Mefs. Henry, Nott, and Bricknell coming off] that they were all well on fhore, except Mr. Henry and Mrs. Eyre, both of whom are frequently indifpofed; the one from tendernefs of conftitution, the other by reafon of old age. After the melancholy things which have fucceffively reached the Society's ears, it might have been expected that the natives would have fled to the mountains, on the appearance of a Miffionary ship; but on the contrary, Matavai bay never wore a more lively appearance. His Excellency Governor King had fent the Porpoife floop of war thither, to falt pork for the colony. She lay with feveral canoes about her ; but the moment the Royal Admiral (of whofe coming they had heard) appeared round the point, they deferted her, and many more from the fhore paddled in hafte to us; and crowding on board, I was glad to get an anchor down, even before we had worked fo far into the bay as I wished to be. Moft of them knew me, and were eager to outdo each other in profeffions of joy and kindnefs. Such a profufion of provifions was immediately poured into the fhip, as astonished the new Miffionaries; and had a powerful effect in difpelling thofe clouds of anxiety which had hovered over their minds. The curiofity of the natives was awake to know who were the Brethren that had come to join the reft; and when pointed out, embraced them warmly, and paid them unremitting attention for the reft of the evening. When the confufion had a little fubfided, I enquired of the Brethren, How they had been treated by the natives, fince they were left few in number? and was informed; that fince the affair at Oparre (which occafioned the feparation) they had received the greatest kindness and respect from the natives. The Chiefs, and even Otoo, who was to blame, have endeavoured, by a ftudied conduct and greater attention, to regain the good word and good will of the brethren, which they value, and think they loft by that act. They have known two or three very scarce feafons; yet, at fuch times, they had always a fufficiency fent them, chiefly by the people of Matavai, and the adjoining diftricts; and often, from the most distant parts of the island, by people entirely unknown to them. As for the death of Mr. Lewis, though there was caufe for fufpicion, they never could collect fufficient evidence to criminate the natives in it. The property left on the island at the time of the feparation, is chiefly in the lands of Pomarre, and fome they retain themfelves; but he readily supplies them with what they want, and feldom gives any away without their leave. Agreeable to an instruction from the Society, I propofed its being returned to their own store;

and demanded it for that purpose ; but the experienced Brethren unanimously disapproved of my doing it; observing, That the Chief had good fenfe enough to confider it as confidence repofed in him; but to divest him of it the moment they had power, would deftroy that idea;-that remaining with him, they were not expofed to the danger they had formerly found in trying to preferve it; and while they could command it with a word, it would be imprudent to let the Chief know they had the thought of taking poffeffion of it. The morning after my arrival, Pomarre, Iddea, and their train, vifited the fhip. Otoo and his brother came alongfide alfo ; all expreffing their joy at my coming to fee them again, and much furprised at fo large a fhip; which Otoo immediately compared to One Tree Hill. The Porpoife had faluted the Chiefs on her arrival; and Pomarre did not fail to inform me of this; therefore, that we might not be the less esteemed on this account, I fired nine guns, which highly pleased them. Pomarre rofe from his chair, and embracing me, faid, he would fend every day as much provifion, ready dreffed, as would ferve the crew; and this he accordingly did, though we had no occafion for it; so abundant were our fupplies from every quarter.

On landing, the following day, I found that the Brethren did not live in the fame houfe together, though near to each other. Mr. and Mrs. Eyre, and Mr. Jefferfon, had apartments in the old houfe; Mr. and Mrs. Henry had a small, but comfortable house, on the fame fide of the river, nearer to the point; and Meffrs. Nott, Bricknell, and Broomhall occafionally refided on the oppofite fide of the river, in the unfinished house, which they had begun before the feparati

Mr. Jefferfon had kept the journal; and Mr. Eyre was ftorekeeper: as for Prefident or Committee, they have had none fince the Duff's departure. But now, on strangers joining them, and their number thereby increased, in compliance with the will of the Directors, and the dictates of their experience, they thought proper to refume them; and alfo, to proceed in the building of the unfinished houfe, for the more comfortable accommodation of the whole. Materials for this I had prepared at New-Zealand; for which the Society are debtors to the owners of the Royal Admiral.

Having found the Brethren in fuch favorable circumftances, I thought every difficulty over; but when met to incorporate the new and old Miffionaries, and to choose a Prefident, and perfons for the other offices, Mr. Read, unhappily, could not agree with the reft, nor would confent to be go verned by a majority. His companions embraced this op

portunity of reprefenting him as one they could not agree with on the paffage; and next day, the Prefident (Mr. Jefferfon) wrote me a letter, begging that he might return; to which I agreed, and Mr. Reed came on board again; but may, if the Miffion at the Cape is established, stay there, as (except in this difagreement with his Brethren) I have feen nothing in his Miffionary character to prevent it. After this, every thing was fettled in the moft harmonious manner. Mr. Jefferson was chofen Prefident and Secretary; four others to form a committee; Mr. Eyre to be ftorekeeper; Mr. Davis, librarian; and Mr. Elder to the care and difpenfing of medicines. Regulations for divine fervice, for daily employments,-for vifits to the natives,— and concerning the authority to be exercifed over each other in their departments, were fettled.-After which, we went to meet the King, Pomarre, Iddea, and the Chiefs, by appointment, when, with Mr. Nott as interpreter, I spoke to them concerning the reafons which induced the Miffionaries to come to them, the reception they gave them on their arrival, and the benefits they had received by them already : and mentioned a few inftances wherein the Brethren had been ill treated; and endeavoured to convince them how easy it would be for me to retaliate upon them; that they were known in Britain; but the Chiefs there, ftill wishing to do them good, had fent other men, in the room of those their violence had forced away and expected thefe to be better treated. Then taking each Miffionary by the hand, and leading him to each of the Chiefs, I introduced them by name. With this ceremony they were very much delighted; and, on their part, promifed to the utmost of their power. But before we parted, Pomarre asked, whether the new comers would fight for him, or not?—I told him No; they would fight none, except to defend themselves, if attacked, in their houfe. This, I believe, funk them about one moiety in value. However, the Chief faid, " Very well; if they would not fight, he would fight for them; but thought it very odd that King George, having many fighting men, fends none to his affiftance." I don't know, Sir, whether our fpeech on this occafion was what it ought to have been, or not; but they understood it perfectly. When reminded of having given the district of Matavai to the Brethren, they looked them in the face, as if to fay, Who has taken it from you? and asked, whether they were denied any thing it afforded? On fome occafions they had checked the Brethren for pulling fruit; but only when they faw, through igne rance, they were injuring the trecs.

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Concerning what is done in the Miffionary work, we muft confine ourselves to the progrefs made in the language; which, with fome of them is confiderable, particularly Mr. Nott, who now converfes in it freely. But, notwithstanding their acquirements this way, they have hitherto been able to convey but faint ideas of divine things to the minds of the natives; who understand only, that to teach them our religion is the principal object of being among them. The firft part of their labours has certainly required much patience: to learn a barbarous language, and apply it to thofe great and important fubjects, which the moft refined and copious can hardly exprefs, is no eafy matter. This the Miffionaries have found. However, they are proceeding rapidly towards a fair trial of what can be done; and, perhaps, fitter perfons for this purpofe than fome the Society have now at Otaheite, could not eafily be found. Mr. Jefferfon, in fpeaking on this fubject, fays, he expects perfecution from the natives when the Gospel is a little understood by them; as, he thinks, they will not relith its forbidding dictates; yet he hopes, in his own day, to see them embrace it.-May the God of mercy haften it!

I noticed that the Porpoife had come to the island to falt pork. I am happy to say, that fhe completely fucceeded in her object, having previous to my leaving the bay, falted down upwards of 500 large hogs; and might have had many more, if they had brought more falt. For this I alfo was greatly at a lofs. After falting a very few, I took away about 350 alive, being as many as I could feed, or find room for. His Excellency Governor King, had enjoined the Commander of the Porpoife to pay attention to the Miffionaries; and which they received in many acts of kindness; and I am of opinion, that the fhips being there together, both previously acquainted with the Miffionaries (which the natives perceived) and joining in concern for their fafety and comfort, and evincing a determination to fupport them, has had the defirable effect of establishing the Miffion on the best poffible footing; fo that, whoever among the natives may rule as Chief, none will dare to hurt the Brethren, except it happens in the frenzy of their encounters with each other and not any of this nature have yet occurred to excite alarm. I believe it is the intention of Governor King to fend frequently (perhaps once a year) to the islands; in which cafe the Society will have an eafy communication with the Brethren: who can alfo have neceffaries from Port Jackfon; and for which, on this profpect, I have made fome arrangement, which, I hope, will meet the Society's

approbation. Mr. Shelley, who was returning to England by me, with a hope of renewing the Friendly Island Million, on finding that at Otaheite fo promifing, joined it; and will be an ufeful member to them. While he refided at Port Jackfon, he formed an attachment to a young woman who lives with Mrs. Haffel, and expreffed a defire to go back in the Porpoife, to marry, and return with her, either by the fame fhip or fome whaler. To this the Brethren agreed; and application being made to Lieutenant Scott, Commander of the Porpoife, he readily confented. This, Sir, is a moft favourable circumftance for Mrs. Henry; Mrs. Eyre being now advanced in years, that by the courfe of nature, fhe may foon be deprived of her, which would reduce her (already in a weak itate, with two young children) to a very diftreffing fituation.

Mr. Broomhall (of whofe defection you are, I suppose informed) took paffage with me to China. I also brought off three feamen: two of whom had been annoying to the Miffionaries. Three of the crew deferted two of whom I got back; but the other had fo concealed himself in the mountains, that it was thought he could not be caught for fome time. Therefore, having finished all that was neceffary for me to do, on the 2d of August 1801, I took, perhaps, my laft farewell of the Brethren; and failed out of the bay for Ulietea, to make Topoha, the Chief, a prefent, being preffed thereto by Pomarre. From Ulietea, I failed for the Navigators Islands, where the people are more in a ftate of nature than at the Friendly or Society Islands. They were more intent on thieving than trading; and though they feem to be poffeffed of plenty, they brought little to the fhip. From them I paffed in fight of the Traitors' Islands; and on the 21ft of Auguft anchored in the harbour of Vavow, one of the Friendly Islands; and found that the war, in which the Brethren fell, continued to rage as violently as ever; and had reduced the people to a ftarving condition. I was informed that no refpectable Chiefs remained at Tongataboo; that they were either killed, or had fled to other islands for fafety. Lukalalla, who refides at Harby, has the strongest party. He is the only Chief of confequence that has weathered the ftorm. All the northern islands have fubmitted to him; but the inhabitants of Tongataboo will neither acknowledge him, nor fuffer his adherents to land there; therefore the war continues. Cultivation is neglected. There were neither yams nor plantains (their staff of life) at Vavow, nor a fingle hog on the ifland; they had deftroyed them entirely; and though I left them a breed, they are fo much in