege to 
 move the hearts of mankind equally by the tongue 
 and the pen. You have had the honour, unex- 
 ampled amongst English missionaries, to lay the 
 history of your own and your brethren's labours at 
 the feet of your country's Sovereign. You have 
 not merely obtained access to the nobles of Eng- 
 land, but have made the personal acquaintance of 
 some of the best and brightest names among them ; 
 and, which is of infinitely more value in your es- 
 teem, have secured their munificent patronage to 
 3'^our glorious enterprise. You have found your 
 way into the cloisters of learning, and the abodes 
 of legislation, and have constrained many of the 
 first intellects of the age to do ample justice to 
 the missionary character, and ready homage to the 
 Riissionary cause. You have been permitted to 
 6* 
 
60 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 stand, where never missionary stood before, in the 
 presence of the council of the first city of the first 
 nation in the world, and there to plead the cause 
 of commerce and of Christianity in relation to the 
 Southern Seas. That great and illustrious body, 
 the Corporation of London, not only received your 
 memorial, and respectfully listened to your ad- 
 dress, but promptly and cordially yielded a tribute, 
 worthy of themselves and of the metropolis of the 
 empire, to your object, by presenting you with 
 the sum of 500/. 
 
 Nor is this all: descending from the high places 
 of the earth to the more genial element of the 
 churches of Christ, how gratifying has been your 
 success ! Your name in connexion with missions 
 has become as familiar as a household word. 
 Throughout the three kingdoms thousands and 
 thousands have hung on your lips with rapture, 
 while you have rehearsed to them the triumphs of 
 the glorious Gospel of the blessed God. Have 
 you forgotten, can you ever forget, your unprece- 
 dented reception amongst the enlightened, the 
 fervent, the generous people of Glasgow? Have 
 you not received from them the pledges of perma- 
 nent interest and constant aid in your matchless 
 undertaking ? I know them, and can testify that 
 you will find their friendship lasting, as it is ardent. 
 
 While you retain the remembrance of cities or 
 of men, can you lose the recollection cf Man- 
 chester^ with its M'Alls, its Hadfields, its Herons, 
 and its Fletchers ? No, never ! They have 
 taken permanent possession of your heart : I 
 know it. Having laboured with you in the 
 pulpits and on the platforms of that town, and 
 mingled with you in its hospitable circles, I have 
 
REV. J. CAMPBELL. 67 
 
 witnessed with great delight, both publicly and 
 privately, the intensity of the affection with which 
 they regarded you, and I am sure their kindness 
 is indelibly engraven on your memory. You 
 have proved their love and their liberality ; the 
 world attests their zeal in the cause of missions ; 
 they are an example and a reproach to the whole 
 empire ! You have earned and obtained their 
 confidence, you may rely upon their friendship ; 
 and to have their friendship is to share their 
 fortunes. 
 
 Need I remind you of Bristol^ which, for all 
 that is generous, and noble, and missionary, is 
 second only to Manchester ? As the advocate and 
 representative of the isles of the South, you are in 
 lull possession of the esteem and confidence of the 
 ministers of that distinguished city, whose appro- 
 bation is honour. No people in the land have 
 fnore strongly sympathized with you in all your 
 past labours of love, and in your present projects 
 of benevolent enterprize. In confirmation of this 
 view, I must here recite a fact, which multitudes 
 remember, but which none have recorded, and 
 which some may consider deserving of oblivion. I, 
 for one, however, think differently. The fact, in 
 nny view, was as honourable as it was remark- 
 able, and there is no danger of its becoming a 
 precedent. As an eye and ear- witness I speak, 
 having stood in the same pulpit with you in the 
 Bristol Tabernacle when this event occurred. 
 While, in the course of your sermon, you were 
 detailing modestly and fervently the wonderful 
 works of Providence and of grace, in connexion 
 with your personal history and agency in the 
 islands of the South, so stupendous were the 
 
68 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 events detailed, so surprising the changes wrought, 
 so evidently and gloriously was the arm of the 
 Lord displayed throughout, that the vast assem- 
 bly, filled with delight and admiration, became 
 unable to resist the overpowering excess of their 
 emotions, and in an instant broke forth into a 
 simultaneous burst of approbation ! You have 
 already received their contributions and their 
 tears — you carry with you their affections and 
 their prayers. 
 
 But, leaving the provinces, with Leeds, Liver- 
 pool, and Birmingham, whose ministers and 
 churches have loaded you with kindness, and 
 animated you with the fervour of their love, what 
 shall we say to London 1 What are its numerous 
 congregations but so many masses of attached 
 personal friends to you as a man, and so many 
 devoted supporters of you as a missionary ? Poor 
 and rich, young and old, churches and congrega- 
 tions, Sabbath-schools and their teachers, God hath 
 given you all their hearts ! 
 
 Again, how enviable is your position in relation 
 to that great body of venerable and honoured men, 
 the Board of the Directors of the London Missionary 
 Society ! Have they not given you such a proof of 
 exalted confidence as has never fallen to the lot of 
 any one of their missionaries before, in the purchase 
 and outfit of a vessel for your service, and clothing 
 you with a power limited only by your own dis- 
 cretion ? What can they do more than they have 
 done l They appreciate you, they trust you, 
 they love you. You do mutual honour to each 
 other. Long may you live to promote their ob- 
 ject, and enjoy their affectionate esteem ! 
 
 Beloved friend \ You occupy a large space in 
 
REV. J. CAMPBELL. 
 
 69 
 
 the hearts of good men throughout the three king- 
 doms. You carry with you the beUeving prayers 
 and the affectionate sympathies of multitudes 
 upon multitudes over all the land. What facilities 
 for usefulness you now enjoy! Your personal 
 experience and widely extended influence, your 
 diversified talents and manifold missionary ac- 
 quirements, your unbounded confidence with the 
 world and with the Church, all constitute so many 
 elements in the ample measure of your account- 
 ability. Oh! how vast is that accountability! 
 You have now the means of accomplishing great 
 things, and great things, under God, are expected 
 of you. He will, be assured, yet put much 
 honour upon you, by employing you to diffuse 
 throughout yet undiscovered regions the Gospel 
 of his Son. 
 
 Venerated brother ! Your advantages are great, 
 even to a degree of danger. There is no slight 
 peril, lest your seeming strength become your 
 real weakness. The best proof, therefore, that 
 your best friends can give you of a wise, discreet, 
 and worthy esteem, will be to follow their passing 
 plaudits with their persevering prayers ; to you 
 prayerful friendship alone is estimable for mission- 
 ary purposes. 
 
 Thanks be to God, you appear hitherto to have 
 escaped the baleful influence of popularity ! It is 
 to be hoped you are carrying out with you all the 
 seemly plainness and apostolic simplicity of char- 
 acter with which you returned, and are in no 
 respect deprived of that manly energy to which 
 instrumentally your success is so mainly owing. 
 Thus qualified, and thus upheld by the prayers of 
 the churches, and filled with the power of the 
 
70 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 Spirit of all grace, what may you not yet accom- 
 plish ? You early entered the field, and are still 
 in the prime of life : all your past achievements 
 may yet be thrown into the distance, and reduced 
 to insignificance by the harvest of useful labours 
 that shall follow. The Lord God of hosts pre- 
 serve you, prosper you, honour you, and make 
 you a blessing to countless thousands ! 
 
 PRESENTATION OF BOOKS. 
 
 Beloved Brother ! It only remains once more 
 and most emphatically, to assure you and your 
 dearest companion, of the confidence, affection, 
 and strong attachment of this church and cono-re- 
 gation. It is Avith pleasure we hope and believe, 
 that the smiles of the great, and the caresses of 
 an empire, have not rendered you regardless or in- 
 different to our humbler respect or more limited 
 attention. Of that respect and that attention it is 
 now my pleasing duty to present you with a small 
 token, and a permanent pledge. Your benevo- 
 lence, and knowledge of men will, doubtless, teach 
 you to estimate it, not by its abstract or com- 
 mercial value, but to consider it as an index of 
 the feelings of the church and congregation statedly 
 assembling in the Tabernacle — a church consist- 
 ing at the present time of betwixt six and seven 
 hundred members, and a congregation amounting 
 to the usual relative proportion of hearers to mem- 
 bers. Such is the community who at this mo- 
 ment address you through me. 
 
 My esteemed friend, Mrs. Williams, in the 
 
REV. J. CAMPBELL. 71 
 
 name of that church and of that congregation, 
 I have now most respectfully, and most cor- 
 dially, and most affectionately, to beg your ac- 
 ceptance of a copy of Scotfs Commentary on the 
 sacred Scriptures, six volumes, bound in Russia, 
 and gilt. When far hence, among the Gentiles, 
 this may serve to remind you of old England, old 
 Tabernacle, and early days ! When sad and lonely, 
 during the absence of your beloved husband, it 
 may tend to beguile a heavy day to take down 
 one of these volumes, and ponder its precious 
 promises. Allow me also to present you with a 
 copy of the " Comprehensive Hymn Book" con- 
 taining one thousand hymns, original and selected. 
 Among the originals you will find fifty from the 
 pen of your ancient pastor, of revered memory, 
 the late Rev. Mr. Wilks. The volume comprises 
 an immense body of sacred poetry, from the pens 
 of our best writers, and contains much that is cal- 
 culated to instruct, support, and console. It will, 
 at least, serve to remind you of one who loves you 
 and your husband for the truth's sake ; for the 
 name on the title-page is the name of a friend ! 
 
 Esteemed Brother, let me now request your 
 acceptance of a copy of the London EncyclojjcBdia, 
 in twenty-two volumes. It was believed that a 
 work of this description might be serviceable to 
 you, and your junior assistants in the islands, and 
 it will at least suffice to put you in remembrance 
 of us. Think of us sometimes, when your heart, 
 like the faithful compass, turns to its father 
 land, and we will remember you ! At our mis- 
 sionary prayer-meetings you shall have an in- 
 terest in the prayer which hath power with God. 
 Should we meet again, in future years, after you 
 
72 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 have done fresh and further service to the cause 
 of Christ, we will rejoice to see you. But should 
 we see your face no more on earth, there will be 
 a meeting above, to be succeeded by no sepa- 
 ration. 
 
 Peace ! the peace of Jesus be with you both, 
 with your dear family, and with your youthful 
 companions, now and evermore ! Amen, and 
 Amen. 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 Be thou faithful unto death, ^c. — Rev. ii. 10. 
 
 Father of Mercies ! condescend 
 To hear our fervent prayer ; 
 
 While this our brother we commend 
 To thy paternal care. 
 
 Before him set an open door ; 
 
 His various efforts bless ; 
 On him thy Holy Spirit pour, 
 
 And crown him with success. 
 
 Endow him with a heavenly mind ; 
 
 Supply his every need ; 
 Make him in spirit meek, resign'd. 
 
 But bold in word and deed. 
 
 In every tempting, trying hour, 
 
 Uphold him by thy grace ; 
 And guard him by thy mighty power. 
 
 Till he shall end his race^ 
 
 Then follow'd by a numerous train, 
 Gather'd from heathen lands ; 
 
 A crown of life may he obtain 
 From his Redeemer's hands ! 
 
ADDRESS 
 
 BY THE 
 
 REV. J. WILLIAMS. 
 
 His Objects, Means ^ Motives, and Encouragements. 
 
 My dear Brethren in the ministry, 
 
 and dear Christian Friends, 
 
 I MUST crave this evening your very kind in- 
 dulgence. You must be aware that the feelings 
 of which I am at present the subject are of a very 
 peculiar character ; and therefore I shall not, I 
 fear, be enabled to address you as I have been 
 accustomed to do on previous occasions. 
 
 Allusion has been made to the circumstances 
 under which my first religious impressions were 
 received. It is now about twenty-four years ago, 
 since, as a stripling youth, a kind female friend 
 invited me to come into this place of worship. I 
 have the door in my view at the present moment 
 at which I entered, and I have all the circum- 
 stances of that important era in my history vividly 
 impressed upon my mind ; and I have in my eye, 
 at this instant, the particular spot on which I 
 took my seat. I have also a distinct impression 
 of the powerful sermon that was that evening 
 preached, by the excellent Mr. East, now of Bir- 
 7 
 
74 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 mingham. I believe he is the only surviving 
 minister who was in the habit of preaching in this 
 hallowed pulpit ; a pulpit sacred in the estimation 
 of every devoted servant of Jesus Christ. It was 
 occupied by the celebrated Whitefield ; and many 
 a faithful successor has preached in it the same 
 precious truths that were poured with such elo- 
 quence from his lips. Mr. East that evening 
 took for his text one of the most impressive 
 portions of inspired writ, "What is a man profited 
 if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own 
 soul ? or, what shall a man give in exchange for his 
 souH" God was pleased in his own gracious 
 providence, to influence my mind at that time so 
 powerfully, that I forsook all my worldly com- 
 panions, and became a teacher in the Sabbath- 
 school connected with this place. Many a Sab- 
 bath afterwards did I sit upon the form now in 
 my sight, with my class, and impart that know- 
 ledge to them, which God in his gracious good- 
 ness had given to me. 
 
 And just before my departure, when I left my 
 beloved country in the first instance, a congrega- 
 tion, of course not so dense as that now convened 
 was brought together, and I addressed them from 
 a little pulpit or desk that was placed in the 
 centre of the school ; and the dear children hung 
 upon my lips with very, very great delight. 
 
 My dear Christian friends, little did that female 
 friend who took me by the hand, and conducted 
 me to this place of worship at that time, little did 
 she imagine what would be the result of her kind 
 effort. friends, what momentous consequences 
 in the providence of God are poised upon com- 
 paratively insignificant incidents. Little did she 
 
REV. J. WILLIAMS. 75 
 
 imagine that that would be an evening sacred to 
 the memory, not only of herself, but to thousands 
 of God's dear people. Little did she imagine that 
 that was the beginning of all the wonderful events 
 thet have followed since that important night. 
 But it shows us what may be done for God by 
 comparatively insignificant persons, persons who 
 are of no note in the Christian church. It shows 
 us that we ought to attempt to do something for 
 God ; that there is no person so insignificant as 
 not to be able to accomplish some great and im- 
 portant good. Now, suppose every person pre- 
 sent were to make some such resolution as this, 
 In the course of the present year, and under this 
 event, memorable by that resolution, I will en- 
 deavour to bring at least one friend under the 
 sound of the Gospel. You may be the means of 
 bringing forth a missionary for Jesus Christ ; at 
 least you may be the means of winning a soul to 
 Christ; and this will be ample compensation for 
 any effort you may make, or any labour you may 
 bestow. 
 
 With these important feelings upon my mind, I 
 think, Christian friends, you will sympathize with 
 me in again saying " Farewell 1 " to the place of 
 my spiritual birth. The fathers, " where are 
 they 1 " They are gone to their rest. When I 
 took my leave of my beloved country on a former 
 occasion, the late excellent Rowland Hill was 
 present. He is not here now. The late excel- 
 lent Matthew Wilks, many, many years the faith- 
 ful, the affectionate, the beloved pastor of this 
 church and people, was then present. He is not 
 here. The good and holy Dr. Waugh was pre- 
 sent ; Mr. Burder, and a number of others, who 
 
76 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 were the fathers and founders of our beloved and 
 important institution, were here. They are not 
 here. But, although they are gone, God in his 
 continued goodness has baptized others, their 
 successors, with their spirit; and, as my dear 
 and beloved friend Mr. Campbell has just stated, 
 I find myself among a numerous class of friends, 
 who take as lively an interest in the great work of 
 missions as did those, the fathers and founders of 
 the Society. There was one expression addressed 
 to me by good Dr. Waugh which I have never 
 forgotten, and I think I never shall forget, even 
 if I live to threescore years and ten. Taking me 
 by the hand, he looked upon my mouth, and, after 
 having made some affectionate remarks, he en- 
 couraged me by saying, ** Go, dear young bro- 
 ther, and if thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy 
 mouth, let it be with telling poor sinners of the 
 love of Jesus Christ ; and if thy arm drop from 
 thy shoulder, let it be by knocking at men's hearts 
 to gain admission for him there." 
 
 I went, beloved brethren, with this determina- 
 tion — not to know any thing among men save 
 *' Jesus Christ, and him crucified." I came home 
 with that same determination, and now I embark 
 again to carry the same wonderful story, that God 
 has so loved our world that he gave his Son to 
 die for it. 
 
 Before I proceed to make any observations upon 
 the object of our expedition, allow me just to say, 
 that I feel still that the work of Christian missions 
 is the greatest, the noblest, and the sublimest to 
 which the energies of the human mind can be de- 
 voted. I think, Christian friends, that no labour 
 we can bestow, no sacrifice that we can make, no 
 
REV. J. WILLIAMS. 77 
 
 journeys that we can undertake, are too great to 
 be endured for the glorious purpose of illumina- 
 ting the dark world with the light of the glorious 
 Gospel of the blessed God. There is something 
 to my mind transcendently sublime in the com- 
 prehensive character of Christian missions. The 
 field, as our Saviour said, is the world ; the globe 
 in its entire circumference is the missionary's 
 parish ; the world is his sphere of operation ; and 
 every individual in the human family is the object 
 of his benevolent solicitude. " Go," said the 
 Saviour, "into all the world, and preach the 
 Gospel to every creature." The grand design is, 
 to gather to Messiah's standard an army of sol- 
 diers from every tribe, and kindred, and people ; 
 to tune every human tongue to sing the Saviour's 
 praise ; to cause the war whoop of the savage — 
 that signal of death and destruction — to give 
 place to the shout of salvation through the blood 
 of the Lamb ; to tell the Hindoo, the African, the 
 Greenlander, and those afar off in the isles of the 
 sea, that there is a fountain open, in which the 
 guilty may wash ; that there is food provided, of 
 which the hungry may partake ; that in the house 
 of mercy there is room enough and to spare, and 
 that whosoever will may take of the water of life 
 freely ; in fact, it is to roll back the thunders of the 
 curse from six hundred millions of human beings, 
 to gladden their hearts and brighten their eyes, by 
 opening before them the magnificent prospect of a 
 blissful eternity ! These are the sublime objects 
 contemplated in the work of Christian missions. 
 We shall conclude our expressions of attachment 
 to this holy cause by saying, that no exercise, no 
 sacrifice, no labour can be ill bestowed that is 
 7* 
 
78 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 bestowed upon such a cause as this — a cause for 
 which Jesus Christ himself left heaven, and ex- 
 pired in agony upon the cross ! 
 
 It appears to me impossible for any person of 
 intelligence to contemplate for a few minutes the 
 peculiar features of the British nation, to reflect 
 upon the unprecedented rapidity with which our 
 country has reached the position which it occu- 
 pies, and not come to the conclusion, that England 
 is raised up by God to be a greater blessing to the 
 world than any nation that ever preceded it. All 
 the characteristics that are essential to constitute 
 a nation, a missionary nation, are concentrated in 
 our own beloved country. Is it necessary that a 
 nation, to be a blessing to the world, should pos- 
 sess civil and religious liberty'? Where is the 
 nation that possesses it to such a degree as the 
 British nation 1 Is it necessary that a nation, to 
 be a blessing to the world, should possess know- 
 ledge? Where is there a nation whose stores are 
 so vast, so varied, and boundless as those of the 
 British nation ? Our fathers have been labouring 
 for us, and have been laying up materials with 
 which we are to work. Is it necessary that a 
 nation, to be a missionary nation, should be com- 
 mercial and maritime in its character 1 There is 
 no sea in the known world whose waters are not 
 ploughed by the gallant ships of England, bearing 
 to distant shores the products of British industry. 
 Is it necessary that, to be a missionary nation, a 
 nation should be wealthy 1 May it not emphati- 
 cally be stated, in reference to the merchants of 
 our nation, " Thy merchants are princes." The 
 process of converting the world to the faith and 
 hope of the Gospel is an expensive process. A 
 
REV. J. WILLIAMS. 79 
 
 poverty-stricken nation can never be a benefit and 
 blessing to the world. 
 
 Now, I think it is impossible to reflect upon 
 the peculiar features of the British nation, and not 
 come to the conclusion that God has given us our 
 silver and our gold, our liberty and our know- 
 ledge, our political ascendency in the scale of 
 nations, our commerce, our colonies, but with a 
 design that we should be a benefit and a blessing 
 to a lost and degenerate world. Look at what 
 Spain was a few years ago, and contrast her con- 
 dition with ours. The wealth of the colonies, and 
 the commerce of the world, were in the hands of 
 the Spaniards: what is that nation now? We 
 believe that no individual is blessed by God with 
 his life, his talents, his influence, merely that he 
 may eat, and drink, and enjoy himself, and die, 
 like the brute whose spirit goeth downward. We 
 believe that these talents and qualifications are 
 given in order that they may be employed for 
 great and useful purposes ; and as with individuals 
 so it is with nations. We beUeve that God has 
 given to us these qualities in order that we may be 
 his instruments in communicating the best of all 
 blessings to the most degraded, the most destitute 
 and miserable of the human family. 
 
 Having stated these views and feelings with re- 
 ference to the missionary work generally, and in 
 reference to our nation in particular ; allow me, for 
 the purpose of fixing some observations on, and 
 communicating some information to your minds, 
 to state, first, the objects we have in view; 
 secondly, the motives by which we are influenced ; 
 thirdly, the means by which we intend to accom- 
 plish these objects; and, fourthly, the encourage- 
 ments which we have to proceed. 
 
80 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 My friend, Mr. Ellis, has given you informa- 
 tion as to our objects, so that it will be unneces- 
 sary for me to go over the same ground ; but I 
 will just allude to one or two circumstances which 
 escaped his notice. I shall not give you the his- 
 tory of the mission, but simply say that that his- 
 tory, as given by my friend and brother, is fraught 
 with instruction of a most important character to 
 the Church of God. I think that Scripture state- 
 ments are confirmed in a most striking manner ; 
 that Scripture predictions are most beautifully 
 illustrated ; and that Scripture promises have 
 been most remarkably fulfilled, by facts in con- 
 nexion with the mission of which I am now 
 speaking. 
 
 But the objects we have in view are threefold. 
 The first is. To convey to our various stations im- 
 portant re -in for cements. I shall be accompanied 
 in this expedition by eight or ten beloved and 
 devoted young brethren, one of whom is designed 
 to re-inforce the station we now occupy at the 
 Marquesan Islands. My esteemed friend, Mr. 
 Ellis, did not dwell on the Marquesan Islands ; he 
 simply adverted to them. Now, that is the only 
 group to which the Gospel has been conveyed, 
 where complete success has not attended our 
 labours. I shall not this evening go into any 
 thing like a minute account of the reasons which 
 we can assign for this comparative failure ; but it 
 is not a failure, and it will not be a failure. The 
 time is not far distant when the cannibal Mar- 
 quesan shall be prostrated at the foot of the cross. 
 I hold in my hand a very delightful letter, from a 
 gentleman who commands one of her Majesty's 
 ships. He is out in the South Seas at the present 
 moment. He is related to a family of great dis- 
 
REV. J. WILLIAMS. 81 
 
 tinction, and I have been favoured with this letter 
 by a distinguished relative of the writer. Would 
 to God that every captain who visits these islands 
 was such an individual as the gentlemen to whom 
 I refer ! He gives an account of the state of the 
 Marquesan Islands, and it just confirms all that 
 we had stated previously in reference to them. 
 That people, he says, are a most intractable race, 
 and resist the efforts of the missionaries to bring 
 them under instruction. However, this excellent 
 captain took the principal chief into his cabin, he 
 expostulated with him, he exhorted, invited, and 
 entreated him to adopt the Christian faith. The 
 influence that such a captain would have upon 
 the mind of such a chief is very great, and I have 
 not the least doubt but that in a very short time, 
 by the blessing of God upon the devoted efforts 
 of our beloved brothren, the Marquesan Islands 
 will be added to those already under Christian 
 instruction, in that interesting part of the world. 
 The testimony he bears is as follows : " The ad- 
 vancement of Christianity among these people, I 
 was disappointed in." It is no disappointment to 
 us, because we never made an impression on the 
 inhabitants of the Marquesan Islands ; at least 
 very little. "There are two English Missionaries 
 residing here, active, zealous, and industrious 
 men." And in another part of his letter, this 
 captain bears honourable testimony to our beloved 
 brethren. Since this letter was written, and this 
 excellent captain visited the islands, we have had 
 information stating the commencement of a change. 
 Very frequently upwards of 100 natives attend 
 Divine worship, and a great impression has been 
 produced on the minds of the Marquesans by this 
 circumstance. It will be recollected that, about 
 
82 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 two years ago, six devoted and beloved brethren 
 left England for the Navigators' Islands. These 
 brethren touched at the Marquesan Islands, and 
 the Marquesans inquired where they were all 
 going to. " To Navigators' Islands," was the 
 reply. "Why do you not come here?" they 
 inquired, when they were informed, " that they 
 would not attend to the instruction of those who 
 were there already, and the Navigators' Islands 
 are praying for instructors to come to them." 
 This appears to have produced a good impression 
 upon the minds of the savage inhabitants of this 
 group ; and it is my intention, at present, to 
 make the Marquesan Islands the first group I 
 visit, in order to deepen the impression produced 
 by the visit of our brethren who touched there two 
 years ago. 
 
 I might add, that our brethren stand in need of 
 your sympathy and prayers. When the mission- 
 aries first tried to introduce the Gospel there, they 
 were obliged to flee for their lives. I do hope, 
 that savage as these people are, the Gospel, in 
 God's own time, will subdue their ferocious dis- 
 position, and they will be added as triumphs to 
 what the Gospel has achieved. 
 
 After leaving the Marquesan Islands, we shall 
 convey two brethren to re-inforce the station at 
 Tahiti. My beloved brother Ellis has given rather 
 a dark picture of Tahiti. He did not throw in 
 those shades of light which present circumstances 
 demand. He told you of the mischiefs produced 
 by abandoned persons leaving their ships ; this 
 has been a great evil ; but the natives are able 
 to distinguish character better than they were, 
 and the effect produced by the conduct of 
 such, is far less injurious than ever. Ardent 
 
REV. J. WILLIAMS. 83 
 
 spirits, you were told, have been introduced, and 
 have produced the most baneful influence upon 
 the minds of the people. But my brother Ellis 
 should have added, that not a single drop of 
 ardent spirits is used on the islands at the present 
 moment. He should also have stated, that the 
 people have now a representative form of govern- 
 ment ; that the little parliament, if I may be 
 allowed the expression, met a short time ago, and 
 before they proceeded to business, sent a message 
 to the Queen, to inquire on what principles they 
 were to proceed. She sent back a copy of the 
 New Testament, and said, " Let the principles of 
 that book be the foundation of your enactments." 
 One of the first laws they passed was, that they 
 would not trade with any vessel that should intro- 
 duce ardent spirits among them. I believe I shall 
 be justified in stating, that this island, which was our 
 original station, was never more prosperous than at 
 the present moment. My valuable and venerable 
 brother missionary, Mr. Nott, who went out in the 
 Duff, is in England at the present moment. He left 
 the island after me, and returned home, in order to 
 get the British and Foreign Bible Society to print 
 the entire Bible, from the first chapter of Genesis 
 to the last chapter of Revelation, in the Tahitian 
 language. God has strengthened him, and in a 
 measure restored him to health, and he has had 
 the delightful satisfaction of placing before the 
 Directors an entire copy of the Bible in the native 
 language. I am happy to add, that that devoted 
 brother has offered himself again, although he has 
 been there forty-two years, and is now nearly 
 seventy years of age, to track the ocean to the far 
 distant islands of the sea. 
 
 Two of our brethren will be stationed to re- 
 
84 ADDRESS BT THE 
 
 inforce the mission at that important island. At 
 present there are only five missionaries at that 
 island, several of whom are advanced in years. 
 Our beloved brother Wilson, who went out in the 
 Duff, and was taken prisoner, and Mr. Davies, 
 have been there for nearly forty years. Mr. Henry 
 and Mr. Nott are the only two surviving brethren 
 of the original mission who left England in the 
 ship Duff. It will be readily believed that these 
 brethren, although they retain all the piety of 
 their youth, and all the ardour of their missionary 
 zeal, have nevertheless declined in physical energy, 
 in consequence of increasing age ; and before God 
 in his providence removes them, by death, from 
 the sphere of labour, it is thought well that some 
 younger brethren should be placed under their in- 
 struction, that they may derive advantage from 
 their experience. A mental appetite has been 
 created at these islands, the people must have 
 books to satisfy and to gratify it ; and the atten- 
 tion of these brethren will be directed to that in^ 
 portant branch of missionary labour* 
 
 Then we shall go down to Raiatea. In reference 
 to the remarks which fell from my esteemed friend 
 and brother, Mr. Ellis, as to Tahiti being the focus 
 or centre from which the light of civilization had 
 diverged in all directions, you will understand that 
 he was speaking of the whole of the group. There 
 are six or eight islands in the group, in the whole of 
 which the Gospel has been successful. In my 
 own station, notwithstanding the evils which arose 
 from the introduction of ardent spirits among that 
 people, they have surmounted the calamity, and 
 are now again in a prosperous state. One beloved 
 brother will be stationed there for the purpose of 
 assisting my esteemed fellow-labourer, Mr. Piatt,. 
 
REV. JOHN WILLIAMS. 85 
 
 in the discharge of the duties of that station. A 
 contribution has been received from the Native 
 Missionary Society formed there, amounting to 
 67/., in aid of the funds of our institution, from 
 which that people have derived all their knowledge 
 and all the benefits they are now enjoying ; and 
 it is with much pleasure I state, that from our va- 
 rious missionary stations, little short o^ four thou- 
 sand pounds have been contributed by the native 
 converts. 
 
 After leaving one brother at Raiatea and two at 
 Tahiti, we should proceed to Rarotonga, an island 
 with which all the friends of missions are very fa- 
 miliar. I am happy to have it in my power to 
 state, that Rarotonga is at the present moment in 
 a most interesting condition. Of course, in giving 
 you a rapid glance of the various stations, I can 
 only allude to some of the leading particulars 
 regarding them. Rarotonga is the principal island 
 in what we term the Hervey Group. There are 
 six or seven islands, within 200 miles of Raro- 
 tonga, at which we have out stations supplied by 
 native missionaries. When the native missionaries 
 have carried the people as far in instruction as they 
 are capable of doing, they are visited by the resi- 
 dent missionaries, who, at present, are Mr. Bu- 
 zacott and Mr. Pitman. Mr. Pitman is in very 
 feeble health, so that much of the visiting work 
 devolves on Mr. Buzacott. It is desirable that 
 all these stations should not only be visited by a 
 European missionary, but that he should remain 
 four or six weeks at each ; and it is therefore 
 intended to settle one brother at Rarotonga, which 
 will enable the missionaries of that island to take 
 charge of the entire group. I have received a 
 8 
 
86 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 most affecting letter from Mr. Piatt regarding the 
 good old chief of Aitutaki, who charges me with 
 a breach of promise. When the brethren went to 
 the Navigators' Islands they touched at Aitutaki, 
 and the old chief said, with tears in his eyes, " The 
 people of this island were the first to embrace the 
 Gospel ; year after year we have been promised an 
 English missionary, and here they are passing by 
 us and going to distant lands. I am old and grey- 
 headed, my eyes will soon be closed in death, and 
 I shall never see an English teacher." These were 
 the phrases he used when he pleaded with my bro- 
 ther missionary to leave him a missionary. The 
 brother left at Rarotonga will supply instruction 
 there as much as possible. 
 
 We shall then proceed to Navigators' Islands. 
 Much has been said in reference to this group, and 
 therefore I will not give you long extracts from 
 the journal I have of Mr. Buzacott. Mr. Buza- 
 cott accompanied the six brethren who went to this 
 group, and laboured with ihem for twelve months. 
 On arriving at a large district — the islands are di- 
 vided into districts, similar to our parishes, every 
 one of which has a name associated with all that 
 is important and valuable in the estimation of the 
 people — he altered the name. And what was the 
 name he gave it 1 Tali a Wiliamu, " tarrying for 
 Mr. W illiams," I think you could not find a more 
 striking illustration of the interesting prediction — 
 " And the isles shall wait for His law," than is to 
 be found in the South Seas. Another district he 
 has called Ola langi, meaning, salvation from the 
 skies. The names thus given to these districts indi- 
 cate the intensity of the desire of the inhabitants for 
 Christian instructors. Mr. Buzacott states some 
 
REV. JOHN WILLIAMS. 87 
 
 very affecting things in reference to this desire. I 
 will mention but one. " They pleaded hard, as 
 many others had done before, for a teacher, and 
 nothing was the cause of greater or more painful 
 emotion, than to witness a people eager for instruc- 
 tion, and no one to teach them. We endeavoured 
 to satisfy them by saying that books and teachers 
 would be procured for them as soon as possible ; 
 to this they would reply, '* That life is uncertain, 
 we may die before the teachers or books come, 
 and then what will become of us ?" This shows the 
 necessity of reinforcing this important mission, and 
 that is one object which we have in view in return- 
 ing to the interesting scene of our former labours. 
 Another object is the establishment of a college 
 for the instruction of our native missionaries. I 
 cannot enter minutely into that very important 
 object, but I will state, or, rather, confirm, what 
 has been stated by Mr. Ellis. I do not know that 
 the inhabitants of any island, with the exception 
 of those of Tahiti, have been converted to Chris- 
 tianity by the instrumentality of English mission- 
 aries ; the work has been done by native mission- 
 aries. Of course they are conveyed by us, and 
 are under our direction and superintendence ; but 
 they are the men who do the work, and therefore 
 it is of the utmost importance that this agency 
 which God has put into our hands should be car- 
 ried on in the most judicious, the most effective, 
 and the most extensive way in which it is possible 
 to conduct it. We think that the establishment of 
 a native college, in which pious native youths shall 
 have a good English and theological education, 
 will be one of the most important steps towards 
 
88 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 the extension of Christianity in the isles of the 
 Pacific. That is our second object. 
 
 A third object is to endeavour to extend the 
 Gospel to every island, and every group of im- 
 portance which may be found between the Navi- 
 gators' and New Guinea. The first group which 
 I propose visiting is what is called New Hebrides. 
 There are sixty islands in the group, varying from 
 thirty to one hundred and fifty miles in circumfer- 
 ence, all of which are inhabited. To the south 
 is New Caledonia, an island of between 300 
 and 400 miles in length. Then, coming back, 
 there is also Solomon's Archipelago. All these 
 are large and important, and teeming with inhabit- 
 ants. There is the Louisade Archipelago, a group 
 of which is very little known. Then there is New 
 Britain, New Ireland, and New George, three 
 islands, the smallest of which, I believe, is 500 
 miles in circumference. We then go a little back 
 and come to New Guinea, which is 1200 miles in 
 length, and several hundred miles in breadth, and 
 also teeming with inhabitants. But those impor- 
 tant islands, with the multitude of their inhabitants, 
 are a blank and a blot in the world of science and 
 religion, of commerce and humanity. 
 
 Now the object of this expedition is to go and 
 carry to them the Gospel ; and by this means a 
 vast amount of good will be conferred, not only 
 upon the inhabitants, but also upon our own 
 country. 
 
 It is not now my intention to speak of the 
 commercial advantages which will accrue from the 
 civilization of these multitudes of inhabitants. It 
 is not my intention to point out the advantages to 
 
REV. JOHN WILLIAMS. 89 
 
 science, nor to allude to the manner in which the 
 property of our country, or the lives of ship- 
 wrecked mariners, will be preserved by the civil- 
 ization of these people. I would just repeat what 
 I stated in the presence of the Right Honourable 
 the Lord Mayor and the Court of Common Coun- 
 cil of this great and mighty city, that not one ship 
 has ever been taken, not one drop of British blood 
 has ever been shed at any island, after the inhabit- 
 ants had been brought under Christian instruction ; 
 and therefore a benefit is conferred upon the whole 
 civilized world, by communicating the blessings of 
 Christianity to such a people. 
 
 Having stated as briefly as possible the objects 
 we have in view, I would just allude to the means 
 by 'which we propose to accomplish these objects. 
 
 Without alluding to the measures, which our 
 brethren who are intended to reinforce our for- 
 mer stations may adopt ; or to those which may 
 be esteemed necessary in the establishment of the 
 college, the question at once presents itself. How 
 is the civilization and evangelization of the still 
 barbarous tribes to be effected 1 
 
 In the first place, we have resolved upon the 
 purchase of a ship ; because we believe that we 
 should not, according to human probability, ac- 
 complish our object so effectually in any other 
 way. I do not know that I can better impress 
 the mind of every one present with the necessity 
 of having a vessel of our own, than by reading a 
 short extract from Mr. Buzacott's journal. The 
 ship to which he alludes was hired expressly, and 
 a large sum of money was paid for its services, 
 that it might be devoted entirely to the object in 
 view. Mr. Buzacott says, " On reaching Tutuila, we 
 8* 
 
90 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 found our native missionary, Te ava, who, with 
 twenty or thirty of his converts, had come to this 
 island, fifty or sixty miles from their own station, 
 for the purpose of endeavouring to turn this peo- 
 ple " from darkness to light.*' They gave us a 
 most hearty welcome, and it was agreed that they 
 all should return with us. The wind having 
 moderated, the native missionary and his company 
 presented themselves alongside. Te ava had come 
 up from Upolu to Tutuila, the island where M. 
 de Langle, the comrade of La Perouse, the cele- 
 brated French navigator, was murdered. The 
 captain had given leave for one canoe to tow 
 astern, but knew nothing of a second. After 
 going on some distance he became uneasy that we 
 had so many natives on board, and began to get 
 very angry at the second canoe alongside, and 
 ordered it to be sent adrift. The natives begged 
 very hard to be allowed .to hang on till they got in 
 sight of Upolu, but he, in a rage, had the ship 
 hove to, and declared he would go no farther un- 
 less one of the canoes was sent away. We en- 
 deavoured to explain to the natives the reason of 
 the captain's rage. That is an awkward position 
 for a missionary to be placed in, to have to explain 
 to savages the reason of the rage of one of their 
 own number ; and they, in return, pleaded the 
 roughness of the sea, their distance from the 
 island, and their wish, as they came with their 
 missionary, to return together. We remonstrated 
 with the captain, but he was inexorable. We then 
 told the natives, that if they would go away with 
 one of the canoes, when we got to land we would 
 give those who consented some small present. 
 " The canoe was sent adrift, and five of them 
 
REV. JOHN WILLIAMS. 91 
 
 jumped overboard. We felt particularly hurt at 
 the conduct of the captain, which appeared to us 
 so cruel ; and Mr. Barfftook occasion to converse 
 with him on the subject, telling him, that if he in- 
 tended to continue such conduct it might prove a 
 very serious injury to us, as our object was not to 
 irritate the natives, but, by all consistent means, 
 to conciliate them. He then, too late, began to 
 see his folly, and the next morning expressed his 
 deep regret at his own conduct." When we take 
 this into consideration, we feel that the only pro- 
 bable means of accomplishing this object is to 
 have a vessel under our own command. We 
 never fear any thing from having a ship full of na- 
 tives ; but a captain, whose vessel is hired, has 
 considerations, into the merits of which we cannot 
 enter. By having a vessel of our own, we can 
 take what natives we please on board, and have 
 the matter entirely under our own control. I 
 think this one circumstance will be sufficient to 
 show you the necessity of the steps we have 
 taken. But I might also allude to the privations 
 to which the missionaries are sometimes exposed. 
 I have seen my own beloved wife sit down at 
 table, and burst into tears at having nothing to 
 eat, week after week, and month after month, but 
 some native roots, and a very scanty supply even 
 of that, but no European food of any kind. She 
 never did this under a feeling of disaffection to the 
 cause in which we are engaged, or from regret that 
 she had devoted herself to the work of God — it 
 was the mere overpowerings of the feelings of 
 nature. Now, though I am not averse, nor I be- 
 lieve are any of my brethren, to suffer privation, 
 or to endure fatigue, when we are actually com- 
 
93 
 
 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 pelled to it, yet I think that there can be no neces- 
 sity for submitting to such things, when, by a Httle 
 precaution, they can be avoided. 
 
 But the circumstance of having a vessel where- 
 by we can hold annual intercourse with civilized 
 countries would be of incalculable advantage to 
 the missionary families, and to the cause, both at 
 home and abroad. If we were to go into the mat- 
 ter of mere expense, we could show that this 
 would be the most economical method which 
 could be adopted. However, when we contem- 
 plate engaging in any undertaking for the cause 
 of our God, a trifling matter of expense ought 
 never to stand in the way. 
 
 I have alluded to the vessel ; another means 
 by which this great work is to be effected is, the 
 conveyance of native missionaries from our pre- 
 sent civilized and Christian stations. Considering 
 the circumstances of the islands I propose to visit, 
 I do sincerely hope that in less than twelve or 
 fifteen months from the time I leave England we 
 shall have not less than fifty native missionaries 
 employed, few of whom could be engaged but for 
 tlie important voyage of which I am now speak- 
 ing. I am fully aware of the dangers to which 
 we shall be exposed. The people at some islands 
 which we purpose visiting are particularly savage. 
 But we recollect how we have been preserved ; we 
 recollect the gracious declaration, that the arm of 
 God is not shortened that it cannot save, neither is 
 his ear heavy that it cannot hear. Thus encouraged, 
 we shall go forward ; and, should God in his provi- 
 dence so arrange it that we fall in the conflict, there 
 is still a sweet consolation to the mind. Allow 
 me to illustrate the idea by a circumstance which I 
 
REV. JOHN WILLIAMS. 93 
 
 heard related in reference to a certain celebrated 
 play-actor. I believe he had retired from the 
 stage in the midst of his popularity, and thereby 
 occasioned great dissatisfaction to those to whose 
 pleasure he had administered. A friend remon- 
 strated with him; nay, I believe, a deputation 
 waited upon him to request him to return again 
 to the stage. Mark his striking reply ! — " I feel 
 that there must be a gap between the stage and 
 death." Now, the missionary wants no gap be- 
 tween his work and his death ; and, therefore, 
 should God call us to suffer in his cause, we trust 
 that we shall have grace to bow with submission 
 to his will, knowing that others will be raised up 
 in his providence to carry into effect that work 
 which we have been employed to commence. 
 
 Having adverted to the means, I will now ad- 
 vert to the motives by which we trust we are in- 
 duced to undertake this great work. 
 
 I should like to speak with all Christian mod- 
 esty. Whatever infirmity may cleave to us — 
 and there is infirmity cleaving to human purposes 
 and undertakings of every kind — yet I do sin- 
 cerely hope and trust that the eye is single, that 
 the motive is simple, and that the only desire is, 
 to go and carry the glad tidings of salvation to 
 those who are " destroyed for lack of knowledge." 
 
 My dear friends, I am fully aware of the feel- 
 ings of which my brethren and myself are con- 
 scious at the present moment. We know how to 
 appreciate the endearments of civilized society ; 
 we knovv' how to appreciate the entwinings of af- 
 fectionate relatives ; and we know that we are 
 tearing away all the sympathies which bind heart 
 with heart. We have gazed upon it all ; we have 
 
94 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 taken it all into consideration. I have looked at 
 the violent storms to which we may be exposed, 
 at the ferocity of the savages among whom we are 
 g/^ing ; and, having viewed it all, I have just 
 placed the object in view in the opposite scale, 
 and fixing the eye of the mind intensely upon the 
 greatness, the sublimity of that, I trust I can say, 
 in the face of all difficulties and dangers, " None 
 of these things move me, neither count I my life 
 dear unto myself; so that I may finish my course 
 with joy, and the ministry which I have received 
 of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the 
 grace of God." We feel that we have something 
 worth carrying — we have the Gospel of Jesus 
 Christ ; we have the great truth, that Jesus Christ 
 came into the world to save sinners ; we have the 
 great doctrine of the atonement to carry ! Allow 
 me to state, in reference to that great truth, that 
 I feel just exactly as did a celebrated infidel with 
 whom Dr. Philip was on one occasion arguing. 
 The infidel said, "Why, Dr. Philip, you do not 
 believe the doctrines you preach ; you professors 
 of Christianity do not believe what you profess." 
 " What do you mean ? " said the doctor. " If I 
 believed," replied the infidel, " that God had 
 given his Son to die for a wretched world, and 
 that, in order to our salvation, it was necessary 
 that this truth should be krxv/n, I wcvild go round 
 the world to tell it." Now we believe it, and 
 therefore we go round the world to tell it ; and 
 the great story which we have to tell is, " God so 
 loved the world, that whosoever believeth in him 
 should not perish, but have everlasting life." 
 
 My dear friends, the very first sermon I preached 
 in the native language was from this text, — " This 
 
REV. JOHN WILLIAMS. 95 
 
 is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, 
 that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sin- 
 ners." The last sermon I preached was from those 
 words, — " I determined not to know any thing 
 among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified." 
 It does appear to me, when I meditate upon 
 the wondrous scheme of human redemption, that 
 the great doctrine of the atonement is the most 
 powerful and wonderful of all the doctrines in all 
 the creeds of the human race. It appears to come 
 to a conscience tossed and agitated by conviction, 
 like the Saviour over the breakers to the sinking 
 apostle, giving safety and a calm ; and thus it 
 entwines itself around the tenderest, the best, and 
 dearest feelings of the human heart. In compari- 
 son with the great truth of salvation by the death 
 of Jesus Christ, the universe itself appears a bau- 
 ble. I love the doctrine ; and I determine never 
 to preach a sermon in any language, where the 
 great doctrine of salvation through the blood of 
 Christ is not the sum and substance of that ser- 
 mon. We think that this is a truth worth carry- 
 ing round the world : it is the soul of religious 
 effort. 
 
 The encourageinents we have to proceed in the 
 work. 
 
 The encouragements are numerous ; but I shall 
 not trespass at great length by alluding to them. 
 I wish, however, to show you the effects produced 
 on the mind of the heathen by preaching the great 
 doctrine of salvation through faith in the blood of 
 Jesus Christ. I shall take an illustration from 
 the beautiful letter of the excellent captain to 
 whom I have already alluded : — 
 
96 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 " I then visited the chief Kaperlani, who re- 
 ceived me with great kindness, and much defer- 
 ence also, for they have a high opinion of the 
 English ; and in the afternoon she consented to 
 come on board the ship, where she dined with me ; 
 but previously to that part of her visit, she held 
 a most interesting conversation with me, by means 
 of a very intelligent interpreter, a native, who had 
 been educated in the United States. She inquired 
 particularly my views and feelings on our mutual 
 religion, — how it was that I did not adhere to the 
 same forms, and follow the same abstinences with 
 the missionaries ; and when I showed her, in my 
 Mant's Bible, the picture of taking Jesus down 
 from the cross, and told her that there had been 
 accomplished our ransom by him, who said, 
 through his prophets, " Look unto me, and be ye 
 saved, all ye ends of the earth ;" that, while such 
 was our belief, and while our faith rested on that 
 great Redeemer, she, and I, and all the Christian 
 world, were pushing forward to the same ' mark of 
 the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus,' and 
 that those who come to him he would in nowise 
 cast out. On this, she and the interpreter both 
 burst into tears ; she pressed my hand warmly, 
 and merely remarked, that though she had seen 
 many foreign captains, I was the first who had 
 ever shown her a Bible. May the glory be to 
 God, to whom it is due ! This was a scene which, 
 I think, was worth a life-time to have witnessed, 
 Kaperlani had been born a savage, educated a 
 heathen, converted to Christianity, and is now a 
 burning and a shining light." 
 
 This, beloved brethren, is what the Gospel can 
 
REV. JOHN WILLIAMS. 97 
 
 do ; and we trust that the same mighty effects 
 which have been already produced in many islands 
 will be produced in many more. 
 
 Then, as to the encouragements, we have the 
 blessing of God that has already crowned our la- 
 bours. We know that in past days multitudes 
 have been converted by the Gospel, and I rejoice 
 in this consideration. 
 
 Another encouragement arises from the interest 
 which has been excited in our own beloved coun- 
 try to the missionary cause generally, and in re- 
 ference to this expedition in particular. Allusion 
 has been made this evening to many of our nobility 
 who afforded such kind and liberal aid. I shall 
 not violate the rules of propriety by giving you 
 one or two extracts from letters which I have re- 
 ceived. I have permission, from several distin- 
 guished noblemen, to use their names and com- 
 munications on any occasion when the cause of 
 Christ can thereby be promoted. His Grace the 
 Duke of Devonshire was the first nobleman who 
 expressed his good feeling to the cause in which 
 we are engaged, and testified that feeling by a 
 most liberal donation ; and every friend of mis- 
 sions owes a debt of gratitude to that enlightened 
 and benevolent nobleman. Among others, I may 
 mention the Duke of Northumberland, and Her 
 Grace the Duchess. From the Right Honour- 
 able Earl Fitzwilliam a most munificent dona- 
 tion was received. I addressed a letter to his 
 lordship, accompanying one of the Narratives ; a 
 short time after which I received a truly kind let- 
 ter, which I think is too good to be buried in 
 oblivion. His lordship says, " A few days before 
 I left Wentworth, Joseph Cooper placed in my 
 9 
 
9S 
 
 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 hands the volume which you have had the kindness 
 to send me through him." [This very Mr. Cooper, 
 who is the earl's head gardiner, was a missionary 
 in the ship Duff, when she was taken.] " I use 
 the word kindness not as a mere formal expres- 
 sion, but as the term which will afford you the 
 best clue to the feelings with which I am now ani- 
 mated towards the person who presented me with 
 so valuable a gift. Were I to express how much 
 I admire your book, you would think me guilty 
 of flattery ; but I should be equally guilty in con- 
 cealing the truth, were I to disguise from you the 
 intense interest with which I read it. I hope that 
 what you say about being on the eve of your de- 
 parture is not so literally true as to prevent you 
 receiving this letter, one object of which is to 
 thank you ; but of which another is, to make some 
 further inquiry, and to obtain some further inform- 
 ation relative to the missions. I wish to know 
 how many there are, — what are the sects by which 
 they are respectively maintained, — whether they 
 have common or separate funds, — whether the 
 missionaries are ordained, or laymen, or both, — 
 what is the amount of annual expenditure, — what 
 permanent provision there is for their mainte- 
 nance." 
 
 These are the important questions put to me by 
 this enlightened nobleman. I answered the letter 
 as briefly as possible, but the questions were so 
 important that I could not condense my reply into 
 a small compass. I told his lordship the sects by 
 which the missionaries were maintained, and took 
 an opportunity of speaking of the labours of the 
 Church Missionary Society in New Zealand, and 
 of those of the Wesleyan Missionary Society at 
 
REV. JOHN WILLIAMS. 99 
 
 the Friendly Islands. And with respect to the per- 
 manent provision for the maintenance of the mis- 
 sions, I informed his lordship that the hold the 
 cause of missions had upon the hearts and affec- 
 tions of the enlightened, pious, and benevolent 
 portion of British Christians, was the only perma- 
 nent source the missionary cause had for its sup- 
 port. The result of this communication was, a 
 request that I would wait upon his lordship. I 
 did so, and after about two hours' conversation, I 
 was requested to call at his lordship's bankers. On 
 arriving there I had the delightful satisfaction of 
 finding that this enlightened and benevolent noble 
 man had devoted 300/. to the cause of Christ ; 
 and the manner in which it was appropriated was 
 particularly gratifying to me. Towards the pur- 
 chase and equipment of the ship, 150/. ; for the 
 general objects of the London Missionary Society, 
 50/. ; for the general objects of the Church Mis- 
 sionary Society, 50/. ; and for the general objects 
 of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, 50/. I was 
 much delighted with the manner in which the 
 money was appropriated. I do trust that the time 
 is fast approaching when the wish expressed by 
 the excellent Earl of Chichester will be realized. 
 I am sure you will sympathize with that truly ex- 
 cellent nobleman in the sentiments that are ex- 
 pressed in this beautiful letter. Every sentiment 
 it contains is worthy of the enlightened and pious 
 mind that expresses them. 
 
 " My dear Sir, — T beg to return you my most 
 grateful thanks for your valuable work upon Chris- 
 tian missions, to the perusal of which I am look- 
 ing forward with deep interest. 
 
 " Having now for some years had the privilege 
 of being connected, however unworthily, with se- 
 
100 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 veral of our missionary societies, I have learned 
 to feel with you the permanent claims of such a 
 cause upon the hearts and energies of a Christian 
 and highly-favoured people. Indeed, I often feel 
 astonished at the forbearance and abounding mercy 
 of our gracious God in continuing to us our many 
 national blessings, while we do so little in that 
 glorious work so obviously assigned to us. The 
 honourable post which you have occupied in our 
 missionary operations, must make you feel more 
 deeply, because more experimentally, our national 
 delinquency ; and therefore I rejoice to inform you 
 that, however inadequate, there is a rapidly in- 
 creasing interest in the holy cause, amongst the 
 nobility of our land ; a fact which is clearly proved 
 by the last ten years' Reports of the Church of 
 England Missionary Institutions. 
 
 " Though the aristocracy of this country are, I 
 believe, without exception, members of the Estab- 
 lished Church, there are instances of not a few of 
 them liberally contributing to the missionary ef- 
 forts of other Christians ; and, for my part, I can 
 truly say, that notwithstanding those predilections 
 and attachments to which I yet adhere, I feel con- 
 vinced that, in contemplating with due affection 
 the great work of preaching the Gospel to the 
 heathen, we must merge all minor differences in 
 one united stream of loyalty and love to our 
 blessed Redeemer. It is my earnest prayer, as I 
 am sure it must be yours, that God would shed 
 abroad more of this constraining and cementing 
 love upon the now discordant members of his 
 church in our dear country. 
 
 " However distant may be the time of this 
 happy consummation, it is comforting to believe 
 that every fresh missionary who leaves our shores 
 
REV. JOHN WILLIAMS. 101 
 
 carries with him the prayers of a daily increasing 
 family before the throne of God. 
 " I am, my dear Sir, 
 " With, the most sincere respect and Christian love, 
 
 " Faithfully yours, 
 
 " Chichester." 
 I have others which are equally interesting, from 
 other distinguished individuals. I am sure that 
 all of you who know me will believe that I do not 
 mention these circumstances merely to let it be 
 known that I have been thus honoured by indivi- 
 duals of distinction. I should regard myself as 
 unworthy of your esteem, if I had such an object 
 in view. I mention them to show that God has 
 excited an interest in this holy cause, and that we 
 may receive it as an earnest of good ; for if the 
 Lord had not intended to bless us, " He would 
 not have shown us all these things, nor would, as 
 at this time, have told us such things as these." 
 This interest, however, has not been confined to 
 the great and noble of our country. I think that 
 the document granting the 500Z., drawn up by a 
 Committee of the Court of Common Council, and 
 presented to the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Com- 
 mon Council, is a document of the greatest im- 
 portance. There are some delightful expressions 
 in it. I was gratified to hear the missionary cause 
 advocated in Guildhall, with as much eloquence 
 and energy as I ever heard it advocated in Exeter 
 Hall itself. Allusion has been made to the sub- 
 ject of my petition and address. In them I con- 
 fined myself strictly to the national benefits and 
 commercial advantages resulting from the labours 
 in which we are engaged. Upon these grounds 
 the appeal was made to the enlightened Court of 
 9* 
 
102 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 the City of London, and it was responded to in 
 the way that you have heard this evening ; and I 
 have reason to think that the grant was almost 
 unanimous. There were nearly 300 Common 
 Councilmen present, and, I believe, only three 
 hands were held up against the resolution, when 
 it was proposed to vote 500Z. towards the great 
 expedition upon which we are now embarking. 
 All these circumstances are so many sources of 
 encouragement.* 
 
 We believe, Christian friends, that the interest 
 has not been confined to our own denomination. 
 At Birmingham, a gentleman, a perfect stranger 
 to me, begged to be introduced to me. After a 
 little conversation, he said, that he and his family 
 had just been reading " The Missionary Enter- 
 prises," and hearing that I was about to preach in 
 Birmingham, he was desirous of being present. 
 In the morning I preached to a crowded congre- 
 gregation in the chapel of Mr. James. At the con- 
 elusion of the sermon, I told the friends that we 
 should be glad to receive contributions, although 
 we were not in want of much money. This gen- 
 tleman said, that having heard me make use of 
 that expression, he had only brought fifty pounds, 
 but if two or three hundred pounds were required, 
 he should feel pleasure in devoting it to such a 
 purpose. I thanked him for his kindness, and 
 told him that we did not require so much at pre- 
 sent. He brought me the other fifty pounds, and 
 said, that if in a year or two we required assist- 
 ance, I had only to write home, and he would 
 
 * A copy of the document which accompanied the grant 
 is given at the close of this volume. 
 
REV. JOHN WILLIAMS. 103 
 
 place that sum at my disposal, or more if required. 
 Among the tradesmen, also, who have been en- 
 gaged in fitting out the vessel, the same delight- 
 ful feeling has been displayed. Our highly es- 
 teemed friend, Joseph Fletcher, Esq., does not 
 wish his name to be mentioned ; but there is a 
 command, to " let your light shine before men, 
 that others seeing your good works, may glorify 
 your Father which is in heaven." This command 
 must be put in juxtaposition with another, " Let 
 not your right hand know what your left hand 
 doeth," and therefore I shall be pardoned for what 
 I am stating. After Mr. Fletcher had put the 
 vessel in thorough order, and rendered her in 
 every way sea-worthy, instead of sending us in a 
 bill for 400/., he addressed, to the Directors of 
 the London Missionary Society, a Christian let- 
 ter, stating, that he felt gratitude to God that 
 he was able to give such a donation to such a 
 cause. Then, again, a pilot, a perfect stranger, 
 came and solicited the privilege of gratuitously 
 piloting the vessel from London, which would 
 have cost us, perhaps, 20Z. or 25Z. The indivi- 
 dual who supplies ships with filtered water has 
 filled our casks with upwards of twenty tons ; 
 and instead of receiving payment, which would, 
 perhaps, have been forty or fifty shillings, on being 
 asked the amount, his reply was, " I know what 
 this ship is going for, and I too will have the plea- 
 sure of giving a cup of cold water." 
 
 All these circumstances are so many stimulants 
 to confidence, and they afford hope and belief that 
 God will graciously smile upon an enterprise in 
 which so much holy, elevated, and benevolent 
 feeling is displayed. I should not be doing justice 
 
104 
 
 ADDRESS BY THE 
 
 to other tradesmen if I did not say, that I believe 
 that almost every one of them has given the whole 
 or a large portion of his profits to the enterprise. 
 These are all interesting circumstances, inspiring 
 us with confidence, in going out on this expe- 
 dition of mercy. 
 
 Other encouragements present themselves, to 
 which allusion has been made. Can I forget the 
 gracious promise, " Lo, I am with you always, 
 even to the end of the world !" We have already 
 had a fulfilment of that promise. Reference has 
 been made to the difficulties to be overcome, but 
 I trust we shall all rejoice if we are counted 
 worthy to suffer for the name of Christ. 
 
 Another source of encouragement is, the as- 
 surance that we have had this night of your 
 prayers, your continued, your fervent prayers on 
 our behalf. This mission exists in answer to 
 prayer. You are aware that it was about to be 
 given up, but your own beloved pastor, the late 
 excellent Matthew Wilks, and the late Rev. Dr. 
 Haweis, opposed it. Good Mr. Wilks said, " No, 
 don't let us give up the mission, but let us pray 
 for it." A season for special prayer was set apart ; 
 and while Christians were praying at home, God 
 was answering their prayers abroad ; while they 
 were in the very act of prayer, the demolition of 
 idols, and of idol temples, was going on in the 
 islands of the Pacific. What a proof that " the 
 fervent effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth 
 much !" 
 
 And now, my dear friends, by way of conclu- 
 sion, allow me to say, that I receive the pledge 
 of your affection with feelings of lively gratitude. 
 I do trust that God will graciously preserve us. 
 
REV. JOHN WILLIAMS, 105 
 
 I am sensible of the solemn responsibility which 
 rests upon us. All that was said by Mr. Camp- 
 bell this evening tends to overpower the mind. 
 If God has thus raised me up, has thus qualified 
 and employed me in this great work, I perceive the 
 weight of responsibility is thereby greatly increased. 
 If the expedition should fail from any want of 
 fidelity, from any want of judgment on my part, 
 I see what an injury would be done to the cause 
 of missions at large. And, therefore, I rely with 
 confidence upon your assurance, that you will not 
 forget to pray for us. Moses prevailed only 
 when his hands were held up. It is only as you 
 pray for us that we can expect to succeed. Fulfil 
 your kind assurance. I trust that the confidence 
 which you have been pleased this evening to 
 express, will never, never be betrayed by me. 
 Whatever infirmities may attend me, I do feel 
 this, that my integrity will I hold fast. I have 
 but one object in view, and that is to carry the 
 knowledge of Jesus Christ to those who are 
 perishing for lack of that knowledge. This is my 
 sole, my simple object. I can with confidence 
 unite with you, in supplicating that God's blessing 
 may rest upon us. I cannot do better than con- 
 clude with the prayer of one of the natives, on 
 the day that we embarked from that island, " Oh 
 Lord, tell the winds about them, that they may 
 not blow fiercely upon them ; command the ocean 
 concerning them, that it may not swallow them 
 up ; conduct them safely to a far distant country, 
 and give them a happy meeting with long lost 
 relatives, and bring them back again to us. But 
 if we should never meet again around the throne 
 of grace below, may we all meet around the 
 throne of glory above. Amen, and Amen." 
 
HYMN. 
 
 I will publish the name of the Lord. — Deut. xxxiii. 3. 
 
 Farewell to my country and home, 
 
 Friends, parents, and relatives dear; 
 Across where the huge billows foam 
 
 I go, — yet a stranger to fear, 
 To publish the Lamb that was slain. 
 
 Who shed for lost sinners his blood ; 
 I brave all the storms of the main. 
 
 And smile at the loud roaring flood. 
 
 Shall I count viy life dear to do this, 
 
 Reap infinite gain by its loss ? 
 No I — be it my glory and bliss 
 
 To count all tilings else but as dross. — 
 Oh, weep not ! but dry up your tears, 
 
 Let gladness spring up in your heart ; 
 And rather than brood o'er your fears, 
 
 Rejoice to behold me depart. 
 
 Ere long shall the day-star arise. 
 
 And righteousness cover the earth ; 
 For Jesus will open the eyes 
 
 Of those who were blind from their birth : 
 The East her hosannas shall raise, 
 
 The South will re-echo the song ; 
 And the West and the North, the loud praise 
 
 Of Jesus's love shall prolong. 
 
 Thus, though in a life-wasting clime. 
 
 My days I am destined to spend ; 
 And pass the short course of my time, 
 
 Far distant from country and friend : 
 For the sake of the Lord 1 will go. 
 
 And be spent in declaring his love ; 
 Who long can preserve me below. 
 
 Or take me to triumph above. 
 
COMMENDATORY PRAYER, 
 
 BY THE 
 
 REV. GEORGE CLAYTON. 
 
 Thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, we 
 adore thee as the Creator, the Redeemer, the 
 Ruler of our world ; the only true God ; the 
 source of all blessedness, the centre of all happi- 
 ness. The gods of the heathen are vanities, but 
 the Lord made the heavens. Help us to adore 
 thee as the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the 
 only wise God ; and to rejoice in the declaration, 
 that all nations whom thou hast made, shall come 
 to worship before thee, Lord, and to glorify thy 
 holy name. Pour out thy Spirit upon this con- 
 gregation, at the present moment, as a Spirit of 
 grace and supplication. Teach us to pray in 
 faith, with earnestness, with perseverance, and in 
 a spirit determined to take no denial ; to pray in 
 the spirit of the ancient patriarch, who said, " I 
 will not let thee go except thou bless me." Bring 
 the many hearts in this assembly to be as the heart 
 of one man. May we feel that the kingdom of 
 heaven suffereth violence, and that the violent 
 take it by force. We would give thee no rest, O 
 thou King of Zion, till thou makest Jerusalem 
 the praise of the whole earth. 
 
 We tender to thee, Lord, our united thanks 
 
108 COMMENDATORY PRAYER BY THE 
 
 for those Gospel privileges which we have long 
 had the happiness to enjoy. We grieve to think 
 that we have valued them so disproportionately, 
 and improved them to comparatively so little 
 advantage. Truly we are unprofitable servants, 
 and we take shame to ourselves, that highly- 
 favoured as we have been, we have fallen far 
 below our manifold privileges and blessings. 
 God, forgive us ! wash us all in that precious 
 blood which cleanseth from all sin ; and truly 
 repenting of our past indifference and neglect, 
 may we be enabled more anxiously to strive for 
 the universal extension of Gospel blessings to 
 those who are ready to perish. Pity, God, 
 the multitudes of the heathen, who are still sitting 
 in darkness, and in the shadow of death. Say to 
 the benighted world, " Arise ! shine ! for thy 
 light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen 
 upon thee." 
 
 We most earnestly beg thee to bless all mis- 
 sionary societies, formed on the principles of thy 
 Holy Word, and designed for the simple object of 
 the conversion of the Heathen. We would be in 
 sympathy with our brethren of the Church Mis- 
 sionary Society, our brethren of the Baptist Mis- 
 sionary Society, our brethren of the Moravian 
 Missionary Society, and our brethren of the W^es- 
 leyan Missionary Society. We pray that all the 
 agencies which are now in operation may be in- 
 creased in a ten-fold degree, and accompanied with 
 that blessing of God which alone can give the in- 
 crease. Send by whom thou wilt send, only let 
 the light of the knowledge of thy glory cover the 
 earth, as the waters cover the face of the mighty 
 deep. 
 
REV. GEORGE CLAYTON. 109 
 
 More especially we commend to thee that Insti- 
 tution which has so large a share in our affections, 
 whose interests have brought us together this 
 night, and to which we wish all prosperity in the 
 name of the Lord. We pray for those who have 
 the direction of its affairs, that wisdom may be 
 given to those from above ; that they may ever 
 adopt such measures as are best, and pursue 
 those measures in the true spirit of Christian love ; 
 that they may purchase to themselves a good de- 
 gree and great boldness in the faith that is in 
 Christ Jesus. We beseech thee to bless the Mis- 
 sionaries employed by this Society in the various 
 stations which they may occupy ; that they may 
 be strengthened, encouraged, and blessed ; that 
 they may have reason to say, " Now thanks be 
 unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in 
 Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his 
 knowledge by us in every place!" We beseech 
 thee, Lord, to take under especial protection 
 our dear younger brethren, who are shortly to 
 quit their native shores, to embark on the mighty 
 deep, to set sail for the place of their destination, 
 and to engage in their important labours. We 
 now, solemnly and affectionately, and with hearts 
 full of Christian sympathy, commend them to the 
 grace of God the Father, God the Son, and God 
 the Holy Ghost ; entreating thee, as the One God, 
 our Father, to throw over them the shield of thy 
 protection — to preserve them in health — to watch 
 over their precious lives — to defend them from all 
 the dangers of the deep, and the mischiefs of the 
 land. We beseech thee that they may have a safe 
 and cordial reception amongst the inhabitants of 
 the South Seas, and that no manner of encourage- 
 10 
 
110 COMMENDATORY PRAYER BY THE 
 
 ment may be wanting to them ; that their success 
 in preaching thy glorious Gospel may be fully com- 
 mensurate with the largest wishes of their en- 
 lightened and pious minds. Take both our male 
 and female friends into thine Almighty arms. 
 May they both be environed by the ample defence, 
 and may God, even their own God, give them his 
 blessing; pour upon them every spiritual gift, 
 every heavenly grace, and especially large com- 
 munications of the Holy Ghost, the enlightener, 
 the sanctifier, the comforter. May thy Spirit dwell 
 in them, and abide in them for ever. that they 
 may be the honoured instruments in turning many 
 to righteousness ; and when their work on earth 
 is finished, may they receive a crown which shall 
 never, never fade. Yea, let each one of them 
 shine as with the brightness of the firmament, and 
 as the stars, for ever and ever. We pray that 
 when absent from our sight, they may always be 
 borne upon our hearts ; may we take them with 
 us into our closets, to our family altars, and to the 
 public services of the sanctuary ; and may they 
 ever feel that they are remembered, where remem- 
 brance is most effectual, by their Christian bre- 
 thren in this Christian land. 
 
 . And now. Lord, we pray for our beloved and 
 honoured brother, to whom is confided the direc- 
 tion of this important mission. We have heard 
 from his own lips the object which he proposes, 
 the means by which that object is to be promoted, 
 and the encouragements under the influence of 
 which he and his companions are going back. 
 Bless him in his own person. Bless his dear wife 
 and true yokefellow, his assistant and fellow- 
 labourer in the kingdom and patience of Christ. 
 
REV. GEORGE CLAYTON. Ill 
 
 Long spare them to the Church ; long spare them 
 to each other ; long spare them to their interest- 
 ing family ; and long spare them to the heathen 
 they are about to visit. We beseech thee, O God, 
 to shield them by thy protection, to sustain them 
 by the consolations of thy Gospel, to preserve their 
 minds in delightful tranquillity, and in uninter- 
 rupted calmness. Whatever storms assail them 
 from without, may there always be serenity within 
 — that peace which passeth all understanding. 
 We beseech thee to give to thy dear servant, our 
 brother, a continual supply of the Spirit of Christ, 
 that he may be enabled to pursue his course, as 
 he has commenced and continued it, humbly, 
 wisely, uprightly, zealously, and faithfully ; and 
 may many, many years of abounding usefulness 
 be added to the days of his life. If he, or any 
 dear to him, should be called into the eternal state 
 by some unforeseen dispensation of Providence — 
 if we are now beholding him for the last time upon 
 earth — if we shall see his face no more, be with 
 him in the last conflict, and comfort him on every 
 side ! Refresh him with the foretaste of glory. 
 Peaceful be his dismission — instant his glorifica- 
 tion ! Absent from the body, may he be present 
 with the Lord, and be welcomed on the shores of 
 a blessed eternity by not a few who will have to 
 attribute their eternal felicity to his pious solici- 
 tude and missionary zeal. We most earnestly beg 
 of thee, Lord, to give him strength according to 
 his day ; make him wise in counsel, vifjorous in 
 action, happy in his work ; and crown the labours 
 of time with the distinctions and joys of eternity. 
 O Lord, we thank thee for what thou hast effected 
 by him during his temporary sojourn among us. 
 
112 COMMENDATORY PRAYER BY THE 
 
 He goes with our best wishes, and with the most 
 fervent implorings of our tender sympathy ; and 
 we ask thee, God, to hft up the hght of thy 
 countenance upon him, and to give him peace. 
 O, let the cry of the many thousands of our Israel 
 prevail in his behalf! We should commend to 
 thee, Lord, in an especial manner, the mission- 
 ary ship — the fruit of Christian benevolence and 
 kindness. Take the vessel, we beseech thee, un- 
 der thine especial management. Be thou her pilot 
 likewise. Give thy winds and thy waves charge 
 concerning her ; let no untoward occurrence — let 
 no imbittering circumstance arise, by which the 
 glorious prospects now unfolded to our view may 
 be overcast and beclouded ; but, as thou hast 
 begun to show thy servants thy power and might 
 help them forward, Lord ; and continue to be 
 gracious to us in this work, and accomplish even 
 infinitely more than we can either ask or think. 
 
 We pray for the British churches. We ask that 
 the spirit of missionary zeal and love may prevail 
 and abound in the midst of them. We pray for 
 the pastors of these churches, and those of thy 
 ministering servants who are now present. May 
 God bless them, and make them a blessing ; enable 
 them to be faithful unto death, that they may re- 
 ceive a crown of life. We pray for the rising 
 generation in our respective congregations. Feeling 
 that we cannot continue by reason of death — 
 conscious that graves may already be prepared for 
 us — we would ask for the outpouring of the Holy 
 Spirit upon the young now present, that they may 
 rise up as a body of witnesses for God ; and that 
 instead of the fathers may the children, whom 
 thou wilt make princes in all the earth ; who shall 
 
REV. GEORGE CLAYTON. 113 
 
 bear the sacred ark of the covenant till all nations 
 shall see the light of thy salvation, and glorify thy 
 holy name. 
 
 We beseech thee, Lord, to regard our beloved 
 country. We commend to thee her Britannic Ma- 
 jesty, and earnestly pray that wherever the influ- 
 €nce of her sceptre is felt, that influence may be 
 rendered subservient to the promotion of the glo- 
 rious Gospel of the ever blessed God. Favour 
 her with long life and a prosperous reign ; may 
 she be taught, in the knowledge and fear of God, 
 to rule over an enlightened, a free, a prosperous 
 people ; and let all the resources of the empire, 
 and the prosperity arising from our commercial 
 advantages, be consecrated to the Lord of the 
 whole earth. 
 
 If there be any in this assembly who meet upon 
 this never-to-be-forgotten occasion, who are stran- 
 gers to the light, life, and power of our holy reli- 
 gion, we earnestly pray that this may be the set 
 time to favour them. Call them out of the con- 
 gregation of the dead, and place them among the 
 living in Jerusalem. If there be an unconverted 
 sinner under this roof, let angels have to rejoice in 
 the glad tidings of the conversion of that sinner. 
 O forbid that while we are sending the Gospel to 
 the heathen, we should neglect the Gospel our- 
 selves. that we may not trifle away the day of 
 salvation, nor fail to seek the Lord while he may 
 be found, to call upon him while he is near. Never 
 let it be the regret of any one present, " I shall 
 see him, but not now ; I shall behold him, but 
 not nigh !" " The harvest is past, the summer is 
 €nded, and we are not saved." save us. Lord, 
 we pray thee, in our Lord Jesus Christ, with an 
 10* 
 
114 COMMENDATORY PRAYER, ETC. 
 
 everlasting salvation. Remember us with the 
 favour which thou bearest towards thy people, 
 that we may see the good of thy chosBn, that we 
 may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that we 
 also may glory with thine inheritance. 
 
 Forgive all the sins thou hast seen in us since 
 we met upon this occasion ; cast the mantle of 
 Divine forgiveness over all our blemishes, spots, 
 and defects, and may we obtain acceptance through 
 the merits of thine own eternal Son. 
 
 Once more we commend to thee our honoured 
 brethren and companions in the work of the Lord. 
 We commend them to God and to the word of his 
 grace, which is able to build them up, and to give 
 them an inheritance among them which are sancti- 
 fied. And now unto Him that is able to keep us 
 from falling, and to present us faultless before the 
 presence of his glory with exceeding joy ; to the 
 only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, 
 dominion and power, both now and ever. 
 
 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. 
 
HYMN. 
 
 Finally, brethren, fareivelL— 2 Cor. xiii. 11. 
 
 Obedient to ihy great command, 
 
 Constrain'd thy love to tell, 
 Great Lord, thy servants leave their land, 
 
 And bid their friends Fareiodl ! 
 
 Yes, friends, however dear and kind, 
 
 Whose very look dispel 
 The gloomy sorrows of the mind. 
 
 We now must say, Farewell ! 
 
 Ye fellow-sojourners, with whom 
 
 In heaven we hope to dwell ; 
 To meet again beyond the tomb. 
 
 But now we say, Farewell! 
 
 Though called awhile the cross to bear, 
 Though sighs the bosom swell, 
 
 Jesus will soon remove the tear, 
 In heaven there's no Farewell ! 
 
 We soon, for nobler joys divine. 
 
 Shall quit earth's lonely cell, 
 With all the chosen tribes to join ; 
 
 And no more say. Farewell ! 
 
 With strength proportion'd to our day. 
 
 May we each fear repel ; 
 'Tis Jesus calls, we must obey. 
 
 Farewell, dear friends, Farewell ! 
 
NARRATIVE OF THE EXCURSION 
 
 TO 
 
 THE MISSIONARY SHIP, 
 
 AND SUBSEQUENT EVENTS, 
 BY THE 
 
 REY. J. CAMPBELL. 
 
 The Directors having announced that the 
 Missionary Ship, Camden^ was in the West India 
 export Dock, and that, during a given period, she 
 might be viewed by the Christian public, immense 
 throngs daily availed themselves of the opportu- 
 nity of inspecting her. The degree of interest she 
 excited will not easily be conceived by those who 
 were not present. If one day might be taken as 
 a sample of the rest, she resembled a Thames 
 steamer in the height of the season. Numbers 
 clustered on the pier ; the deck was densely 
 crowded ; and below she was, at times, so 
 thronged with living beings, that small and great 
 were literally wedged together, and could neither 
 get up nor down, backwards nor forwards. It 
 was only after long waiting and much difficulty 
 that one could obtain a very imperfect view of her 
 interior ; and happy were they who could find or 
 force a passage to the principal cabin, on the table 
 
EXCURSION TO THE SHIP. 
 
 117 
 
 of which lay a book for the msertion of the names 
 of visitors. Such seems to have been the daily- 
 state of things, during most of the period she lay 
 in the dock ; and it deserves to be remembered 
 that curiosity could not be gratified by a majority 
 of the visitors on very easy terms. So distant 
 are the docks from the City, and especially from 
 the suburbs of the north, south, and west, that 
 multitudes must have performed a journey, back- 
 wards and forwards, of not less than fourteen or 
 fifteen miles. When all was ready, the vessel left 
 the docks on the afternoon of Monday, the 9th 
 current, and was towed by a steamer down the 
 river, a short distance beyond Gravesend, where 
 she anchored, and on the following day received 
 on board her live stock and other provisions. 
 
 That the honour due to Mr. Williams might be 
 paid by those who love him, as well for his own 
 sake as for that of the glorious work to which he 
 is devoted, the Directors engaged the steam-vessel, 
 *' City of Canterbury ^''^ that they with their friends 
 might accompany him and his fellow-missionaries 
 from London to Gravesend, to the ship. A com- 
 mittee of Directors were appointed to manage all 
 matters relating to the vessel. To them belonged 
 the arrangements of the day, which must have 
 been well considered and matured, for event suc- 
 ceeded to event, as duly and effectively as the 
 most refined lover of order could have desired. 
 The company were admitted by tickets. Each 
 Director, lay and clerical, received four, for which 
 they paid two guineas. One of these entitled the 
 possessor to dinner and tea, and a free passage up 
 and down the river. About 370 were issued, and 
 a considerable number were giv^tuilously dis- 
 
118 EXCURSION TO THE 
 
 tributed among missionaries and their families, 
 missionary students and schoolmasters, and func- 
 tionaries connected with the Mission House. 
 The number on board was by no means uncom- 
 fortably great, and yet sufficiently large for both 
 private and public objects, for the gratification of 
 friendship, and the operation of sympathy. 
 
 Ten o'clock on the forenoon of Wednesday, 
 April 11, 1838, was the hour fixed for leaving 
 the Steam-wharf, London-bridge. At that time, 
 accordingly, the Directors, the rest of the com- 
 pany, the Rev. J. Williams, and the other mis- 
 sionaries to the South Seas, went on board. An 
 hour before this, however, every spot from which 
 a view of the steamer could be obtained, was 
 occupied and crowded by a highly respectable 
 assemblage of both sexes and of all ages, eager to 
 obtain a last look at the honoured missionary, to 
 testify their respect for him and for his company, 
 to evince their sympathy with his objects, and 
 once more to " bid him God-speed." The wea- 
 ther — since so stormy — on that morning was un- 
 usually fine ; the very heavens seemed to smile 
 on the enterprise. Seldom, indeed, has June or 
 July beheld a day of greater beauty or brighter 
 sunshine. The warmth was all but oppressive. 
 At mid-day it was so intense that the sea-breeze 
 was felt to be refreshing. This happy temperature 
 cheered the heart, and gave a tone of buoyancy 
 to the spirits. Every thing on the river and its 
 banks wore a joyous and holiday appearance, while, 
 on board, gladness sat on every countenance, and 
 the language of all hearts seemed to be, " it is 
 good to be here." 
 
 Five minutes before ten the bell began to ring, 
 
MISSIONARY SHIP. 119 
 
 and to announce that the hour of departure had 
 arrived. Considerable emotion was now manifest, 
 and many an eye was dimmed by the starting 
 tear. The hour strikes, and the bell ceases. A 
 silence almost awful now ensues, disturbed only 
 by the fierce hiss of the steam, and the incipient 
 motion of the machinery. The signal is given, 
 and the engines slowly begin to revolve, and the 
 vessel moves. At this moment Mr. Williams 
 ascends the platform which connects the paddle- 
 boxes, and is cordially cheered by his friends on 
 the shore, the ladies waving their handkerchiefs. 
 He continued bowing to their repeated plaudits, 
 until the vessel had reached some distance, and 
 became shrouded by the shipping on the river. 
 
 Now separated from the distracting influence of 
 the numerous spectators on the shore and the 
 bridge, the company began to assume a more 
 social aspect, and to recognize each other : all 
 over the vessel were to be seen greetings and cor- 
 dial salutations. The company, as a whole, wor- 
 thily represented the admirable, the truly liberal, 
 and most unsectarian Society to which it stood 
 related. There were present a large proportion of 
 the London dissenting ministers, among whom 
 were the Rev. Drs. Henderson, Halley, Bennett, 
 Fletcher, and Morrison, Messrs. Jackson, Lewis, 
 Blackburn, Dobson, Gilbert, Yockney, Burnet, 
 Tidman ; and it was understood that urgent en- 
 gagements alone prevented the attendance of cer- 
 tain other well known and much respected names. 
 From the Mission House were the Rev. Secre- 
 taries, Messrsc Arundel and Ellis, W. Campbell, 
 Medhurst, Crisp, and Knill, and other mission- 
 aries. The leading lay members of most of the 
 
320 EXCURSION TO THE 
 
 City churches connected with the Society, with 
 their ladies, and some with members of their 
 famihes, attended in full proportion to the pastors. 
 There were present also some of the country 
 Directors, among whom were the Rev. W. Jones, 
 of Bolton, and J. Clapham, Esq., of Leeds. It 
 will be obvious that a large number of the whole 
 company were known to each other, many of them 
 long and intimately ; a still larger number were 
 slightly acquainted, and many were introduced 
 to each other by mutual friends. Seldom, 
 indeed, in all respects, has such a company met 
 on the deck of a steamer. The feeling which 
 appeared to pervade the mass was not simply one 
 of polite civility, it was one of friendship, free and 
 cordial ; it was more, it was to a large extent the 
 " fellowship of the saints," the feeling of affec- 
 tionate brotherhood. Even among those who 
 had never beibre seen each other's faces, there 
 seemed to be a sort of mutual cordiality, and 
 general confidence. Sect and self were left upon 
 the shore, and " good will to men" was the ruling 
 passion. The bond of union was the spirit of the 
 gospel, under its most glorious aspect — the spirit 
 of missions ; while the general theme was Mr. 
 Williams, the Camden, and the South Seas. 
 
 Mr. Bateman and Mr. Burnet having been ap- 
 pointed by the " Ship Committee" to regulate the 
 business of the day, Mr. Burnet, when the ves- 
 sel was near to Erith, stood up to inform the peo- 
 ple that they would now have an opportunity of 
 bidding their friends farewell ! The Missionaries, 
 with their wives and children, were then seated at 
 the stern of the vessel : first, Mr. Williams, with 
 a lovely boy about four and a half years of age on 
 
MISSIONARY SHIP. 121 
 
 his knee, then Mrs. Williams, then the rest, with 
 Mr. John Williams and his wife. The whole com- 
 pany on board then proceeded to walk round the 
 stern, each person coming first into contact with 
 Mr. Willliams, at whose feet might be said to be 
 the " strait gate" of the procession : many, being 
 reluctant to utter the last word, stood lingering 
 and gazing on the manly and benevolent coun- 
 tenance of the departing evangelist, adding an- 
 other word, and yet another ! Had nature been 
 left to herself, the sun had gone down before the 
 last leave had been taken. Anticipating this, Mr. 
 Burnet and Mr. Bateman stood beside Mr. Wil- 
 liams, and allowing -a very brief space to each 
 adieu, urged the people on. This was a most 
 affecting scene. During the long time which it 
 occupied, conversation was in a great measure sus- 
 pended, whilst nearly the whole company, formed 
 into a lengthened column, advanced with an almost 
 imperceptible step to the trying spot. This was, 
 doubtless, a season of deep and solemn reflection 
 with the majority ; and, probably, many godly 
 people never before so fully entered into the force 
 of these words of the Apostle, '* And they all 
 wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him, 
 sorrowing most of all for the words which he 
 spake, that they should see his face no more^ and 
 they accompanied him unto the ship." — Acts xx. 
 37, 38. Observing the company, as they returned, 
 on the other side of the vessel, many a heart was 
 full and many a tear was shed. To not a few, 
 even should Mr. Williams return, it was unques- 
 tionably a last look, a long farewell ! They will 
 never, never more see his face on this side eternity ! 
 At this moment Mr. and Mrs. Williams, though 
 11 ^ 
 
122 EXCURSION TO THE 
 
 the principal, were not the sole cause of emotion ; 
 much respect and Christian affection were felt also 
 for their youthful companions, who were forsaking 
 all and going forth to the Gentiles. This was in- 
 deed with many an hour of deep parental self-ex- 
 amination, whether they could thus surrender their 
 children for God ; and, perhaps, with some of the 
 juniors, whether they could thus surrender them- 
 selves. The scene, taken as a whole, supplied to 
 the mind of believers abundant materials for pro- 
 fitable meditations. There was, however, in the 
 breasts of a number, a feeling of pain amounting 
 to anguish. Some were heard to say, they would 
 not for any consideration be present at a repetition 
 of the process. To a superficial observer, indeed, 
 this act of kindness might be viewed in the light 
 of an unintentional torture ; nor had such a view 
 been erroneous, if the influence of the step had 
 been confined to the passing hour ; but it is other- 
 wise. When the sorrow has terminated, and the 
 tears have been dried up, the moral impressions of 
 such a parting will, on both sides, be deep and per- 
 manent, strong and salutary. Such scenes as this 
 exhibit the missionary character in its own proper 
 aspect ; it is a rendering of honour to whom honour 
 is unquestionably due. Those men, and others like 
 them, are the noblest benefactors of their race, the 
 purest, the greatest philanthropists in the world ; 
 they sustain the closest resemblance to the spirit, 
 and procedure of the very Son of God himself; 
 their work is worthy of the best members of the 
 best families in the empire. This is an office 
 which imparts to rank more lustre than it can pos- 
 sibly derive from it. He is truly great, whatever 
 be his origin, who becomes a voluntary exile from 
 
MISSIONARY SHIP. 123 
 
 home and country, sacrificing all pleasures but the 
 pleasure of doing good to millions whom he never 
 saw, and from whom in this world he can derive 
 no compensation. This is glory — this is heroism ! 
 These are the men whose works will live in ages to 
 come, and whose names the lips of unborn genera- 
 tions will bless ! The Christian missionary, who 
 goes forth and charms wild and ferocious nations 
 into bands of brothers and families of peace ; who 
 teaches them to clothe their nakedness, to build 
 cities, to cultivate the soil, and practise the arts of 
 civilization ; who reduces their languages to a 
 written alphabet, controlling them by grammar, 
 and comprising them in dictionaries ; who estab- 
 lishes schools and introduces the sciences and lite- 
 rature of England ; who gives them the word of 
 God in their mother-tongue, the institutions of mar- 
 riage, of the Sabbath, of representative government, 
 and of Christianity ; the man who does this, well 
 merits the notice of nobles and the patronage of 
 kings. 
 
 It will one day be discovered that the friend of 
 missions is the friend of man ; and that missionary 
 institutions are the brightest ornaments of a 
 country. Let any candid person sit down and 
 carefully read Williams's " Missionary Enter- 
 prises," and then ascertain the names and the num- 
 bers of those who, during the last twenty years, 
 have obtained the honour of knighthood, and ex- 
 amine the meritorious grounds on which that hon- 
 our has been bestowed ; and we most confidently 
 predict, that such a man will not consider that the 
 royal prerogative would have been degraded had a 
 place among them been assigned to John Williams, 
 and that place the foremost ; he has, however, 
 
124 EXCURSION TO THE 
 
 not been without notice. We are devoutly thank- 
 ful for the favour which God has given him 
 in the eyes of the great, as much for their sakes as 
 for his, and that of his cause. The ecclesiastical 
 historians of future ages will record with approba- 
 tion King William's gracious permission to dedi- 
 cate to him the " Missionary Enterprises," when 
 many contemporary events shall have been for- 
 gotten. The last Sovereign of England received 
 the book ; who will say, that the present may not 
 one day receive the author ? 
 
 The demonstration of respect, confidence, and 
 esteem, that day given by the Directors, and the 
 Metropolitan Churches with their Pastors, must be 
 attended with great results upon the moral prin- 
 ciples and the missionary labours, not only of Mr. 
 Williams and his youthful associates, but also 
 upon those of the whole body of the South Sea 
 missionaries, and their brethren connected with the 
 same society all over the world ; they will feel 
 honoured in the honour then conferred upon 
 Mr. Williams, and encouraged in the encourage- 
 ment administered to him ; it is, moreover, a sign 
 to all faithful labourers abroad, that the churches 
 at home are increasingly sensible to the claims of 
 their character and work, and prepared to sustain 
 them by prayer and every proper means. 
 
 But to return. At this moment Mr. Williams 
 was a striking spectacle of real moral greatness. 
 On his right hand sat a beloved weeping sister ; 
 and on his left, a still more beloved weeping wife, 
 whose case constrained especial sympathy from 
 such as knew it. With a constitution apparently 
 broken, health but very imperfectly established, 
 spirits naturally far from high, leaving behind a 
 
MISSIONARY SHIP. 125 
 
 darling child and a venerated mother, whom it is 
 not probable she will ever see again, entering on 
 another long and perilous voyage, to encounter the 
 hardships and sufferings of a missionary life, with 
 the prospect of much absence on the part of her 
 huf^nd and not a little danger; so situated, she 
 might well be sad, and whose heart can withhold 
 sympathy ? Thus circumstanced, the veteran 
 missionary appeared to great advantage. There 
 he sits, with a countenance as placid and a heart 
 as tranquil, as those of the lovely little one on his 
 knee ! If aught disquieted him, it was from sym- 
 pathy with others rather than from any considera- 
 tions appertaining to himself It seemed as if his 
 feelings were much akin to those of the apostle, 
 when he said, " What mean ye to weep and to break 
 mine heart? for I am ready, not to be bound only, 
 but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the 
 Lord Jesus." — Acts xxi. 13. His was not the 
 composure of indifference, it was as far from that 
 as from levity — it was " the peace of God keeping 
 his heart and mind." Throughout the morning 
 he appeared to be in a very calm frame, but deeply 
 thoughtful ; he did not mix extensively with the 
 multitude, nor indulge in any protracted conversa- 
 tion. One might have said, " That man sighs for 
 solitude." He sat till the whole company had 
 passed, with a word, a wish, or a request, suited 
 to everybody. The missionaries and their wives 
 were affected variously. In the case of those who 
 had come from a distance, and already bid a last 
 adieu to father, mother, and friend, the " bitterness 
 of death was passed ;" a holy calm had succeeded 
 the first tempest of the soul, and they went through 
 11* 
 
126 EXCURSION TO THE 
 
 the parting scene with a solemn composure : such 
 as belonged to the city or its neighbourhood had 
 much more to endure ; it is nevertheless, but just 
 to say, that they sustained the trial in a very cre- 
 ditable manner. It was pleasing, amid all the 
 sadness, to look on Mr. John Williams, son G#the 
 missionary, who also returns with his honoured 
 father. He was all gladness and joy; it seemed 
 to John a day of jubilee ! to him the islands are 
 his mother country ; and it is understood that 
 England, with all her glories, had never the same 
 charms for him as his beloved native isle. It will 
 be gratifying to the thousand friends, thrice told, of 
 his father, to hear that this amiable young man 
 returns to promote the arts and commerce among 
 the islands, and that he has been assiduously 
 qualifying himself for this work during his resi- 
 dence in England. His youthful companion, who 
 is reported to be every way worthy of him, and 
 admirably adapted to the station which Providence 
 has assigned her, and instrumentally calcutated to 
 be very extensively useful, seemed to participate 
 in the jubilant feelings of her husband, and to 
 look on leaving the land of her birth as no serious 
 hardship. 
 
 When the Farewell was over, the missionaries 
 and their personal friends went down into the after 
 cabin to dine. Now succeeded a brief pause, and 
 a season of reflection. Attention was soon called 
 on the part of numbers to an incident which ex- 
 cited much interest. It was known by a number 
 that Mr. Williams's little son Samuel, a lad about 
 12 or 13 years of age, was to be left behind; his 
 attachment to his parents was unusually ardent, 
 
MISSIONARY SHIP. 127 
 
 and the parting was dreaded. At his request, his 
 father, on the morning of embarkation, wrote in 
 his album the following letter : — 
 
 AN AFFECTIONATE FATHER'S PARTING WISH. 
 
 " My dear and much-loved Samuel, 
 
 "You wish me to write a few lines in your 
 album, and I comply with your dear wish on the 
 morning of our embarkation for the far distant 
 isles of the Pacific, whither I and your dear 
 mother are again going, to spread the knowledge 
 of a precious Saviour, whom we wish you to love 
 more fervently, and serve more faithfully, than we 
 have done. We both unite in assuring you, my 
 dear, dear boy, that Jesus is the most affectionate 
 friend and the best of all Masters. The caresses 
 of a dear doting mother, the council and instruc- 
 tion of a tender-hearted father, will avail you 
 nothing without the friendship of Jesus Christ ! 
 We love him ourselves, and the united wish of 
 your dear mother and myself is, that you may love 
 him too. 
 
 " We feel very keenly the pang of separation. 
 We love our country, we love our affectionate 
 relatives, we love with an intensity of feeling, 
 which parents only know, our dear, very dear 
 Samuel. Why then do you go ? We go because 
 Jesus Christ has said, " He that loveth father or 
 mother, sister or brother, wife or children, or 
 lands, more than me, is not worthy of me." We 
 shall pray for you, my dear boy, every day of our 
 lives, and trust, in answer to these prayers, that 
 God, by his grace, will take possession of your 
 young and tender heart, so that when we retura 
 
128 EXCURSION TO THE 
 
 to England, which we hope to do in a few years, 
 we shall find our beloved boy not only an intelli- 
 gent and amiable, but a pious and devoted youth, 
 enjoying the good opinion and affection of all who 
 know you, and living in the fear of God. This, 
 my very dear boy, will enhance the pleasure of 
 meeting beyond the power of description. 
 
 *' But, my dear, dear Sam. must pray for him- 
 self, and he has God's own declaration for his en- 
 couragement, " When my father and my mother 
 forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.'' We 
 have forsaken you, my dear boy, under very pe- 
 culiar circumstances. It is for the cause of God 
 that we have made this sacrifice. Plead this with 
 God, when you pray and beseech God to be a 
 Father to you. 
 
 " The Lord bless thee my dear boy and keep 
 th ee. 
 
 *' The Lord make his face to shine upon thee. 
 
 *' The Lord be gracious unto thee. 
 
 " The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, 
 and give thee peace. 
 
 " These are the wishes and fervent prayers of 
 "Your affectionate father, 
 
 *' John W^illtams." 
 
 *^ April nth,, 1838." 
 
 This circumstance became known, and the 
 album, through some means, found its way upon 
 deck. The letter was copied by several among 
 the company, while the book was passing from 
 hand to hand. Every feeling, and above all, 
 every parental heart, will read that beautiful 
 effusion of love, with no ordinary emotion. It 
 is valuable for its own sake ; but taken in con- 
 
MISSIONARY SHIP. 129 
 
 r.exion with the author, the occasion, the time, 
 and the place, its vakie is greatly enhanced. 
 Should the parents and child never meet again, 
 what an interest will attach to this letter ! Only 
 a parent can comprehend it ; and a parent can 
 hardly read it without finding his heart the 
 better for the perusal. It stirs up the secret 
 springs of the parental bosom! Perhaps nothing 
 that Mr. Williams ever wrote or spoke has ex- 
 cited a deeper interest than this letter did on that 
 solemn day. Mr. Tyler, of Bolt-court, Fleet- 
 street, printer of the " Missionary Enterprises," 
 read it on deck to a circle of friends, who listened 
 to it with tender, or rather with tearful admiration. 
 Those, and, it is hoped, thousands more, will be 
 pleased to tind it in this narrative ; as, to many, its 
 appearance and perusal, and attendant occur- 
 rences, formed, together, one of the most touching 
 incidents of the day. Allowing that a portion of 
 its effect arose from its accompanying circum- 
 stances, — which cannot be doubted, for no solitary 
 reader can enter into it as did those who read or 
 heard it at the moment, — still, on various grounds, 
 there is reason to believe that much substantial 
 and permanent interest attaches to it, and its pub- 
 lication involves no breach of propriety, or viola- 
 tion of secrecy. 
 
 •Samuel had long dreaded the approach of this 
 eventful day ; till after dinner, however, he bore 
 up wonderfully, but then the dear lad was quite 
 overpowered. The fearful hour was at hand ; the 
 remaining intercourse with his parents 'was now 
 measured by minutes. His sufferings amounted 
 to agony. The dear child wept loudly and most 
 bitterly at the thought of separation. For a time 
 
130 EXCURSION TO THE 
 
 all attempts to calm or comfort him utterly failed. 
 Some friends, more kind than wise, tried to reason 
 with the distracted boy, but he gave them answers 
 worthy of an older head, and such as they could 
 not resist. To his excellent father this was the 
 most trying moment of the whole scene. In spite 
 of his firmness and manhood, a tear dropt while 
 in his arms he supported the dear youth. By 
 degrees the child recovered, and, after parting, the 
 little islander, worthy of his name and parentage, 
 was among the foremost in cheering the vessel 
 which contained his beloved parents, to whose 
 "tender treatment" of him he referred with such 
 pathos as touched every bosom. Mr. Williams 
 at one time cried out, "Where is Sam?" A 
 gentleman, if we mistake not, Mr. Challis, held the 
 boy up, and the little fellow clapped his hands ! 
 
 After the missionaries and their personal friends 
 had dined, the company were admitted in separate 
 paties, according to the size of the tables Mr. 
 Bateman and Mr. Burnet stood, alternately, the 
 one at the top and the other at the bottom of the 
 stairs of the chief cabin, to regulate the admission 
 of the parties by tickets. This was a somewhat 
 teasing occupation, which lasted a considerable 
 time. The company clustered in a crowd around 
 the entrance of the cabin, and, being almost all 
 friends and acquaintances, in the most good- 
 natured manner competed for the tickets of ad- 
 mission. It was very amusing to see and hear 
 what passed at this time. Mr. Burnet's wit was, 
 as usual, very seviceable in enabling him to keep 
 at bay his playful but hungry assailants. Before 
 that all had dined, attention to time and tide 
 required the commencement of the parting ser- 
 
MISSIONARY SHIP. 131 
 
 vice. The Rev. J. Arundel accordingly gave 
 out the following lines, composed for the occasion, 
 it was understood, by Master E. R. C, the pro- 
 mising son of the gifted Editor of the " Patriot :^^ — 
 
 Bound for the Southern Seas, 
 
 A b.irk is leaving home ; 
 Her canvass swells upon the breeze, 
 
 Her prow divides the foam. 
 Impatient of delay ; 
 
 And weeping friends are there, 
 A long, a last farewell to say, 
 
 To breathe the parting prayer. 
 
 Go, "Messenger of Peace !" 
 
 Richer than argosies, 
 Thou bearest tidings of release 
 
 To lands of other skies. 
 Sad is the parting word, 
 
 Though duty reconciles ; 
 Yet go, thou servant of the Lord, 
 
 For in those sun-lit isles, 
 
 Hearts for thy coming burn, — 
 
 Their father and their friend ; — 
 Their prayers, and ours, for thy return. 
 
 Shall to ONE THRONE ascend. 
 And if thy last look fall 
 
 Sad, on thy native shore, — 
 If friends that see thee part, like Paul, 
 
 " Shall see thy face no nfiore," — 
 
 Yet shall thy spirit be 
 
 Strong, trusting in the Lord. 
 "Who leaveth home or friends for me 
 
 Is not without reward." 
 Servant of God, farewell! 
 
 Long be thy course, and bright! 
 Till friends, who here must parted dwell, 
 
 All in one fold unite. 
 
132 EXCURSION TO THE 
 
 On the conclusion of the hymn, the Rev. T. 
 Jackson, of Stockwell, the only surviving Di- 
 rector, we are informed, who was on board the 
 ship Duff on the day of her departure, then 
 offered up fervent prayer in behalf of Mr. Wil- 
 liams and his fellow-voyagers, tenderly com- 
 mending them to God, and the word of his grace, 
 while on the mighty ocean, and imploring for 
 them every appropriate and needful blessing, when 
 they reached their respective spheres of labour. 
 The service concluded by Dr. Fletcher giving out, 
 
 "From all that dwell below the skies 
 Let the Creator's praise arise! 
 Let the Redeemei''s name be sung 
 In every land, by every tongue. 
 
 "Eternal are thy mercies, Lord ; 
 Eternal truth attends thy word ! 
 Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore, 
 Till suns shall rise and set no more '" 
 
 This was the signal for separation ; accordingly, 
 the verses being ended, the missionaries and all 
 that appertained to them, immediately went on 
 board the Camden. Here ihe farewell scewe, was 
 in part renewed, between the missionaries and 
 their relations and especial friends. With the 
 exception of one lady, who had to be supported 
 on board, all, on both sides, passed through the 
 task with surprising fortitude. They had to 
 ascend from the deck to the paddle-box of the 
 steamer, and then to descend into the Camden, 
 At the foot of the steps of the ladder of the 
 steamer, there was a most touching exhibition of 
 the force of human affection, between two .ittle 
 brothers, sons of one of the missionaries, the one 
 
MISSIONARY SHIP. 133 
 
 of whom was to accompany his parents, and the 
 other to remain. They rushed into the embrace 
 of each other in a manner that deeply affected 
 every beholder. 
 
 The '* Ship Committee," prudently anticipating 
 extraordinary anxiety on the part of numbers to 
 board the Camden^ and the various consequences 
 that might result from allowing it, wisely resolved 
 that no person whatever should be permitted to 
 do so. Messrs. Burnet and Bateman accordingly 
 took their stand, and without respect of persons 
 acted upon the arrangements of the Committee, 
 mildly, yet most resolutely, interdicting all at- 
 tempts to board the vessel. This measure was 
 very mortifying to those who had not seen her in 
 the dock ; but there was only one law for all, and 
 no remedy. Among the disappointed was the 
 excellent Sir Culling Eardly Smith, who, at a 
 late period, manifested the utmost anxiety to see 
 Mr. Williams in the Camden. Some gentlemen 
 conceiving that his well-known liberality of spirit, 
 and his generous support of every good work, 
 combined with his rank and station, might almost 
 entitle him to form an exception, urged him to make 
 the experiment, convinced that should the favour 
 be granted, none would murmur at this solitary 
 act of partiality. He attempted but without suc- 
 cess. He submitted to the law with great good 
 temper ; while the observers considered that the 
 refusal on the one hand, and the submission on 
 the other, did equal honour to both parties. In 
 spite, however of all the vigilance that was exer- 
 cised, an individual, tired apparently of his coun- 
 try, and longing to see the islands of the Pacific, 
 got in the course of the day by some means on 
 12 
 
134 EXCURSION TO TEE 
 
 board. There he was, stript and bustling about 
 as one of the crew. He was discovered, however,, 
 and compelled to seek his coat and take his 
 departure. 
 
 When all were on board, the Camden imme- 
 diately weighed anchor, and the wind being fa- 
 vourable, she was soon partially under sail ; and 
 in a little time, she unfurled all her sails, and 
 wind and tide being with her, she glided down 
 the river, in close companionship with the steam- 
 vessel, which kept by her side nine or ten miles, 
 at c distance frequently so smal', that many a 
 friendly greeting was yet exchanged before the 
 last, last adieu! This was a very pleasant part of 
 the business. It tended to break the shock by 
 confounding the line of separation. The company 
 of the Camden appeared to have regained their 
 equanimity, and began to look happy, when Mr. 
 Williams, standing near the helm, and looking up 
 at his sprightly bark, all sails set and her three 
 flags flying, exclaimed in rapture to the people in 
 the steamer, "Is not she a beauty?" At three 
 o'clock it was resolved to separate, that the com- 
 pany might reach town in proper time. Pre- 
 viously, however, nothing would serve some 
 generous British hearts, but, in true seaman 
 style, the City of Canterbury must give the 
 Camden three cheers. Others feared that this 
 mode of salutation was not exactly in unison with 
 the hearts of many on board both vessels, but it 
 was overruled, and agreed that the cheers should 
 be given. The Captain of the Canterbury gave 
 the signal, and the cheers were given accordingly, 
 and returned by the Camden. But it was clear 
 that on both sides there was too much sadness to 
 
MISSIONARY SHIP. 135 
 
 ^dmit of giving full effect to this mode of saluta- 
 tion. The cheers were but faint and feeble, and 
 by no means general. But if the cheering was only 
 partial, the inward prayer was no doubt universal, 
 although all did not possess sufficient buoyancy 
 of spirits to give their feelings vocal and voci- 
 ferous expression. Two of the company, attach- 
 ed friends of Mr. Williams, went alonp- with him, 
 Mr, Snow,* the bookseller of Paternoster- row, his 
 publisher, and the Rev. Mr. Prout, of Halstead, 
 who is, heart and soul, a missionary, and who 
 some time since relinquished a pastoral charge 
 that he might go to the heathen, under the 
 auspices of the London Missionary Society, but 
 was prevented by the medical opinion of his 
 health. It was pleasing to hear the respectful 
 remarks of gentlemen in the City of Canterbury, 
 as they looked at Mr. Prout, standing in the 
 Camden besides Mr. Williams, and their Christian 
 regrets the circumstances should have prevented 
 his coporeal presence where his heart so clearly 
 is. They intend to accompany him to Deal or 
 Portsmouth. When the helm of the steam-vessel 
 was put about, it was affecting to stand on the 
 gang-way between the paddle-boxes, and see the 
 whole multitude wheel instantly around, and rush 
 toward the stern, still casting a "longing linger- 
 ing look" on the Camden. They stood: they 
 gazed ; a few seconds and faces were hardly 
 visible on board ; a few minutes, and her sails 
 were mingled with a multitude of other vessels; yet 
 
 * Mr. Williams, in his sermons and speeches, often refers 
 to the honoured Matron who led him to the Tabernacle, on 
 the night of his conversion. She still lives, and resides with 
 Mx, Snow, her son-in-law. 
 
136 EXCURSION TO THE 
 
 a few additional minutes, and she was seen no 
 more. 
 
 The Camden proceeded till within about fifteen 
 miles of Margate, when she dropt anchor, and 
 remained for the night. About nine o'clock on 
 Thursday morning, it was again weighed, and the 
 wind being fair, she soon passed the north Fore- 
 land, and reached the Downs. She hove to, and 
 hoisted a signal for a communication from the 
 shore, which was quickly answered by a boat 
 putting off from Deal. The friends there had 
 been looking with great anxiety for the appear- 
 ance of the m.issionary ship, but a report being 
 circulated that she had passed the Downs early in 
 the morning, many had now (about 3, P. M.) 
 given up the hope of seeing her. Finding that 
 the boat immediately returned for the purchase of 
 a ^Q'w articles, and that the Camden was laying to, 
 a large number of friends began to assemble, 
 when the Rev. J. Vincent, the Rev. Mr, Davis, 
 and several ladies and gentlemen, came on board 
 to congratulate and bid adieu to the missionaries. 
 They sung a few verses and returned. The 
 breeze again filled her canvass; she quickly passed 
 the south Foreland, and was lost to the view of 
 the admiring spectators. 
 
 Here the excellent pilot, Mr. Grice, of Bruns- 
 wick-street, Blackwall, who had been on board 
 from Monday to Friday, and who made a present 
 of his important services, left the ship in the 
 charge of Captain Morgan, and went on shore. 
 On leaving the Downs, a steady gale soon car- 
 ried the Camden through the straits of Dover. 
 Wind and weather continued fair till Saturday 
 night, when she had nearly made the Start Point. 
 
MISSIONARY SHIP. 137 
 
 About midnight, the wind shifted to the north- 
 west, and blew with great violence. To avoid 
 danger, Captain Morgan stood out to sea, and 
 they did not see land again till about two o'clock 
 on Sunday ; about four, they came to anchor 
 in Dartmouth Range. Some of the company 
 went immediately on shore, where Mr. Williams 
 preached. The kindness of the Rev. Mr. Stenner 
 and his friends was unbounded. Great interest 
 in the unexpected visit was also evinced by the 
 inhabitants of the town, who, on the Monday 
 evening, crowded to the Assembly Rooms, in 
 obedience to the summons of the town-crier, to 
 " hear," as the sapient functionary expressed it, 
 " an information from the Rev. John Williams." 
 They still continued weather-bound when the 
 Rev. Mr Prout left them on Tuesday evening. 
 He speaks in very glowing terms of the mild, 
 affectionate, and devout spirit of Captain Morgan; 
 and considers that it must secure him the love and 
 confidence of all who can estimate real goodness. 
 He further states that the first and second mates are 
 rnen of the same class as the captain, and that the 
 majority of the crew appear to have been selected 
 as much on account of their seriousness as of their 
 seamanship. 
 
 It only remains to state, that the company con- 
 sists of the Rev. J. Williams and Mrs. Williams; 
 the Rev. George Charter, with Mrs. Charter, ap- 
 pointed to Raiatea. The Rev. Charles Green 
 Stevens, with Mrs. Stevens ; Rev. Thomas Joseph, 
 with Mrs. Joseph; and Mr. Joseph Johnston, 
 Nerval Teacher, appointed to Tahiti. The Rev. 
 William Gill and Mrs. Gill ; Rev. Henry Royle 
 and Mrs. Royle, to Rarotonga. Rev. William 
 12* 
 
138 EXCURSION TO THE MISSIONARY SHIP. 
 
 Day and Mrs. Day; Mr. John Bettridge Stair, 
 missionary-printer, and Mrs, Stair, to the Naviga- 
 tors' Islands ; and Rev. Robert Thomson to the 
 Marquesas. Mr. John Williams, Jun., and Mrs. 
 Williams, have also embarked in the Camden. 
 
 Such are the men. May the God and giver of 
 every grace, preserve them in their voyage ; pros- 
 per them in their work; cheer and solace them in 
 all their anxieties ; be their God and guide even 
 unto death ; own them at last as his faithful ser- 
 vants ; surround them with a host of spiritual 
 children ; and take them all, them and theirs, to 
 eternal glory! Amen, and Amen! 
 
 Tabernacle House, 
 jipril^th, 1838. 
 
A Common Council, holden in the Chamber of the 
 Guildhall of the City of London, on Thursday, 
 the 22dday of March, 1838. 
 
 Cowan, Mayor, 
 
 The Coal and Corn, and Finance Committee, 
 did this day deliver into this Court a Report in 
 writing, under their hands, for contributing £500 
 toward the expedition of the Rev. John Williams, 
 to the Islands of the Pacific Ocean, which was 
 read in these words ; — 
 
 To the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, Alder- 
 men, and Commons, of the City of London, in 
 Common Cnuncil assembled : 
 
 We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, your 
 Coal and Corn, and Finance Committee, to whom, 
 on the 15th day of March instant, it was referred 
 to examine the allegations of the Petition of the 
 Rev. John Williams, for a contribution toward 
 defraying the expenses of his intended expedition 
 to the islands of the Pacific Ocean, for the purpose 
 of teaching the barbarous tribes that inhabit them 
 the arts and usages of civilized life, and instruct- 
 ing them in the knowledge of the Christian re- 
 ligion, and to report our opinion thereon, do cer- 
 tify, that we have duly considered the same, and 
 have been attended by the Petitioner, whose state- 
 ments and documents not only confirm the repre- 
 sentations made to this Honourable Court, but 
 have abundantly satisfied your Committee, that a 
 great amount of moral good has been done in the 
 distant and hitherto barbarous islands of the 
 Pacific Ocean. The labours of the Petitioner, 
 
140 REPORT UPON THE PETITION. 
 
 without imposing any particular sectarian forms or 
 tenets, have, by the simple aid of religion, dis- 
 pelled the darkness of the Heathen, introduced 
 moral and intellectual improvements, substituted 
 industrious and peaceful habits for those of fe- 
 rocity and idleness, and have contributed, in a 
 great degree, to create an asylum, in safe and se- 
 cure harbours, which before were unapproachable 
 by reason of the certain destruction that awaited 
 all strangers visiting the inhospitable abodes of 
 savages and cannibals. The mariner is now 
 enabled to recruit his stores from the abundant 
 supplies of islands whose natural fertility has 
 been made available by newly-created modes of 
 industry, at the same time opening a further field 
 for commercial enterprise, and procuring an addi- 
 tional market for British manufactures. 
 
 xind as the design of the Petitioner is to ex- 
 tend these disinterested exertions for the yet 
 almost numberless, unvisited Polynesian Islands, 
 inhabited by millions of savages, in order that the 
 same great work of civilization, with all the bless- 
 ings of peace, good government, religion, and com- 
 merce, may be there promoted and established, we 
 your Committee, are of opinion, that this Honour- 
 able Court should afford a liberal countenance 
 and support to so noble and so great a work, by 
 subscribing the sum of £500, which we recom- 
 mend should be immediately placed at the dis- 
 posal of the Petitioner, and the acting managers 
 of the proposed Expedition, Mr. Williams being 
 about to proceed on his enterprising voyage in 
 the beginning of the ensuing month. We, your 
 Committee, beg leave further to certify, that while 
 we are unanimous in our recommendation, we 
 
REPORT UPON THE PETITION. 141 
 
 respectfully submit to this Honourable Court, that 
 it is not to be taken as forming a precedent to 
 assist merely religious missions, nor as preferring 
 any sect or party. We confidently hope, that this 
 Honourable Court will receive the recommenda- 
 tion, as it is felt by us, to be an extrnordinary 
 donation for promoting the great cause of civiliza- 
 tion and moral improvement of our common 
 species, and as an encouragement to the extension 
 of the commercial enterprises of the nation, in all 
 which noble deeds this Corporation ought ever to 
 take a distinguished and pre-eminent part ; all 
 which we submit to the judgment of this Honour- 
 able Court. Dated this 22d day of March, 
 1838. 
 
 Henry Patten, 
 James Frisby, 
 James Harmer, 
 J. T. Norris, 
 Harwood Austwick, 
 John Hill, 
 James Smith, 
 James Lake, 
 W. Danson, 
 W. A. Beckwith, 
 
 S. Thomas, 
 G. H. Heppel, 
 Richard Johnson, 
 Thomas Wood, 
 W. Mathews, 
 William H. Pilcher, 
 Edward Eagleton, 
 John Brown, 
 Robert Easer. 
 
 And a motion being made, and question put, that 
 this Court doth agree with the Committee in their 
 said Report, the same was resolved in the affirma- 
 tive ; and it is ordered that Mr. Chamberlain do 
 pay the same accordingly. 
 
 WOODTHORPE. 
 
 George Ashley, Clerk to the 
 Court of Common Council. 
 
DATE DUE 
 
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 Princeton Theological Seminary-Speer Library