Wilmington College Library Pro Juventute Doctrinae Causa No, PRESENTED BY DATE The person charging this material is re- sponsible for its return to the library from which it was withdrawn on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Theft, mutilation, ond underiining for disciplinory oction and may result m dismissal from the University. To renew call Telephone Center, 333-8400 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN m2^ 2 9 m T.K^l — 0-1096 L I E) RAFLY OF THE U N I VLRS ITY or ILLINOIS A MEMOIR DANIEL WHEELEE WITH AN ACCOUNT 0 F H J S GOSPEL LABOURS IN THE .ISLANDS OP THE PACIFIC PHILADELPHIA: PUBLISHED BY THE AssociAiioN OP mimm foe the diffusion of keligious AND USEFUL KNOWLEDGE, 309 North Tenth Street 1866. PREFACE. The volume now offered is an abridgment of the memoirs of the life and gospel labours of Daniel Wheeler, edited by his son, and published in Lon-. don in 1842. In the preface to that edition, it is stated that it was a matter which D. Wheeler had much at heart, to leave on record some narrative fof his life, no doubt believing that in it might be traced many instances of Divine mercy and inter- position which could not but be instructive and ^ strengthening to others. He commenced but did ^not complete the work; but, from the period at d which his autobiography abruptly terminates, no- ^ thing has been allowed a place whi43h could not be 1 stated with entire confidence. (iii^ CONTENTS. MEMOIRS OF DANIEL WHEELER. CHAPTER I. Page Introductory Remarks by D. Wheeler — Enters the Merchant Service — Then the Royal Navy — Is paid off — Enters the Army 7 CHAPTER II. D.Wheeler goes to Ireland with his Regiment — Harassing Service — Returns to England — Embarks for Campaign on the Continent — Great Exposure and Suffering 17 CHAPTER in. Preserved from Danger in the Field of Battle — Attacked by Fever — Hospital Treatment — Remarkable Recovery— Retreat of the Army . — Return to England 29 CHAPTER IV. Sails with his Regiment to the West Indies — Wonderful Preserva- tion — Serious Impressions — Returns to England — Convinced of Friends' Principles — Becomes a Member of the Society — Settles in Business — His. Marriage — Acknowledged as a Minister 47 CHAPTER V. Prospect of Duty in Russia — Goes to Petersburg — Interview with Prince Galitzin and the Emperor — Engages with the Russian Government to superintend Agricultural Improvements — Returns Home and again embarks for Russia with his Family — William Allen and Stephen Grellet 57 CHAPTER VL Agricultural Improvements — Address to Balby Monthly Meeting — Conference with the Emperor — Great Flood at Petersburg— Death of the Emperor and Accession of his brother Nicholas.- 66 CHAPTER VII. Visits England — Religious Service — Returns to Russia — Cholera at Petersburg — Address to York Quarterly Meeting — Resigns his Appointment in Russia — Sails for England 81 1* ' (V) CONTENTS, CHAPTER VIII. Prospect of a Religious Visit to the South Sea Islands — Death of his Wife and severe Illness of his Children — Death of his son William and daughter Jane — Prospect of Religious Service in North America 93 CHAPTER IX. Sails for New York — Attends many Meetings of Friends — Returns to England— Death of his son Charles — Again emharks for Ame- rica — Illness and death at New York 105 VISIT TO THE PACIFIC ISLES. CHAPTER I. Sails in the 'Henry Freeling' — Detention off the Isle of Wight — Farewell Letter — Arrival at Rio de Janeiro 113 CHAPTER II. Sails for Van Diemen's Land— Perils of the Voyage— Arrival at Ho» hart Town— Meets with James Backhouse and George W. Walker.. 128 CHAPTER III. Embarks for Sidney— Crew of the < Henry Freeling'— Sails for Tahiti — Arrival and Interview with the Natives — Meeting with the Missionaries.* CHAPTER IV. Meeting for Sailors — Attends the Native Meetings for Worship — Perilous Passage to Tiarei — Native Meeting. 164 CHAPTER V. Taiarapu — Favoured Meeting for Worship — Letter from the Native Congregation — Native Entertainment — Letter .from the Queen — Desolating Scourge of Ardent Spirits — Island of Eimeo. 184 CHAPTER VL Huahine — Invitation from Mauiui — Meeting with the Authorities — Raiatea — Bolabola — Sandwich Islands — Oahu — Native Meet- ing—The Queen's Present — Memorable Meeting for Worship — Missionary School.. jqq CHAPTER Vn. Hawaii — Introductory Letter — Embarkation of Missionaries — A Marriage — General Meeting of the Missionaries — Letter from the Annual Meeting — Hervey Isles — Roratogn a — Native Meet- ings — Letter from a young Native 21T CHAPTER VIII. Friendly Isles — Cavern at Otea — Meeting with the Missionaries - Interesting Letter — New Zealand — Meeting for Worship — Fare well Letter from the Missionaries — Sidney — Hobart Town — Returns to England... 241 MEMOIRS OP THE LIFE OF DANIEL WHEELER. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY D. WHEELER ENTERS THE MERCHANT SERVICE — THEN THE ROYAL NAVY IS PAID OFF — ENTERS THE ARMY. "Having frequently derived mucli valuable in- struction from the perusal of narratives of those who have long since exchanged an earthly for a heavenly inheritance^ the thought has at times oc- curred to mC; that a short memoir of my own life, however evil, might, under the Divine blessing, be made, in like manner, useful to others. But, per- haps from the humiliating conviction that days, as without number, have been miserably devoted to madness and folly, in forgetfulness of a long-suffering Lord Grod, the guilty mind would gladly hide the remembrance of these for ever in oblirion, and pass over them in silent abhorrence; or, conscious that there yet remains a stubborn and unsubdued residue of human corruptions, a sense of unworthiness and unfitness may have hitherto operated to retard the (7) 8 MEMOIRS OF undertaking; lest the creature should in any degree be exalted, to wliom shame only, with blushin 2" and confusion of face, must ever belong. • Whatever may thus far have impeded any attempt of the kind, I am induced, not as a matter of choice, but as a duty, now in the sixty-first year, of my age, to commence the work, humbly imploring the assist- ance of Him who ^knoweth the thoughts and intents of the heart,' to enable me, as far as it may be car- ried forward, to accomplish it to His own praise and glory, as a faithful testimony for the advancement of our holy Eedeemer's kingdom in the hearts of my fellow-creatures. I was born in London, the 27th day of the Ele- venth month, 1771 : my parents, William and Sarah Wheeler, were members of the established religion of the countrjr^ and strict adherents to all its rites and ceremonies. They had a large family of children, whose minds they endeavoured to imbue at an early age with the fear of their great Creator — taking them regularly to attend the performance of public worship, and also reading the Holy Scriptures in the family at home ; portions of which I well remember reading aloud when very young. I have but a very indistinct recollection of my father's person, not being quite seven years old when he died, leaving five children, of whom I was the youngest. My mother was endowed with a large capacity, com- bining great sweetness with firmness of mind. Of the loss of such a parent, I was very sensible, being about twelve years old at the time.'' DANIEL WHEELER. 9 Througli the misconduct of his eldest brother, to whom the care of their father's business had been intrusted, it became necessary that the family should be broken up, and they were soon widely separated. For a short time, Daniel remained to assist .the per- son who had purchased the stock, and succeeded his brother in the business, which was the wine trade. Of this occupation he says : " I should not feel easy without noticing, in this place, for the benefit of others, the manifold temptations to which young people are necessarily exposed, when brought up to trades similar to that in which I was then employed. From the nature of these trades, there is scarcely a probability of escape from insensibly falling into habits (much more readily acquired than shaken off) of tasting different kinds of wine and strong liquors, which too often lead the way to intemperance. The injurious effects of these practices, and of such exposure, having been felt and witnessed by myself, make me the more desirous to warn others against the business.^^ A merchant in London having procured for him a situation on board a vessel engaged in the Portu- guese trade, it was accepted by D. Wheeler. Two voyages were made in this ship, and a knowledge of navigation acquired. On his return from the second voyage, he found that an intimate friend of his de- parted mother had procured for him the station of midshipman in a ship of war. This change, how- ever specious in appearance at the time, was but an introduction to a school which is not often equalled, 10 MEMOIRS OF and but seldom surpassed, for vice and immorality. In reference to this and to tlie time afterwards spent in the army, Daniel Wheeler writes these affecting and instructive lines : Reader, if the power to choose were mine, to draw an impenetrable shade over the next several years would best suit my natu- ral inclination ; it would save me many pangs, and I should at once bring thee to the time when I could tell thee with delight ^what the Lord hath done for my soul/ — But, with these years omitted, the long suffering and unutterable goodness of my gracious God and Saviour would be eclipsed, His tender mercies would be ungratefully robbed of their lustre, the riches of His grace obscured and its glory hid- den. I must, therefore, like the regular and pro- gressive gradations of nature, proceed from those days of childhood and youth at which I had arrived — would that I could say, of innocency ! — but ah ! at this distance of time, I can painfully trace the springings up of the evil root, which failed not at an early age to bring forth fruit of those things ^whereof I am now ashamed/ having sorrowfully found, from woful experience, that their ^ end is death.' Canst thou, then, wonder at the shrinking of hunian nature from the task of thus reopening a dark picture of guilt? — such as, I pray, it may never be thy lot to know, or to have to render an account of, as thy own. Though now in full abhor- rence of the same, through the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, I have a hope that my sins, though many, will be forgiven, and for ever blotted out as DANIEL WHEELER. 11 < a thick cloud / and that my tribulated soul will yet be cleansed by the ^precious blood of sprinkling tbat speaketb better things than that of Abel/ This only ^ cried from the ground' for vengeance against the offender; whilst the blood of Him who cried, ^Father, forgive them, for they^ know not what they do/ cleanseth from all sin, and was shed for many, for the remission of sins ) yea, for all that repent, believe, and obey the Gospel, in the secret of their hearts revealed, which is Hhe power of God unto salvation/ But although ready to shudder at the prospect before me, I feel strengthened to pro- ceed, so far as I may rightly do, from a belief that the work in which I am now engaged is prompted in mercy, and will not be in vain, peradventure to myself, if not to another. For, if permitted to finish it, I shall have had another opportunity afforded, even at this late hour, for repentance — a truly great and blessed privilege to every sinner. And how much more shall I owe unto my Lord, if, in the' course of a diligent search, it should please the ^ faithful witness' in condescension to discover to the view of my mind sins which, through the subtle workings of the grand adversary, have been partly hidden and imperfectly repented of Having joined the ship at Plymouth, it was not long before they left the harbour and sailed for the Isle of Man station. " This was a stormy and dan- gerous passage, in which, through Divine mercy, we were favoured to witness a marvellous preservation from shipwreck ; the dawn of day just discovering 12 MEMOIRS OF to US in time the small island of Grrasliolm, towards whicli the vessel was drifting in a direct course, and already within a short distance of the breakers. We were lying to, at the time, under two or three storm- sails ; but there happily being room to wear clear of the rocky crags, the danger was soon left behind/' After a cruise of fourteen months, they returned to Plymouth; and, whilst in this harbour, through the interest of an admiral of considerable estate and influence in the neighbourhood, with whom in for- mer days some of the family had been personally acquainted, Daniel Wheeler relates: "I was in a short time received on board a ship-of-the-line, then bearing the flag of a Eear- Admiral. This advance, under such patronage, was considered to hold out a promising aspect; but whilst it seemed to pave the way to promotion, it opened at once a door to an extensive range of acquaintance with officers on board, whose circumstances in life enabled them to deviate with less difficulty than myself from the path of virtue ; whose example I endeavoured to follow, until nothing but the want of means prevented my going still greater lengths than the worst of them. Whilst in this ship, when about sixteen years of age, having been unwell, and probably led to reflect a little on that account, I was made sensible of a Divine visitation being extended to me, disclosing with indubitable clearness the vanity and emptiness of every earthly station, tarnishing the pride and glory of this perishing world in my sight; and which, though little understood and less regarded at DANIEL WHEELER. 18 tlie moment^ has since^ at different periods of my chequered life^ been brought to my remembrance by Him ^who declareth unto man His thoughts — who maketh the morning darkness^ and treadeth upon the high places of the earth — the Lord, the Lord of hosts is His name/ When this ogcurred, although then entered into the bond of iniquity, I had not launched so fully into its dreadful abyss as was after- wards most lamentably the case; and from what I have since witnessed, in unutterable mercy, of the strength and power of redeeming love, a belief is induced, that if this warning voice, then sounding in the secret of my sinful heart, ' Behold, I stand at the door and knock,^ had been hearkened unto, and waited upon, my footsteps, even mine, would have been conducted from the horrible pit to which they were fast verging. I continjied nearly six years in the navy ; but were all the changes from ship to ship enumerated which took place during that time, and the great variety of incidents which befell me, they would swell this narrative far beyond the limits intended. Whilst, however, I am desirous of avoiding the error of gratifying self, or merely amusing others, I beg to be preserved from a greater, in omitting anything tending in the slightest degree to make known the aboundings of that wondrous goodness and mercy which followed me all along through an unparalleled course of presumptuous and unrestrained liberty. It may therefore suffice for me to say, that, notwith- standing the many and great dangers I was exposed 2 14 MEMOIRS OF to, and the hardships and sufferings I had to endure, through all which I was preserved and sustained in a manner at this day inconceivable to myself; yet none of these things were sufficient to soften the rocky heart, or bring me to a sense of my lost condi- tion; for whether on board or on shore, in harbour or at sea, or in whatever country, if I could meet with associates prone like myself to evil, I was always ready to hasten with them to it, either in word or in deed. An expected war with a foreign power had occa- sioned an unusually large fleet to collect at Spithead; but, after a time, the differences being adjusted, the ships were dispersed to their respective posts, and that to which I belonged was p-^ ' ^ff She was commissioned the next day as a ^uara-snip, and I have no doubt that I might have resumed my station as one of her mates, had I made application; for, with all my private failings, as a poor sinful creature, my public character had not suffered in any of the ships in which I had served, but rather the contrary; for my pride and presumption had often prompted me, in moments of extreme danger, in a daring man- ner to take the most hazardous post, even when duty did not require it, or warrant the risk. But instead of applying to be reinstated in my former berth, I remained on shore in pursuit of sinful gratifications, with increased avidity; and, going up to London, so much time elapsed before my return, that I never afterwards attempted to procure a situation in the ship I had left, or in any other. In this way I left DANIEL WHEELER. 15 the service altogether ; and would I could say, that I left the service of siii at the same time. I now found the disadvantage of not having been regularly brought up to a trade : for want of this knowledge I was alike unfit for all employment. Towards the latter part of the time of my being in the navy, it was suggested to my lost and bewil- dered mind, by the subtle destroyer of men, that nothing short of making 'away with myself could ex- tricate me from the difiiculties by which I was sur- rounded; and shelter me from shame and disgrace ; and the method of its accomplishment was at seasons hinted at. But — blessed be the name of the Lord Grod of heaven and earth for ever ! — His invisible arm, of merciful interposition, preserved me from this dreaJ ^; and in the greatness of His love and strength He hath at this distant period put it into the heart of His unworthy creature to record His mighty acts, to His praise and to His glory, with humble and reverend thankfulness. Greatly do I desire, that if this relation should ever fall into the hands of any poor sinners, servants of the cruel taskmaster, as was then my lot, that such may be hereby strengthened and encouraged to look unto the Lord their God for help, even though they may be plunged into the very gulf of despair; for ^His compassions fail not' — they are new every morning; His tender mercies are over all His works ; and He will give power to the faint, and strength to them that have no might of their own, to resist this, and 16 MEMOIRS OF every other temptation of that wicked one^ who was a liar from the beginning.^^ His means becoming speedily reduced, and failing in bis attempts to procure employment, be could not bear tbe thought of making his fallen condition known to bis friends. Under these circumstances^ be entered tbe army as a volunteer. DANIEL WHEELEK. 17 CHAPTER II. D. WHEELER GOES TO IRELAND WITH HIS REGIMENT — HARASSING SERVICE — RETURNS TO ENGLAND EMBARKS FOR CAMPAIGN ON THE CONTINENT — GREAT EXPOSURE AND SUFFERING. The regiment in which lie engaged was soon after ordered to Ireland^ and was stationed at Dub- lin^ in that agitated state of public afiairs which resulted in open rebellion to the government. The fatigue of the troops was great^ as they were required to be on duty every other nighty and this in the win- ter season. Proceeding with his narrative, we find : Discon- tent increasing, and disturbances breaking out in the interior of tjie country. Small detachments of troops were despatched from Dublin, to strengthen the au- thority of the magistrates in their endeavours to maintain public tranquillity, and to afford protection to the peaceable inhabitants from the nightly depre- dations of numerous gangs of misled and intoxicated desperadoes, to which they and their property were constantly exposed, under a variety of pretences. It was my lot,'^ he says, to be chosen with the first of the detached parties, to a share of this dangerous and harassing service; on which, such was at one time the emergency, that we were kept on the alert 2* 18 MEMOIRS O F niglit after night, without any intermission, for a week together, with only snch intervals of rest as could he procured in the day-time. Whilst on this expedition, on a particular enterprise with a constable, I was, to all appearance, reduced to the necessity of taking the life of another to save my own. The con- stable, perceiving the danger, had left me alone; when I was suddenly attacked by a poor infuriated creature, in a state little short of perfect madness, from continued intoxication, supported by several others, but in a less outrageous condition. I kept him at bay for some time ; but at last he got so near, that it became every moment more difficult to avoid being reached by the violent strokes h.e made with some kind of weapon, I think of iron, which were repeatedly received by the firelock in my hands, then loaded with ball. In this situation there seemed left to me no other than the dreadful alternative of shooting him to save myself. I called in vain in the language of appeal to the other people to interfere : they stood by, as if to see how matters were likely to terminate, before they began to act or take a part of any consequence either way, which they nearly carried too far • but when they saw me actually pre- paring to shoot the man, they hastily cried out, ' Spare life ! spare life ! ^ — which I only wanted their help to enable me to accomplish. They then seized him, and in the midst of the struggle and confusion which took place amongst themselves, my escape was happily effected. I cannot suppose, at that time, when I wanted only the help of other men to enable DANIEL WHEELER. 19 me to spare life, that the principal motive was other than that of self-preservation. Therefore it is greatly to be feared (although that heart must be callous indeed, which in all such cases does not recoil from the horrid act) that it was not love to my fellow- creature which prompted the desire in me to spare his life. Let none mistake it as such. I have fre- quently thought of this circumstance since it occurred, I hope with humble thankfulness to the great Pre- server of men ; and now, on committing it to record, as one of those many events in which there was but one step between me and the grave, and whilst shud- dering at the strong recollection of it, my soul mag- nifies that unmerited and amazing mercy, afresh dis- played to my understanding in a two-fold view — on the one hand in withholding me from the crime of taking away the life of a fellow-creature, like myself, ^in the gall of bitterness;' and, if I had escaped myself, thus sparing me, at this late hour, amidst the decay of nature, when the shadows of the evening are stretching out, and my feet drawing near the margin of the grave, the appalling thought of a brother's blood yet unwiped away: on the other hand, in rescuing from immediate death two misera- ble sinners wholly unprepared to die; for, had I taken away the man's life, my own would doubtless have been forthwith sacrificed to the revenge of his enraged companions. Thus, as my history rolls on, the enormous load of debt which I already owe unto my Lord still accumulates ; and verily it never can be liquidated but in that infinite and wondrous mercy 20 MEMOIRS OF wliicli deligliteth to forgive every repenting sinner, wliO; in the depths of humihty ^nd abasedness of self, has indeed ' nothing to pay ^ withal/^ He was relieved from this arduous duty by being promoted to a position in the writing department of the commander-in-chief, at Dublin. This gave him greater liberty and larger means to take his swing in every inordinate gratification of that extensive city. " Thus/^ he says, adding sin to sin, and making far- ther woful work for repentance. Although at times, in the midst of these evil practices, I was made sen- sible of convicting reproofs, sufficient to have awa- kened any one but myself, yet they only seemed to deter me for a short interval from persisting in them, or until another opportunity offered — such was their dominion over me. This course was, however, at last stopped by the sudden march of the regiment to Grranard; but not before my health had begun to suffer from my folly. Our stay was not long at this place; for the French Revolution, which had occurred about two years before, now began to occasion more frequent move- ments and changes amongst the military. I was engaged in some hazardous enterprises whilst lying here; and, although the town was small, and our time in it short, yet there were sufficient temptations to be found for my unwary feet to fall into. From this place, a part of the regiment, consisting of two hundred picked men and a suitable number of offi- cers, was drafted to serve in an expedition then pre- paring to act in the West Indies. The same quota DANIEL WHEELER. 21 was selected from every regiment in Ireland^ then seventeen in number^ and possibly from every regi- ment in England also. From all the information tbat I could ever obtain^ the greatest part^ if not the whole^ of these poor devoted fellows^ then declared to be the flower of the British army, fell victims to the climate and the war. I mention this lamentable fact, although foreign to my subject, to perpetuate all in my power [the knowledge of] the ravages of this horrid and desolating scourge of the human race. At the same time, under a deep sense of my tlien sinful condition, my mind is struck with admi- ration, that I was not included in the above-mentioned draft, to which I was no less liable than others; were it only as a punishment which I so justly merited, for my unprecedented rebellion against a long-suffering and all-gracious Lord God. Our next remove was to Galway, where, after some weeks, I was again promoted, from what cause I do not now remember ; but, as had been the case in the navy, so now, however profligate my conduct in the general, I still kept up a fair name, by being ready for all the duties that devolved upon me."*^ New regiments being required to prosecute more vigorously the continental war, Daniel Wheeler was selected, with others, to expedite their formation. He returned to Dublin to engage in this recruiting service. The number stipulated having been raised and accepted by the government, he was promoted shortly after joining the new regiment. His narra- tive proceeds : Such was the urgency of affairs just 22 MEMOIRS OF then, that, whilst in a raw and incomplete state of discipline, almost beyond conception, from tlie wild- ness of character of the class of people of which the principal part of the regiment was composed, imme- diate embarkation was ordered. When the time for sending off these newly-raised troops was fully come, the utmost despatch was necessary ; for it was very evident, that had time been allowed for the informa- tion to spread to any material extent, the embarka- tion could scarcely have been effected without blood- shed. As it was, though the preparations commenced soon after three o'clock in the morning, the concou];se of people assembled together was immense, to behold their countrymen, in every relation of fathers, hus- bands, brothers, and sons, forced away from their native shores — I may say forced away, for it was necessary to assemble a strong military force from the garrison to insure the embarkation, which, after all, was not effected without some difficulty. From my own personal knowledge of the fate of many of these poor fellows, and of the destination of those remaining after I left them, I think it scarcely pro- bable that any of them ever returned. We were favoured with a fine passage to the Severn, and landed about six miles below Bristol; in which city we remained one night, and then marched forward to an encampment, where several other regiments were previously assembled, at Netley Abbey. From the undisciplined condition, with but small exception, of the officers and men who com- posed our regiment, it was only reasonable to suppose DANIEL WHEELER. 23 It had now reached its destination for the present; but, after a few weeks' training, it was numbered with the line. We received a set of new colours, and embarked on Southampton river, with the other regiments which formed the camp at Netley Abbey, to join the British army then on the continent, under the command of the Duke of York. We dropped down to gpithead next morning, and the same after- noon Earl Moira, the commander-in-chief, having joined the expedition, we sailed, thirty-seven ships in company, under convoy, to the coast of Flanders. The weather being thick, with light airs of wind, our passage, though fine, was rather tedious, before reaching an anchorage off the port of Ostend. From circumstances of an unfavourable cast,. unknown to us at the time, it was judged most prudent for the expedition to be free from every incumbrance likely to retard or impede its movements through the Netherlands; the success and safety of the enter- prise wholly depending upon its ability to evade and elude, by the rapidity of its movements, in forced marches by night, the greatly disproportionate strength of the enemy. The number of troops then under Earl Moira was little more than 7000; whilst the French force, through which we had to pass, was estimated at 80,000, and they were at the time so posted, as seemed to prohibit our junction with the Duke's army. It was therefore concluded, that every article of baggage and stores, belonging either to officers or soldiers, beyond what they could them- selves carry, should be left on board the ships. At 24 MEMOIRS OF an early honr of the morning after our arrival in the roads off the town of Ostend, every officer and sol- dier was furnished with a blanket, and an allowance of three days' provisions and water, from the stores of the transports , it being very uncertain whether any supplies could be obtained for some days to come. Thus provided, the troops were disembarked under cover of two large floating batteries, prepared for the occasion, to prevent any attempt to frustrate their descent. As the boats employed had many times to pass to and fro, between the ships and the shore, before the whole were conveyed, it was near night when the landing was fully accomplished. To expedite the landing, a large float was made use of, to assist in crossing a narrow space of water con- nected with the harbour; so that the troops were enabled to land at more than one point at a time, and then unite. It was well for those who had nothing to do with this ill-adapted float; for, in the hurry, it became overladen with soldiers, and was quickly overturned, causing the loss of many men, who, from their being encumbered with arms, bag- gage, and provisions, were incapable of making much effort to save themselves ; this weight being strongly attached to their bodies, they sank before they could extricate themselves from it. I landed on the main shore of the harbour, and thus providentially escaped with only seeing the float then loading, just before the accident happened. I do not know how it fared with others, but it is scarcely probable, all circumstances considered, that DANIEL WHEELER. 25 there could be any material superiority in the accom- modation of one more than another. On the morn- ing that we landed, I might doubtless have been supplied with a blanket, in common with others; but as I occupied a station, in which little rest could be expected, even when others slept, and supposing that 1 should be able to borrow from some of the others, when they could not be used by themselves, this opportunity was lost ; but I afterwards regretted the non-acceptance of it. From the day we left the transports, several weeks elapsed before I got to sleep under the cover of a tent; as these, with the rest of the luggage and stores, were left on board the ships to be conveyed to Helvoetsluys, as a place more secure from the French than Ostend. We remained upon the sand-hills near Ostend three days and nights after landing, and then commenced a march which could scarcely be equalled for fatigue and hardship ; as we were wholly unprovided with provisions, and every common necessary with which the generality of troops are usually furnished at the opening of a campaign. It would be no very difficult task for me, at this day, to enter into minute detail of particular circum- stances, were it consistent with the declared object before me, in setting about to pen this memoir ; for, although so many years have rolled away since these miserable scenes were actually shared in and wit- nessed, yet such are the strong impressions stamped on my memory by the sufferings endured, and the manifold deliverances which followed, that while en- 3 26 MEMOIRS OF deayouring to insert siicli incidents only as are need- ful to preserve the chain of history, in sufficient links of connection to enable me to proceed with correctness — transactions that have long been forgot- ten, though they once formed a prominent feature in the toils of the day, are recalled from oblivion in a remarkable manner. I must, however, forbear to intrude them here, and proceed again with saying, that, on leaving the neighbourhood of Ostend, we passed through Bruges, and penetrated into the country by way of Grhent. The first halting-place of the army, in the evening of the same day tnat it left the coast, was called the ^ Pigeon's Nest 3 ^ but it did not prove a very quiet one, for, by two o'clock in the morning, the advance of the enemy was an- nounced by the firing of the picquets by which we were surrounded. Whether this attack was intended to alarm only, or to endeavour to take us by surprise, I never understood ; if the latter, it certainly failed, for the troops were literally sleeping on their arms, covered with their blankets, so that in a few minutes a line was formed, with the commander-in-chief pre- sent. It was, however, considered prudent to remain there no longer, and in half an hour this post was abandoned, and the march continued until noon the next day, when sl stoppage occurred, from the French having occupied a bridge over which we had to pass. Notwithstanding the men were almost ready to faint for want of food, having scarcely tasted any thing for twenty-four hours, yet on its being proclaimed through the line that volunteers were wanted to DANIEL WHEELER. 27 force the passage over the bridge, a sufficient num- ber immediately offered, apparently glad of such an opportunity. After three hours' detention, the ob- struction was removed, I am inclined to think by its being found that the force advancing against it was much too strong for that by which the bridge was occupied. The army then moved forward until mid- night, although its course was much impeded by a tremendous storm of thunder, lightning, and heavy rain, which commenced at nine, P. M., and continued several hours. I do not see how I could have suffi- ciently exalted the name of my God, and His gra- cious dealings with a poor benighted and rebellious creature, without mentioning the two facts just re- lated ; inasmuch as they magnify, in my view. His long-suffering and protection to one who was utterly insensible of His loving kindness, and who then knew Him not; and I trust I shall not be permitted to overlook or pass by any thing that will show forth His praise, and tend to His glory; or be prevented from acknowledging His power and His might, who hath, according to His mercy, so many times deliv- ered me out of every distress. For, notwithstanding the constant exposure to every shower of rain that fell, without covering over my head, and with no couch but the earth, and that at times soaked with wet; whilst harassed with fatiguing marches night after night, and with little rest by day; amidst hunger and thirst, being often short of food for days together, and occasionally no water to be had, without digging a well to procure it, to avoid the 28 MEMOIRS OF unwholesome waters of the stagnant pools ^ and al- though for several weeks together my clothes were never taken off but to renew a shirt, and my shoes but seldom off my weary feet; yet, through all, my health was not materially affected till near the ap- proach of winter. But, in the above description, not one half has been told of that marvellous mercy which was still extended for my preservation, when many fell by the sword, or were taken captives by the enemy; when thousands were swept off' by pes- tilence ; and, whilst unhurt myself, I saw the wounds of others bleed. Once, whilst gone to Helvoetsluyg in search of some baggage, I entirely missed a con- test, in which our regiment was deprived of twenty- eight men ; and-^when at last overwhelmed with sick- ness and distress, the same Divine and compassionate arm of everlasting love and strength was still under- neath to bear up my helpless head, and in His own time to rescue me from the very jaws of death, to celebrate His praise, and to declare, in humble thankfulness and gratitude of soul, ' His wonderful works to the children of men.^ DANIEL WHEELER. 29 CHAPTER III. PRESERVED FROM DANGER IN THE FIELD OF BATTLE AT- TACKED BY FEVER HOSPITAL TREATMENT — REMARK- ABLE RECOVERY — RETREAT OF THE ARMY RETURN TO ENGLAND. ^^As the winter approached, the health of the troops began to fail to an alarming and awful extent, from exposure to cold rains, which fell almost daily; and yet we were compelled to keep the field, being constantly on the retreat before the greatly superior force of the enemy. As we drew near the walls of Nimeguen, the British forces made a stand, probably to afford time foi preparing a floating-bridge across the Waal, to secure our retreat behind that river. At the same time, the French used every effort in their power to intercept our retreat, by endeavouring to get between us and Nimeguen, which, from the strength of its fortifications, was capable of affording a cover for several days, or until our army had passed in safety over the bridge. The last two or three > days the contest between the two armies became more severe, by the continual arrival of fresh divisions of the French at this point : on the last day the cannon scarcely ceased to roar f :om sun-rise to sun-set. The regiment to which I belonged was ordered on the reserve with three 3* 30 MEMOIRS OP others; two of wMcli were Britisli, . and the third Hanoverian. As the cannonade increased^ the first regiment of reserve was called upon, in two hours after the second summoned, and by eleven o'clock in the forenoon, the third. The direction from which the sound of the conflict issued, left no doubt that it was rapidly approaching the ground on which we stood ; and although, as the last reserve, we had not - been ordered to march, yet our tents were struck, and every thing prepared to move on the first alarm.* I had been ' going about in the wet for several days previous, without the practicability of obtaining dry clothes ; and this day being colder and more rainy than usual, with the increased exertion necessary on account of the threatening aspect of things close upon us, might hasten an illness, the foundation of which had already been deeply laid, and which began with shivering fits, just in the interval of waiting for the expected courier to call us to the field of slaughter. About three o'clock in the afternoon, a light dragoon arrived with a dispatch ; "but instead of its hastening us to the scene of action, it proved to be an order for us to join the rear of another regiment then retreat- ing towards Nimeguen. Our army, after sustaining for many hours with great loss the unequal Combat, was at length compelled to retire. Thus were we preserved when on the very brink of danger, in a manner as unlooked for as unmerited, from sharing •5^ Our expedition landed without any tents, but a supply was furnished about six weeks afterwards, I think whilst we were encamped on the plains of Breda. DANIEL WHEELER. 31 in the disasters of a day in whicli mucli human life was wasted, and which entailed great suffering and distress on many who survived it. After we had moved forward two or three miles, the coldness and shivering I had previously felt were succeeded by violent heat and fever, and my throat seemed almost closed up. For several days I had found swallowing very painful and difficult, from its extreme soreness ; but had taken little notice of it. In this condition I was still able to keep up with the body of the regi- ment; but, after entering the gates of Nimeguen, from the frequent stoppages which took place in the miry streets of the city, owing to accidents constantly occurring with the floating-bridge, occasioned by the fire of the French upon it, I became more and more affected with something of the cramp kind, which nearly prevented my standing upright. As the night drew- on, it became colder, and my pain increased, but I kept going on as well as I could : at length we came in sight of the bridge, when we were again stopped for some time. I was^ near the colours of the regiment, and an officer who carried one of them made some remarks to me about the bridge ; but feel- ing myself much worse, I told him I should never go over that bridge. He endeavoured to cheer me up, saying, that I should go over that and many more; but, however, my assertion proved correct; for, before the line again moved forward, I had left it, and was leaning against the wall of a house, no longer able to proceed, from increased illness. In this position I remained for some time; and 32 MEMOIRS OF after having painfully beheld the last of the rear of the regiment pass on and leave me behind^ there seemed to be no hope left, as the only men in the world from whom I could expect a helping hand were all out of sight. But, although apparently for- saken by all, and left to perish unseen and unknown, yet that ever-compassionate Arm, which had so often been with me in extremity, was again stretched put, and did not long allow me to remain in this deplorable' condition; but, in adorable mercy, my gracious Lord was pleased to put into the hearts of some of the regiment who knew the real cause of my absence, to send two of the men back to endeavour to find me out, and render every assis%nce in their power. As I had not gone from the place where I stopped, they had no difficulty in finding me, although it was by that time nearly dark; but as I could not possibly go forward to the regiment, they at last concluded to leave me in the hands of a picquet of cavalry, which was left to cover the retreat of the army through the city. Having helped me to the place, and left me in charge of the picquet, they made off with all haste to overtake their companions. Here the wife of a soldier gave me some ground pepper mixed with heated spirits ; and although,' from the state of my throat, I could scarcely swallow the fiery mixture, yet it proved useful, considerably relieving the pain in my stomach, and renewing the general warmth. As it was expected that the enemy would attack the batteries in the night (which however was not the case, although they kept up a heavy firing), I was DANIEL WHJEELER. 83 helped into a loft, to be out of tlie way; here I re- mained until the morning, and was then assisted on board of a galliot, provided for the reception of those who, like myself, were disabled by sickness or other causes. The hold of this vessel was filled with as many people as could lie close to each other : they were in the various stages of a violent epidemic dis- order; and, from the heat occasioned by so many being crowded together, the air was very oppressive, and difficult to breathe. Two other galliots of a similar description proceeded in company with us up the river, in hopes of getting round a neck of land at which the Waal and the Rhine unite. But al- though considerable exertions were made by the sail- ors, aided by such of the sick as were at all able to stand, of whom I made one, they had not succeeded in warping round the point, when a party of French hussars made their appearance on the shore. It was fully expected they would endeavour to prevent our escape, by opening a fire with cannon; but before they had time to bring any near enough to bear on us, we had got fairly into the current of the Ehine, and were soon beyond their reach. Being much exhausted, I went below, but soon became very ill from the closeness of the place. Whilst under this and other distressing circumstances, both of body and mind, one of our companions, who lay next but one to me, was removed by death from all his troubles ; and although none of us could expect, at the time, but that a similar fate would in all proba- bility soon overtake us, — yet, in my own case at 34 MEMOIRS OF least; notwithstanding I was worn down with fatigue and sickness, and without a glimpse of any thing to make life any longer desirable, except the fear of death, — still, nature could not- but feel appalled, when the dead body of a fellow-sufferer was dragged past, to be taken on to. the deck of the vessel. As the evening came on, I became much worse; and although the night was cold and frosty, I thought it better to get on- deck, where I could breathe more freely, rather than remain any longer below; accord- ingly three or four of the people helped me up, for I was now so faint for want of support, that I had scarcely any strength left. I remained on deck- all night, and got a little sleep; in the morning, the cold compelled me again to go below, but I felt a little refreshed, and better able to bear the closeness of the place, keeping near the hatchway, where there was a greater circulation of air. In two days more we arrived at Ehenin, a town close to the bank of the Ehine, where an old monastery was fitted up as an hospital for the British sick. Sometime after reaching this place, a person came on board the galliot to see if there were any amongst the newly-arrived sick with whom he was acquainted. He came down below, and, after looking round, was about going away, when I made what effort I could for some one to stop him. He had looked at me, amongst the rest; but I was so much reduced and altered in appearance that he had not recognised me, but passed by, although he had once known me very well. When brought back, he soon recollected me. DANIEL WHEELER. 35 and feelingly expressed great regret at finding liis old acquaintance in such a weak condition. He liad been a patient in this hospital himself, and when restored to health again, being found an active and useful person, he was retained as a ward-master for the benefit of others. Having had the fever, he was tolerably well acquainted with the best mode of treating it; and soon after finding me, he adminis- tered a small quantity of strong cordial, which had the desired efiect for a short time, by enabling me to get on shore. With his assistance I was conveyed to the hospital, where he soon procured one of the surgeons to examine me ; and being very desirous to render every assistance in his power, he suggested to him the propriety of giving some particular medi- cine, which had often proved useful in bad cases; to which the surgeon replied, not aware that I heard all that was passing between them, He will not want any thing long.^ By this it was evident that mine was considered a hopeless case ; which could not be wondered at, the disorder having been so fatal, that those who had recovered were said not to average more than one in fifty; and as my attack had been so long neglected, the conclusion was reasonable, al- though it did not prove correct. In a few days I was so much recruited as to be able to walk about the town ; but it was a distinguishing characteristic of this complaint, that having once had it was no secu- rity whatever against a second attack, and that those who got well through it the first, or perhaps the second time, were frequently its victims on the third 86 MEMOIRS OP encounter. 1 found by experience tliat this report was not without foundation; for instead of being fully restored to health again^ as for the fir^t few days seemed probable^ the disorder returned a second time, and with much more violent symptoms. As a state of high delirium soon came on, I was but a short time sensible of what transpired, after the ap- plication of a large blister; except the workings of a terrified imagination, some of the impressions of which, even at this distance of time, are not wholly obliterated from myt memory, so deeply and "strongly were they engraven. From the treatment which fol- lowed, when no longer delirious, the disorder, must have been of the nature of typhus; as at one time a liberal allowance per day of equal parts of brandy and port wine was given me, as hot as could well be ^ taken. How long this continued I am not aware, but I was confined to my bed for such a length of time, as to be wholly unable to move in any direc- tion, from extreme weakness ; and so generally was this the case in this disorder, that a man was ap- pointed in every ward to go round occasionally, to turn from one side to the other such of the patients as were incapable of turning themselves. I was at length brought so near the brink of the grave, that, to all appearance, no alteration for the better could be expected. I am not aware that I had even a wish to live ; but my mind was so recon- ciled to the prospect of death, which then seemed near and inevitable, that I had given my watch into the hands of the person who had visited the galliot, with a reauest that he would inform my family where DANIEL WHEELER. 37 I had ended my days. Indeed^ when some expecta- tion of recovery was at last held out, I could not help looking forward, with a feeling of regret, to the pro- bability of having again to encounter the series of hardships and distress to which I should unavoidably be subjected. As I regained a little strength, I began to take notice of the state of things around me ; and having daily heard a noise like that of a carpenter^s shop, I now ascertained the cause to be the nailing up of the coffins, each day, of those who had died in the last twenty-four hours ; and I found that the dead-house, or place where the dead were deposited previously to interment, when taken out of the wards, being opposite the windows of the room I was in, afforded full opportunity for my beholding the striking and affecting scene, which could not fail to excite feelings of horror and dismay in one so much enervated by the very disease which I now witnessed to be so fatal to others. The average number of deaths was twenty-seven in a day and night; but sometimes the number so increased, that the Dutch could not furnish coffins sufficient for the demand of the day; and then the method of sewing up the bodies in the bedding they had occupied, was re- sorted to. - Several wagon loads of bodies were car- ^ried off every afternoon for interment.^'^ * The accounts of the deplorable treatment of the sick, and of the disasters of the British army in their retreat to Bremen, as given in the Annual Register of 1795, more than confirm the description of the author of this biographical sketch. « 4 88 MEMOIRS OF When able to walk about the room with the assist- ance of my sticky it happened that the regiment to which I belonged was quartered in a village about two miles from the bank of the Rhine, opposite to that on which the hospital stood. Some of the offi- cers came over to ascertain for themselves whether any of the missing from their regiment were amongst the sick : at length they came into the ward where I was, and the second in command, with whom I was well acquainted, being with them, I requested his help to get me liberated from the hospital, telling him that I had no chance of becoming thoroughly well whilst in it, and of the danger to which I was constantly exposed of having another relapse. He immediately applied to some of the medical staff on duty, and conducted them to me through the wards; but it ended in his informing me that the doctors could not suffer my going out until farther recovered, as I was quite unfit for exposure. Not knowing how long I might be detained, I was now determined to make my escape on the first opportunity; and the next day being remarkably fine, I walked out two or three times into the air, though with much difficulty, The following morning I met with a person belong- ing to the regiment, who was going to join it again the same afternoon ; and, as we were well acquainted, I did not hesitate to disclose my intention of quitting the hospital in a clandestine manner, and resolved to accompany him, if possible. I returned again to the hospital, as at other times; ancL in the afternoon, as if going to take another walk, DANIEL WHEELER. 39 I proceeded to the river side; and the ferry-boat being just ready for setting off^ I got into if: undis- covered, and passed the Rliine, arriving at the village of Kesterne soon after dark the same evening, with- out taking cold, although the river was thickly frozen over, and a passage cut through the ice, to allow the ferry-boat to cross backwards and forwards. From this time I rapidly gathered strength, and at the end of a week was so much recruited, as to venture back to the hospital to see how those fared whom I had left behind ] at the same time, it is very probable, to show how I had fared myself ; without any fear of being detained, as I was evidently much stronger than when under their roof. To lessen the fatigue, I procured a horse for the excursion, and proceeded accordingly towards the river side. The risk I then ran, however unwarrantable, afforded me another opportunity of seeing the effect of a renewed attack of this dreadful disorder upon a Scotch sergeant of the Highland watch, who had had the fever twice, and both times recovered from it. He was a very stout man, and when I left the hospital appeared in perfect health and strength. In the interval of my absence, he had been seized with it a third time, and when I saw him, had nearly finished his course; he was speechless, and survived but a short time after- wards : I think this last time, he was ill only three days. .Although I escaped any farther infection, yet I was punished for my temerity before getting back again to Kesterne. After crossing the river in the boat, I had to pass through a small sheet of shallow 40 MEMOIRS OF water, which had been frozen, but was then broken up by the loaded wagons that passed that way. On getting up to it, I found it in a half-frozen state, the old ice not being sufficiently strongly united again to bear the horse, which refused to pass it; and on my urging him forward, he lay down with me in the water. It was with difficulty that I could extricate myself from him, and it is doubtful whether I should have succeeded, without the assistance of another person then at hand. In this wet condition I had a long distance to go, in a keen frosty night, in an open wagon, which the day following threatened a renewal of my illness ; but^ by the timely use of medicines, I was favoured, not according to my deserts, to escape without any serious indisposition. In looking back at the marvellous manner in which I was sustained through all this conflict, and again restored as one brought back from the dead, I cannot avoid adverting to that period of my illness when my mind felt so reconciled to the prospect of death, as before-mentioned ; and I now fully believe, from what I have since been mercifully favoured to experience, that so far from being in any degree prepared for such an awful event, a deceptive feeling -must have been superinduced by the state of torpor and insensibility in which I then was, and which totally benumbed any better feelings and desires as to the future. To this may be added a predominating fear of having to endure more of those Sufferings, of which I had had no small share ; which, the pro- bability of being again restored to health seemed to DANIELWHEELER. 41 banisli every hope of escaping. Truly awful is the thought which this view of my then lost condition occasions, when I contemplate the woe and misery which must have been my eternal portion, if unutter- able mercy and long-suffering had been withdrawn ; and if the soul had been required of one who had witnessed no repentance towards God the Judge of all, except what at times the fear of punishment had extorted; and who was a stranger to that saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as the ' Lamb of Grod that taketh away the sin of the world' — without which, His precious blood would have been shed in vain for me : — I should thus have died in my sins, which, unrepented of, would have followed after to judgment, in terrible array against my guilty soul; and yet when my end was apparently so near and inevitable, if such questions as are frequently pro- posed on the like occasions had been put to me, I have little doubt but satisfactory answers would have been returned, as to my belief and hope in the essen- tial truths of the gospel. But, alas ! this would have been from hearsay and traditional report, and not from any heartfelt saving knowledge of my own; for it is now plain to my understanding, that no man can have saving faith in Jesus Christ, who is unac- quainted with, and does not walk in, the light of that Divine Spirit, which is so justly styled the Spirit of faith. It is through this alone that the death and sufferings of Christ and his whole sacrifice for sin are availing, and truly applied to all those who through faith lay hold of Him, the true Light and 4* 42 MEMOIRS OF Saviour of them that believe in His inward and spiritual appearance. These can say to others^ from sensible and blessed experience : ' Behold the Lamb of G od, that taketh away the sin of the world : ^ they have received the atonement by Him^ and they reap the glorious fruit and benefit of His death and suffering for sin, by the sacrifice of Himself, and of His resurrection and ascension; in that He ever liveth to make intercession for those who are thus willing to come unto God by Him. A. man may yield an assent to all the great and solemn truths of Christianity, — the miraculous birth, holy life, cruel sufferings, ignominious death, and glorious re- surrection and ascension of our blessed Redeemer; — he may believe, in the abstract, in His inward and spiritual appearance in the hearts of mankind by His Holy Spirit; and yet he may fall short of the prize immortal, unless he comes to witness the saving operation of the Holy Spirit in his own heart, and to know thereby, through faith in it, a purifying pre- paration for the kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. How can I sufficiently appreciate or declare the extent of the endless mercy which suffered me not to perish in the midst of my sins, when so many were swept away by the same pestilential disorder! After having mentioned the facts connected with my sickness and recovery, it seems only due, however feeble on my part the effort, to endeavour to com- memorate such gracious dealings with humble grati- tude and reverence; earnestly desiring that no motive DANIEL WHEELER. 43 whatever may be allowed to prevail with me for making the attempt, but that of promoting the glory and honour of the Great Name; that others may know, and fear, and believe in the all-sufficiency of that power which hath ^ showed me the path of life,' and which alone can bless for their instruction what has been written, to press the necessity of contend- ing for that saving faith ^once delivered to the saints/ Without it, all religious profession is a dream, a shadow, and a doubt ) but with it, a glo- rious reality; — yea, ^the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,' — even the salvation of the soul, through Christ Jesus our Lord. Whilst the severity of the winter greatly facilitated the operations of the French army, by enabling them to cross the frozen rivers without difficulty, and at almost any given point; so it contributed most effect- ually to harass the diminished numbers of the re- treating British forces. It was the more felt from the scarcity of provisions, occasioned by the inhabi- tants withholding from us every supply, in compliance with the intimidating threatenings of our victorious enemy; so that we frequently could not procure needful food even for money, whilst our opponents were supplied by the terrified householders at free cost. In some places, the inhabitants openly declared they were withholding their provisions for the supply of the French, aware of the cruel treatment they should witness at their hands, if unable to provide for them when they arrived; although they consi- 44 MEMOIRS OF dered ttie Eritisli to be their friends, and were well treated by them. Before I left the hospital at Ehenin, the French had approached so near, that the windows of the place frequently shook with the discharge of their artillery. Sometimes a wagon load of the wounded English would arrive at the hospital ; when many, whose recovery would in a healthy situation have been speedy and almost certain, were carried off in a few days by the infectious disorder which prevailed at the place; and, from the disastrous issue of the campaign, however greatly this was to be deplored, it could not be avoided. We were not long permitted to remain at Kesterne, before being obliged to move towards the north of Holland; when the town of Ehenin, with the hospital, fell into the hands of the enemy. Soon after this event, the frost became more intense ; and the Dutch could no longer make graves for the interment of the dead, but piled the coffins • upon each other in great numbers, until a thaw took place. Although my strength was considerably recruited before we left Kesterne, I was yet very unequal to the subsequent exposure, having to pass great part of the first night in the frost, after leaving that place ; but although I slept in a cart with a canvass tilt, I do not remember taking cold, or otherwise experiencing any injurious effects, either then or afterwards, beyond what might have been expected from great fatigue and improper diet, there being at that time little to be procured, but coarse black bread DANIEL WHEELER. 45 and ardent spirits. During this harassing march, at such an inclement season, many of the poor men lost parts of their toes, by imprudently sitting down in the frost for too long a time at once, and from not having their feet properly protected. I can well remember having been so wearied myself, as to come to the determination to sit down, and risk the con- sequence, although fuHy aware of the danger of falling asleep in such circumstances; but I was prompted by a secret impulse to resist the inclina- tion, although nearly overcome with fatigue; then after moving about a while longer, I have again begun to -give way, but still struggled on. And when at last it seemed as if human nature must give up, the thought of relations in England, as if I had had a home, would cross my mind, and stimulate me to try again in hope, until something has occurred to bring relief, and shelter, and repose. Perhaps, if more food could have been procured, the propensity to sleep, which exposure to cold occasioned, would have been irresistible. In this manner the winter wore away; but at length we got so far out of the reach of the French, .as to allow a longer space of time for rest at each place we arrived at. The cold weather continued until we reached the banks of the river Weser; when the retreating wreck of our army was unex- pectedly cheered with a sight of the mast-heads of the British fleet lying off Bremen-leke, and waiting to convey it from the shores of the continent, where it had witnessed so much distress, wasting, and de- 46 MEMOIRS OF stmction — to be attributed mucli more to hardsHps, fatigue, and pestilence, than to the sword of the'^ enemy, although greatly superior to us in strength, and possessing local advantages of which we were wholly destitute/' IHere ends the Author's Uogra;phical sketch of his own life.'] DANIEL WHEELER. 47 CHAPTER IV. SAILS WITH HIS REGIMENT TO THE WEST INDIES — WONDERFUL PRESERVATION — SERIOUS IMPRESSIONS — RETURNS TO ENG- LAND CONVINCED OF FRIENDS' PRINCIPLES BECOMES A MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY SETTLES IN BUSINESS — HIS MARRIAGE ACKNOWLEDGED AS A MINISTER. No biograpliical memoranda appear to have been made by Daniel Wheeler for many years subsequent to this period. In the autumn of 1795 he obtained a commission in a regiment destined for the West Indies^ and sailed with the expedition appointed to this service under Sir Ealph Abercrombie. After a most stormy and disastrous passage^ they were once in sight of the islands^ but were driven back by a dreadful hurricane, in which several of the vessels foundered, and great numbers of the troops perished. A malignant fever also raged with fatal violence among the crews of the fleet; and in the ship in which he had embarked, twenty-seven fell victims to it within a short interval. Daniel Wheeler experienced a remarkable preser- vation at this time, to which he often referred, as a merciful interposition of an overruling Providence in his behalf. The vessel in which he was appointed to sail, and which was considered a remarkably fine one, was crowded, from the preference given to her 48 MEMOIRS OP by many of the officers. After they had been some weeks at sea, a collier (being one of the vessels hired as transports) coming alongside, he proposed to one of his friends that they should go on board of her. His fellow-officers ridiculed the idea of preferring an old collier to the noble ship in which they were; but he and his friend persisted, and transferred them- selves to her. The same evening a hurricane arose, and the vessel they had quitted was never heard of afterwards. In connection with this period, he remarked to a friend, on being questioned as to the means made use of in the Divine hand for effecting ^ a new birth unto righteousness' in his heart, that he could not remem- ber any outward means having been employed, unless incjeed he -might except a storm at sea, during which his mind was deeply affected; and when under a feeling of his lost condition by nature, he was mer- cifully enabled also to see the remedy, and the entire spirituality of the gospel dispensation. ^^I was at this time convinced,'^ he says, ^^of Friends' princi- ples, they being neither more nor less, in my estima- tion, than pure Christianity. When Friends visited me, on my application for membership, I told them I was convinced at sea ; for I verily believed, in look- ing back, that this had been the case: no human means were made use of ; it was altogether the im- mediate work of the Holy Spirit upon my heart.'' He resolved that, if again permitted to reach the shore, he would endeavour to lead a life of more circumspection, and which should tend to the glory DANIEL WHEELER. 49 of Grod, wlio had thus so mercifully visited him by His free grace. Becoming dissatisfied with the mili- tary profession^ he quitted the army in the early part of the year 1796. He now became an inmate in the family of his eldest sister, who had married a member of the Society of Friends, and having become convinced of their religious principles, had united herself to them. Here his mind was renewedly impressed with the great importance of Divine truth. The little meeting which he attended in the early part of his religious course, that of Handsworth Woodhouse, was usually held in silence ; and he was often known to refer to some of those solemn seasons, as times of peculiar instruction to his mind, in which the power of the Lord was sensibly felt and His truth revealed. Being made a partaker of the great privilege enjoyed by those who are of the flock of Christ, in being enabled to distinguish between the voice of the Grood Shepherd and that of the stranger, he was earnestly desirous that obedience should keep pace with knowledge. He waited patiently upon the Lord for instruction in his various stoppings, and being brought into a state of deep humility and prostration of spirit, he was made sensible that the only path in which he could walk with safety was that of self- denial. Much mental conflict was at this season his portion; but peace was only to be obtained by the entire surrender of the will ; and in conformity with what he believed to be required of him, he adopted the plain dress of the Society of Friends. 50 MEMOIRS OF In the year 1797 he was received into membership with that Society^ and about the same time he en- gaged in the seed trade^ at ShejBBield. By the Divine blessing on his exertions, he soon succeeded in ob- taining a business fully adequate to his moderate desires. It was his daily practice, at those intervals when the attendance in his shop could be dispensed with, if but for a few minutes at a time, to retire to a small apartment behind it, and in a prayerful spirit' to explore the contents of the sacred volume : the light which shone upon many passages, as he read, and the clear and strong views of religious truth which were then unfolded to his seeking soul, were such as greatly to confirm his faith, and strengthen him to persevere in that strait and narrow path into which his feet had been so mercifully turned. The study of many of the prophetical books of Holy Writ was at this time the means of great comfort and encouragement to him ; and the extensive and accu- rate knowledge of these parts of Scripture for which he was afterwards conspicuous, was then chiefly ac- quired. It was his uniform practice, from his first commencement in trade, to close his shop during the hours of worship on week-days; and though this must have required a strong exercise of faith, at a time when his future support seemed to depend on his assiduity and exertion, he was never satisfied to neglect the worship of Almighty God from the pros- pect of any outward advantage; and he has often expressed his belief that a blessing had rested on this sacrifice of apparent interest to duty DANIEL WHEELER. 51 In the year 1800 he was married to Jane Brady^ of Thorne — a union productive of mucli solid hap- piness to both. She possessed pre-eminently the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which was happily associated with a degree of firmness and moral courage that enabled her to meet calmly, in after life, trials and difficulties of no ordinary kind, and led her cheerfully to unite in every step her beloved husband felt called to take, whatever sacrifice it might involve. Daniel Wheeler was watchful to prevent his busi- ness from engrossing more of his thoughts than was consistent with his higher duties. Finding his trade to increase, and demand a closer attention than he felt satisfied to give, he thought it his duty to -relin- quish a very profitable portion of it, and engage in agricultural pursuits. Farther impressions of duty 'led him entirely to give up the business he had so successfully established, believing that it would con- duce to his present peace and future well-being. ^^Not,'' he says, ^Hhat I have acquired a sufficiency without doing something for a livelihood ; far from it. I have still a prospect of maintaining my family comfortably, with care and industry, leaving the event to Him who knows the thoughts and intents of the heart; and though my income will be smaller than it is at present, my expenses will be smaller in proportion. I have no desire to accumulat-e riches for my children ; the blessing seldom attends it, .and the baneful effects thereof are too often visible even in our Society.^' 52 MEMOIRS OF In connection with this important change, the following pious reflections are recorded : Forasmuch as it has pleased Almighty Grod^ in His unutterable mercy and great condescension, in so eminent a manner to rescue my soul from the paths of vice and inevitable destruction^ it seems incumbent upon me, in gratitude for such an unspeakable favour, to endeavour, as much as in me lieth, to make all the return I am capable of; and, as much as possible, through His Divine assistance, to dedicate the residue of my days to so gracious and merciful a Creator. I have at seasons, for some years past, when it has pleased the Lord to humble me and make me sen- sible of my extreme unworthiness, been made willing to make a surrender of my life and my all to Him and His Divine disposal; and the query has often been raised in my heart, what shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits towards me? As I* have from time to time endeavoured to dwell near, and abide in and under, the calming influence of His power, I have been led to believe, that something sooner or later would be required as a sacrifice on my part; and having for a considerable time past . been fully convinced, not only from my own feelings, but from impressions made upon my mind by divers testimonies borne by exercised Friends, of the neces- sity of separating myself as much as may be from ' the world and from the things of the world ; and having felt the force of our Lord's declaration on the Mount, ^ Ye cannot serve God and Mammon,^ I am sensible that the time is at hand for me to put into DANIEL WHEELER. 53 practice what I believe to be an indispensable duty. After having experienced such a wonderful and great deliverance from the power of sin and Satan^ even as a ^ brand plucked out of the burning/ it cannot be supposed that the remainder of my life ought to be spent in the hurry and. bustle of busi- ness of any kind^ and particularly in one which has so much increased as to require more attention than I am capable of paying to it^ even if I had no claims of a higher and more important nature to attend to. I have frequently thought^ of late^ that taking an active partner might answer the end intended, and be a means of removing part of the weight and care from off my shoulders, and at the same time set me at liberty to attend distant meetings, and take exer- cise in the open air, which my health very much requires; but having given this a solid consideration, I have found that it would only be doing things by halves, as great responsibility and anxiety would still rest upon me : it would seem also like making a re- serve of the best of the sheep, and the best of the oxen, the bleating and lowing of which would be continually in my ears.^^ For a number of years, the impression was strong upon his mind, that he should be called to the work of the ministry; but, in connection with this feeling, he was long harassed with doubts and fears. He was not rebellious, but his faith was weak ; he earnestly desired to have indubitable evidence that such was indeed the will of his Lord and Master; but He who knew the sincerity of his heart, graciously conde- 5 * 54 MEMOIRS OF scended^ in His own good time, to leave him without a doubt on this important subject. He underwent deep baptisms of spirit; indeed, such were his men- tal conflicts, that his health materially suffered. In referring to this circumstance at a subsequent period, he remarked to a friend, that he regarded it as an especial blessing to him ; for sometimes he slept lit- tle, and frequently his nights were spent in prayer; at other times, prayer being his last engagement pre- vious to consigning himself to sleep, he found in the morning, to use his own expression, his ^' mind still covered with the same precious influence. I think,^^ he added, I at that time knew in measure what it was to ^ stand continually upon the watch-tower in the day-time, and to be set in my ward whole nights.^ His mind at this time appeared to be particularly impressed with the feeling of the great uncertainty of time ; so that he has been heard to acknowledge, that for months together he seldom lay down in bed without endeavouring to commit his soul into the hands of the Lord, feeling it very un- certain whether he should be permitted to see the morning's light. In reference to this period, a dear friend remarks : Of that time, and of many months previous to his appearance as a minister, my recollec- tion is very ciear. We were then confidential friends, and often together; and during the lapse of years that has intervened, I have frequently reverted to it. The exercise which then attended him almost bore- down the natural cheerfulness of his disposition ; he was so serious, so humble, so watchful, lest at any DANIEL WHEELER. ^ 55 time lie should be thrown off his guard in the free- dom of conversation; and lest he should dissipate the influence of that heavenly love and goodness which often filled his mind, and led him into holy covenant with his Lord. He one day took me to a small field nearly surrounded by trees, on the §outh side of his house, where he told me he was accus- tomed to retire alone, at an early hour of the morn- ing and late in the evening, and often at noon, when at home — thus adopting the resolution of David, ^Evening and morning and at noon will I pray:^ the spiritual communion he witnessed there, and at many other times, would strengthen him, no doubt, in his earnest endeavour to perform the will of his Divine Master. Yet it was only from his deportment that I judged my dear friend to be under preparation for the work of the ministry. He spoke of that exercise to no one ; and when our friend Sarah Lam- ley, who visited families in Sheffield in the summer of 1813, and, in the sitting with his family, told him she was sensible that he was called to that important work, his dear wife heard it with extreme surprise.^' Sitting in meeting on one occasion, he was parti- cularly impressed with the language of our Saviour after he had cleansed the leper: ^ Were there not ten cleansed, but where are the nine ? I tell you there are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.' The remembrance that he had ever read such a passage in the sacred volume was entirely obliterated from his mind; he thought he felt the requisition of duty to address it to the meeting, but 56 ^• MEMOIRS OF he w^s perplexed ; he knew not at the time where it was to be found ; he gave way to reasoning, his de pendence not being simply on the Lord alone; and, in great distress of mind, he allowed the meeting to break up. He hastened home, and, opening his Bibl^, the first passage that met his eye was : ' Were there not ten cleansed,' etc. He was deeply affected ; he entered renewedly into covenant with the Lord, that if He would be pleased again to visit him, he would be more faithful; and when again he felt the requisition, he was strengthened in much brokenness to comply, A sweet and inexpressible feeling of peace was mercifully permitted to follow this sacri- fice, confirming to his mind that it was indeed a sacrifice prepared of the Lord. In the year 1816 he was acknowledged as a minister in the Society of Friends, DANIEL WHEELER. 57 CHAPTER V. PROSPECT OF DUTY IN RUSSIA GOES TO PETERSBURG INTERVIEW WITH PRINCE GALITZIN AND THE EMPEROR : — ENGAGES WITH THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT TO SUPER- INTEND AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENTS — RETURNS HOME AND AGAIN EMBARKS FOR RUSSIA WITH HIS FAMILY WILLIAM ALLEN AND STEPHEN GRELLET. Through what appeared very plainly to be a Divine guidance, the thoughts of Daniel Wheeler had been turned towards visiting Eussia. For years it had rested on his mind that he would be required to go abroad; and while one day pacing up and down in his parlour, he was led to cry earnestly to the Lord to point out the place where He would have him to go. One of his children was at the time putting together a dissected map, and as his father looked at it his eye rested on Petersburg, ,with such an intimation that thither his Divine Master would send him, that he never afterwards doubted. The impressions which induced him to give up his trade and become an agriculturist, assume, in con- nection with what is now to be related, a striking interest. In this occupation he had succeeded so well as to excite the admiration of the neighbour- hood in which he resided. His practical skill de- monstrated that his talents in this direction were of a superior kind. 58 MEMOIRS OF In 1814 the Emperor of Eussia visited England, and was much struck with the perfection of the English system of farming. A visit to the farm of a Friend, on the Brighton lload, particularly impressed him. Several years after his return to Russia, he determined to drain and cultivate a large tract of marsh and waste land near Petersburg, and wrote to Eng- land for a suitable manager, expressing his wish that he might be a member of the Society of Friends. The information being received by a Friend of Sheffield, he at once concluded to consult Daniel Wheeler respecting it. To his great surprise, he perceived the decided impression made by the intel- ligence, which was increased the next morning by D. W. calling to say that for two years past he had been preparing for this situation, and that he had decided to offer himself for it. In a paper subsequently addressed to an official person in Petersburg, we find the following account of this remarkable intimation of the Divine will, in his own language : "EightJi Month, im, 1817. It seems altogether unnecessary to preface what I am about to state in this memorial, seeing that the truth never did and never will need any apology. I shall therefore proceed by observing, that it is now two years and a half since the subject of visiting Russia, and rendering myself useful in promoting the happiness of its numerous inhabitants, was pre- sented to the view of my mind by that inward prin- ciple of light and grace, a manifestation of which is DANIEL WHEELER. 59 given to every man to profit withal^ in wliich I be- lieve ; and Petersburg was the place pointed out to me as the scene of my operations. It was^ I must acknowledge^ a prospect at which I was ready to shudder ; for^ although we may at times feel a will- ingness, and even profess it, to go with our Lord and Master into prison and unto death, yet such is the frailty and weakness of human nature, that when the trying hour cometh, like Simon Peter, we are ready to deny Him. But He, who is touched with a feel- ing and compassionate sense of our manifold infirmi- ties, I trust saw that it was not wilful disobedience, but human weakness ; and He who only knoweth the thoughts and intents of the heart, — yea, from whom ^the darkness hideth not, but the night shineth as the day, — the darkness and the light [being] both alike to Him,^ — in adorable condescension and mercy, doth at seasons qualify his poor, dependent, humble followers, acceptably to breathe the aspiration, ^ Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee.' However, I must honestly confess, that at the time I could not possibly devote myself to such an undertaking; for I am certain, that no .earthly consideration whatever could have induced me to leave my beloved wife and tender children ; but He who ^ bloweth with His wind, and the waters flow' — at whose touch the mountains of opposition melt down and vanish — hath by His wonder-working ^ power reduced my mind to a willingness to go, whensoever and wheresoever He is pleased to lead, and to do whatsoever He is pleased to call for. 60 MEMOIRS OF Some time after this^ as I was returning home late one evening, I had a sense of invitation after this manner: ^What if the Emperor of Hussia should want a person for the superintendence of agricuL ture — at which time a willingness was begotten in my mind to go, if that should be the case; but when, or in what manner, this was to come to pass, was totally hidden from me. The frequent conflict of soul I had to pass through, none can conceive or have an idea of, but those who have been alike cir- cumstanced ; all which was permitted in infinite wis- dom, for the subjection of the natural will, and is what I verily believe all must pass through, before they can in sincerity of heart say, ^Not my will, but Thine be done/ In this manner I was prepared for this great event, and I cannot but record it, as a great and signal event in the life of a private individual; for, when a letter was received from Eussia by Eichard Phillips of London, a copy of which was sent to a Friend in Sheffield, and by him handed directly to me, it did not create any surprise, as I was in a state of prepa- ration to receive it, and in daily expectation of some- thing important coming to pass/^ A visit, preparatory to the removal of his family to the vicinity of Petersburg, was made by Daniel Wheeler towards the close of the Sixth month, 1817. At this time he was introduced to the Prince Glalit- zin. . . . ^^For this interview,'' he says, ^'1 had little time to spare for preparations, but had not many to make, having no clothes but what I landed in, my DANIEL WHEELER. 61 lu^-oao-e havino: been detained at the custom-house. I was accordingly conducted to the splendid mansion of the Prince, the entrance and marble staircase of which were well lined with attendants; in whose countenances surprise and anger were evidently de- picted, at my assurance in keeping on my hat. We waited a short time in an open gallery, as the Prince was engaged ; and took a turn into a spacious room, the walls of which were hung with pictures of all the imperial family of Russia, from the first to the last. In a short time a messenger came to say that the Prince was at liberty; when we were ushered into his apartment, of ample size. The Prince came forward, and met us in a very courteous manner; and on introducing me-, he took me by the hand, and we retired to the back part of the room, and sat down at the end of a writing-table. He asked many questions, with great affability, in Rus- sian ; my companion interpreting betwixt us. Amongst others, he inquired what family I had, which being answered, he wished to know whether I would bring them all with me, if I came to reside in Eussia. I said, ^Yes; I should not leave a hoof behind;^ at which he seized my hand, and expressed his satisfac- tion. He then inquired how I should do, as there was no place of worship for me, no meeting, no society — how was that ? I told him the worship of Almighty God was not confined either to time ox place; that it is neither in this mountain, nor at Jerusalem; but in every place incense should be offered to His name, and a pure offering. After 6 62 MEMOIRS OF pausing a little, lie desired the sentence miglit be thorouglily explained to him. He then seemed quite to understand it, bowing his head in a reverent man- ner, and appeared to ponder over it. In the midst of this, I found my mind drawn into silence; but the Prince kept asking question after question, as if afraid of losing time : my answers were now very short; and at last I endeavoured to explain to my companion the situation I was in, but could not make him understand me, The conversation then turned to agriculture, and the soil of the neighbourhood, and to the Emperor ; but as a burden still remained with me, I cannot recollect all he said, or what an- swers I made him. At last, we rose from our seats as with one accord ; but before the Prince had time to bid me farewell in his way, I found my time was come : and I was enabled to declare unto him the everlasting foundation, — even Christ Jesus, the rock of ages, — who was ^ to the J ews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness;' but to them that obey His gospel inwardly revealed in the secret of their hearts, Christ crucified, the power of God, and the wisdom of God unto salvation. -As I stopped at the end of every sentence, my companion interpreted, as if he had been accustomed to the work, and might have knowji what he was going to do. After we had finished, we stood like statues for a short time ; and on my moving, as if I was at liberty, the Prince took me by the hand, saying : ^ Although our languages are dilferent, the language of the Spirit is the same.^ He held my hand till we got near the door, when I DANIEL WHEELER. 63 bade him farewell, and departed, comparatively as liaht as a feather. I cannot but admire bow I was guided ; for in delivering what was upon me to the Prince, at the . end of every sentence all was taken from me, as if I should have nothing farther to say; but when had had sufficient time to interpret, then a supply was again vouchsafed. Whereas, if I could have proceeded, as it were, without stopping, I should have overpowered the interpreter, and the work would have been marred altogether. Thus the blind are guided in ways that they know not, and in paths that they have not seen ; but truly the pillars of my tabernacle were mightily shaken. May I ever be preserved in that humility through which alone the grateful heart can bless His holy name, ^ who re- deemeth our lives from destruction, and crowneth us with loving kindness and tender mercies T A few weeks later, he received a message that the Emperor was prepared to meet him at the lodgings of the Prince. He was conducted, at the appointed time, with much ceremony, to the apartment of the Emperor, who took him by the hand, and invited him to be seated. I was not, however,^^ says D. Wheeler, quite ready to sit down ; for the salutation arose in my heart of ^ Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, upon the noble Emperor,' etc. As I proceeded, I took off my hat, and the Emperor stood quite still imtil I had finished, when we both sat down. He had several questions to ask, and expressed his sur- prise and satisfaction at the manner in which I had 64 MEMOIRS OF been led into Kussia. He mentioned my memorial, and I think touched upon every particular head dis- tinctly, and said he agreed to the whole. I then gave him a paper I had ready in my pocket-book, which brought the peculiar principles of our Society into view : this he read, and questioned me about all of them, which gave time to clear myself fully I had a good deal to say to him on silent waiting — I remember my last words were the expression of a desire that attended my mind, ' that when time shall rob thee of thy earthly crown, an inheritance incor- ruptible and undefiled — a crown immortal — may be thy happy portion/ He held my hand fast in his for some time, and did not utter another word/' Having entered into an agreement with the Em- peror, Daniel Wheeler returned to England to make the necessary preparation ; and embarked again for Russia, with his family and assistants, in the Sixth month of 1818. After a favourable voyage, they landed, and were soon after settled in the habitation provided on the banks of the river Neva, in the vicinity of Petersburg. During the next long ^nd darksome winter, they were often cheered in their lonely dwelling by the visits of Vf illiam Allen and Stephen Grellet, who were then engaged on a reli- gious mission to Russia, and remained several months in Petersburg, being there diligently occupied in promoting the introduction of scriptural instruction into the public schools, under the sanction of the Emperor Alexander. In a letter to a Friend in England, D. Wheeler DANIEL WHEELER. 65 says respecting them : They have had a narrow path to tread in, yet are well satisfied with their labours here, though they have been in a different way from what is customary with those who move on such errands; they have truly been led in paths that they knew not, and in ways they had not seen, to their own admiration, and to the praise of the great and excellent Name. They left us ten days ago, with minds full of peace, beloved and regretted by all who had the happiness to become acquainted with them. The stream of gospel love which was at sea- sons permitted to flow, when channels were open to receive it, has made, I believe, an impression on the mmds of some which will never he obliterated, and which has clearly evinced ^ whose servants they are' They were, I think, of all men the most fit to move m such a work, in such a place, and under such cir- cumstances. I saw them set off from the city just at the edge of dusk, in a covered sledge, in the midst of a heavy snow-storm/' 6* 66 MEMOIRS 0¥ CHAPTER VI. AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENTS — ADDRESS TO BALBY MONTHLY MEETING CONFERENCE WITH THE EMPEROR — GREAT FLOOD AT PETERSBURG DEATH OF THE EMPEROR, ANI> ACCESSION OF HIS BROTHER NICHOLAS. During the spring and summer of 1819^ great J progress was made in tlie improyement of the waste and marshy lands placed under the care of Daniel Wheeler. By skilful drainage and cultiyation they were gradually covered with luxuriant crops. The Emperor and Empress visited them^ and expressed their gratification. One who was asked about their improvement said : " If the Lord had not given the man wisdom to do it^ it would have been a morass still.^^* * These lands consisted chiefly of certain parcels in the immediate vicinity of Petersburg, the cultivation of which to private enterprise appeared impracticable, on account of their barrenness, or their marshy nature. At the time of B. Wheeler's departure, in 1832, about three thousand English acres were iu full cultivation, on part of which fif- teen farms had been established, varying in extent from 35 to 105 acres each. About 2700 acres more had been drained, the cultivation being either left in other hands, or was in progress when D. W. resigned his appointment. Besides the improvement thus elFected in the neighbourhood of the capital, the most satisfactory evidence of the utility of the DANIEL WHEELER. 67 It was the custom of the country to hold their principal markets on the First day of the week. Against this practice Daniel Wheeler made a decided stand, and would not suffer any business to be trans- acted on that day by those under his control. Meet- ings for Divine worship were regularly held on First and Fifth days; and, by correspondence, he continued his connection with the monthly meeting of Friends in England (Balby) of which he was a member. The following is selected from one of these ad- dresses to Balby Monthly Meeting : " The trumpet has often sounded amongst us, my dear friends ; but the alarming sound of late waxeth stronger and stronger; sufficiently so, I trust, to arouse those who have long regardlessly heard it. I would fain dismiss this painful subject, but in attempting to do so, sad- ness covers my mind, and fear begins to show itself, lest I should be found wanting in my duty to any, if such there are, who have long been neglecting the great business of their lives, and, instead thereof, pursuing with avidity those things which perish with the using. Alas ! what will be the situation of these in a day that is fast approaching, when the heavens shall depart as a scroll when it is rolled together; when every false delight will appear in its true colours, and nothing will be left for the poor mind to rest upon, not so much as a small island in the undertaking has been afforded by the extensive adoption of various implements and methods of culture heretofore unknown to Russia, and by the consideration which agri- culture and rural economy in general had obtained. MEMOIRS OF midst of this sea of perplexity and trouble — not a single act of dedication to the Lord's righteous cause .of Truth upon the earth to reflect upon, when those things that have occupied the heart will serve only as memorials of past folly. Let such be en- treated by one who long hovered on destruction's brink, and who hath known the terrors of the Lord for sin and disobedience ; and under a sense thereof, is now most earnestly desirous that others may take warning, and thereby shun the fatal snares which keep the soul in bondage and in darkness. Let such be persuaded to seek the Lord ^ while he may be found,' and endeavour to redeem the past and pre- cious time, — to acquaint themselves with God, and be at peace, — to come to the knowledge of Him in the secret of their own souls, who is ^ the way, the truth, and the life/ — whom to know is life eternal; who willeth not the death of a sinner, but that all should repent, return, and live. Then let me beseech you, in the love of Him who died for us and rose again, for the peace of your never-dying souls, to accept the gracious invitation, ^be ye reconciled to God,' before it be too late, and the things that belong to your peace are hid for ever from your eyes. There is another class to whom my attention is now turned, for whose best welfare I feel an afi'ec- tionate and tender solicitude; in whose hearts the babe immortal hath been mercifully begotten, creating therein new desires and breathings after soul-sustain- ing food ; whose spiritual eyes are in a good degree opened to behold the beauty and excellency that DANIEL WHEELER. 69 dwell in the everlasting and unchangeable Truth. To you^ my dear Friends^ many of whom are young in years, my heart and pen are now directed, ear- nestly desiring your preservation in the alone path, that most assuredly leads to peace in this world, and in that which is to come ; may nothing be suffered to turn you aside therefrom, but may you be strength- ened stedfastly to contend for the like precious faith, which was once delivered to the saints — that inesti- mable gift of Grod, that life of the just, that sub- stance of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen, ' without which it is impossible to please God,' and of which Christ Jesus is not only the holy author, but the blessed jGinisher. Here let us make a pause, lest any should spend their precious time, that treasure of eternal consequence, in vain. This most necessary and heavenly gift cannot be obtained from man, nor from the doctrines of any set of men. ' What saith the great apostle ? — ^ Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.' Have not all heard ? Yes, verily, the blessed sound hath gone forth from sea to sea, from shore to shore, and from the river to the uttermost ends of the earth. But let none be misguided by an imposing appella- tion given, I sometimes fear by design, to the Holy Scriptures, styling them Hhe Word of God.' Al- though the Holy Scriptures are replete with the most sublime truths — the book of books, wonderfully preserved from the earliest ages of time, ^ giveu by inspiration of God,' and ^ profitable for correction, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness, that the man 70 MEMOIRS OF of Grod may be perfect^ thoroughly furnislied unto all good works/ and ' are able to make wise unto salva- tion/ — ^yet let us mark what folio ws^ — it is ' through faith which is in Christ Jesus/ For some of you this explanation may not be needful^ but for me it is safe. Faith cometh then by that all-creative Word which was with the Father before the worlds were ; ' all things were made by Him^ and without Him was not any thing made that was made' — who in the beginning changed the wild chaos, when it was with- out form and void, into habitable earth — -who spake, and the worlds were made ] and it is by this Divine Word alone that we must all be. changed from a state of nature to a state of grace, and renewed again into the heavenly image that man was in before he by transgression fell. Behold then the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, the root and offspring of David, the bright and morning star! Behold the marvellous display of everlasting love ! the all-powerful, saving Word, the blessed medium by which faith and hearing come, is nigh in the heart and in the mouth, as saith the apostle. Search, then, my dearly beloved Friends; seek, and I humbly pray the Father of mercies that you may be favoured to find. Be of good courage; humble yourselves before God; ask in the language of unceasing prayer, and you shall receive; knock, with earnest, faithful desires, and the door of boundless mercy shall be opened unt^ you. ^ For every one that asketh, receiveth ; and he that seeketh, findeth ; and to him that knocketh, it DANIEL WHEELER. 71 shall be opened.' Remember it is on you that the weight of the law and the testimony must devolve, when the faithful standard-bearers of the present day are numbered with the just of all generations; and that on your example greatly depends the future bias of the tender minds of the dear innocent little children. In so doing you will not only be a bless- ing to them, but they will bring down a blessing upon you ] and the Lord Most High, in His infinite good- ness and mercy, will bless you altogether. With the salutation of that love which desireth the good of all, I remain your alFectionate friend, Under date Tenth month 3, 1821, he says: "I had a conference with the Emperor a short time since, and was never so much satisfied with any pre- vious interview. He has passed through much con- flict of mind within the last twelve months; the state of poKtical affairs, and many other trying cir- cumstances combined, have served to reduce him both in body and mind. A knowledge of his pecu- liar situation renders him, in my estimation, an object of commiseration and sympathy. Few, I am per- suaded, are really aware of the difiiculties by which he is encompassed, or of what he has to contend with; and when I consider the education he has had, and training up altogether, I am more than ever surprised that he should have any relish for serious things. He had been absent about ten months at the Congress ; and on my telling him he had been a 72 MEMOIRS OP long time away from his large family^ lie said : ' I have had a great deal to do. It is a very difficult thing to act for a nation, but I hope I have acted under God, and the measures I have taken I hope are approved by Him. I am encouraged to believe so, because not a drop of blood has been spilled. When the nations were in great distress and suffering during the late calamitous war, they then prayed to God; but they are like the Jews of old, they have now forgotten Him. There are societies of men in different places, who are disseminating bad principles under the cloak of bringing in Christianity : they are in many parts of Europe; they are every where.' I told him I had often thought of him, and' that a petition had been raised in my heart on his account. ^Yes,' he said, ^ and I have often thought of you; there has not been one day, not one day, but I have thought of you and of Messrs. Allen and Grellet, and always felt myself united to you three in spirit.' Previously to this conversation, we sat down in silence before the Lord ; and in the course of our sitting, my mouth was opened to declare unto him the goodness of God, and His great mercy, variously displayed to the children of men ; and to speak of the precious promises which the humble heart only can sensibly partake of After which, we continued our sitting until I had cleared my mind a second time ; in this I had to recite the invitation of the dear Master, ' Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,' etc. After having sat some time in silence, feeling myself at liberty, I told him my DANIEL WHEELER. 73 mind was relieved ; when lie gave me his hand^ and attempted to describe his feelings^ but was unable to utter any thing, except ^ I have felt it/ laying his hand on his heart: I never saw him so brought down before. He stayed with us, I think, nearly three hours, and then left us in an affectionate manner, saying, ' I must leave you. I hope this is not the last time that I shall come ; remember me in your prayers.' I attended him to his carriage, and as it drove off he said, ^God bless you T Our large family Bible lay in one of the rooms ; on seeing it he opened it, and readily turned to the 119th Psalm, which he said he had read that morning. He had a copy of the Scriptures in the carriage, which he al- ways carries with him. My mind was so covered with sadness during the remainder of the day, and at intervals long afterwards, that my dear wife said she thought I must have said too little or too much to the Emperor. I told her, no; I felt satisfied as to that; but I could not help lamenting that such a man should be in such a situation. Sickness visited the dwelling of Daniel Wheeler in the winter of 1822-3. His wife and son -con- tinuing to be invalids, it was determined, in the en- suing summer, that they should return for a time to England, accompanied by his daughters. This was a severe trial, ^^as in the bosom of my family,'' he says, was to be found all that could afford me grati- fication or comfort. With them about me, I had every thing I could wish for or desire in this state of mutability. 7 74 MEMOIRS OF But I trust I liave in some degree learned in all states to be content. There is — and^ without any inclination to boast, I believe I may say I know there is — a soul-solacing presence to be felt in a retired and lonely mansion, as well as in a place where large assemblies crowd, which, unbounded and unlimited by time and space, extends to every clime, to every place, to every heart — and oh ! saith my soul, in humble prayer, may it be felt by us all ! That all our hearts may be so cleansed, so prepared and puri- fied from every defilement, as to be in constant readi- ness to receive the heavenly guest/' They returned to Russia in the Fifth month, 1824. In the Eleventh month of that year there was an awful inundation at Petersburg, which is thus de- scribed : On the 7th inst., the inhabitants of Peters- burg experienced the most awful visitation that has ever occurred within the memory of the oldest per- son living, by a deluge, which threatened for several hours the destruction of the city and suburbs. A dreadful tempest came on during the night of the 6th from the south-west, and continued to rage with unabated fury nearly the whole of the next day. Two days previously, an unusual roaring of the sea had been noticed about the head of the Grulf of Finland, and at Cronstadt. On the morning of the 7th, the sea began to rise, and shortly afterwards to push its waves into the heart of the city. The peo- ple at first supposed it would only be one of the floods which have frequently occurred, and manifested no particular alarm ; but before noon they became con- DANIEL WHEELER. 75 vinced of the necessity of flying for their lives. The road we live on exhibited a scene of terror and dis- may not easy to describe ; every one anxious to save himself and his cattle. As our situation is somewhat higher than the city itself, we had many applications for food for the cattle, and shelter, which of course we were glad to comply with. Our neighbourhood was protected from sharing in the general calamity by the bank of the Ligofsky canal, which is raised above the regular surface of the country; but from the upper part of the house we could see over this bank, which discovered to us the city standing as it were in the open sea. The water continued to rise until three P. M., when the wind shifted to the north-west, and, although its violence continued, it prevented the water from rising any higher. At that time the water was twelve feet deep in the main street on Yasily's Island. Build- ings consisting of only one story were of course filled, and the frightened occupants obliged to take refuge upon their roofs. In the afternoon we made some attempt to go towards the city, but found it un- safe to try much farther than the bank of the canal just mentioned. The land under our care, between this and the city, was nearly all under water, so that we could hear nothing that night of the distress which prevailed there. By the morning of the 8th the water had subsided so much that it could only be seen about the low places ] in the afternoon I went off, intending to see how our friend Sarah Kilham had fared, but after 76 MEMOIRS OF passing the barrier, I was compelled to return, as all the bridges were carried away by the force of the water. The 9th (a First day) arrived, and brought only our dear friend Thomas Shillitoe* to meeting, who, although he knew enough of the general suffer- ing to prevent his speaking for a short interval on first coming into the room, yet knew almost nothing in comparison of what has since been unfolded.- The part where dear Thomas lives stands pretty high, but in those streets the water stood only eighteen inches below the lamps. For three hours, a general silence prevailed in the city; and from Thomas Shillitoe^s windows, which command a view of four streets, nothing was to be seen but one poor struggling horse, and the police rowing about in boats to see where any assistance could be rendered. ^ Our land, before hinted at, is covered over with timber, boats, dead horses, cows, barrels of fish, crosses from the grave-yards, parts of coffins, and other articles, and, I regret to add, with many human bodies, drowned by this disastrous flood - one is a female with a child under each arm, which she was endeavouring to save. It is now Third day night: I have been both to-day and yesterday in the city, and have heard such accounts of accumulated suffering as are im- possible to be set forth. I fear the number of lives lost will amount to ten thousand, and the loss of cattle and property is estimated at 20,000,000 rou^ Then on a religious visit in Russia. DANIEL WHEELER. 77 bles (£800^000 sterling). Whole squadrons of cavalry horses were drowned in their stables^ and many saved by being led up stairs. One Englishman^ a horse dealer, has lost all his horses. When the water began to rise above its usual height in floods, the Emperor went in person, and ordered the sentinels away from the diff'erent posts. When the palace became surrounded by water many feet deep, he appeared with the Empress on the bal- conies, encouraging the people to exertion, and ofier- ing rewards to those who would endeavour to save life, wherever he saw any particular danger; by this many were saved who would otherwise have been in- evitably lost. A subscription has been begun to-day for the benefit of the sufferers, to which the Emperor has given 1,000,000 roubles (£40,000 sterling); and he has ordered the military governor to take care that the poor people are furnished with food. Yesterday it was difficult to procure bread, as the bakers' ovens were mostly deluged by the water ; to-day there is a supply. All the sugars at the custom-house are melted, and all goods that will damage with water are spoiled. The shops' in many places were full up to the ceilings : oats which have been under water in the stores are selling at two and three roubles (from 20 to 30 pence) the chetvert of five English bushels. The inhabitants and houses of three vil- lages near the Gulf are, with their cattle, said to be entirely swept away. The Emperor has been to-day to several places, where the greatest suffering has occurred, to devise relief for the people. 7* ' 78 MEMOIRS OF However affecting this visitation may appear, I cannot but view it with a hope that it may yet prove a blessing in disguise to those that remain ; and I very much desire that it may have its proper and lasting effect upon all our minds, that so ail may repent, and turn unto Him with whom is mercy and plenteous redemption, lest a worse and more terrible warning should follow. There is, I think, reason to fear that another woe will succeed that which has now passed over — I mean the occurrence of pestilen- tial disorders, which the dampness of the houses may bring on, particularly if intense frost should succeed before they are in some degree dry and aired : last night it froze hard; at present there is less frost, but with the appearance of more snow. Our friend Sarah Kilham is likely to suffer less than we feared, although her furniture was floating in her parlour. Her day scholars were in the house when the water rose, so that she was obliged to lodge them as she could. We scarcely know what to conclude about our friends at sea, as so much depends upon the situa- tion of the different ships*: we hear that some have been wrecked, and others have returned to Cronstadt. This island has been entirely under water. In the midst of the general distress, we have been pernjitted to partake of peace and quietness, of which we seem altogether unworthy. I sometimes fear we are not making an adequate return for the numerous comforts and blessings we enjoy; and were it not to acknowledge with gratitude the loving-kindness and DANIEL WHEELER. 79 mercy wlilch surrounded us, I should willingly omit saying any thing about ourselves; all belonging to us seem to shrink into nothingness when we behold the surrounding scene of woe and misery/' Near the close of 1825, the Emperor Alexander died at Taganrog, in the south of Russia. His close appears to have been a peaceful one, and the hope was entertained that he had exchanged an earthly crown for one immortal, that will never fade away. He had reigned nearly twenty-five years. The Rus- sians say he was too mild, too good for them. The Grand-Duke Constantine having renounced the crown, his brother Nicholas was proclaimed Emperor. These changes do not appear to have altered in any respect the position of Daniel Wheeler; and the extended circle of operations soon after rendered it needful for him to remove to Shoosharry, a more distant and lonely place, on th^ margin of a great bog, his son William remaining to overlook the work in the neighbourhood of his former residence. Here they seldom saw the face of any visitor; but, he says, " notwithstanding the dreariness pf our abode, I should be deficient in gratitude if I were to omit saying that to myself it is a peaceful retreat. ^Ye have been here about four months, and I do not recollect having been permitted to enjoy so much solid peace and comfort since my lot has been cast in this land, as hath been at seasons graciously vouch- safed within the wooden walls of our solitary man- sion; and I believe my wife has partaken equally with myself in this comforting and precious privi- 80 MEMOIRS OF lege. I often feel a longing desire that a path would clearly open, which would lead to a peaceful depart- ure from this our exile; but I trust that such a desire is never cherished, or dwelt upon, without being ac- companied bj a willingness to submit, in humble resignation, to the Divine disposal of Him who knows what is best for us ; who knows our frame that we are but dust, and who pities our weakness. If I know my own heart, no earthly motive, no plans for the future, induce a desire to be released from this country; but I do most earnestly desire that the re- mainder of my days, whether many or few, may be devoted to the glory of God, and the exaltation of my dear Redeemer's kingdom in the hearts of man- kind/' DANIEL WHEELER. 81 CHAPTER VII. VISITS ENGLAND — RELIGIOUS SERVICE RETURNS TO RUSSIA — CHOLERA AT PETERSBURG — ADDRESS TO YORK QUAR- TERLY MEETING — RESIGNS HIS APPOINTMENT IN RUSSIA SAILS FOR ENGLAND. In 1830 the health of his wife having again failed considerably, it was advised that she should pass the ensuing winter in England. He concluded to ac- company her, and while in his native land applied for and obtained a certificate to visit, on a religious account, parts of Devon, Cornwall, and the Scilly Isles. One of his meetings, during this visit, was with a congregation at Devonport, almost entirely composed of persons connected with the seafaring life, and their families. ^^My heart,^^ he says, ^^was greatly enlarged towards them, as companions and shipmates •in the voyage of life; having the Lord God, merci- ful and gracious, and abundant in goodness and truth, for our Commander; and an all-sufficient Saviour and Holy Redeemer for' a heavenly pilot, ^ho would never leave His vessel, but would safely conduct us through all the dangers and difficulties of time, and would remain with us through the never-ending ages of eternity. Towards the close I had to call the attention of the meeting to myself, 82 MEMOIRS OF as an example for their encouragement^ tliat none need despair; for in me tliey miglit behold a living monument of the Lord's everlasting mercy^ and the triumph 'of Divine grace over human nature in its most depraved state; in one who^ like themselves, had been cradled on the ocean — whom the everlast- ing Arm had ofttimes been stretched out to save, when the briny wave had nearly prevailed against him.'^ Their return to Russia, in 1831, was under the most appalling circumstances. The cholera had ap- peared in a most virulent form at Petersburg and its vicinity. The air, as they approached the coast, was evidently tainted by the pestilence, and the re- collection arose of the dear children they had left, to whom they dared look only with a trembling hope of again beholding them in life; A remarkable cir- cumstance was permitted to cheer them. The cap- tain of their ship had been told, shortly after they sailed, that D. Wheeler had regularly arrived in Russia on one particular day. As the wind long continued contrary, there seemed at this time no probability of it; and he sneeringly told D. W. that his calculation had for once failed. Soon after, a strong and favouring gale sprang up, which continued increasing in strength, bearing on the noble vessel with such speed, that they arrived on the very day named. The hardy captain exclaimed, in reference to this : " There is nothing but the Almighty for it, at any rateT' ^^To me,'^ says D.Wheeler, ^Hhis had a promising and strengthening effect; it was a pleasing DANIEL WHEELER. 83 coincidence^ bringing to remembrance many great mercies and favours in times that are past, but now signally to be commemorated with admiration, grati- tude, and praise to Him who ' commandeth the morn- ing and causeth the day-^spring to know its place/ What could the possession of the whole world have done. for us in this day of distress? The ^secret tabernacle of the Most High' was the only hiding place — the only pavilion of safety and refuge. I would gladly impart to my dear friends a share of the marvellous loving kindness and tender mercy which were so graciously displayed for our relief and consolation on this memorable day; but language is utterly incapable of conveying it — words cannot set it forth. I think that nothing short of being placed in an exactly similar situation could make it be felt and understood to its full extent. I cannot help craving that all my beloved friends were brought by any means under a similar state of feeling — not a mole-hill to rest upon, humbled in the dust. How softened every heart! — how tearful every eye! the Lord alone exalted I This is what I want all to witness for themselves, that they may indeed witness the power of everlasting love to comfort and strengthen their hearts, and enable them to assert, in similar lan- guage with the great apostle to the Gentiles, and from the same heartfelt knowledge, ' we glory in tribula- tion.' '' On landing, a new law in relation to passengers' luggage made it needful for D. Wheeler to go to a particular department of the custom-house, where he 84 MEMOIRS OF was accosted by a stranger witli a letter, wlio inquired if lie was the person to whom it was directed. It proved to be from his son William, conveying the joyful intelligence that the children had wholly escaped the ravages of tha awful disease, which was then considered at its height — one hundred and fif-' teen having died that day in the small town of Cron- stadt, where they landed. When they reached Petersburg, instead of the dense crowd usually at the wharf, only three or four persons were to be seen, and not a single carriage for hire; scarcely anybody was to be seen in the streets, and in some the grass was growing. Eight hundred were said to have died that day in the city. The ignorance of the people aggravated the distress. As the skill of the doctors was completely baffled, they were accused of being the authors of it. The rabble broke into some of the hospitals, and in one instance caused the death of the physician, by throw- ing him out of an upper window. The imprudent and arbitrary measures of the police increased their fury. Every person whom the officers suspected of having the complaint was forced to the hospital. One of the workmen of D.Wheeler was taken up, charged with having the disease. In vain he de- clared he was in perfect health he was taken to the hospital, and forthwith treated as a patient, but was released from his perilous position by the multitude getting possession of the hospital, when he availed himself of the opportunity of escape, and returned to his work. At one of the military colonies r DANIEL WHEELER. 85 dreadful affray took place, arising from a similar cause, in which the soLdiers suspected their own officers : it is reported that a considerable number of the officers were killed. It really seemed as if the most trifling cause was enough ^ to turn every man's hand against his fellow.^ In the First month of 1832, he addressed his friends of York Quarterly Meeting, in England, as follows : ''Near Petersburg, First Month 2^th, 1832. Under a renewed sense of the Lord's manifold and tender mercies, which, to His praise and to His glory be it spoken, have compassed us about ^as with a shield,^ since we last saw each other; my soul feels bound thus to recognise the good Hand that has led us, and to salute my dear brethren and sisters in a feeling of that love which cannot change, earnestly desiring that ^ grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, may be multiplied to them' — causing the hearts of the faithful to rejoice, and joy, gladness, and thanksgiving to abound amongst them. Although far separated from each other as to the outward, yet such is the glorious privilege of the least living member of the true Church universal, that nothing can separate or prevent us from stand- ing fast in the one Holy Spirit, striving together in one mind for the faith of the gospel, ' till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of ^the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the mea- sure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.' For 8 86 MEMOIRS OF assuredly^ my beloved Friends, a day of trial is ap-J proaching, yea^ hastening upon the nations, when nothing short of an individual, heartfelt knowledge of Him in whom we profess to believe, will stand, unshaken by the storm. Great is the solicitude T feel on behalf of our highly-favoured religious Society, that it may be preserved immovable upon this its ancient and sure! foundation, J esus Christ — ^ Christ in you the hope of glory ^ — which never did and never will fail those who in simplicity believe, and faithfully build thereon, nothing doubting. By diligently maintain- ing the watch in that holy light bestowed in redeem- ing love on every individual of the human race, the snares of the insidious adversary, although laid in the most insinuating manner, will be detected and broken ; the specious guise of a false religion itself will be penetrated. This has assuredly slain its thousands, who, dazzled and distracted by creaturely activity and excitement, have thus been corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. ^ Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.^ Blessed and holy injunction — never out of season — never more needed ! We may feel lamentably conscious of unworthi- ness, weakness, and incapacity, from our manifold backslidings, to come up Ho the help of the Lord against the mighty,^ or to unveil the subtle workings of the mystery of iniquity to the sight of others DANIEL WHEELER. 87 These feelings are painful^ and liow great is the need of circumspection under them^ lest^ in the impatience of our spirits^ heightened as this too often is by the ili-advised example and counsel of those about us^ we should attempt to stay the ark with unsanctified and unauthorized hands ; or le^t we should counte- nance to our own condemnation willings and runnings on the part of those with whom we may stand con- nected, which, however specious in themselves, never- theless contribute most essentially and insidiously to promote the kingdom of anti-Christ, already, alas! extensive in the earth. Frequently am I brought under appalling appre- hensions for us, as a people, sought out and chosen of the Lord ; for, had we followed the footsteps of our honourable predecessors in religious profession, who bore the burden and heat of a day of deep suf- fering, in the faithful support, in their original brightness, of those principles which they trans- mitted to us, — the spiritual beauty of the gospel Church might have shone forth, even through us, with a splendour which the different professors of the Christian name could neither have gainsayed nor resisted. And it is awfully impressed upon my mind ■ — I might almost say, it is given me awfully to believe — that if the ^ world, and the things of the world,' which ^ are not of the Father,' had not stolen away our hearts from His love, the glad tidings of that gospel, which is indeed ^ the power of God unto salvation,' would, long ere this, have been proclaimed in remote, in heathen portions of the habitable globe, 88 MEMOIRS OF by instruments raised up from amongst us^ duly pre- pared and clothed, with the true baptising authority of the Lord Jesus, whose ' inheritance is the heathen, and the uttermost parts of the earth His possession/ He alone can endue His messengers with ^ power from on high/ in His name to open the eyes of the spirit- ually blind, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. Mark, then, th« awful consequences of our short-comings as a people ; and let us tremble, lest God should visit our iniquity upon us, and the awful language should be sounded in our ears: ^The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation or people bringing forth the fruits thereof ^ Watch ye, therefore,' and remember ^and pray always;' for ^the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:' what then ' shall the 5nd be of them that obey not the gospel of God ? ' Fear, and the pit, and the snare are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth !' from which nothing but a Saviour's all-powerful arm can extricate and deliver All are involved in the momentous consequences ; yet it is an individual work, and admits of no delay. Then, dear Friends of every age and of every class, let us hasten to it in earnest; let us ^humble our- selves under the mighty hand of God,' even to the state of little children, and turn inward to His pure unflattering witness, which cannot deceive or be de- ceived. Let us accomplish a diligent search, and patiently examine how far those indispensable condi- tions are submitted to on our part, without which DANIEL WHEELER. 89 none can follow the blessed Jesus. Where is that self-denial and the daily cross He enjoins ? Are we denying ourselves those gratifications of time and sense which nourish sin, and keep alive in us the evil propensities of fallen nature ? Have we taken up that daily cross, and offered all to Him ^ who died for us and rose again ? ^ It is not giving up this or that particular thing that will suffice — -a full surrender of the will must be made to Him, ^ whose right it is to reign/ Let none plead for disobedience in what they may think little things, on the ground of their being so. If such they really are, they are the more easily parted with; and our tenacity in wishing to reserve them assuredly indicates that they are of more importance in our practical estimation than we may be disposed to allow. Let no man deceive him- self — unqualified obedience is •the necessary condition of discipleship. Without it we cannot be consistent followers of our Lord ; and if not followers of Him, we cannot serve Him, be where He is, nor learn of Him that meekness and lowliness of heart which draw down heavenly blessings and regard, and which He alone can bestow. As the sorrowful declension which has so marred the beauty of our religious Society, may be traced to departing from this heavenly indwelling principle of light, life, and love; so our restoration to primitive purity can only be effected by returning unto the Lord with full purpose of heart, in the depths of humility and self-abasement — yea, my Friends, no- thing less than this will do. We must deny our- 8* 90 MEMOIRS OF selves^ take up our daily cross, and follow Him who is ^holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens' — ever mighty to save and to deliver; and who will deliver out of every distress the soul that in sincerity seeketh Him. Come, brother; come, sister; come, all my dear Friends; let no earthly consideration whatever be suffered to hinder this important work; for Hhe night is far spent, the day is at hand ; let us there- fore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light,^ that we may no longer bring forth fruit whereof we are ashamed — for the end of those things is death — but that we may ^be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might, to stand against the wiles of the devil/ ^ For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against prin- cipalities, against powers, against the rulers of the ^ darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places/ Let us ^ pray always, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, watching thereunto with all perseverance;' striving together in one mind for the faith of the gospel, even for that faith which worketh by love, purifieth the heart, and giveth vic- tory over the world. Thus shall we indeed be found with ^our loins girded about, and our lights burning, we ourselves like unto men who wait for their lord, that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately;' even unto Him who said, ' Behold I stand at the door and knock ; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to DANIEL WHEELER. 91 him, and will sup with hini^ and lie with me/ Then ^ lift up your heads, 0 ye gates ! even lift them up, ye everlasting doors I and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory ? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory/ In the love of the gospel, I remain your affection- ate friend and brother, Daniel Wheeler/^ The time was now near at hand when D. Wheeler believed it to be his duty to relinquish his engage- ment with the Russian government. By the direc- tion of the Prince Galitzin, a certificate was ordered to be prepared in English, which was signed on behalf of the Emperor, for the satisfaction of his friends! The Prince parted from him with much affection, and stipulated that he should write to him, saying : " What is good for your soul is good for mine.'^ The way was clearly seen and opened for his return to England; but, he says, without the slightest prospect of any settled residence there: from the impressions which have been sealed on my mind, by day and night, for many months past, very different scenes are open before me.^^ His eldest son succeeded him in the management of the work, and he embarked for England in the Seventh month, 1832. From the uncertainty attending his future move^ ments, it was decided that his wife and family should remain for the present at their Russian 92 MEMOIRS OF abode. In a letter dated on the passage he says: ^^At times I feel as a lonely s.parrow on the house- top, or as the rambling swallow without a home, and still only preparing to take flight for distant climes, while pressing onward farther and farther from all that I hold dear in this transitory world/^ DANIEL WHEELER. 93 CHAPTEE YIII. PROSPECT OF A RELIGIOUS VISIT TO THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS — DEATH OF HIS WIFE AND SEVERE ILLNESS OF HIS CHILDREN DEATH OF HIS SON WILLIAM AND DAUGHTER JANE — PROSPECT OF RELIGIOUS SERVICE IN NORTH AMERICA. In the Nintli niontli, 1832, lie attended Balby Monthly Meeting, of which he was a member, and informed his friends of the prospect which had been presented to his view of visiting, in the love of the gospel, the inhabitants of some of the islands of the Pacific Ocean, New South Wales, and Van Diemen's Land. He stood up with the words: ^The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?^ Eventually,'' he says in a letter to his wife, "I laid the whole affair fully before the meeting: a very solemn and solid interval succeeded. I warned the meeting not to let afi'ectionate sympathy bias their minds, and recommended that all should endeavour to sink down to the precious gift in every heart, that so a right judgment might be come to; seeing it was a subject in which so much was implicated, not only as regarded myself and the Society at large, but the Truth itself. At length a general expression of con- currence and near sympathy broke forth, from the head to the uttermost skirts of the garment, as the 94 MEMOIRS OF ointment poured forth^ which draws down the hea- venly blessing. Many vocal petitions ascended on the occasion, as well as, I believe^ universal mental ones. It was indeed a memorable day, and one in which I most earnestly desire you may all be per- mitted to share, though far distant, through the in- fluence of that Almighty Power which is omnipotent and omnipresent/' A certificate was prepared for him, which was subsequently approved and endorsed by the Quarterly Meeting of York, and by the morn- ing meeting of ministers and elders held in London. As it is proposed to give an extended account, of this visit, in the love of the gospel, to the isles afar off, in a subsequent part of this volume, no farther allusion will be now made to it, except to state that he embarked on the 13th of the Eleventh month, 1833. The affecting reference to his feeling as a sparrow alone, which he made in a letter written to his be- loved wife on board the vessel, after what proved their final parting in this world, seemed as a fore- taste of that keen afliiction he was soon to expe- rience. Whilst confined, in the First month of 1833, by indisposition at Earlham, he received the sad intelli- gence of the death of his wife and the serious illness of three of his children. Alluding to the gradual unfolding of these solemn tidings by a kind friend, he says : " Who can picture my distress and anguish of soul when the awful reality was disco- vered ? But the everlasting arms of mine Almighty DANIEL WHEELER. 95 Helper were underneath to bear me up^ that the waves of affliction should not overwhelm beyond the decreed limits, nor infringe upon the margin of mercy and compassion. After a time I was enabled to say : ^ It is a bitter cup ; but I accept it at the hand of the Lord, for I am sure there is a blessing at the bottom of it.^ His children recovered ; and the following letter to two of them is touchingly descriptive of the Chris- tian resignation with which he endured this great bereavement : "First Month l^tJi, 1838. My dearest Charles and Jane: When I quitted Shoosharry, I thought I had given up much; and when fairly away from Cronstadt, I seemed to have parted with every thing in this world; but I have since sorrowfully found that there remained ties which bound the soul to earth, which were yet to be dissolved before the sacrifice was complete. The visitation was so unex- pected and sudden, that for a time every effort to bear up against the overwhelming reality seemed altogether unavailing. It is indeed a cup exceeding in bitterness all that had previously been handed, filling my heart with anguish, indescribable and irresistible. Yet, blessed be the name of the Lord Grod of heaven and earth for ever ! He who had commanded the storm was, in gracious condescen- sion and compassionate mercy, pleased to rebuke its raging billows, and to bear up my helpless head above them all, enabling me to glorify His holy 96 MEMOIRS OF name the fires' of this baptism of suffering, to His own praise. And although the dispensation is altogether incomprehensible at present, yet I firmly believe the merciful design of the Divine Will, as it is patiently abode under, will be more and more de- veloped to our understandings, and will not fail to raise in us a grateful tribute of thanksgiving. ' What I do, thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter / and 0 ! that we may all be found worthy to be entrusted with the heavenly secret, whether it be to be laid up in our own hearts, or to be declared to many. When I have been led to contemplate the suspense and anxiety which my long silence must have un- avoidably occasioned to your dear mother, when more distantly separated by mighty oceans, together with the expectation of my being amongst barbarous nations, and exposed to various hardships — how often have I desired that opportunities might occur for me to send, at frequent intervals, some even short account of. my safety and preservation, that she might be comforted from time to time, and not be permitted to droop with hope again and again deferred! — feel- ing a willingness to suffer myself, and to trust her and my precious family to the tender care of our heavenly Father, though months and months might pass away without a probability of hearing of or from them, — if only they might be cheered and animated now and then with but a gleam. But whilst human nature deeply feels, and every chord of tenderness and affectionate remembrance vibrates DANIEL WHEELER. 97 at tlie recollection of what we have all lost ; yet my soul doth secretly rejoice and magnify my good and gracious God, in humble thankfulness, that her lamb- like spirit is now spared this painful dispensation, and that the suflfering will be only mine ; and, mingled with many other tribulations which may yet await me, serve to fill up the allotted measure, in which I humbly trust I shall be permitted to glory, from the certain knowledge that tribulation worketh patience and experience and that hope ^ which maketh not ashamed' nor afraid, ^because the love of God is shed abroad in the heart/ I think the finger of the Divine Artist may already be traced in the present afiiictive dispensation, as regards us all, but more particularly in the efibcts which have already re- sulted both to thee and to dear Jenny, giving you to see, in a remarkable manner and in wondrous mercy, that every thing in this world is but vanity, and will most certainly end in vexation of spirit, if we have not an interest in the Saviour, and if desti- tute of that knowledge which alone can save. It is, therefore, my most humble prayer, that you may both endeavour to the utmost to keep near to that Power which hath so graciously opened your understandings to perceive His tender mercy and loving-kindness, which is better than life, in thus gathering your beloved mother into everlasting rest and peace, re- moving her from the troubles of time to the enduring riches of eternity, in holy quietness, because death had lost its sting and the grave its victory. I am very sure that you must both have had convincing 98 MEMOIRS OF proof of the necessity of seeking after an acquaint- ance witli the precious gift of God, whicli is so mer- cifully vouclisafed in measure by Christ Jesus in every heart ; and which is sufficient, if attended to, to restore every son and daughter of Adam from a state of nature to a state of grace, into the heavenly image from which man by transgression fell. I think you must both have seen how insignificant this world and all that belongs to it appear, when the pale herald of the grave hovers around us. Nothing short of that Divine power which thus showeth us these things, can prepare and purify us for an ' in- heritance undefiled, and that fadeth not away;^ and be assured of this, that however homely this unflat- tering Witness may appear — though it seem but ^ as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground^ — and when perceived there is no beauty to render Him desirable to the unregenerate mind; yet this, my dear children, is nothing less than a manifestation of the Spirit ^of the Lord of life and glory, which is given to every man to profit withal '/ and well will it be for us if we are profiting thereby, and faith- fully occupying therewith. This Holy Spirit hath long been oppressed and afflicted in all our hearts, whilst we have been employed in perishing pursuits, and altogether regardless of Him or his secret touches and reproofs, until perhaps cast upon a sick bed, or brought into a situation where His voice will be heard. It is to this power that we must be willing to turn, and it is by this power only that we can be saved, seeing it is the Spirit of Him our dear Ee- DANIEL wheeler'. ■ '';(rv fn" '^' deemer^ whom ^ God hatli highly exalted^ a?id given Him a name which is above every name ; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow^ of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of Grod the Fa- ther/ either in mercy or in judgment. And 0 ! saith my soul, that our confession may be to His wondrous love and mercy, and not in the acknow- ledgment of His just judgments for our hard-heart- edness and unbelief in the day of His visitation, wherein he would have gathered us ^ as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings,^ and we would not. For true it is, that if we are willing to attend to this in-speaking, heart-searching voice, to turn at its reproofs, we shall find that they are full of in- struction, and the way to life everlasting. It will not fail to show us the deceitfulness of sin, the sin- fulness of sin, and the wages of sin, which is death. As we patiently abide under the turnings and over- turnings of the Lord's hand thus upon us, however humbling and painful to the unsubjected mind, we shall indeed know the Saviour of the world in all His offices, not only as a convincer and reprover of sin through His Spirit, but as a purifier and cleanser from it; and as the great work of regeneration gra- dually advances, our spiritual eye will at last be opened to perceive and to look on Him whom we have so long pierced, and to mourn in godly sorrow unto unfeigned repentance not to be repented of. Then indeed shall we bow to His name, which is 100 MEMOIRS OF His power, on the bended knees of contrition and self-abasednesS; and be enabled from living and actual experience to say: have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth Thee ; wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes/ Here then is ^repentance toward Grod, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ/ whereby we forsake sin, and believe in the efficacy of that power which alone can save from it. Then indeed shall we become willing to confess Him before men, not being ashamed to acknowledge His power and His might, nor afraid of being thought His followers by the votaries of a world which ' lieth in wickedness ; ^ but to boldly take up the cross — a daily cross to our own corrupt wills and inclinations — and follow Him whithersoever He may be pleased to lead, remember- ing for our comfort and encouragement His gracious declaration : ^ Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God ; but he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of Grod/ This in- deed will be confessing to His name, in the belief of His power and in the hope of His mercy; and a bowing in earnest, in obedience to His holy will. But if, unhappily unwilling to bow the knee of our minds, we should stubbornly resist the offers of un- utterable love and mercy, refusing to confess with the tongue ^ that Jesus Christ is Lord, by the Ac- knowledgment of His power in our hearts to save, and by submissive obedience to it, in the way of the cross, we shall one day find, to our indescribable I i Mi/ DANIEL WHEELEIV.f. r 101. distress, when it is too late, and the language is ut- tered : ' He that is filthy, let him be filthy still/ But although it is with me thus to write, yet my prayers are incessant on your behalf for better things, even things that accompany life and salva- tion, that mercy and truth may meet together; that righteousness and peace may kiss each other^ in our heartfelt experience; which most assuredly will be the case, if the fault be not our own. We shall find that watchfulness, prayer, and fasting, are the Chris- tian's strength, his safe retreat, and never-failing weapons of defence ; even a constant watch over all our thoughts, tracing from whence they spring ; for thoughts are the origin of all our words and actions. As we thus maintain the watch, we shall soon begin to groan, being burdened with the frailty and help- lessness of human nature; which unavoidably, and happily for us, cannot fail to incite to prayer, though perhaps but in sighs and groanings which cannot be uttered; but which are accepted and recorded by Him who is a God ever hearing prayer, and who will in tender mercy strengthen us, if on our parts we are but willing to pray always, ' with alL prayer and sup- plication in the Spirit, watching thereunto with all perseverance.' This will almost imperceptibly lead us habitually to fast from the gratifying things of time and sense, which do but serve, however insigni- ficant they may appear in the world's estimation, to prevent the sacrifice of the whole heart ; and as no- thing short of this will be accepted in the Divine sight, the enemy's purpose is still effected. 9* 102 M E >I 0 I R S OF I have craved in tlie tenderest manner for you, that you may henceforth be preserved and strength- ened in-faithfulness to resist those things, whatever they be, that were burdensome to you when on a bed of sickness, the fruit of which is bitter indeed, and productive only of shame, remorse, and anguish of spirit. Let the time past suffice, and the future be employed not in living to ourselves, ' but unto Him who died for us and rose again/ He returned to England on the 1st of the Fifth month, 1838. During his absence in the southern seas, he received the afflicting account of the death of his son William, who was left in charge of the agricultural concern in Russia. It is said of him — That his life had been marked by watchfulness and prayer, and a conscientious regard to the pointings of Divine Wisdom in the discharge of his religious duties, as well as by an active and diligent attention to his concerns in business : his end was eminently crowned with peace, and an humble and confiding trust in redeeming mercy.^^ The account of his last days afforded his father great consolation and relief, and raised in his heart a tribute of humble, thank- fulness to the great Preserver of men, who indeed * ' loveth his own unto the end.^ His daughter Jane also finished her course, and entered into rest. The reception of this added sor- row was truly overwhelming for a time, yet he says : The mercy and goodness of our heavenly Father soon changed the strain of sorrow into that of adora- tion and thanksgiving, binding up all the wounds of DANIEL WHEELEE^ lUo affliction in the healing virtue of His everlasting love; for her end had been truly peaceful; death was deprived of its sting, and the grave of its vic- tory. Thus the eldest and the youngest of my flock have been gathered, since we left them, into the arms of everlasting mercy, whilst we are left a little longer in this vale of tears. May the Lord most High be graciously pleased to prepare us also, in the like man- ner, for the heavenly kingdom ! Shortly after his arrival in his native land, he at- tended Balby Monthly Meeting, returning the certi- ficates granted him five years and a half before. After making a statement of his gospel visit to the southern isles, he informed his friends that he no longer stood before them as one returning, but as one requesting a certificate to enable him to visit various parts of North America. While pressing forward through stormy seas to the far-off islands of the Pacific, he had seen, in the unfoldings of the Divine Will, that after that service had been accomplished, another should be set before him to parts of the Western Hemisphere. By this his confidence in the Holy Author of his faith was strengthened, and he was supported in every season of trial and conflict. The certificate was prepared and sanctioned by York Quarterly Meeting and by the Morning Meet- ing of Friends at London. The drooping state of health of his son Charles, the faithful companion of his long journeyings, made the separation now required of him. from his beloved 104 ME]N|[OIRS OF family more than ordinarily painful. "Truly/' he says, " I had fainted if I had not believed, to see the loving-kindness of the Lord, and the greatness of His goodness which is laid up for them that fear Him, and that trust in Him before the sons of men/* In another place he says : " Though human nature keenly felt the separation from, and would gladly remain in possession of its greatest earthly treasure, yet I did believe I could not promote the welfare of my beloved family in any manner so much, as by my own faithfulness to what I apprehended to be the duty required of me/' DANIEL WHEELER. 105 ^ CHAPTER IX. SAILS FOB NEW YORK — ATTENDS MANY MEETINGS OF FRIENDS — RETURNS TO ENGLAND DEATH OF HIS SON CHARLES AGAIN EMBARKS FOR AMERICA ILLNESS AND DEATH AT NEW YORK. (jP' He embarked from Liverpool on tlie 25th of Eleventli month, 1838, and arrived in New York on the 1st day of 1839. His journal records the at- tendance of many meetings among Friends in New York, New England, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and other parts. On one occasion, when the subject of meetings for Divine worship was brought to view, he says : I had to declare, that if ever we suffered the righteous testimony to the teachings of that Divine grace which hath appeared to all men to fall to the ground, or be lowered by depart- ure from a silent waiting upon God for the blessed influence of the Holy Spirit, to enable us to wor- ship Him aright, — the glory would depart from our Israel, and nothing be left us but an empty .name.^' He also held public meetings in several seaport towns, in which he adverted to the great responsi- bility of those who had intercourse with the poor islanders of the South Seas. In one of these he delivered a message with which he had been charged 106 MEMOIRS OF by Paofai and the principal chiefs of the island of Eimeo. ^^Gro/' he said, ^^to Britannia, and tell the people to have mercy upon us; and then go to America, and tell the people there to have mercy upon us; for it is these countries that send the poison (rum) amongst us/' Daniel Wheeler returned to England in the Tenth month, 1839, a few months before the peaceful close of his beloved son Charles. On reaching the bed-side of the dear invalid, he says: ^^I found him apparently in a far-advanced stage of consump- tion. The peaceful feeling that pervades the atmo- sphere around him is, I humbly trust, an earnest that the arms of everlasting mercy are open to receive him when the awful change shall come.'' He often spoke of his own unworthiness, saying that his only dependence was on the mercy of God in Christ J esus, and on this he seemed to rest with- out a sense of fear. On one occasion he said to one of his brothers, Heed not the world, nor the things thereof ; I wish I had heeded it less ;" and once in great bodily ex- tremity he exclaimed, Here is the end of pride ! " He was frequently engaged in fervent prayer for patience and support for the pardon of all his trans- gressions, and a release in the Lord's time. Being . asked just before his close if he felt peaceful, he replied, I feel no fear." ^' On his placid countenance, some hours after his departure/' says his father, I saw to my unspeak- able comfort that in the midst of death there was a DANIEL WHEELER. 107 sweet angelic smile surpassing that of life ; its love- liness none can describe.'^ His death took place on the 6th of the Second month, 1840, and on the 30th of the Third month following, Daniel Wheeler again embarked for New York. When about a week at sea, he took a severe cold, which rapidly increased to an alarming illness, under the prostrating influence of which he landed, and was immediately conveyed to the house of a kind friend. Here he received the most unremitting and tender care, and after a few weeks there appeared to be some improvement. On the 6th of the Fifth month he received a visit from his beloved friend Stephen Grellet, which proved an occasion of deep interest. His mind seemed to overflow with admi- ration of the goodness of his dear Lord and Master, which had constantly attended him in his various pilgrimages. He recapitulated briefly what had oc- curred since he left America, alluding to the conso- lation he received at the death of his beloved Charles, when he was made to rejoice in the midst of grief. He added: "The Lord is good to them that love and fear His name. Great things hath He done for me ; things so wonderfully marvellous, that they would hardly be believed were I to tell of them. If I have experienced any shortness in my journey Zion- ward, it has been on my side, not the Lord's; for He has been faithful, and His promises have been and remain to be, yea and amen for ever. Whilst I was on shipboard, and thought by some of the passengers to be nigh unto death, how did the Lord appear for 108 MEMOIRS OF my help and consolation ! and since I have been in this chamber, how has He appeared for my comfort in the night season ! and I have been enabled to sing hymns of praise and thanksgiving unto Him. When the ship made her soundings, I made my soundings on that Rock whose foundation is from everlasting to everlasting. I saw that I should be safely landed, though extremely weak in body; and I was enabled to say, should the Lord see meet to raise me up, and strengthen me still to show forth His wonderful works to the children of men, or cut the work short in righteousness: ^Thy will, 0 God, not mine, be done.' I do not see how the end will be.'' On the 26th of the Fifth month he became more poorly, and continued after this rapidly to fail. On one occasion he was enabled to declare that he had the same faith that had been with him through life, founded upon the gospel of Christ; and which enabled him to say, with the apostle : ^ Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me ; and the life which I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.' " For several days previous to his death, he took very little nourishment, as from the state of his mouth and throat he could not swallow without difficulty. On one occasion his attendant urging him, and saying she thought he stood in need of it, he replied : " I think not ; and when there is need, my heavenly Father will enable me to take it, for there is not a pang I suffer but what is known to DANIEL WHEELER. 109 Him; and I have evidence that, thougli far from home and my native land, I am not forgotten/' On the morning of the 12th of Sixth month, he appeared unusually feeble, though not apparently worse in other respects. He was wheeled into an adjoining apartment, as usual, and shortly after re- marked to one of the family who had affectionately watched over him, " Perhaps this day will end all your cares and troubles.'^ It was an unusual remark ; but as it was supposed to proceed from the feeling of present weakness, it did not excite any particular alarm. To some expressions of hope by a friend respect- ing his recovery, his only answer was an incredulous smile. One who had kindly waited on him, calling to take leave, as he was about to attend a distant Yearly Meeting, he said to him : " Give my dear love to all my friends. God reigneth over all ; His mercy and goodness have never failed me.'' About eight in the evening, being offered some tea, he remarked that he could not see it; and it was evident his sight had failed. Shortly after he fell asleep, but his breathing was more laboured than usual. Being asked if he was comfortable, he re- pHed in the affirmative, but soon after became entirely insensible, and gently passed away about half-past twelve at night, without sigh or struggle. He was interred at New York on the 15th of * Sixth month, his funeral being largely attended, and proving a season of much solemnity. 10 MEMOIRS OF D. WHEELER. ^' Farewell ! And though the ways of Zion mourn When her strong ones are called away, Who like thyself have calmly borne The heat and burden of the day, Yet He who slumbereth not nor sleepeth, His ancient watclr around us keepeth ; Still sent from His creating hand, New witnesses for Truth shall stand — New instruments to sound abroad The gospel of a risen Lord ; To gather to the folds once more The desolate and gone astray, The scattered of a cloudy day, And Zion's broken walls restore! And, through the travail and the toil Of true obedience, minister Beauty for ashes, and the oil Of joy for mourning, unto her! So shall her holy bounds increase With walls of praise and gates of peace: • So^ shall the vine, which martyr tears And blood sustained in other years, With fresher life be clothed upon; And to the world in beauty show. Like the rose-plant of Jericho, And glorious as Lebanon ! " John G, Whittier. VISIT TO THE PACIFIC ISLES. (Ill) THE VISIT TO PACIFIC ISLES. CHAPTER I. SAILS IN THE HENRY FREELING DETENTION OFF THE ISLE OF WIGHT FAREWELL LETTER ARRIVAL AT RIO DE JANEIRO. The necessary arrangements for the voyage to the South Seas having been completed, Daniel Wheeler embarked on board the Henry Freeling/^ a packet of 101 tons register. This vessel had been pur- chased and fitted up expressly for the purpose, through the liberality of a number of Friends. Accompanied by his son Charles, who believed himself called to this step by that gracious ELeing who has an undoubted right to dispose of his crea- tures according to the good pleasure of His will/^ he sailed from the river Thames the 13th of the Ele- venth month, 1833. Severe storms and adverse winds detained them about four months near the Isle of Wight. Import- 10* (113) 114 VISIT TO ant advantages resulted from this detention. It ap- peared that the captain selected was not suitable^ and the delay enabled Friends to procure one who proved to be well qualified for the station. The discipline of the vessel was better ordered, and the true cha- racter of the seamen understood before their final, departure. This was the more necessary, as it was determined the voyage should be conducted on tem- perance principles; that meetings for worship should be regularly held twice on the First day of the week ; and that, as far as was practicable, all work should be dispensed with on that day, to allow the sailors a portion of time to themselves. The Scriptures were to be read morning and evening in the cabin, where the captain and mate were expected to attend. These matters having been satisfactorily arranged^ Daniel Wheeler, on the day previous to their final departure, addressed the following letter to the com- mittee who had assisted him in preparing for the voyage : * " ''Henry Freeling, Mother-hank, 14th o/Sdmo. 1834, Upon reference I find that it is now considerably more than three months since I began a letter for the information of my dear friends, when at that time anticipating that ere long we should be permitted to direct our course across the trackless ocean to the Southern Hemisphere; but I had not completed more than half a sheet of paper, when the progress of my pen was arrested by circumstances which have prevented any farther addition being made THE PACIFIC ISLES. 115 until this day^ when the way now seems to open for resuming the subject^ our departure being at hand. Among the many muhipKed mercies and blessings which unceasingly flow from the bounteous and com- passionate hand of Him who ^ crowneth the year with His goodness' and ^satisfieth the desire of every living thing/ I feel bound to acknowledge, with humble thankfulness and admiration, our long detention on these shores. Notwithstanding there have been many gloomy days, and days of darkness, ^as the morning spread upon the mountains,' and many long and dreary winter nights to pass through, when the raging storm has again and again whitened with foam the surface of the agitated deep around us; and not only the strife of elements to witness without, but a conflicting and spiritual strife within, ^tossed with tempest and not comforted/ yet how unspeakably great the faithfulness of our good and gracious Lord God ! ' His compassions fail not,' but have been, and still continue to be, ^new every morning/ as the returning day; for in moments of greatest conflict and trial there has been something permitted, like the ' bow in the cloud,' for the poor mind to look at, to animate, and cheer, and strengthen with hardness to endure and stand firm. But, although moon after moon hath waned, and faith and patience have been beset as on the right hand and on the left, and the afflictions of the gospel have at times been permitted to abound, yet to the glory and honour and praise of Him whose name, ever excellent and adorable, shall be great among 116 VISIT TO the nations^ from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same^ — the consolations of the gospel have also abounded^ in a degree of the fulness of that heavenly blessing which makes truly rich^ and whereunto no sorrow is added; when faith hath been mercifully strengthened^ and patience renewed under the tribulations of the day. And notwithstanding an untrodden path has been my portion^ yet after all, though weaknesst and fear are my constant compa- nions by the way^ safety and peace have been hitherto found. I would therefore encourage all my beloved friends to keep near to their heavenly Teacher and Leader^ who^ if faithfully followed^ will not only conduct their steppings to a hair's breadth^ but will preserve and keep the mind in calmness and sere- nity, securely, as in a pavilion, ' from the strife of tongues.' In addition to the marvellous loving-kindness I have thus endeavoured to portray, many other mer- cies and blessings have been showered upon our heads, during the apparently long and unaccount- able detention of our little bark upon our own co.asts; these I have often had to number with gratefiil sensations, when the light has shone brightly, and manifested clearly to my finite understanding how much we should have missed, if our progress had not thus been arrested. So that with myself, instead of this delay having been productive of regret, or the cause of letting in fear or doubt, to stagger or depress my tribulated mind, I do^ my dear friends, hail it with gratitude and thankfulness, as THE PACIFIC ISLES. 117 the gracious and compassionate dealing of my Lord and Master^ not only as a time of Divine favour and condescension^ but as an earnest of His love and mercy for our encouragement^ instruction, and future benefit, graciously vouchsafed — a time of prepara- tion for the important work before us, and of wean- ing from every dependence and guidance which are not of Him, to strengthen our confidence, and put our whole trust in His power to help and deliver out of every distress, who not only commands the storm,< but at whose rebuke the mountain billows cease to undulate, and lo ! ^ there is a great calm/ Within the last two or three days the prospect of liberation has begun to dawn with clearness ; but I trust, that if even a farther detention should be meted out to us, either here or in some other port, the same resignation to the Divine will, will be vouchsafed • for although I have for more than two years past felt anxious to move forward in a work which has yet to begin when the decay of nature is visible, and the ^hadows of the evening proclaim, as they lengthen around me, the steady decline of life's setting sun, yet I have been frequently comforted by a renewed evidence that we have not yet been here one day too long. It will, I feel assured, afford my dear friends much satisfaction to know that the crew of the vessel, not- withstanding the frequent though unav.oidable com- munication with the neighbouring shore for so great a length of time, have given no cause for uneasiness by improper conduct, and have at all times behaved, 118 VISIT TO with scarcely an exception^ in an orderly and agree- able manner ; and the captain now provided for us seems to be judiciously selected, and the man who, beyond all expectation, is admirably adapted to aid and assist, by example and experience, in the accom- plishment of the important object before us; so that I hope what has passed, and what may yet be in- store for us to come, will be found and acknowledged to be among the ^ all things that work together for good/ I must not omit adding, that the solemn covering frequently witnessed mercifully to prevail and preside over us, when sitting together before the Lord, is worthy with humble gratitude to be com- memorated, as the strongest and most indubitable evidence for our encouragement, that at seasons ' He is with us of a truth/ As it is now a period of the year when ships seldom sail to those parts to which we are destined, whether we proceed by the Cape of Good Hope, which is most probable, or by Cape Horn, in either case a wintry season awaits us ; but my trust is in the Lord, not doubting but that we shall have the privilege of the prayers of the faithful for our pre- servation; and though conscious of our own weak- ness and utter unworthiness, and often under a feel- ing of being less than the least of all my dear brethren and sisters that are alive in the unchano:e- able Truth, yet I think I can say that these things trouble me not, nor move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of THE PACIFIC ISLES. 119 the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of that grace ^ which bringeth salvation^ and hath appeared unto all men/ teaching all^ that so from the uttermost parts of the earth songs of praise may be heard^ and the grateful tribute of ' thanks be to Grod for His unspeakable gift/ may resound to His glory; for it is not of him that willeth^ nor of him that runneth, but of Grod that showeth mercy : ^ it is not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts/ And now, whilst my heart is bearing towards the ^ isles afar off,^ the same constraining love which wrought the willingness to leave all for my gracious Lord's sake and His gospeFs, extends its binding influence to all my dear brethren and sisters, of every age and of every class, wherever situated and however circumstanced ; desiring, in tender and affec- tionate solicitude, that they may be found stedfastly following the footsteps of those honourable and worthy predecessors in the same religious profession with ourselves, who have long since rested from their labours, and whose memorial is on high ; who bore the burden and heat of a day of deep suffering, in the faithful discharge of their duty for the support of those principles which have been transmitted in their original purity and brightness to us. If any should feel sensible of having fallen short in this important work, let me in tenderest love encourage such to be willing to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, even to the state of little children, and turn inward to the pure, unflattering 120 VISIT TO witness which cannot deceive nor be deceived; to be willing to enter into a diligent and heartfelt search, and patiently and impartially examine how far those indispensable conditions are submitted to on their part, without which none can be followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. Where is that self-denial and the daily cross he first enjoined ? Are we deny- ing ourselves those gratifications of time and sense which cherish and keep alive in us the evil propen- sities of fallen nature, which separate man from his Maker, and, like ' the little foxes, spoil the tender vines' designed in richest mercy to bud, blossom, and bring forth fruit, lastingly to remain to the praise and glory of the great Husbandman ? — but without faithfulness there will be no fruitfulness. It is not giving up or forsaking this or that little thing, which to part with is little or no sacrifice or privation, that will suffice; a full surrender of the whole will, in all things, must be made to Him whose sovereign right it is to rule and reign in our hearts; and let none plead for disobedience in these little things on the ground of their being such, for if such they really are, they are the more easily dispensed with, and not worth retaining; and a tenacity in wishing to pre- serve them assuredly indicates that they have more place in our affections than perhaps we are aware of: ' He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me ; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me; and he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me/ THE PACIFIC ISLES. 121 And now, my dear brethren and sisters, ^ May the 1 God of Peace, who brought again from the dead our I Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, keep all your hearts and minds, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever/ In the love* of the everlasting gospel, accept this expression of farewell from your affectionate friend and brother, Daniel Wheeler. ibth of Third mo., 1834, at Sea, and clear of the Needle Backs, all well.'* They crossed the equator on the 21st of Fourth month, and, on account of the advanced state of the season, abandoned the intention of aiming for the Cape of Good Hope, and determined to put in at Rio de Janeiro for supplies of water, etc. The following are extracts from his journal : Fifth • month, 10th. This afternoon at sun-set a brig was seen upon our lee quarter, steering the same course as ourselves, perhaps three or four miles distant from us ; she was soon covered up by the night, and no more thought of. Being upon the deck (an usual practice with me the fore-part of the night) between nine and ten o'clock, the carpenter suddenly ex- . claimed, ^ Why here's the brig ! ' Upon looking, I saw the vessel at a considerable distance from us, but soon perceived by the stars that she was ap- 11 122 VISIT TO proacliing with uncommon rapidity in a most suspi- cious direction, as if intending to cross our fore-foot, and cut us off. We watched her very narrowly, expecting every minute she would open a fire upon us. She continued to haul directly across our nead at a very short distance from tis, but we steadily kept our course, without the slightest variation, or manifesting any symptoms of hurry or fear, or no- ticing her in any way. I felt our situation to be at the moment very critical, knowing that these lati- tudes, and particularly this neighbourhood, are ex- ceedingly infested with piratical vessels, which find shelter in the Brazilian harbours as traders, where they fit out occasionally for Africa with merchandize, and return with whole cargoes of oppressed Africans for sale, landing them on private parts of the Brazil coast: at other times they act as pirates, when it suits their convenience, or are in want of stores. This was indeed a trial of faith of no common kind : but my mind was stayed upon the Lord, feeling a good degree of resignation to His holy will, what- ever might be permitted to befall us. After watch- ing the vessel with anxiety for some time, she passed away, without making the least apparent stop. On considering the matter, we concluded that when she saw us at sun-set we were taken for a Dutch galiot, that might fall an easy prey to her ; but when she came up to us in the dark, near enough to examine with telescopes the real shape of our vessel, we were found of such a suspicious build of a nondescript kind, not seen before in these seas, as might lead to THE PACIFIC ISLES. 123 the supposition that we were intended as a decoy, and though very tame looking without^ yet perhaps fiery hot within^ if meddled with. From the posi- tion she took, there is no doubt she expected to throw us into confusion by firing into us, and then, in the midst of it, to have boarded us on the weather side. There was not the least glimmer of light to be seen on board of her, whilst the ' Henry Freeling^ was well lighted up in both cabins and the binnacle, and the reflection from our sky-lights was well calcu- culated to puzzle and intimidate the crew, as this circumstance would be sufficient at once to show that we were not a common merchant vessel. The cap- tain, cook, steward, Charles, and myself, were all additional persons upon the deck, besides the regular watch, which would give an idea of strength to them, unusual in so small a vessel as the ' Henry Freeling.' Every thing was conducted with great quietness, not the least hint given to any one on board to prepare for an attack : the watch below was not even informed of what seemed to await us upon the deck. The Lord only was our deliverer, for she was restrained from laying a hand upon our little bark; and to Him alone our preservation is with gratitude and thankfulness ascribed. The crews of these pirates consist in gene- ral of desperadoes of all nations, who frequently commit the most dreadful atrocities on board the ships they seize, in putting to death all those who oppose their boarding them ; they are mostly crowded with men amply sufficient in number to take and de^ stroy some of our large armed traders. This vessel 124 VISIT TO was doubtless a selected one for the work; we thought she actually sailed twice as fast as the ^ Henry Free- ling/ which is far from being a slow vessel. We saw no more of her, and after midnight I partook of some refreshing sleep. 12th. Fine weather, with a fair wind all the day, and a prodigious swell of the sea from the south-east. The swell was so immensely large that we concluded that the summit of one wave was at least half a mile distant from that of another.^^ On the 13th of Fifth month they arrived at Kio de Janeiro, and were obliged to submit to a quaran- tine of five days. On landing to procure such arti- cles as they needed, they unexpectedly met with two serious persons, both natives of Scotland, by whom they were invited to attend a religious meeting held every First-day evening. Daniel Wheeler acknow- ledged their kindness, and informed them that he could not then give an answer, but that if, after reflection, it appeared to be right, he would take care to be there in time. As* the evening approached, feehng that the burden was laid upon him, he landed and proceeded to the appointed place. Here it was arranged that those assembled should go through with their meeting as usual, and at the close an op- portunity should be given to him to clear himself of the religious exercise he felt. At the conclusion of their meeting, his certificate from the Morning Meet^ ing in London was read, and a solemn silence ensued, when Daniel Wheeler spoke as follows : THE PACIFIC ISLES. 125 It had never been contemplated, before leaving England, that we should have to touch at a place where bigotry, superstition, and slavery stalk un- masked with open face, particularly as it had not come within the range of the prospect before us. I acknowledged having mentioned to my son some days ago, that I thought our coming here must be for. some object unknown to us at that time; but since we had been sitting together, I had found that the Lord had a seed even in this place that fear Him, and think upon His name ; and unto these, in an especial manner, my heart was enlarged in the love of the everlasting gospel — that love which would gather all mankind into the heavenly garner of rest and peace. I had not proceeded much far- ther in the expression of a desire that their ^ faith might not stand in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God,' before I had to turn their attention to the solemnity so evidently spreading over us, as the crown and diadem of every rightly • gathered religious assembly — a feeling not at our command, nor in the power of man to produce, and which could only be felt when the Great Head of the Church fulfils His gracious promise, ^ Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.' After this the way seemed fully opened, and a door of entrance also for the doctrines of the gospel in plainness and freedom. I had particularly to speak of the nature of true spiritual worship, and waiting upon the Lord, the necessity of knowing for ourselves the great work 11* 126 YI SIT TO of regeneration to be going on — the true faith of the gospel as it is in Jesus^ the Author and Finisher thereof; which worketh by love, purifieth the heart, and giveth victory over death, hell, and the grave — stating that I had nothing new to offer — that ^ other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ' — reviving the terms prescribed by Himself to those who would become His disciples and followers; the ^poor in spirit' were reminded that to them the blessing appertains, and the king- dom belongs ] the woful sentence to the unprofitable servant was contrasted with that of the faithful occupier of his Lord's talents ; the beauty, purity, and spirituality of the true gospel Church, and the necessity and practicability of becoming members thereof, while here on earth, was held up to view. Considerable brokenness appeared in some indivi- . duals, and I believe it may be said that Truth rose into dominion, and reigned over all. For my own part, I never recollect being more sensible of such continued weakness and fear from the beginning to the end — the creature was laid low, and I trust only desirous that all praise might be ascribed to Him to whom it belongs for ever. This was indeed a precious opportunity, and although not obtained without ploughing a furrow six or seven thousand miles in length, across the unstable surface of the ocean, yet the love, joy, and peace that remain, are a rich and ample reward. We reached our little bark in perfect safety, with hearts full of comfort, pretty soon after ten o'clock at night, while a torrent THE PACIFIC ISLES. 127 of rain was falling; the boat was manned by the natives of Africa^ now held in cruel bondage in this place; they are, however, treated by us as fellow- men and brethren, and truly my heart abounds with love towards these poor creatures, not easily to be described/' 128 VISIT TO CHAPTER IT SAILS FOR VAN DIEMEN's LAND PERILS OF THE VOYAGE ARRIVAL AT HOBART TOWN— MEETS WITH JAMES BACK- HOUSE AND GEORGE W. WALKER. They left Rio de Janeiro on the 28th of Fifth month, and, after a tempestuous passage of fifteen weeks, were permitted to arrive in safety at Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land. The following extracts from D. Wheeler's letters and journal give an impressive description of the perils they encountered on the passage. It was the wintry season in those southern latitudes, and rough weather was anticipated. " Sixth month, 2d. Since leaving the land, the winds have been so strongly opposed to our going round Cape Horn, as nearly to put that course out of sight; to-day we are so far off the coast of South America as to be exposed to the swell of the great South Sea, which is no longer kept from us by a point of land which forms the projecting Cape; this swell is prodigious, and plainly shows the turbulent state of the weather in that quarter, and seems like a final settlement, and removal of any thing like a doubt in my mind as to our being in the right track at present. After midnight the weather became very rough^ and the wind inclining more and more souths THE PACIFIC ISLES. 129 erly, rendered our position in sailing very critical. Before four o'clock, A. M., two heavy seas broke in upon us, one of wliich stove in a part of the bulwark on the starboard side ; happily none of the watch on deck were washed overboard. From this time things got rapidly worse, and the only alternative now left was to bring the vessel to, with her head to the wind and sea, under suitable storm-canvass to maintain that position. In addition to the great risk attending at all times any circumstance connected with ' lying to,' it was a position in which we had not yet tried the ' Henry Freeling.' It was not indeed an every-day occurrence for a small vessel, which we have had hitherto no opportunity of proving under more gentle circumstances, to be brought round against a sea which had nothing to control or break the range of its sweeping influence between her and the South Pole. Captain Keen manifested great coolness and ability on the occasion, and soon after day-break all things were ready to accomplish our intended purpose, to effect which an interval was waited for, until the blast should lull a little; and whilst much depended upon a timely reaction of the sails, so as to prevent the vessel from forcing herself with too great violence into the opposing waves, as her head came round towards them, at the same time it was indispensably needful to keep a sufficient quantity of canvass set, to guard against being over- taken and overwhelmed by the mountain waves, which in an awful manner were now threatening us behind. A fev minjites relieved us from all sus- 130 VISIT TO pense and anxiety^ and although heavy laden with our newly recruited and increased stock of water, some of which encumbered the deck, yet we had the comfort to see the vessel rise in a lively manner to the surface of the loftiest billows, before any material quantity of their contents had time to burst over her. As the wind blew directly from an immensity of ice, a change so sudden, from the great heat we had so recently witnessed, to such a cold penetrating blast, was sensibly felt by all on board. Sixth month, 10th. Towards evening it again be- came stormy, with much rain; the sea breaking over us with great violence, scarcely any part, even below deck, could be preserved free from wet, and all our ingenuity was called foKth to preserve our beds moderately dry. At times the weight of water seemed too much for our little bark to bear, from which she could scarcely extricate herself before another deluge burst in upon her deck. A state of desertion was my lot throughout the day, and al- though at seasons I was ready to say, ^ Lord, caxest thou not that we perish — yet I was not permitted in the darkest moment to cast away my .confidence, although for many hours it seemed needful for us to stand prepared as with our lives in our hands, not knowing how soon they might be called for. At midnight the scene was truly awful; the wind blew in a furious manner, and the sea raged with in- creased violence, with heavy falls of rain. The mercury in the marine barometer, which had been THE PACIFIC ISLES. 131 falling all the day^ became lower^ and the little vessel seemed to twist and bend beneath her heavy burden. At this moment of struggle and extremity^ behold a shift of wind to the south-west, which, instead of taking aback suddenly the little canvass we were scudding under (which might have produced conse- quences above all others the most to be dreaded), came regularly round ; and the captain, availing himself of this moment, directed that the vessel should be ' hove to.' Captain Keen came to me shortly after this - circumstance had taken place, to acknowledge how providentially this change had been ordered, being sensible of the favour thus gra- ciously bestowed upon us. Sixth month, 13th. This date has not failed to awaken feelings of painful reflection in reference to days which have long since passed away, it being thirty-three years since it pleased the God of all my mercies to bestow a crown upon the head of a poor unworthy creature, even the rich blessing of a trul^^ virtuous wife, at the close of a meeting at Doncaster. Full well at this remote period do I remember the solemn and delightful season with which we were remarkably favoured, from the beginning to the end of the meeting. Dear Thomas Colley appeared largely in testimony on the occasion, to the tendering of many present. It was indeed an earnest of the heavenl;y Master's love, which never ceased to follow us through all the vicissitudes of time, during a life, not a little chequered, for a term of more than thirty-two years and a half, when He was pleased to deprive me of 132 VISIT TO my greatest earthly treasure, and to take back that whicli He gave ; but it was His own, I verily believe, even His, the same who enabled me to say, in the moment of my greatest distress, ' blessed be the name of the Lord/ In looking over the different relatives and friends present on the above occasion, there is at this period scarcely one of those individuals, at that time about our own age, who now survives, and I find that many of them much younger than ourselves have been summoned from works to rewards : thus, whilst many of my contemporaries have finished their earthly career, I am still spared a little longer, a living monu- ment of the Lord^s everlasting mercy, for the pur- pose, I humbly trust, of declaring unto others what He hath done for my soul, and to show forth the praises of Him who hath translated me out of" dark- ness into His marvellous light. And although the sacrifice I am making may appear great, and be ren- dered more formidable by the late hour in the even- ing in which it has to be offered, yet in my estimation it is small indeed, and light as the dust of the balance, when the love and mercy, long-suffering and compas- sion of my good and gracious Lord God are brought into remembrance, who hath redeemed my life from destruction, and crowned me with loving-kindness and tender mercies, to myself incomprehensible, and, I am persuaded, only known to those, in the same degree, whose sin is blotted out as a cloud, and their trangressions as a thick cloud, by repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord J esus Christ, svho came into the world to save sinners, of whom THE PACIFIC ISLES. 133 eacli of us, in the depth of self-abasement, can say, ' I am chief/ A narrow escape from shipwreck against the island Inaccessible is thus adverted to : Sixth month, 18th. As the day advanced, the wind and sea increased, and the fog was so dense close down to the horizon, that there seemed but little prospect of discovering the land at a sufficient distance to prevent our running directly upon it. As the afternoon wore away, the danger hourly increased ; but at this juncture the Everlasting Arm of strength and power, in wonted mercy and compassion, was signally displayed for our preservation and relief, and in such a manner as wholly to exclude the slightest pretence of mortal man^s having the least share in it. The mist cleared suddenly away; and though but for a short interval, yet it was sufficient to discover a lofty, rocky island, about half a mile distant, standing nearly perpendicular out of the sea, far above the mast-head of the ^ Henry Freeling.^ We soon perceived that this was the island called ^ Inaccessible,^ and appropriately so, as, from its vast height and steep approach, no landing apparently, on the side next to us, could possibly have been effected. This seemed at once to relieve our anxiety, and the captain now considered all danger as past, and that we should safely run between this island and another called ' Nightingale Island,^ although not able to see it on account of the fog, these islands being ten miles asunder. Thus cheered, we pursued our fly- ing course with great velocity, as the wind had in- 12 134 VISIT TO creased in violence soon after the high rocky i-jland was first seen. But in another hour our prospect was suddenly clouded by the appearance of more rugged rocky land on the same side of us. This circumstance for a time staggered all our hopes^ as it could not be accounted for ; and of course we knew not how soon some unknown lurking reef might wreck our fragile vessel, which was scourged on by a hurricane blast with greater speed, it is probable, than at any previous time. In the early part of this suspense, Captain Keen said to me : ^ Now if your friends in England could look at us, they would have a better idea of the sacrifice you are making, than they at present possess.' But this would have con- veyed to them only a faint idea of what we have since had to pass through, and was only the begin- ning of those perils which in the end have been so abundantly crowned with wondrous mercy. In this situation, the night was gathering blackness and darkness in the midst of a heavy tempest. Sixth month, 22d. ^ Lying to,' as yesterday, the storm still raging with unabated violence, squalls, heavy rain, and lightning through the night. The sea having risen to a fearful height, has frequently inundated the deck of the vessel; and from the continual working of her whole frame, our . bed- places have been unfit to sleep in, the water having found its way through numerous chinks. This morn- ing early, a heavy sea broke into us, bringing a larger quantity of water upon the deck than at any time before. To myself a very remarkable and striking THE PACIjFIO ISLES. 135 event took place this morning. Shortly after the vessel had shipped a heavy body of water, I went up the hatchway to look round for a short interval ] at that moment the seas were running in mountainous succession, and I observed that some of the loftiest of the waves were very nearly prevailing against our little vessel; it seemed as if she could not much, longer escape being overwhelmed by them altogether. I made no remark to any one, but soon after we tried to get some breakfast ] while so occupied, one of the men called down to inform us that there was a sight worth looking at on deck ; it was a laxge collection of a small species of the whale, close by the ship. I thought I should like to see them; there were perhaps more than two hundred of these animals close to us, about twelve feet long each. When I went upon deck after breakfast, they were still close to our bows, and the man at the helm said that they served as a breakwater for us ; their being so was afterwards mentioned by some other person. At last my eyes were open to discover the protection they were affording our little struggling vessel; they occupied a considerable portion of the surface of the sea, in the exact direction between the vessel and the wind and waves, reaching so near to us, that some of them might have been struck with a har- poon ; they remained constantly swimming in gentle and steady order, as if to maintain the position of a regular phalanx, and I suggested that nothing should be done- to frighten them away. It was openly re- marked by some, that not one sea had broken on 136 VISIT TO board us while tliey occupied their useful post; and when they at last retired, it was perceived that the waves did not rage with the same violence as before they came to our relief. I give this wonderful cir- cumstance just as it occurred, and if any should be disposed to view it as a thing of chance, / do not, for I believe it to be one of the great and marvellous works of the Lord God Almighty. These friends in need, and friends indeed, filled up a sufficiently wide space upon two of the large swells of the ocean, com- pletely to obstruct the approach of each succeeding wave opposed to the vessel, so that if the third wave from us was coming in lofty foam towards us, by the time it had rolled over and become the second wave, its foaming, threatening aspect was destroyed entirely, reaching us, at last, in the form of a dead and harm- less swell. They are a very oily fish, but seldom larger than to yield about two barrels of oil; they are commonly called black fish. Sixth month, 23d. Still Mying to,^ sustained through another rough and perilous night, the win- try storm yet howling around us. We remarked, after having just passed the shortest day in this cli- mate, that our friends in England had returned home from the Yearly Meeting, and were enjoying the delightful days of summer at their greatest length. Sixth month, 26th. The tempestuous and turbu- lent weather which our little vessel has had of late to contend with so largely, the great length of voyage still unaccomplished, at the most unfavourable season THE PACIFIC ISLES. 137 of the year, have frequently been a subject of serious thought; but more particularly from witnessing, since the last heavy gales, considerable and almost daily increasing leakage from different parts of the deck, owing to the great strain to which her upper works . have been subjected, by the enormous weight of lumber, together with part of our stock of fresh water, upon the deck. After looking at the state of things on every side, and taking the different bear- ings of the whole into deliberate consideration, it seemed the most prudent measure, in the hope of contributing to the future safety of the vessel, and . to enable her to perform the service looked forward to, in its fullest extent, to lighten her deck by launching overboard, on the first favourable oppor- tunity, every weight of spars, etc. that could be dispensed with. As this could not be done in rough weather, without the risk of injury both to the peo- ple and the ship, and there being less wind and sea to-day than for some time back, it was resolved, if possible, to accomplish it. Accordingly, four heavy logs, a spare square sail-yard (old), a heavy spar in- tended for a top-mast, with many other cumbrous weights, which tended to increase the weakness of the quarters of the vessel, were cast into the sea without accident. It is truly cause of regret thus to sacrifice articles which at a future day may be much needed ; but the necessity of endeavouring to relieve the present difficulty and distress, compelled us to pass over that, which now can be looked at as remote, and may never occur. 12* 138 VISIT TO Seventh month, 7th. Still Mying to:' the storm has continued all night, and the sea makes very heavy upon us. The mercury in the marine baro- meter sunk to 29-30, then rose a little, and again sunk lower in the tube. As the night advanced, the storm increased with awful violence. Captain Keen said his last voyage was forty-six months in length, but that he had never witnessed such a night during the whole of it. The strength of the wind was incredible, and the lightning appalling,' with a fall of rain and sleet; the sea broke in upon our little ship in an alarming manner. The poor men were lashed upon the deck with ropes, to pre- vent their being washed away : benumbed with cold, and at times floating with the vast load of water upon the deck, their sufferings are not easily de- scribed. The bulwark on the larboard side was damaged, and the spray reached more than two- thirds up the main-mast. In the morning the sea- men expressed considerable discouragement, and I observed a disposition rather to make the worst of things. The captain said ^he hoped he should not see such another night in this vessel.' One person did not expect she would have kept up until morn- ing. When assembled at the breakfast table, I had to tell them, with a degree of firmness, that a mur- mur ought, not to be heard amongst us, but rather the expression of thankfulness that ^we are as we are.' On looking round at the ravages of the storm, I was surprised to find that so little damage wa^ done; and the increase of pumping had been THE PACIFIC ISLES. 139 comparatively trifling to what might have been ex- pected from the violent and frequent strokes of the sea, and the floods of water that had rolled over the deck of the vessel. „ , ^ , . . In the darkest part of the night of the 6th inst., a distinct luminous appearance or glow of hght re- mained at our mast-head — a phenomenon only seen in dreadful weather, when the atmosphere is highly charged with electric fluid. The- sailors call it a cor- posant. The countenances of our men were consi- derably whitened this morning, by the great quan- tity of salt which, having been deposited by the constant wash of the sea, had dried upon their faces. In the course of the storm yesterday evening, unusual darkness gathered round us, when suddenly the wind, which blew with great yiolence, increased to a com- plete hurricane, and roared in a terrific manner, and for a while closely threatened our little vessel. The force of the wind was so great, that the waves for the time almost ceased to undulate, and the surface of the ocean became level and whitened with foam. At this juncture I was comforted in beholding the calm- ness and resignation with which my dear Charles was favoured. At one time he remarked : ' What a pain- ful situation those people must be in, who have not a good reason for being exposed to similar distress, when they find themselves dvertaken by it ! ' I told him it was formidable enough even to those who felt themselves in the line of apprehended duty. As the night approached, another. storm began to threaten, and the waves ran so cross, and broke in such differ- 140 VISIT TO ent directions, that the motion of the vessel for a time exceeded all we had before witnessed, and the waters rushed on board of her on every side. At ! ten o'clock, p. m., it was so tempestuous, that we again hugged the howling blast by ' heaving to :' as the vessel came round with her head to the wind, one heavy wave broke on board, but happily none of the crew were lost. In the afternoon, when it was thought that the storm had arrived at its greatest . strength, this hope was suddenly extinguished by the mercury falling in a short space of time down to 29-50. The captain said: 'We have done all we can ; trust in Providence only remains.' " The following extract proves the state of our dear friend's mind about this period : "Two or three days previous to this tempest, I felt much depressed on account of my Charles, he having drooped more than usual, from the effect^ of the cold weather : the great length of time we had already been the sport of the winds and waves since leaving the Rio de Janeiro, could not but excite a painful and discouraging fear lest his strength should prove unequal to the remaining part of the voyage, as we had only passed over about one thousand miles m distance, since beginning to traverse the margin> of the Indian Ocean, and are still greatly annoyed by the strong currents and heavy gales which prevail from the direction of Madagascar, and are probably attracted down the Mozambique channel, which sepa- rates that island from the coast of Natal, on the south-east shore of Africa. But as the late storm THE PACIFIC ISLES. 141 approached, I felt, through unmerited favour, in- creasing peacefulness and tranquillity, which nothing during its whole continuance was permitted to dis- turb ; and in the most awful moment of uncertainty and impending danger, fear had no place to enter ; this was utterly banished by the love of the ever- blessed Master that flowed in my heart, and which in the true dignity of its heavenly power cast it out; and the language which at intervals continued to prevail and occupy the inner man, with a soothing and encouraging sweetness, was that of the Psalmist, ^ Delight thyself in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thy heart/ Thus indeed was strength truly administered, according to the glorious working of His power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness, to endure, and give thanks to the Lord 31ost High. I should shrink from making any remark on the state of my own mind whilst in the extremity out of which we have been so remarkably delivered, did I not feel called upon by a sense of gratitude to our compassionate Lord; at the same time a hope gleams through my heart, that it will tend to strengthen the faith of some hesitating and doubting fellow-travellers who may eventually peruse these lines, to ^follow on to know the Lord^ for themselves, and thus partake of His love, mercy, and life-giving presence, and be encouraged to for- sake all and follow Him, ^ nothing doubting,^ wherever. He may be pleased to lead ; for the declaration, ^ Lo ! I am with you alway,^ will assuredly be verified in their experience, and all earthly things will be esti- 142 VISIT TO mated but as loss and dross, in comparison with ttie excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus. Eighth month, 4th. The weather very boisterous, although we were permitted to keep before the wind and sea. To-day we were escorted by an unusual number of birds, the albatross, cape hen, stormy petrel, etc. On the fifth we were compelled again to ^ lie to,^ and this day, the sixth, we are again ' lying to.^ At three o'clock, p. M., we were assailed by a most violent tempest, with heavy falls of rain, sleet, and hail; the sea curled in an unusual m^anner, and, raging in opposite directions, our little bark seemed as if she could not long sustain the unequal conflict, as the wind kept increasing to a degree almost inconceivable, except \o those who may have witnessed the hurricane with all its furious and angry growl. Every thing was done that could be devised for our relief, but all our efforts seemed overpowered and unavailing; and we could not wholly divest ourselves of an apprehension that she must eventually fill and founder by the lee with us at last, if the fury of the storm were not curbed; of this, however, there seemed no probability, and the approach of night served only to increase its horror and renew its force. In this situation, one would have supposed that no relief could have availed short of an abatement of the storm ; but true it is, that an increase of its fury produced a circumstance which at once enabled our weather- beaten little vessel to rise with comparative ease to every opposing mountain-billow. At eight o'clock, THE PACIFIC ISLES. 143 p. M., the wind was so powerfully strong, that it blew our new storm-jib away from the duif or bolt- rope altogether. Every exertion was made to pre- vent the total loss of the sail, but it flapped with such violence as to shake the whole frame of the vessel, threatening destruction to all that came near it. At length it was lowered down into, the water under the lee of the ship, where it was happily secured, but not without one man being hurt by it. For want of this sail, it was now feared that the sea would make a constant breach over our deck 3 but before another sail could be prepared to replace it, it was truly relieving to find that the vessel bowed to the seas, as they met her, in a much more lively manner without it, than she had done with it. Thus, in a very unexpected manner, was a way made for us to ride triumphant through the re- maind(^r of the terrific storm, without any material injury to the vessel, beyond the loss of her bulwark. < This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles,' and to Him be the glory and the praise for ever. In the course of every storm which we had witnessed previously to the last, thunder and lightning had more or less accompanied them, sometimes in an awful manner, but more particularly the lightning, when forked ; : and although we left England without conducting chains, yet thus far not a flash has been permitted to harm us. By way of precaution, the pumps have at times been stopped up, to prevent their being spUt. Such favours I desire to record with thank- 144 VISIT TO fulness, and to number them among the many bles&i ings which have descended upon us from our hea- venly Parent, times innumerable/^ They anchored in the river Derwent on the 10th of Ninth month. In a letter from Hobart Town, dated 25th of Ninth month, 1834, accompanying his journal, Daniel Wheeler thus writes: Though many of the storms and tempests have been enumerated, yet not one-half of what it has been our portion to witness, has been told to my beloved friends. It may suffice for me to say, that we have been com- pelled to seek refuge more than twenty times from the fury of the hostile elements, by ' lying to,' with the ship's head to the wind and waves; and this has been resorted to only in cases of extreme danger.'' It will be seen by the extract from the journal under date of 25th of Sixth month, that it appeared necessary to lighten the vessel by casting into the sea some heavy logs, etc. In the same letter Daniel Wheeler alludes to one of the sailors who, it appears, had been remarkably visited, and brought under feelings of deep condemnation, and who opened his mind to him in a letter. Of this man he remarks : His obdurate heart was never softened, and sub- dued, and humbled, until after the last dreadful tempest, when the weight of his burden became so heavy as to constrain him to confession. I had per- ceived in his eye the anguish of his wounded spirit, but knew not the cause until he wrote to me. He had several times been in danger of being washed overboard, and once nearly fell from one of the THE PACIFIC ISLES. 145 yards wlien aloft; but these dangers were not suffi- cient wholly to bring down his stubborn heart. I think this one circumstance, independently of our (I trust) timely visit to Eio de Janeiro, cannot fail to animate the hearts of all our dear friends, particu- larly such as have been instrumental in any degree towards promoting the great work in which we are engaged, and cause them to feel a lively participa- tion in that heavenly joy which welcomes the re- penting and returning sinner to his Father's house/^ From a previous extract, it will be observed that Daniel Wheeler suggested that certain stipulations should be made with any person who might be eno^ae^ed to take the command of the vessel : one of these was, that himself and mate should attend morning and evening, when the Holy Scriptures were read; this appears to have been attended to, and the sailors also enjoyed the privilege of hearing them read, at suitable times. From a paragraph in one of his letters, it appears that he had been careful to inform them that he did not consider such reading as a part of Divine worship, " but that true worship is an act between man and his great Creator, and can only be performed accept- ably in spirit and in truth.^^ - When the state of the weather permitted, meet- ings were regularly held on First and Fifth-days : those on First-days were attended by the ship's com- pany, and were, it appears, often seasons of favour, comforting and supporting the minds of these dear Friends under trials of faith of no common kind. • 13 146 VISIT TO Whilst at this place they were rejoiced to meet with James Backhotise^ a minister of the Society of Friends^ from York, England, and his companion George Washington Walker. These Friends were, like themselves, engaged in the great and glorious cause of the gospel of life and salvation in those distant lands; and their joy was not a little increased by the opportunities with which they were favoured, of labouring unitedly to promote it. THE PACIFIC ISLES. 147 CHAPTER III. EMBARKS FOR SIDNEY — CREW OF THE HENRY FREELING — SAILS FOR TAHITI — ARRIVAL AND INTERVIEW WITH THE NATIVES — MEETING WITH THE MISSIONARIES. Having finished their labours in Yan Diemen^s Land^ James Backhouse and his companion were prepared to accompany Daniel Wheeler and his son to Sidney, at which place they arrived on the 20th of Twelfth month. Here they thought it right to appoint a public meeting for Divine worship, with the inhabitants — the first ever held there by Friends. It was, upon the whole, from beginning to end, a sohd opportunity : James Backhouse and D. W. were largely opened in testimony amongst 'them. J ames Backhouse appeared a second time, and concluded the meeting in prayer. From the quietness and solemnity which reigned throughout the whole time of the meeting, it might have been supposed th^t the congregation assembled consisted wholly of per- sons accustomed to stillness and silence, instead of an audience of which scarcely an individual had ever before been present at a Friends^ meeting, or was even aware of the manner in which they are usually conducted. But the glory was and is the Lord's. After the long and tempestuous voyage, it was 148 VISIT TO pleasing to find^ on examination^ that no important repairs were required, the vessel having been so well and substantially built. In reference to the ship's company, it is very satisfactory to insert the! following extracts: ^^With a little exception, our sailors have exceeded my most sanguine expectations as to behaviour and conduct in general, but I thinks no men could have suffered more hardships from, the weather than they have endured. For a time we gave them some wine, but whether from its becoming flat and vapid by washing about in the cask, when ai quantity of it had been taken out, or with thei change from cold to heat, and then to cold again,, some of them declined drinking it, on account of I its not suiting them, so that they had nothing but water for months together/^ Again : " It is a little remarkable that, although they have been sometimes wet, and in wet clothes, not for a day or two, but for a week together, when their teeth have chattered with cold, with no warm food, the sea having put the fires out, even below the deck, and the water i filtering through the deck on their beds below, and not a dry garment to change, — yet not a single ( instance of the cramp has occurred amongst them,^ nor the slightest appearance of the scurvy, even in i those who have before-time been afflicted with it, and still bear the marks about them ; and with the solitary instance of one man, who was forced to quit the deck for two hours during his watch, from being taken unwell, every man and* boy have stood through- out the whole in a remarkable manner. They have THE PACIFIC ISLES. 149 been pkntifully supplied witli fresh provisions and vegetables since we arrived, and with some malt liquor also; but their character for sobriety and temperance, and general good behaviour, has war- ranted every reasonable indulgence likely to conduce to their health and welfare/^ The following extracts from Daniel Wheeler's later letters, give proof of their continued stabi- lity. First month, 21st. I have found the advantage of placing our sailors upon rather a different and more respectable footing than those of other ships ; and the result has been, so far, that we have had comparatively no trouble with them. It is so com- mon a thing for the shipping to lose their men here, that a few days ago the question was put to me by General Bourke, the governor : ' Have you lost any of your men ? ^ and it is satisfactory to know that some of the strangers who have attended our meet- ings on board, have, in more than one instance, remarked (as if of rare occurrence) that our sailors look more like healthy, fresh-faced farmers, than men come off a long voyage ; the generality of those we see daily have a thin and worn-down appearance, particularly when they belong to ships that supply them daily^ with ardent spirits; while our sailors have each a quart of beer per day, of weak quality, being brewed, as is customary here, with only sugar and hops, both of which are very cheap.^^ Daniel Wheeler adds: ^'I found it advisable to keep up a desire in the crew to make themselves 13* 150 VISIT TO acquainted with the art of navigation/ and this could not be done without their being furnished with mate- rials for its accomplishment^ such as quadrants, slates, pens, paper, etc. ; and though the expense of such things ultimately devolves upon themselves, yet, at the moment of purchase, the advance of money has been unavoidable on my part/^ It is highly satisfactory and encouraging to find, by letters from time to time received, that the sea- man who was so powerfully arrested by conviction of the error of his ways, continues to maintain his integrity, conducts himself with propriety, and has recently attended their meetings. -James Backhouse also says on this subject: "It is pleasing to see the seamen of the ' Henry Freeling' instructing one another in nautical observations and calculations : the carpenter is a good navigator, and since he became a steady man he has taken pleasure in instructing the other sailors, who appear to be improving in knowledge and conduct. They strongly exemplify the benefit of temperance principles on board ship. They are allowed beer when it is to be had, and as much tea, coffee, or cocoa as they like. There is no swearing to be heard, and the men have the appearance of comfort, and spend their leisure in improving reading, etc. Happily, neither the captain nor mate makes a foolish mystery about the course of the vessel, such as is common on board many ships, by which the sailors are kept in igno- rance, to no purpose, unless it be to enable the cap- tain and officers to puff themselves up with an THE PACIFIC ISLES. 151 unworthy conceit of knowing more than those under them, and keep the sailors in a state of degradation inimical to good morals and conduct." Second month, 22d, 1835. "To-day the weather is still beautifully fine; our invalids pretty much restored from sea-sickness, and, being the first day of the week, portions of the Holy Scriptures were read to the ship's company assembled upon the deck. During the time of silence in the morning, James Backhouse contrasted and compared the management of a ship at sea with the spiritual progress of each individual, showing the constant attention at ail times necessary, in both cases, in order to be enabled to steer a true and steady course towards the great obiect of our voyage, both as regards an earthly and a heavenly port. The latter part of the forenoon we sat down together in the cabin : towards the conclu- sion, I thought I was made sensible of a renewal ot strength to wrestle for the blessing." They left Sidney on the 12th of Second month; and James Backhouse being desirous to visit the penal settlement on Norfolk Island, about 1000 miks distant, and not far out of the course to Tahiti whither Daniel Wheeler was bound, it was arranged that he should be conveyed in the 'Henry Free- They arrived off the island on tlie 4th of Third month. Their future being now widely different, the prospect of separation was keenly felt. A pri- vate signal, which they were instructed to make by the government at Sidney, having been given, a boat 152 VISIT TO was discovered coming froin the shore, by which James Backhouse and his companion were landed, and shortly after the ^ Henry Freeling^ was again on the bosom of the broad Pacific. In his journal, D.Wheeler says, under date Third month, 10th : Since leaving Norfolk Island, but more particularly within the last three or four days, it has been to me at times a trying, proving season of much strippedness and poverty every way. The loss of the company of our dear friends, with whom we had been pretty closely and sweetly connected for more than five months, either by sea or land, the steady opposition of the winds since we separated, the great distance we have yet to go, the advanced state of the season (towards autumn in these regions), and yet, above all, the absence of Him in whom my soul delighteth, — combined to weigh down and op- press my poor tossed mind, beyond the usual degree, towards nothingness and abasement of self. But in the depths, although unable to draw nigh, I endea-, voured to look towards the Holy Temple ; I remem- bered the Lord, and my prayer was, I trust, permitted to come in unto Him ; and He remembered a poor unworthy creature, and in His own way and time was graciously pleased to speak comfort, and to seal in- struction. The affecting instance of the dear gon of God Himself was brought to my remembrance ' who was made sin for us, who knew no sin,' and died, ' the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God,' when, in the very act of child-like and lamb-like obedience, and meek submission to His THE PACIFIC ISLES. 153 Holy Father's will, from tlie extreme depth and weight of suffering upon Him for the sins of poor, lost^ guilty man, He poured forth the agonizing query, ' My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me V and I am renewedly persuaded that these trials and proving baptisms are all, in unutterable and in- conceivable love and mercy, dispensed for the preser- vation of that precious life which is hid with Christ in God. Fourth month, 28th. This morning, about half- past one o'clock, the mountains of the long-looked- for Tahiti were discovered through the gloom upon pur lee-bow. It will be eleven weeks to-morrow since we left Sidney, and, with the exception of the equinoctial gale, we have, during the voyage, for the most part, been favoured with fine weather, but with an unheard-of proportion (for these seas) of contrary winds during nearly the whole time, completely set- ting at naught all former supposed experience. After leaving Norfolk Island, we traversed from twenty- nine to forty degrees of south latitude, in the hope of finding the westerly winds, which usually prevail, to waft us to the eastward, but could never meet with them to any purpose^ and, since we entered the trade latitudes, to this day we have been in constant expectation of meeting with the south-east trade- winds, to enable us to fetch the island of Tahiti, and have in this been equally unsuccessful. We have, however, after traversing various zigzag courses over more than 5000 miles of ocean, by the log, since leaving Sidney, been guided to a hair's breadth, in 154 VISIT TO SO remarkable a manner, as to get the first sight of the island when nearly dark, the moon not being twelve hours old at the time. The darkness and the light are both alike to Him who hath been with us, ' to bless and preserve us ; enabling us in degree to ' glory in tribulation/ and to bear even privation, for His name's sake, with peaceful resignation, and not worthy of being recounted, because of the love, and peace, and joy which at seasons have been our happy portion. Fourth month, 30th. At noon passed through Matavai bay. A canoe with four of the natives came off to us, bringing oranges, guavas, and other kinds of fruit, which we purchased, after much bar- gaining, for a hank of thread and three small needles to each individual, although the price they first asked was a dollar for each basket : there were five baskets of fruit. We were all pleased with the openness and * simplicity of these people. At two o'clock, p. m., we took J emmy the pilot on board, and immediately en- tered the channel within the reefs ; but after getting through the most dangerous part, it fell calm, which obliged us to drop an anchor for the night, directly opposite the house of George Bicknell, so close to the shore that a mooring-hawser was made fast to one of his cocoanut trees. By this time our deck was covered with the natives. Just as we were ready to go on shore to take tea at George BicknelFs (to whom, as deputy consul, the mail brought from New South Wales had been delivered), the young king (or Derhaps it is more correct to say, the husband of the THE PACIFIC ISLES. 155 queen) came on board, with his younger brother and uncle, and several others : they behaved with great openness and cheerfulness, and seemed highly pleased to see us. Our captain was personally known to them already. They soon looked round the vessel, appa- rently delighted, left us a basket of oranges, and said they would come again to-morrow. To my great re- joicing, the pilot soon after coming on board, informed us (officially) of the disuse of ardent spirits altogether, by saying, ' Rum is no good here.' The total prohi- bition of spirituous liquors has been so strongly en- forced, that they have taken them out of private houses, without exception, and thrown them away; and the natives have carried it to the length of smelling the breath of people, to ascertain whether it had been used, and, if found to be the case, a severe fine was imposed; so that a person well known to lead a thoroughly sober life, was not allowed to have such a thing in his possession, but was liable at any time to undergo a search. Fifth month, 1st. {Sixth day.) At day-break the pilot came on board, and the breeze being favourable, the vessel was got ready, and run gently down to Papeete harbour: the water was so clear, that the beautifully-spreading branches of coral could be plainly distinguished as we passed over the most ^ shallow parts of the reef. About nine o'clock, A. M., * we took up our station in a well-sheltered cove or harbour, surrounded by straggling houses, and plan- tations of the cocoanut tree, banana, bread-fruit, orange, and sugar-cane, ranging along the edge of 156 VISIT TO the sea, on the level land at the foot of the moun- tains. In the forenoon, Dr. Yaughan came on board, who had recently arrived in a whaling vessel froni London; and George Pritchard, the resident mis- sionary, soon after. For George Pritchard we were bearers of many letters and parcels, which proved very acceptable. In the afternoon we visited his habitation, and were kindly received by his wife and family. George Pritchard very kindly inquired whether I wished to be at the worship of the Tahi- tians, next' First day; but I informed him that I beheved it would be best for me to be with my own crew on that day. Having endeavoured to keep my mind exercised to ascertain the will of my Lord and Master, it was with me to tell him that the first step which I had to take, was to request a conference with the whole of the missionaries in this district, asking him if they had any stated times for meeting together by themselves; he said they had, but a special meeting could be convened for the occasion. On considering a little, he found that their next quarterly meeting, in regular course, was to be held the second week in the present month. As the month was already come in, I thought it would be unreasonable to subject the parties to the inconvenience of meeting on purpose, as their own meeting would still necessarily have to , be held on the appointed day, more especially as I had several affairs to regulate, and preparation to make, to enable us to barter for supplies, etc. At present, I see no farther than to attend this confer- THE PACIFIC ISLES. 157 ence, and there produce the certificates furnished by my dear friends in England, humbly trusting that the path of my future proceeding will be graciously manifested in due time, and strength and percep- tion mercifully afforded to enable me to walk faith- fully in it. I had been unwell on the 12th inst., but, having passed a more favourable night, on the morning of the 13th inst. I felt no hesitation about proceeding to Papaoa, as the day was fair overhead. George Pritchard called with a boat, to take Charles and myself with him, he finding three natives to row, and myself two. Having understood that, on the present occasion, the principal chiefs from all parts of the island would be there, and a large muster of the inhabitants re- siding in this district, it occurred to my mind that it would be a favourable medium through which my arrival might be publicly announced to all the dis- tant districts, if at a suitable time my certificates should be read. On mentioning this to George Pritchard, and showing him the translation so kindly made before I left London by William Ellis, he at once saw the propriety, but said it would be neces- sary to consult Henry iSott, the senior missionary resident at Papaoa, George Pritchard himself being junior; this was a matter of course, and had I been aware of the distinction, I should myself have proposed it. From the wind having sprung up a fresh breeze against us, we were rather late in reaching our destination, and Henry Nott had taken 14 158 VISIT TO his seat in tlie meeting before we got to it. "We followed George Pritchard through, a large number of people that were already assembled^ until we got up to Henry Nott^ who^ on being consulted, imme- diately consented that it should be done, when their service was over. We then took our seats, having kept on our hats until that moment; but the heat of the climate renders it too oppressive to keep them on for any great length of time. We heard of no remark, however, having been made on this head, whatever might have been thought. They com- menced by George Pritchard giving out a hymn; then part of the Epistle to the Ephesians was read; after which George Pritchard kneeled down and prayed; another hymn was then sung; after this Charles Wilson preached a long sermon from a text out of the same Epistle; when this was finished, another hymn was given out, at his request, and he afterwards finished with prayer. Some business then came on relating to the afi'airs of the 31issionary So- ciety, when the island queen took her seat as its President. We merely sat as silent spectators through the whole of this, which from beginning to end was conducted in the Tahitian language. As only George Pritchard sat between myself and the queen, I ob- served that she was employed in reading my certifi- cates, which had been previously laid upon the table. The whole of my certificates were then audibly read in the Tahitian language, by George Pritchard, who took gieat pains to give ample explanation whenever needful. The marked attention and solidity of coun- THE PACIFIC ISLES. 159 tenance manifested by the wondering Taliitians, was both striking and comforting; and the solemnity which spread over this large assembly had previously covered my mind as with a mantle, contriting my spirit under a sense that the great Master Himself was there. After the reading of the certificates was gone through, profound silence reigned. I asked if I might say a few words, which was at once per- mitted, and George Pritchard agreed to interpret between me and the people. I requested him just to repeat what I said, and I have reason to beheve this was faithfully done, and was, to the best of my recollection, after this manner : ' I have no wish to trespass upon the time of this meeting. I was desirous that these documents or certificates might be read, which would account for a stranger being present, and inform all that I came not here in my own will, but in the will of my Lord and Master, whose I am, and whom I desire to serve to my latest breath; and would also let you know that I came with the full unity and consent of that branch of the Christian Church in England of which I am a member. And now, grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, be mul- tiphed upon all the inhabitants of this land; and may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, keep our hearts and minds,^ etc. After I sat down, a solemn silence again prevailed, until one of the natives, a supreme judge, broke it 160 VISIT TO by addressing me by name, wliich he had caught from the certificates, and declaring, on behalf of himself and the islanders, that the manner of my coming among them was very satisfactory, because what had been read and spoken was in accordance with the gospel which they had been taught, and were acquainted with. He also, at considerable length, touched upon the great distance I had come over the deep waters to see them, and to do them good; that, in return, their hearts, and arms, and habitations, in effect, were open to receive me, duly appreciating the purity and disinterestedness of the motive that had induced the step, having no trade nor other object in view. He hoped I should visit all their schools, and stroke the heads of the children; that he should now deliver them all into my hands. I told George Pritchard to say, that the dear children would always have a strong hold and a strong claim upon my heart. Much more transpired that was truly consoling and comforting; and the missionaries who spoke on the occasion, I truly believe, most fully and cordially co-operated in endeavouring to explain my views to the people in terms of strong approbation. Although the above may not be exactly verbatim, it is the substance of what passed. When it was all over, Henry Nott kneeled down and concluded the meeting with prayer in the Tahitian, The natives then generally rose from their seats, and began to flock around us, and to shake hands with Charles and myself in a very hearty manner, and without^ THE PACiriC ISLES. 161 regard to order, age, or sex, from the humble pea- sant to the bronze-coloured queen, her two aunts, and the numerous chiefs, who, I think, are the stoutest, most giant-like men I ever saw assembled together. About 800 persons were collected at this meeting, but the house was so extensive, that it seemed impossible to make any accurate estimate; for my own part, I should have supposed the num- ber not less than a thousand. The judge before spoken of, in one of his speeches (for he spoke three times), hinted that they perceived I was not exactly of the same description of Christians that had hitherto come amongst them, or I belonged to a different body. This, however, did not seem to stand in the way. Some days previously to this meeting being held, the young king and several chiefs came on board to breakfast, six in number. After breakfast, our usual reading in the Holy Scriptures was introduced, during which they be- haved with great attention and propriety ) they sat as still, in the time of silence, both then and at the pause before breakfast, as if accustomed to it. When they were about going away, a telescope, and a piece of handkerchiefs, were presented to the king, and a shawl to each of the others, with which they seemed highly pleased. Through the medium of an English- man, who had been sent for on the occasion,.the king was told that I had something in reserv_e for Pomare, the queen, expecting she also would pay us a visit. They behaved with much openness and affability, and told us in plain terms that they liked us, because we 14* 162 VISIT TO were like tLemselves^ and did not make ourselves very higli to them. Fifth months 15tli. The young king and his brother came on board in a private capacity; their visit was much more agreeable than when attended by several of the principal chiefs. They staid dinner, and re- mained on board several hours. The simple habits, and gentle, unassuming manner of this young man, do not appear at present to be liable to alter from his having become the husband of the queen. The amiable disposition he possesses, and which cannot be concealed, at once renders him an object of gene- ral esteem. He has evidently acquired considerable polish from the intercourse with foreigners, of which he does not fail to avail himself at every opportunity; and although, from this circumstance, his manners are much more civilized than those of his country- men, yet now and then the wild nature of a South Sea islander shows itself. They brought us some fine bunches of oranges, the largest of which con- tained eleven in a cluster, and the smallest seven. A sliding knife and fork were presented to each; also a three-bladed knife and a penknife. Shortly after these guests had left us, a chief, by name Paofai, residing near Point Yenus, came on board, and made signs that he wished to read my certifi- cates, which were accordingly furnished for his peru- sal in the Polynesian language, although he could speak more English than any we have yet met with. He is considered a great man, and he was more modest in behaviour than any we have yet seen of THE PACIFIC ISLES. 163 his stamp : having observed, while he read the cer- tificate, that his sight was impaired, I presented him with a pair of spectacles; at the same time a pocket- handkerchief and a small hatchet were given him ; upon which he said he had no money to pay for them Such an honest confession we had not before met with, nor with any person who mentioned pay- ment for what they received. He left us with an acknowledgment of the kindness with which he had been treated, and I believe both parties were satisfied with the interview In the evening we were engaged in writing notices of the public meeting intended to be lield next First day,^^ 164 VISIT TO CHAPTEE IV. MEETING FOR SAILORS — ATTENDS THE NATIVE MEETINGS FOR WORSHIP — PERILOUS PASSAGE TO TIAREI — NATIVE MEETING. Daniel Wheeler was brought into mucli thought- ful solicitude about the crews of the vessels anchored around them; and seeing no way of being clear of the blood of these poor neglected people, but by ap- pointing a public meeting, it was concluded to ar- range one for the next First day. At the appointed time, the decks of the ^ Henry Freeling^ having been extensively seated, a bethel flag, as a signal well un- derstood by sailors, was hoisted. The journal states: The meeting at length set- tled down into stillness beyond our expectation. I thought there would scarcely be a single individual then present, except our own crew, that had ever before been at a meeting held exclusively after the manner of Friends. In this, however, I found I had been mistaken, as the mate of the ^Lancaster' came on board the next day, and acknowledged he was a member of our Society, though, as he stated, he had not kept close to it. He told us that he little expected to see a Friends' meeting held amongst these islands, but seemed glad of having an opportu- nity to attend one. THE PACIFIC ISLES. 165 However long the time of silence miglit be thought, there was no restlessness sufficient to disturb the quiet of the meeting. Unexpectedly to myself, I felt an engagement of mind to state to the meeting, that the religious Society of which I was a member had, from its earliest rise, been called upon to bear a faithful testimony to the excellency of silent worship and waiting upon Grod ; that it was a noble testimony to the all-sufficiency and teaching of that grace which had appeared unto all men, teaching all, and bring- ing salvation to all, ^for the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men, etc. looking for that blessed hope and the glorious ap- pearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ,' etc. to the end of the text. ' For God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth;' and we are told in Holy Writ (by the Son), that Hhe Father seeketh such to worship Him.' I was then carried forth on the nature of true, silent, and spiritual worship, to a considerable length; and had to state that my head would not have laid easy upon the pillow at a future day, if the attempt had not been made to collect the seamen of the fleet. That sailors were a . class of men more than most others separated from their homes and regular places of worship, particu- larly on these long voyages upon the mighty deep for months and months together; but that the ample revision made by the glorious gospel for the resto- ration and redemption of mankind, boundless as its love, extended unto all; for He that said, ^Let there 166 VISIT TO be liglit, and there was light • ' even ^ God who com- manded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the know- ledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ/ I had largely to proclaim some of the principal doctrines of the gospel, and was helped through, to my humble and thankful admiration. It was indeed a glorious and, I trust, to some a blessed meeting. I had, I think, more, than once to call their attention to the heavenly power that reigned over us, with precious solemnity, as a crown and diadem; and, before the meeting closed, I had to acknowledge the same with prayer and thanksgiving, to the glory and the praise of my God. After the meeting was broken up, I requested an individual out of each ship to step forward, when two hundred and twenty-nine tracts, principally those of Friends, were disposed of, including those sent on board the ^Mariner' in the morning. The above is the sub- stance of what I had to deliver in the meeting, which, as it arose fresh in my memory when de- scribing this meeting in my journal, I felt an inducement to transmit thus far, for the satisfaction of my dear friends at home, that they may know what is going on in this remote part of the globe; and to which, but for brevity sake, much more might be added. The masters of the ' Cambria' and ' King- ston' remained on board, and dined with us. Captain Crocker, of the ' Cambria,' has proposed to take letters for us to New Bedford, for which place he is about to sail, and forward them from thence to England/' THE PACIFIC ISLES. 167 I m -Tlie attendance of tlie Tahitian meeting for wor- ship having been for some days a subject for consi- deration, Daniel Wheeler and his son Charles con- cluded to land and visit the missionary George Pritchard, on this account. This resulted in an arrangement to be present on the morrow, being First day. It was understood they should sit as spectators while the usual service was proceeded with, and afterwards the way should b^. open for Daniel Wheeler to speak, if he felt it required of him. The meeting is thus described : " It was consider- ably more than half an hour after the fixed time before we entered (what is called) the church, where a large number of persons were collected and collect- ing. The whole congregation were squatted on the floor, the building being in an unfinished state, and no seats as yet provided : they appeared to occupy the whole of the floor, which is very extensive. While they were proceeding in their usual manner, I endeavoured to draw near to the Fountain of Israel, whose God is, and ever will be, He that giveth strength and power to His people. My heart was softened in an unusual manner, and the creature was brought down into a state of nothingness; tears flowed beyond a capability of restraint; my mind was as a calm, and I was prepared to stand up when the proper moment arrived. A universal stillness now prevailed over the meeting, probably increased by expectation, which had for some time been stamped upon the countenances of the whole assembly. 168 VISIT TO 'God is not the author of confusion, but of peace as in all churches of the saints/ were the first words uttered by me; which, when interpreted, were fol- lowed by — It is not an every-day occurrence for a stranger thus to speak amongst you, probably what you never before witnessed; but it is according- to the true order of the gospel that the prophets should speak two or three, that all might learn and all mi"ht be comforted— with some more of the text, repeating again, 'For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints;' proceed- ing with — I have nothing new to oflFer : the way to' the kingdom is the same now as in the beginning- there is no variableness or shadow of turning with that God with whom we have to do: the thinog of time may vacillate and change, but the Eoc°k of Ages unimpaired remains; it changeth not 'The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, Ihe Lord knoweth them that are His.' This foun- dation is Christ Jesus, and no other foundation can any man lay than is laid. Every man's work will be made manifest, the day shall declare it, the fire of the Lord will try it; that only will stand which is built on Christ Jesus the righteous, that tried corner- stone, elect of God, and precious indeed to them that believe, though to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness. For this cause, 'God gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life' — with more on this important point. In looking over this large assembly, the love of God has filled THE PACIFIC ISLES. 169 . my heart as I have sat amongst you. May the Lord in Heaven bless you ! is the language that has arisen therein. It is this love that induced me to come amongst you; it is this love that would gather all into the heavenly garner of rest and peace : endless in duration is the mercy of the Lord ] free and un- bounded is His love. His love has been long ex- tended to these islands^ and covered them as with a mantle. This island has had advantages beyond many others. — I reminded them that many years had now elapsed since the sound of the gospel was first heard in their land ; they had long had many parts of the Holy Scriptures in circulation, which from their earliest pages point to the Saviour. It was pro- mised, soon after the fall of man, that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head. Moses declared to the people in his day, ^ A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your breth- ren, like unto me ; him shall ye hear in all things ; ' and the soul which will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed from among the people. Which led to the query of what return had been made for all this, and wherein had they been benefited by these great privileges ? etc. They had run well for a season : what had hindered them? What had prevented them, that they should have turned again as unto the weak and beggarly elements? If they had obeyed the gospel this would not have been the case; they would by this time have been a pure people for their God. That unless there was a thorough alteration and change, the blessing in- 15 170 VISIT TO tended for them would be withdrawn^ and the rod would be administered for their iniquity. Continuing, ' Be watchful, and strengthen the things which re- main, that are ready to die •/ for your works are not perfect in the sight of God. ' Eemember, therefore, how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent:' there is a great work to be done; for where is your hope when the present generation are sum- moned from works to rewards, if the younger child- ren are not trained in succession ? I then had to call upon the parents to step forward before it was too late : they had all a part to take in it. Tahitian mothers had a large share devolving upon them; much depended upon their influence and example in endeavouring to train up their children with habits of civilized life, by letting them learn to read (which at present is much ne- glected, and much disliked both by parents and children), that so they might partake in the advan- tages which are to be derived from the Holy Scrip- tures : reminding them that ^ they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever ; ' exhorting them not to be overcome with evil, but to overcome evil with (or by) that which is good; that the promises are many, great, and pre- cious, recorded in Holy Writ, to them that overcome, etc. Though, perhaps, more might be expressed than above noted, and with some variation as to the words, yet I believe that what is here inserted is the sub- stance and principal part of what was uttered. THE PACIFIC ISLES. 171 Having finished^ I took my seat. Soon after this, .George Pritchard concluded the meeting. When the whole congregation rose, the elderly people came forward to shake hands ] but being pretty near one of the doors (of which there are four), we were soon carried outside by the current of people turning that way. There were upwards of a thousand people inside of the building, and a considerable number outside also. The doors and windows being all open, those without could hear about as well as those within.^^ The following reflections occur in Daniel Wheeler's journal, under date of 8th of Sixth month : " The organization of the language, so as to admit the translation of the Holy Scriptures into the native tongue, is a work the importance of which cannot be duly estimated nor conceived, as to the happy result, under the Divine blessing, that is in store for generations yet unborn, any more than the boundary of extent can be defined to which they may be per- mitted to circulate and diffuse revealed truth in the language of Holy Inspiration. This work, now con- sidered to be near its completion, has been the labour of many years, in a climate wasting to the constitu- tion of every European, as oppressively relaxing from the heat. Henry Nott has been a very laborious ser- vant in this cause, without any regard to the many hardships and privations which the earliest settlers had particularly to encounter, and in which he deeply shared ; his constitution is now sinking from long residence and the effects of close sedentary .172 VISIT TO application: who can doubt for a moment the de- votedness of such a man ? Great and important are the advantages which such a work is calculated to bestow on mankind, beyond every other, or in com- parison with any other outward means of help and comfort; for where can the excellency of the Holy Scriptures be equalled, or to what can they be com- pared, seeing the writers were divinely inspirejd ? And being thus of heavenly origin and descent, they ever stand unrivalled as profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in right- eousness, that the man of God may be perfect and thoroughly furnished to every good word and work, and above aH they are able to make wise even to Salvation; but it is only through faith which is in Christ J esus our Lord, to whom their inspired pages point from the earliest age of recorded time/' Having landed on the previous day, they attended the sunrise meeting of the Tahitians at Bunaauia, on the 17th of Sixth month. Their usual service having been gone through, Daniel Wheeler arose, having George Pritchard for an interpreter, -^and spoke in substance as follows: The principal bur- den that rested upon my mind was to turn the attention of the people to the light of Christ Jesus in their own hearts, that their conversation might be such as becometh His gospel. I had to tell them, that although I did not understand their language, yet I was fearful for them, seeing that for every idle word a man shall speak, he must give an account in the day of judgment, for by our words we shall be ^ THE PACIFIC ISLES. 173 justified^ and by our words we shall be condemned ; believingj and declaring this belief, that a very looso ^ and wanton conversation was a besetting sin amongst them. I had to remind them of the superior advan- tages bestowed upon these islands^ over many others of this part of the habitable globe^ by the introduc- tion of Christianity amongst them. Had they obeyed the gospel^ the effect of the contaminating example of evil introduced amongst them by distant nations would have been prevented ; that the Lord is look- ing for fruit, and the earth that drinketh in the rain that Cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for the use of him by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God ; but that which bring- eth forth briars and thorns is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned; that the desire of my soul was, that the lamentation once taken up by the Saviour of the world might never be applicable to them as a people : ^ 0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, etc. how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not.'^ That the love of God had overshadowed these islands in an eminent degree; and I never heard of an instance where the Lord, in matchless mercy, was pleased to send any of His servants amongst a people, but that His love was still towards that people. That Christ J esus had been often preached to them, but they had not obeyed His gospel : they must repent and obey, and the way to repent and obey is to fear God, and give glory to Him. That 15* 174 VISIT TO it is the same gospel now as was proclaimed by tlie angel which John saw flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto every nation and kindred, and tongue and people; saying, with a loud voice, ^ Fear God, and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment is come ; and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters/ Desiring that they might be sensible of that day when the Lord's judgment is come upon all that is of a sinful and transgressing nature, that so they might indeed fear Him, and in thought, word, and deed give glory unto Him, and thus be prepared to worship Him in spirit and in truth; for it is such the Father seeketh to worship Him. That ^Grod, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, had shined in our hearts,^ and to this saving light I wished to turn them, etc. etc. The people were generally very attentive, and a solemn covering was permitted to prevail over us. On rising from our seats, they gathered around us in the usual way. Being pre- viously acquainted with Utami, a principal chief in that neighbourhood, we met like old friends, who knew and loved each other, if his love for me was the same as I felt for him. We got out into the air as soon as we well could, in order to escape some of the usual greetings, not feeling in a condition, from weakness and exhaustion, to accept of all the kind- ness intended by these people. Sixth month, 20th. George Pritchard came on board in the forenoon, and assisted in arranging a THE PACIFIC ISLES. 175 plan for accomplishing our visit to the remaining and most distant districts upon the island of Tahiti. It was concluded best for us to set off this afternoon towards Tiarei. As the wind blew fresh, about sun- set was considered the proper time to proceed as far as Point Venus, presuming the strength of the wind would lessen as the evening approached. It was pro- posed that we should remain at Point Venus until two o'clock in the morning, and then push forward so as to reach Tiarei about day-break, before the trade-wind set in, which is mostly pretty strong, and generally from the quarter to which we were bending our course. All things being ready, we left the ^ Henry Freeling' soon after four o'clock, the wind having materially lessened by the fall of some rain, and it still continued to get lighter as we proceeded. As there was every indication of clear and serene weather long before reaching the first place of in- tended destination, it was suggested by our native boat's crew, that we should not make much stay there, but push forward while the wind and sea were gentle. The principal motive for wishing to stop by the way at all, was to lessen the fatigue of these men, by dividing the journey into two parts, so that they might rest between them; but they were well aware that the whole distance could be performed at once, in calm weather, with much more ease than if divided, and time given for rest, if the wind and sea should rise against them, although but in a moderate degree. Just before dark, we landed upon the shore of Point Venus, the place from 176 VISIT TO whence the celebrated navigator, Captain James Cook, observed the transit of the planet Yenus on the disk of the sun. Opposite this part of the coast of Tahiti, which we had next to traverse, there is no sheltering coral-reef for its protection ; so that the remainder of our journey was now ex- posed to the whole beat of the Pacific Ocean, and can only be performed when the weather is mode- rate. Having with us Samuel Wilson, we were readily conducted to the habitation of his father, Charles Wilson, the resident missionary at this station, and were kindly entertained by the family. As the pas- sage round Point Yenus is very intricate, and the water particularly shoal, the boat was taken round to the other side, while we were partaking of some refreshment. We lost no time in preparing again to embark. The crew met us with a native torch, made of the dry branching leaves of the cocoanut tree, which, with our own lantern, lighted the intricate narrow path among the bushes, and was particularly useful at the sea-side, the night being now very dark. As the night advanced, we were helped by a gentle land breeze, so that the labour of the oars was a little diminished by the addition of a sail being set to catch it. There was an experienced elderly native employed at the stern-oar of our whale-boat, whose course seemed to be principally directed by the white tops of the rolling surf, as it broke upon the coast near to which he mostly kept. Off one rocky point of land it became needful to THE PACIFIC ISLES. 177 turn off with a wide sweep towards the offings to escape a projecting ridge of rocks, the outermost extremity of which was defined hj the termination of breakers. By ten o'clock, p, m., it was declared that we were abreast of Tiarei ; but the night was so dark, that the narrow entrance through the reef to it could not be distinguished even by the eagle-eyed Tahitians. The boat's mast was struck, and one of the natives stationed in the front, with Samuel Wilson, to look out; and her head being turned shore-wards, we edged gently down towards the foaming breakers, which were bursting on the rocky strand with thun- dering noise. As the rowing had now altogether ceased, the boat drifted only at the rate at which the swell of the sea hove her along — a measure highly prudent until the dangerous pass we had to go through was clearly ascertained, as was quickly afterwards sufficiently demonstrated, though at the moment such tardy proceeding might seem to pro- tract the term of suspense. Having silently pro- ceeded for some time in this way, and, from the increasing roar of the restless waters, evidently draw- ing nearer and nearer to the margin of the crags, on a sudden there were symptoms of alarm, which could not be mistaken, on the part of the boat'^ crew, who now perceived that we had missed tjie only entrance that afforded a passage to the shore ; and, from our present position, a large liirnp of rock was in the way to the mouth of the channel, which the bpat could not possibly escape. Our poor Tahitians ijnmediately jumped into the sea, and did all they could to save 178 VISIT TO the boat from being dashed to pieces^ but tbey could not prevent her from striking. She^ however, only struck once, and lay quiet, the wave having so far receded that she did not float enough to beat; and the next roller that came in, instead of filling her with water, carried her completely over this obstruc- tion. But it was difficult for some time to ascertain whether the worst was now over or not, for our men began to howl and shout, the meaning of which we could not comprehend. It afterwards appeared that this was done to rouse the sleeping natives on the shore, who, well understanding this yell, shortly came running with lighted torches to our assistance, and a few minutes placed us once more upon terra firma. As the boat could not get close in, one of these men very soon had me upon his back, to prevent my get- ting wet. Samuel Wilson and my son Charles were landed in the same way. The journey altogether had been more speedy, and in many respects more favourable, than is often witnessed, until we came to the last pinch, when the never-failing arm of Al- mighty power was again displayed in the needful time for our relief As we were strangers to the language of the people, and could render them no assistance whatever, and as any attempt to direct their efforts must only have increased the general confusion, we therefore sat silent beholders of what was going forward, committing ourselves to Him who saw our perilous situation through the darkened gloom, and did not suffer the briny waters to prevail against us, but, in love and mercy and compassion, THE PACIFIC ISLES. 179 stretched fortli His hand to save. As to myself, I may say, my heart was fixed, trusting in the Lord, whose loving-kindness is better than life. He was with us of a truth, in fulfilment of His gracious promise, and we were not confounded. I desire to record this signal favour with humble 'thankfulness and reverence, to His praise and to His glory. We soon reached the mission-house, where William Henry resides, to whom we were all personally known, and by whom and his wife we were kindly accommodated for the night; although, from their secluded situa- tion, but little in the way of receiving strangers, and in so abrupt a manner, at an hour so unseason- able, as they could not have had the least idea of our coming. Much sleep could not be obtained, yet we passed the night in quietness, and I felt refreshed at rising. Tiareij 21st. Previously to the commencement of the Tahitian worship, at nine o'clock in the morning, the time was pretty fully occupied with the family devotion and taking breakfast; after which we re- paired to the meeting-house, it being agreed, if I should have any thing to speak to the people, that Samuel Wilson was to stand as interpreter. This, was a relief to William Henry (and also to myself), as he had quite as much to go through as his strength was equal to, he being far advanced in years. After William Henry had shown us to a seat, he went into the pulpit, Samuel Wilson re- maining not far from us. At this distance, although not very remote -from the contaminating effects of 180 VISIT TO the shipping, the difference in appearance, and in the general deportment of the people, was discernible throughout the greater part of the congregation, which was large. Being comforted by the sensible presence of the great Master, my mind was strength- ened in an uhusual manner, but not until after a season of humihating conflict had been passed through, in order and preparatory, I believe, that the excellency; of the power might be felt and known, and acknow- ledged to be of Grod, and not of us, nor of any thing that we can command or call our own/' — When the usual engagements of the meeting were gone through, Daniel Wheeler observes: I stood up, and beckoned to Samuel Wilson to draw nearer to me. We went into a position a little more central, near the table, and under a solemn covering, after a short interval of silence, I said — ^ I am fully persuaded in my own mind, that you, my beloved people, will suffer a few words from a stranger, who is with you in the fear, and in the love, and, I may add, in the will of God, and not in my own ; and therefore I stand amongst you with innocent boldness, because I seek not yours, but you, that immortal part in you which must sooner or later have a being in endless felicity, or in endless misery. Declaring unto them that there is no alte- ration in the Christian course — the warfare is con- tinual, and can only be maintained and accomplished with burning and fuel of fire, by the cleansing ope- ration of that burning which the spirit of judgment produces, and that unquenchable fire of the Lord which consumeth the chaffy and transgressing nature THE PACIFIC ISLES. 181 in our hearts; and, if submitted to, would prepare and purify us, even as He is pure, for a kingdom consisting not in meats and drinks, but in righteous- ness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost — a king- dom where nothing that is unclean, nothing that is impure, nothing that worketh an abomination, or that maketh a lie, can ever enter. Whilst I have been sitting with you, my heart has been filled with the love of Grod towards you; raising in it a fervent desire that every individual, from the least to the greatest, might be numbered among the ransomed and redeemed of the Lord, who shall return and come to Sion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads, from whom sorrow and sighing shall - flee away.^ But I had to tell them that a great and individual work must be accomplished before these gracious and prophetic promises are realized. The indignation of the Lord must be patiently borne for sin, and for transgression, until He should arise and plead their cause, and execute judgment for them, and in His own time say. It is enough ; and bring them forth to the light, even the light of Christ Jesus, in whom they will then behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. This light shineth in every heart, and is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world, in which only the righteousness of Christ J esus is witnessed to be brought forth and beheld. That when the precious blood of Christ was shed for the sins of all mankind. He ascended up on high; He led captivity captive, and received gifts for men, 16 182 VISIT TO even for the rebellious also^ that the Lord God might dwell among them^ even among sinners^ such as them- selves and me. That a measure or manifestation of the gift of the Holy Spirit is given to every man to profit withal ; and well will it be for those who are profiting thereby^ and faithfully occupying therewith. I then had to remind them of the great things which the Lord had done for them ; that the gospel sound had long been heard in their land ; that many parts of the Holy Scriptures had been translated into their native tongue^ which directed them to the Saviour — to the Word which was in the bes^inninsr, that was with God^ and was God. And after enlarging much farther (although I think what I have stated are the principal heads that were touched upon)^ I sat down poor and empty, yet satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the Lord. Instead of the con- gregation beginning to separate immediately, in a hasty manner, as we have sometimes witnessed, even the dear children kept their seats, with the whole of the company: a delightful pause ensued (short, but crowned with that solemnity not at our com- mand), during which I humbly trust the thanks- giving of many redounded to the glory of God. Silence was at last broken by one of the chiefs expressing, on behalf of the assembly and him- self, their thankfulness and satisfaction, and how welcome my visit had been to them; because, he said, ^you have preached to us the everlasting gospel, and have shown to us the propitiatgry sacri- • fice for the sins of mankind, Christ Jesus' — with THE PACIFIC ISLES. 183 something farther, which, when interpreted, I was fearful attached too much to the creature; and i requested Samuel Wilson to tell them not to look to the creature, but to their Creator. The whole of the people still continued together (about eight hundred persons), and seemed as if they knew not how to beoin to separate, until some person, I think, pro- posed their shaking hands with us, which imme- diately commenced, and exceeded all we had before met with." mi. On another occasion they were met by Tahtee, the greatest orator of the islands, and one of the two who stand as champions for the general welfare of the country. He invited them to his house, and re- freshed them with the milk of the cocoa-nut. He said that although many improvements had been in- troduced by foreigners coming amongst them, yet we mi^ht perceive they still retained many of their old habits and customs, alluding to their domestic ar- rangements, squatting upon the floor, etc. The house exhibited more of an air of comfort and industry than any they had before seen : cloth, fishmg-nets, etc. were lying about, of native manufacture 184 VISIT TO CHAPTER V. TAIARAPU -FAVOURED MEETING FOR WORSHIP - LETTER FROM THE NATIVE CONGREGATION - NATIVE ENTERTAIN^ MENT-LETTER FROM THE QUEEN-DESOLATING SCOURGE OF ARDENT SPIRITS — ISLAND OF EIMEO. The sun was nigli setting when they reached Taiarapu, the missionary station to which they were destined; but the beauty and various scenery of this part of the island served to enliven the last hour of a long day's exposure to the sun. The stupendous mountains, however steep and rugged, were clothed m the richest and fullest manner with every kind of forest and fruit tree which flourish in these tropical climates, where perpetual summer reigns; their luxu» riance only now and then interrupted by falls of water hurrying down the steep declivities, in beauti- ful cascades, to the vales underneath; but the noise of these numerous cataracts is at once overpowered and lost in the roar of the mighty Pacific, whose waves incessantly thunder in endless succession upon the shores and reefs of Tahiti. The meeting at this station is thus described: "At four o'clock, p. M., the people assembled in the meeting-house, where I had full opportunity to clear my mind towards them. The district on this penin- sula being quite distinct from those on the other, it THE PACIFIC ISLES. 185 was needful that my certificates should be read, as none of the people could have previously heard them. They were read, accordingly, with ample explanation, by J. M. Orsmond, before I stood on my feet. The people were turned to the light of Christ Jesus in their own hearts. They were told that their being members of an outward and visible Church would not avail them in the great and awful day of account; that they must be members of the true gospel Church, the Church triumphant, whose names are written in Heaven ; and unless this was attained whilst here, it would be too late, for it cannot be done hereafter ; there is no work nor device in the grave, etc. Showing them how the primitive believers, through the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel, attained to it in their day, and that it is equally as attainable at this day, through the purifying operations of the Holy Spirit. I urged and encouraged them to persevere in this great and important work, earnestly desiring that they might not rest satisfied with an empty profession, but that they might come into the possession of the inesti- mable pearl, the pearl of great price, the truth as it is in J esus. It was indeed a solid and solemn opportunity, and one of those which I afterwards learned left the people hungering, I trust, for heavenly bread ] whilst to myself it was productive of that soul-enriching peace which can only be purchased by sharing in the blessed Master's cup of suff'erings, of which I had drank, and under which I had been heavily 16* 186 VISIT .TO bowed down during the afternoon, before going to the meeting, and there also. And now how can I sufficiently acknowledge and declare the condescend- ing mercy and loving-kindness of my gracious Lord God, who in a particular manner was pleased to warm the hearts of those dear people with His life-giving presence, making it an occasion truly memorable, and causing many of them to rejoice and abound with thanksgiving to His praise and to His glory. The same evening the deacons of the church (two), Tetohi and Puna by name, came to J. M. Orsmond's house, and, being seated with us, one of them pro- duced a letter, written on behalf of the congregation at Tea-hu-poo, which, being directed to Daniel Whee- ler, was opened by myself, and when literally trans- lated by Samuel Wilson, and examined by J. M. Orsmond, and by him approved, was found to con- tain the address that followeth : Translated copy, dated at 'Tea-Jiu-poo, mth of June,imb. Dear Friends. — The ministers with the Brethren and Sisters in London. Peace be unto you, in the true God Jehovah, and in Jesus Christ his Son, who came into the world to save sinful men — we indeed are sinful men. Here is Daniel Wheeler amongst us ; and he has made known unto us all the gabd words of Jesus Christ. And comfort has grown in our hearts; and great pleasure has been to us from his words, concerning the words of J esus the Messiah. THE PACIFIC ISLES. 187 It was indeed very great pleasure in his saying to us, Jesus is the pearl of great price. It is a pearl good within, and good without. And many have been the good words that he has spoken to us. Now indeed we know assuredly he has true love to the brethren and sisters in all places where the things of Jesus are held. In that love he has come amongst us ; and indeed our love is grown towards him and his son, in their making known on their way the things of Jesus, and in their visit of love to all the brethren, and in inviting all to enter in to Jesus the Messiah. Signed on behalf of the Church, Puna.' jLt the breaking up of the meeting in the after- noon, I told J. M. Orsmond that I felt so much love to these people, I thought I should see them again ; when he proposed to meet me at the out-station on the other side of the peninsula next First day but one, where he said he would collect the whole of the people from this place, and from the two other sta- tions. I could not speak decisively at the moment, though expectation was given that it might probably be so. Since this conversation I have recollected that, on leaving Tiarei last First day, we were told that the people from an out-station of that district had just arrived, in expectation that we should be again at the meeting in the afternoon. It seems right for me to go to the out-station on the other side of the peninsula, called Tautira ; and I find, on 188 VISIT TO' inquiry, that the Tiarei out-station can be visited at the same time, but that it will require fine weather and a smooth sea to effect it. It must, however, be left for the present with Him who knows the thoughts of all oui* hearts, before whom I desire to stand in humble resignation and willingness to go or to stay, as seemeth Him good. The two men who came with the letter before mentioned (Tetohi and Puna), re>- mained with us until near midnight; and I think it may be said, that by the breaking of bread our spiritual eyes were opened to perceive that the great Master was there, in marvellous condescension and mercy, to bless the opportunity. It was indeed a heavenly banquet; and some of us, who had lain many days in the grave, were now, like Lazarus, permitted to sit at the table with their Lord. I was reminded of the Passover, and was constrained to declare amongst them— This is the true supper; this is the sacrament indeed, as you call it. It could not be denied, for the Lord^s power was over all. One of those present observed more than once: ^This is what is so much wanting amongst us, spiritual reli- gion; this is what is so much wanting.' Daniel Wheeler then proceeds : Hearken to the invitation of the Bridegroom of souls, held forth in the' lan- guage of holy inspiration, ^Eat, 0 friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, 0 beloved!' Sweet is His voice, and His countenance comely. Let us hearken, that so we may be favoured to hear it. Let us wait for it with our lamps trimmed, and our lights burn- ing, with girded loins, like men that are waiting THE PACIFIC ISLES. 189 indeed for the coming of their Lord; for sweet is His voice, even the voice of Him, the same, and no other, who said, ^ Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me/ Then let us hearken, so that we may hear, and be ready to open the doors of our hearts, that the King of Glory may come in. Blessed and happy are they that hear and obey; they share in the highest, greatest, and richest heavenly favour bestowed on earth by th'fe quicken- ing Spirit of the Lord from Heaven, upon poor, frail, mortal dust. These ^behold the King in his beauty,^ and cannot refrain from declaring to others, that sweet is His voice, and his countenance comely.^' On their return, they passed through an opening of the reef, with a strong current, where the boys were amusing themselves in the surf, by lying at full length on their backs upon boards, and letting the rolling, curling breakers whirl them precipitately down the liquid precipice to the gulf below. Some of the boys best acquainted with this slippery sport, by watching the proper moment to launch forth, were hurled with great velocity to considerable distances, without being dislodged from their slippery board ; while the unskilful would be impetuously rolled over by the curling wave, and for a time hidden in the foam below. A native entertainment is thus described : " Having had but little to refresh us since leaving Point Venus the preceding evening, two o^ clock the next afternoon 190 VISIT TO was rather a late breakfast hour; the resident natives had^ however, lost no time in preparing some food for us. After our arrival, they killed and roasted whole a good-sized pig, upon hot stones, covered over with leaves and then with wood-ashes, with bread-fruit, tarro, and the mountain plantain. When this ^feed- ing,' as they term it, was ready, and the floor covered over to a considerable extent with the large leaves of the purau-tree, it was presented to us in a formal manner, with a bundle of the island cloth (made from the*beaten bark of the bread-fruit tree), ac- cording to the custom of the country. The com- pany then sat down upon the floor, consisting of Samuel Wilson, Charles, and myself, with the boat's crew close to us, but, according to usage, forming a distinct party. One of our men, who had acted the part of cook, cut up the pig, using a knife with one hand, and holding the* victim with the other. We had a solemn pause before beginning to dine, and all remained still until this was over. When the carver had well separated the pig into a variety of shapeless lumps, he threw some of them to us, and the rest to his comrades, and the whole was pretty soon out of sight. The milk of fresh-pulled young cocoa-nuts furnished our drink, and salt water, in calabashes, fresh from the Pacific, to dip the food in, was used instead of salt : this we found to be an excellent substitute. When nearly ready to depart, about six yards ofi* a piece of pocket-handkerchiefs was given to the man that had charge of the premises during the absence of the owner. It may be said that we THE PACIFIC ISLES. 191 dined in public, as the place was pretty well crowded with lookers-on, principally women and children/^ \t Tautira they were conducted to the residence occupied by the queen, when there. -In a short time after reaching these premises, our attention was awakened by the voice of a person speaking aloud, in as high a tone as could be well imagined. This man, we were told, was the queen's speaker, who was come in her name, that of the church, and of the whole of the inhabitants, to welcome us to Tautira. On going to him at the door, he delivered