the dictates of their experience, they thought proper to resume them; and also to proceed in the building of the unfinished house, 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 such favourable circumstances, I thought every difficulty over; but when met to incorporate the new and old Missionaries, and to choose a President, and persons for the other offices, Mr. Read, unhappily, could not agree with the rest, nor would consent to be governed by a majority. His companions embraced this opportunity of representing him as one they could not agree with on the passage; and next day, the President (Mr. Jefferson) wrote me a letter, begging that he might return; to which I agreed, and Mr. Reed came on board again; but may, if the Mission at the Cape is established, stay there, as (except in this disagree. ment with his Brethren) I have seen nothing in his Missionary cha racter to prevent it. After this, every thing was settled in the most harmonious manner. Mr. Jefferson was chosen President and Secretary; four others to form a committee; Mr. Eyre to be storekeeper; Mr. Davis, librarian; and Mr. Eider to the care and dispensing of medicines. Regulations for divine service,-for daily employments, -for visits to the natives,and concerning the authority to be exer. cised over each other in their departments, were settled. 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 reasons which induced the Missionaries 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 instances wherein the Brethren had been ill treated; and endea voured to convince them how easy it would be for me to retaliate upon them: that they were known in Britain; but the Chiefs there, still wishing to do them good, had sent other men, in the room of those their violence had forced away; and expected these to be better treated. Then taking each Missionary 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, promised 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 house. This, I believe, sunk them about one moiety in value. However, the Chief said, "Very well; if they would not fight, he would fight for them; but thought it very odd that King George, having many fighting men, sends none to his assistance." I don't know, Sir, whether our speech on this occasion 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 say, Who has taken it from you? and asked, whether they were denied any thing it afforded? On some occasions they had checked the Brethren for pulling fruit; but only when they saw, through ignorance, they were injuring the trees. Concerning what is done in the Missionary work, we must confine ourselves to the progress made in the language; which, with some of them is considerable, particularly Mr. Nott, who now converses in it freely. But, notwithstanding their acquirements this way, 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 first part of their labours has certainly required much patience to learn a barbarous language, and apply it to those great and important subjects, which the most refined and copious can hardly express, is no easy matter. This the Missionaries have found. However, they are proceeding rapidly towards a fair trial of what can be done; and, perhaps, fitter persons for this purpose than some the Society have now at Otaheite, could not casily be found. Mr. Jefferson, in speaking on this subject, says, he expects persecution from the natives when the Gospel is a little understood by them; as, he thinks, they will not relish its forbidding. dictates: yet he hopes, in his own day, to see them embrace it.May the God of mercy hasten it! I noticed that the Porpoise had come to the island to salt pork. I am happy to say, that she completely succeeded in her object, havingprevious to my leaving the bay, salted down upwards of 500 large hogs; and might have had many more, if they had brought more salt. For this I also was greatly at a loss. After salting 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 Porpoise to pay attention to the Missionaries; and which they received in many acts of kindness; and I am of opinion, that the ships being there together, both previously ac quainted with the Missionaries (which the natives perceived) and joining in concern for their safety and comfort, and evincing a determination to support them, has had the desirable effect of establishing the Mission on the best possible footing: so 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 send fre quently (perhaps once a year? to the islands: in which case the Society will have an casy communication with the Brethren; who can also have necessaries from Port Jackson; and for which, on this prospect, have made some 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 Mission, on finding that at Otaheite so promising, joined it; and will be an useful. member to them. While he resided at Port Jackson, he formed an attachment to a young woman who lives with Mrs. Hassel, and expressed a desire to go back in the Porpoise, to marry, and return with her, either by the same ship or some whaler. To this the Brethren agreed; and application being made to Lieutenant Scott,, Commander of the Porpoise, he readily consented. This, Sir, is a, most favourable circumstance for Mrs. Henry; Mrs. Eyre being How advanced in years, that by the course of nature, she may soon be deprived of her, which would reduce her (already in a weak state, with two young children) to a very distressing situation. Mr. Broomhall (of whose defection you are, I suppose, informed) took passage with me to China. I also brought off three seamen: two of whom had been annoying to the Missionaries. Three of the crew deserted two of whom I got back; but the other had so concealed himself in the mountains, that it was thought he could not not be caught for some time. Therefore, having finished all that was necessary for me to do, on the 2d of August, 1801, I took, perhaps, my last farewell of the Brethren; and sailed out of the bay for Ulietea, to make Topoha, the Chief, a present, being pressed thereto by Pomarre. From Ulictea, I sailed for the Navigators Islands, where the people are more in a state of nature than at the Friendly or Society Islands. They were more intent on thieving then trading, and though they seem to be possessed of plenty, they brought little to the ship. From them I passed in sight of the Traitors' Islands; and on the 21st of August 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 starving condition. I was informed that no respectable Chicfs remained at Tongatabco; that they were either killed, or had filed to other islands for safety. Lukalalla, who resides at Harby, has the strongest party. He is the only Chief of consequence that has weathered the storm. All the northern islands have submitted to him; but the inhabitants of Tongataboo will neither acknowledge him, nor suffer 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 single hog on the island: they had destroyed them entirely; and though I left them a breed, they are so much in want of food, that I have no doubt of their eating them; for the adverse parties actually kill and eat each other! An Otaheitan (one of Otoo's servants) had been left at these islands by a whaler; and not being used to such hard living, begged earnestly for me to take him on board: to which, in gratitude to his country, I consented. He reported their being Cannibals; and said, he had often seen them eating men. On the 25th I weighed, and was sailing out of the harbour, when a large sailing canoe arrived from Hapae, or Harby, and seeing one like a European on board of it, I sent a boat, which they endeavoured to avoid; but the man leaped into the sea, and swam to us, and proved to be Mr George Veeson. He differed little from a native in any thing, and could hardly be persuaded to speak English. His account confirmed all that I had heard before of the state of Tongataboo, and said it would be of no use to go there, as none of the Chiefs were left; that the people were so miserably poor, I could get no supplies for either the crew or the stock. I would, however, have gone, but the ensuing night proving tempestuous, and the wind contrary, I bore up, and shaped a course towards China. Mr. Veeson came away with me. He represented himself in continual danger of his life; and said, That he was certain, that had he not got into the ship's boat, they would have killed him to prevent his coming to speak against them. From Vavow, I passed the islands of Laite, Amargura, Onooafow, where I spent a day; and on the 31st fell in with the Hoorn Islands, and continued near them five days. These were discovered by Schouten and L'Maire in 1616, and had not been seen since. They afforded me plenty of provisions. A Chief from Tongataboo had taken refuge here. Veeson knew him; and but for this man, myself and a boat's crew had been cut on, when bartering with the natives. I next saw the island of Rotumah, which was the last, till we came in sight of Tinian and baypan, between which as we passed, we beheld more than 1000 cattle feeding on the former, and a few on the latter. On the 17th VO L.X. PP of 286 of October, I arrived in Canton river, all well; not having lost a man, by sickness, from the time of leaving Port Jackson, for which mercy, for many that I have omitted in this long letter, and for signal preservations of myself and those under my care,-to the Lord and Giver of Life, the Over-ruler of all events, my everlasting praise is due. It hath pleased him eventually to prosper his work in my hands, who am so unworthy, that the wise and the pious will be hereby constrained to consider it a mark of his gracious approba tion of their efforts, to communicate the knowledge of his mercy and goodness to these distant regions of the earth. Great indeed is the undertaking; and as the scene is so distant, great difficulties will long attend it. It will require great faith and much perseverance in all who have put their hands to this plough, whether Supporters Directors, or Missionaries, before their eyes or ears shall be gladdened with the pleasurable fruits of their labours: but, if I may be allowed to use a text to express my opinion, I believe, 66 they shall reap in due time, if they faint not.” I feel pained, Sir, for troubling you with so long a letter; but, before I close it, beg leave to say, that, I hope, none of the Directors will think my going to New Zealand detrimental to their affairs; for, though it prevented the Brethren from joining those at Otaheite sooner, they certainly derived advantages from the expedition: besides gaining a more enlarged acquaintance with the Heathen character, and observing the effect of soil and climate on the human mind and frame, they will be enabled to make such comparisons as may reconcile them to the place in which Providence has placed them. Otaheite not only produces food more abundantly than any in this quarter; but its inhabitants are more mild, generous, and hospitable, and have fewer horrid customs, -as Cannibali.m, human sacrifices, and exterminating wars, rest in this sea. The New Hollanders are wretches, driven forth than the from among men: they are below a state of nature many degrees. The New Zealanders sleep on their patoo and spear; and to repel or destroy each other, seems chiefly to occupy their thoughts; and the Friendly Islanders are at present much like them. - Please to present my best respects to the Directors. Perhaps, before you have time to read this, I shall have the pleasure of putting the Brethren's Journals and Letters into their hands; and as, I understand, great care has been observed, by Mr. Jefferson, in keeping that for Otaheite, I hope, it will be a good guide for future measures. With my best respects to Mrs. Hardcastle and family, I beg leave to subscribe myself, Royal Admiral, at Sea, March 15, 1802 Dear Sir, Your obedient servant, To the Rev. John Eyre, London. WM. WILSON. Dear and Rev. Sir; my honoured Father in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, WITH pleasure I avail myself of the kindness of Capt. Wilson, who hath promised to dispatch this by the first opportunity, with his private letters. Suffice it in this to say, dear Sir, that, notwithstanding your many fears, and the many false and prejudicial reports concerning our safety, we are, to the praise and glory of God's goodness, in in perfect peace and safety, enjoying every temporal favour and spiritual privilege which comports with our situation and character. Yesterday, after my letter for you was packed up in the case, I took in my hand vol. v11. of the Evangelical Magazine, in which I saw the public letter sent by the Brethren at Port Jackson; and was amazed when I saw how very unjustly matters here, and the cause of their departure, were stated. As I have written more largely of affairs in my other letter, entering into particulars here is unnecessary, and, as my time is short, impracticable. I intend, as I have an oppor tunity, to send an exact copy of my other by his Majesty's ship Porpoise, which will sail for Port Jackson in a few days. To come, dear Sir, to the particular intention of these few hasty lines:-From a general, yea, an united persuasion of the safety and special benefit which will, we trust, accrue from an addition to our number, we have written for a reinforcement; not to render us more safe, either in our persons or property, but for the benefit of this and the neighbouring islands. This will, we trust, agree with the original intention and scheme of our dear, zealous, and venerable father, Dr. Haweis, who, with yourself, my honoured father and friend, was for all the Missionaries to settle on this Island. Be not discouraged by the shocking affair which took place at Tongataboo. Consider how widely different our situation has been at Otaheite from that of our dear Brethren there. There is an almost unpardonable slander concerning Pomaree, in the public letter sent from Port Jackson. Though we cannot rank a poor Pagan's motives with a Christian's, yet he is, beyond expectation, our protector: he never has expressed a wish for our private property; and though he has fre quently come to us, asking for presents, we have been at liberty to deny when we thought proper, without any hazard to our safety. He is more and more convinced that we are his friends; and he and Iddea come into our apartments more like our subjects than our lords. As we have, from experience and judgment somewhat nature, recommended twenty or thirty to join us, the greatest part families, I here take the liberty, dear Sir, to recommend, if he should make application, my dear, known, and faithful, friend and brother, Mr. Bowen; I should be happy to have him here to labour in the Lord's vineyard. But I pray to submit to our Heavenly Father this and every relative and personal concern; to whose special direction I recommend you, dear Sir, and yours, in every relation My dear wife (whose reason for staying is very falsely represented in the letter from Port Jackson) joins with myself in acknowledging to be yours in duty, love, and affection. Mrs. E. desires her most sincere love may be given to Mrs. Eyre, and acknowledges the claim which she, and the ladies who interested themselves on her behalf, have upon her, never to forget, but always to acknowledge their very generous concern which was so kindly shewed towards her. Permit me, dear Sir, to subscribe myself inviolably yours, in the best bonds, J. EYRE. Matavai, Aug. 1, 1801. MISSIONARY COLLECTIONS, Rev. Mr. Sloper and Friends, Devizes Collection at Kelso, North Britain £ 10 0 0 1 II 6 12 13 Rev. J. Wilson and Congregation, Market Drayton 12 12 PP 2 |