Pitcairn's Island  Notes  Source  Whalesite

PREFACE.

      A Large proportion of the following pages has no pretensions to originality, consisting, as it does, of extracts from published accounts easily accessible to any one. From the nature of the case it could hardly be otherwise, for every notice of this romantic settlement has been eagerly caught up, and put into a popular form. There was, therefore, very little difficulty in collecting materials for the Lecture; but after it had been delivered, the numerous applications made to the writer to deliver it at other places, and the novelty which the subject still seemed to possess amongst a large class of persons, led him to think that it might do good, and certainly could do no harm, to put it into print. It could do no harm, for although but a meagre account, from the necessary limits of

a Lecture to which it is confined, yet the writer has the most entire confidence in the fidelity of the picture here presented; it might do good, for it seemed to him impossible that any one could rise from the consideration of the condition of this virtuous community, without his own faith, and his faith in the goodness of others, being somewhat strengthened and revived.

PITCAIRN'S ISLAND.

      There are few thoughtful and imaginative people in the world, perhaps there are but few amongst this audience, who have not, at some time or other in their lives, indulged their fancy with the idea of a place and a community existing an our globe where the evils which beset this worn-out world have no place, and where society, freed from those evils, assumes some new and glorious form. This is not a new fancy: it is the echo of an ancient belief; for there is scarcely a Greek or Roman poet who does not allude to the Islands of the Blest; the search for those islands formed the chief motive of the voyages of discovery of those old times; and even in those far greater and more fruitful expeditions of a more modern date, it may be questioned whether there were not some lurking hope that these dreams of the ancients might yet be found a truth.

      But, you are ready to ask me what this has to do with the subject of my lecture, whether I am

going to make out that we have at last found this Atlantis, as some called it, this Elysium, this Utopia? Well, whether or not we can make out a claim for the entire fulfilment of all these notions, I hope to be able to show you that the existence of this Pitcairn's Island Colony is a most remarkable fact; that its whole past and present are full of romantic interest; and, in short, that it forms such a picture, as has, perhaps, never been authentically presented to us before.

      For when we consider that the people of this colony are found by impartial witnesses who have visited them at different times, and whose accounts I shall be able to give you, to be not only professing, but most undeniably acting up to the laws of the Gospel, educated, intelligent to a very great degree, yet penetrated with a most humble, child-like religion, loyal to their Queen, hospitable to strangers, contented with their lot, happy as the day is long in their work, their books, and the society of each other, and dying in assured faith, we may well think it worth our while to spend a short time in examining the history and condition of such a people. But our wonder is still greater, when we reflect an the origin of this community; when we inquire who give them these laws, who succeeded in solving the problem of society, more triumphantly than any uninspired writer or lawgiver that has yet appeared; and when we find

that their forefathers were a set of lawless mutineers from a ship of war, their mothers savages from the licentious island of Tahiti, and their teacher and lawgiver a rough ignorant seaman, an outlaw, and a murderer.

      The particulars of the Mutiny of the Bounty are probably known to many amongst us, but for those who have not read an account of it a slight sketch will not be out of place, and we shall then be better able to consider the condition of the Pitcairn's Island Colony, which sprang up in consequence of that mutiny. In the year 1787, the British Government resolved to send an expedition to the island of Tahiti (the largest of the Society Islands) for the purpose of taking in a stock of bread-fruit trees, and transplanting them to our West Indian Colonies. The bread-fruit has been too often described to require a minute account here; it will be sufficient to say, that it grows an the tree like an apple, has a thick rind,, that the inside is white and soft, and like the crumb of wheaten bread, only somewhat sweet and insipid. It was thought that this wonderful tree, so invaluable to the natives of the Pacific Islands, might be found of equal value to our own people in the West Indies. The Bounty was the ship selected to perform this service, she was commanded by a lieutenant of the navy named Bligh, and carried the usual proportion of officers and

men, the third in command being an officer named Christian, who held the rank then called "master's mate." They arrived at their destination without any disaster, and experienced the most friendly reception from the Tahitians, who gave them every assistance in getting the bread-fruit trees an board. Unfortunately the Bounty was allowed to remain too long amongst these interesting and fascinating people, for in the course of the six months which were spent there, her crew formed such attachments to the women as no doubt in some measure led to the mutiny which afterwards broke out. But this was not the only, nor probably the principal cause of it, which we are compelled to look for in the tyrannical and selfish character of the commanding officer, who had contrived, by a system of harsh and suspicious conduct, to quarrel with his officers and disgust his men. In particular, he had goaded Christian to a state bordering an madness, and he being a man of very strong passions and sullen temper, in an evil hour for himself and his companions, yielded to the temptation, and resolved an revenge. It does not appear that there was any preconcerted plan among the mutineers, though the fire of discontent smouldering among the men required but little to bring it out into a blaze. In the dead of night, as the Bounty was peacefully pursuing her homeward course, not far from the island of

Tofoa, and her commander asleep in his cabin, having retired to rest entirely unsuspicious of the tragedy about to take place, he found himself rudely aroused by Christian and others of the crew, all armed to the teeth, forced out of bed, his hands tied behind his back, threatened with instant death, and dragged upon deck. Too ready were that guilty crew to support the daring act; in vain did the agonised commander strive to rally them around him, he met only averted looks and sullen curses; one man who showed some signs of pity, and tried to moisten his parched lips with a shaddock, was immediately removed. A boat was quickly hoisted out; those officers and men whom Christian could not trust were driven into her, a small quantity of provisions were thrown in; last of all, the unhappy Bligh himself was forced into the already overloaded boat, and amidst the jeers and threats of the triumphant mutineers, was sent adrift from the ship, to find, as he best might, a watery grave, death from starvation, or murder from the savage islanders of Tofoa. Not without one more effort, however, did Bligh submit to his fate, for as he was going over the side of the ship, he made a last appeal to Christian, and asked him if this was a proper return for all the former kindnesses which he had shown him. The deluded criminal's reply spoke volumes, "That is it, Captain Bligh," he answered with much emotion, I am in hell — I

am in hell!" Truly, it was a hell that he had found. Whatever we may think of the tyranny of Bligh, of the provocation received by Christian, nothing could excuse the crimes of mutiny, piracy, and murder, (for the death of six of the boat's crew ensued upon his act). The avenger was not far behind; the hell was his own conscience, and the punishment a violent and sudden death, inflicted on him as suddenly and as unexpectedly as the vengeance he had visited on his commander.

      But before we follow the course of the mutineers, we must take a glance at the condition of their victims in the Bounty's launch. They were eighteen in number besides Bligh, nine of whom were officers, one a botanist, who had been sent out for scientific purposes, and eight seamen. This number of men, with the provisions and such few things as each man had been able to save in the general confusion, so heavily loaded the boat, that she only swam eight inches above the water, and was in no fit condition even to make for the island of Tofoa, (which was in sight), much less to make a voyage of 3,600 miles over the Pacific Ocean, which she ultimately and almost miraculously performed. Their first attempt, naturally, was to effect a landing on the island before named, in order to lay in a stock of breadfruit, and to recruit their miserably small supply of water, which only amounted to twenty-eight gallons. In this, however, they were doomed to

sad disappointment, for, while bargaining for supplies, the natives suddenly attacked them, and stoned one of their number to death, the others only escaping with the utmost difficulty. There was now no resource left but to make for the nearest civilized country, which was the island of Timor, a colony belonging to the Dutch, in the Indian Archipelago. When their resources came to be examined, they found that the daily allowance for each man could not exceed one ounce of bread, and a quarter of a pint of water a-day, but they all readily agreed to be content with this pittance; and having thrown overboard all that was not absolutely necessary, in order to lighten the boat, bore away across this open and little known sea, with the resolution of men who have but one chance of life. They were, indeed, to be sorely tried, for, to add to their distress from wart of provisions, bad weather set in with gales of wind and torrents of rain; for many days and nights the boat was with extreme difficulty preserved from the fury of the waves, which curled over her stern and broke so furiously into her, that the crew were never able to desist one moment from the task of baling her out. While drenched to the skin with sea and rain, their clothing scanty and wholly without shelter, they in vain sought for rest at night, or if they found it, woke with agonising cramps and rheumatic pains. "At the end of three weeks." Bligh says, "the appearance of

his men was horrible — some seemed half dead, and he could look no way but he caught the eye of some one in distress." But even in those sad circumstances they were obliged to reduce their scanty daily allowance of bread still lower, in order to leave sufficient to take them to Timor. A few birds caught at this time were greedily devoured, and the blood given to those who were the most weak. At last, at the expiration of a month from their leaving Tofoa, though still far from their destination, their spirits were refreshed by the appearance of land. This was the coast of New Holland, where at that time there were no settlements, and consequently they dared not trust themselves among the natives. On a desert island they were able to procure some oysters, and tops of the cabbage palm, with which, though at the cost of much sickness, they in some measure recruited their strength, and here also they replenished their stock of water. At this place, Bligh had to quell another mutiny amongst his people, to which distress and desperation had driven some of the inferior officers; and this he did with the greatest spirit and promptitude. "One person," he says, "went so far as to tell me, with a mutinous look, that he was as good a man as myself. It was impossible to judge where this might have an end if not stopped in time. To prevent, therefore, such disputes in future, I determined either to preserve my com-

mand, or die in the attempt and seizing a cutlass, I ordered him to lay hold of another, and defend himself, on which he called out that I was going to kill him, and immediately made concessions. I did not allow this to interfere further with the harmony of the boat's crew, and everything became quiet." They soon set out again on their voyage, but the people had suffered so much, that many began to give way. Extreme weakness, swelled legs, hollow ghastly countenances, debility of understanding, foretold a speedy end to their sufferings; but just at the last, when nature had been strained to the very utmost, the wished-for land appeared, and Timor was gained. "It is impossible for me," says Bligh, "to describe the pleasure which the sight of this land diffused among us. It appeared scarcely credible to ourselves, that in an open boat, and so poorly provided, we should have been able to reach the coast of Timor in forty-one days after leaving Tofoa, having in that time run a distance of 3,618 miles; and that notwithstanding our extreme distress, no one should have perished in the voyage." The poor sufferers were very kindly received by the Dutch. "Our bodies," says Bligh, "were nothing but skin and Bones, our limbs were full of sores, and we were clothed in rags: in this condition, with the tears of gratitude and joy flowing down our cheeks, the people of Timor beheld us with a mixture of horror, surprise, and pity." Having

regained their strength in some degree by a residence of two months among their hospitable entertainers, Bligh, with eleven of the party, reached England in Dutch East India ships, but five died an the passage, from the effect of the sufferings they had undergone, and one was left behind, and never afterwards heard of. Thus ended the most wonderful voyage an record, and "it is impossible not to give the most unqualified praise to the skill, courage, and perseverance the man who, whatever had been bis previous faults, so admirably conducted this extraordinary enterprise."

      But we must return to the Bounty, which now, under Christian's command, Bligh having been turned adrift, made sail for Toubouai. This island, 500 miles from Tahiti, seemed an attractive retreat, but the natives vehemently opposed the landing of the mutineers. Upon this they sailed for Tahiti, where they were received by their old friends with open arms. But being uneasy at remaining here, as it was probable that any ship sent in search of them would make it their first point, they made another attempt to settle at Toubouai, which proved as ineffectual as the first. Having thus failed again, they returned once more to Tahiti, where they split into two parties; Heywood, a midshipman, remaining there with fifteen others, most of them, as well as himself, taking this course, with a view to giving themselves up

to the first man of war that should touch there; but Christian sailed immediately with the remaining eight mutineers, the most desperate of the party; to look for some island out of the track of navigators, where they might settle and end their days without fear of discovery.

      After Bligh's return to England, the Pandora was equipped to go in search of the now piratical Bounty; and, on her arrival at Tahiti, young Heywood, and thirteen of the mutineers (for two had met a violent death on the island) gave themselves up, and were confined in irons till they should stand the issue of a court-martial in England. The story of the Pandora, and of young Heywood's trial, is a romance in itself, but we have not time to enter upon it here. Having searched many islands in vain for the Bounty, the Pandora was wrecked on the coast of New Holland, and many of her crew lost; amongst them, four of the prisoners, who were barbarously kept in irons up to the moment of the ship's sinking. At the court-martial, (which excited the greatest public interest), four more were acquitted of all share in the mutiny, three were condemned to death, and executed in Portsmouth harbour, and three were sentenced to death, but pardoned. Amongst the latter was Heywood, whose youth and inexperience led him to commit the error of remaining in the ship, but who was clearly proved to have been innocent of all connection with the

mutiny. Indeed his peculiarly noble character only came out more conspicuously through the trial, and he afterwards rose to be one of the most distinguished and respected captains in the Royal Navy.

      On leaving Tahiti with his comrades, Christian had kept his own counsel as to their destination, but had secretly made up his mind to steer for Pitcairn's Island, as a likely place to suit his purposes, being uninhabited, without an anchorage, and remote from the track of vessels. And so it was indeed admirably calculated for concealing them from the avenging hand of the law which they had violated, as the event proved, for no ship of war ever came near the island for twenty-five years; but though they thus buried themselves, as it were, far out of sight and hearing of living men, they could not escape themselves; the same evil passions which first led them astray, forced them on and on, till they finally became the executioners of each other. If anything were wanted to confirm our belief in the over-ruling hand of a Divine Being, it would be signally afforded by the fate of these unhappy men.

      Their first act on arriving at the island, was to run the Bounty on shore and set her on fire, in order to cut off all probability of discovery, and also to prevent any of the party making their escape from the rest, and thus betraying their retreat. They then divided the island into nine equal portions, one

for each of the white men. But, besides the nine white men, there were six Tahitian men and twelve Tahitian women, whom they had persuaded to accompany them; of these women, nine were wives of the mutineers, and three were wives of three of the Tahitians. These poor fellows had been simple enough to come with the white men as friends, but they now found out their mistake; for this division of the land among the mutineers alone, soon reduced them to the condition it had always been intended they should fill, namely, that of slaves. This was the first act of injustice, and it was not long before it led to another. One of the Englishmen lost his wife by an accidental fall from a rock; after a time he became dissatisfied, and threatened, if he were not provided with another, to leave the Island in one of the boats; so, as the Tahitians were the weakest party, the English assisted him to rob one of them of his wife. The only immediate result of this unprincipled act of violence was the murder of two of the Tahitian men; and now the Englishmen thought they should enjoy the remainder of their days in peace.

      Things went an smoothly enough for some time, and retribution appeared to slumber, when the barbarous treatment of the four remaining Tahitians by their masters, so exasperated them, that, countenanced by Young, one of the party who had not joined in the oppressive conduct, they

rose in rebellion, and by a well-concerted plan, succeeded in putting five of the white men to death, including Christian, while working at a distance from each other in their gardens, totally unsuspecting their fate. A war of extermination now raged among those who were left, an both sides, and as they were evenly balanced in point of numbers, the women turned the scale. They sided with the white men, and through their barbarous treachery, the Tahitians were destroyed. One of the four remaining Englishmen now became so violent and dangerous to the rest, that he was despatched by the other three. Another drowned himself in a drunken fit, a third soon afterwards died of asthma; so that, finally, only one man, whose name was Alexander Smith, but who changed it to John Adams, was left upon the island with the widows and children of bis former comrades. This was in the year 1800.

      Thus closes this dark page of crime; and we gladly turn from so foul a picture to one whose brightness presents itself in colours all the more strikingly beautiful for the contrast with that which has preceded it, to the light of a day which shines all the more brilliantly after the gloomy night out of which it has Sprung, and which brings to our recollection the lesson which all history teaches us (and if it does not teach us this we read it in vain), that however hopeless may appear to human eyes the evils of a time or of a nation,

however it may seem that God has deserted the cause of right, and left wrong to triumph unchecked, yet in the midst of all he is silently preparing, from causes probably natural, though too deep for us to see, a remedy for the evil, and a vindication of the eternal principles of truth and justice.

      A short time before the death of Young, Adams's last surviving comrade, who died, as related above, of asthma, he and Adams, struck with the awful character of the scenes they had passed through, began to repent, and Young, having been an officer and possessed of some education, applied himself diligently to the study of the Bible and Prayer-book (the only books saved from the Bounty), and, together with Adams, resolved to do his best to train up the numerous children on the island in the paths of virtue. He was, however, only suffered to survive his repentance a very short time, but his death still farther deepened religious impressions in Adams's mind.

      He was now left alone, and had time to reflect on the wonderful career he had run, and it would indeed have been strange if the memory of such a past life and the tranquillity of the present one had not awakened his whole nature to remorse and repentance. It is said that he was first startled into serious thought by an extraordinary dream, in which he saw the angel Gabriel, who warned him of the danger he was in on account of

his wicked life, and that in another dream he was shown the flames and torments of hell. Whether we believe that these were indeed special miraculous visions sent for his conversion, and that of the infant colony, or merely think of them as the consequence of a train of thought produced by his past life, which is just as much acknowledging the providential character of the dreams, they produced a most decided and blessed effect, for he now set to work with all his heart to lead a religious life, and to make himself useful to those thus wonderfully left to his guidance. Nor was he left without light, for he had the Bible which Young had read, and though he had no living interpreter to explain it to him, he had the Prayer-book for a guide. It is impossible to say how much, under Divine Providence, was owing to his having no other books than these two, both as regards his own character and that which he stamped on the colony, for in after times when attempts were made to introduce new doctrines amongst them, they were always prompt to repel the intrusion, and to refer back with steady confidence to the guides of their youth. But for some time these precious volumes were a sealed book to John Adams, for he was an ignorant uneducated seaman, knowing little more than his letters, so he set to work and taught himself to read, and when he had mastered this difficulty, made these books his daily study. The remainder

of his time he devoted to imparting the knowledge which he had thus gained to the women and children, and with both he wonderfully succeeded; for he was thoroughly in earnest, and was looked up to with a reverence like that of the patriarchal ages — indeed he was always called "Father" by them all.

      To use the words of Mr. Brodie, an English traveller, who has given us one of the latest accounts of the island: — "The morals of the community now became as strict as they had hitherto been loose; religious observances were insisted on, even to severity of discipline; morning and evening prayers were established; the Bible and Prayer-book were diligently studied by all, and Wednesdays and Fridays were set apart as fast-days." Adams had learnt from the Prayerbook that Fridays were "days of fasting or abstinence," and observing that Ash-Wednesday was one also, he rigidly applied the rule to all Wednesdays. Many years afterwards, finding that the labour of the people was too hard to admit of so strict an observance, he gave up the Wednesdays, but Fridays were kept as fast-days, according to the rule of the English Church, until the day of his death.

      The wav in which the children first learnt their prayers, was thus related to Mr. Brodie by one of themselves: — "Adams wanted a piece of ground broken un to plant some yams in, and engaged

two young men, Edward Quintal and Robert Young, to do the same for him; and as payment, a small phial of gunpowder was to be given. After the ground was broken up, and the yams planted, these two young men asked Adams which he would like to do best — give them the gunpowder, or teach them some prayers out of the Prayer-book. Adams, who was much pleased with this remark, consented at once to teach them, and offered them the gunpowder as well, which they refused. He now told them, that if there were any more who would like to be taught, he would teach them. The consequence was, that the whole of them came to him, much to his delight. The Lord's Prayer and Creed he taught them first — immediately after the angel Gabriel's appearance." The children soon acquired such a thirst for instruction, that he had little else to do than to answer their inquiries, and to put them in the right way; and as they grew up under his excellent training, they acquired fixed habits of morality and piety. In short, never were efforts more signally blest with success, as I shall presently show. Old Adams was spared to his children for twenty-nine years, and died peacefully at the age of sixty-five. His death-bed, the death-bed of him who had been mutineer, pirate, and man-slayer, was thus permitted to be cheered by the "consolatory reflection that his labours had borne fruit, that the seed which had been sown by him, had

struck such deep roots, as to give the fairest promise of permanently maintaining its title to the soil in which it was laid."

      Having now rapidly run over the events connected with the first settlement of this interesting colony, it will be well to stop for a moment to take a survey of the island, after which we shall be able to understand better the notices of the colony which have been given us by different visitors; and, lastly, I shall be able to give you a sketch, though necessarily an imperfect one, of the late visit to England, for the purpose of ordination, of their beloved schoolmaster and pastor, Mr. George Nobbs.

      One of the best accounts of the island is to be found in a report read by Captain. Worth, R.N., (who visited it in the Calypso,) at a meeting of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, and published, along with some other interesting notices of the island, in the "Colonial Church Chronicle." "Pitcairn's Island," the captain says, "at which I touched in March 1848, is 1200 feet high, and 44 miles in circumference, and may be seen in clear weather at 40 miles distance. Its coast is bold, and rises abruptly from the sea, composed of high and weather-beaten rocks, an which the surf breaks heavily at all times, preventing any access to it, save in two places; the usual landing-place, called Bounty Bay, possesses a sandy beach, 20 or 30 yards in breadth, but a

landing can only be effected there in fine weather, and with the assistance of the islanders in their whale boats and canoes, the bay being studded with rocks, and the rollers so high and uncertain, that it would be dangerous to attempt it in ships' boats. On landing, I was much struck with the great extent of rich and cultivable land this island possesses, and the beautiful and romantic scenery that surrounded me, composed as it is of rich valleys and precipitous rocks, with a luxuriance of foliage seldom to be seen in islands so small and detached, producing not only those fruits and vegetables usually found in tropical climates, but also a great number of those of more northern and colder temperatures. I was told by the islanders, that the cultivated land did not exceed 60 acres, which was found amply sufficient for their present wants; but that the island contained at least 400 acres. The only drawback is the want of water, of which necessary article the island contains none whatever. This difficulty, which some years ago appeared so formidable that the inhabitants were induced to abandon the island, has now been entirely obviated by the construction of tanks, in which a quantity of water is collected during the rainy season. The island produces Indian corn, yams, Irish and sweet potatoes, plantains, limes, lemons, cocoa nuts, oranges, melons, pine-apples, papaw, sugarcane, arrowroot, and tobacco; bread-fruit is also

grown, but the crop is uncertain. The stock reared comprises hogs, goats, and poultry, all of which are abundant. The fish that frequent its coast are barracouta, albacore, mullet, snapper, and small sharks, but from the great depth of watet the labour is so considerable that the employment of fishing is not followed to any great extent. The thermometer ranges from 59° to 85° throughout the year; the climate may be considered good, and the inhabitants subject to but few diseases."

      The description of the island given by Captain Fanshawe is to much the same effect. He compares it, as it first appeared, to a little button on an immense sheet of blue cloth, so small and solitary did it seem. On landing, he found it very beautiful, richly clothed with tropical shrubs, and displaying well cultivated gardens, planted with yams and sweet potatoes. The crags and precipices imparted to it a wild and picturesque character, the deep blue sea coming close up to the rocks.

      Mr. Brodie tells us that the island is evidently of volcanic origin, the soil generally of a deep red, apparently decomposed lava, and very productive. He says, "There is no doubt that it was formerly inhabited, though the native race must have been extinct many years prior to the arrival of the Bounty. Burial-places are still to be seen, and spear heads and some axes are very common."

These aboriginal inhabitants appear to have deserted the island, probably from want of water.

      We will now inquire how the existence of the colony first became known in Europe. I have already said that it remained unvisited by any man-of-war for a period of twenty-five years alter the landing of the mutineers. A ship had indeed appeared off the island in 1795, while they were yet alive, which so alarmed them, that they hid themselves in the Bush; but, though a boat appears to have landed, the crew, it is supposed, failed to discover any sign of habitation, and it is not known to this day what ship it was. In 1808, the Topaz, an American merchant ship, touched at the island, and was the first to discover the inhabitants; her captain sent home to the English Admiralty the Chronometer and compass of the Bounty, but no notice was taken of the discovery. The struggle with France, which was then going on, probably occupied the minds of men too much to leave room for any interest in the descendants of the mutineers; but, in 1814, two of His Majesty's ships, the Briton and Tagus, the first commanded by Sir Thomas Staines, and the other by Captain Pipon, when cruising in the Pacific Ocean, in search of the American frigate Essex, most unexpectedly fell in with an island where none was laid down in the Charts. "I therefore hove to," says Sir Thomas Staines, until daylight, and then closed to ascertain

whether it was inhabited, which I soon discovered it to be; and, to my great astonishment, found that every individual on the island, 40 in number, spoke very good English. They proved to be the descendants of the deluded crew of the Bounty, who from Tahiti proceeded to the above island, where the ship was burnt. Christian appears to have been the leader and sole cause of the mutiny in that ship. A venerable old man, named John Adams, is the only surviving Englishman of those who last quitted Tahiti in her, and whose exemplary conduct and fatherly rare of the little colony could not but command admiration. The pious manner in which he has reared all those born on the island, the correct sense of religion which has been instilled into their young minds by this old man, has given him the pre-eminence over the whole of them, and to him they look up as the father of one and the whole family."

      After speaking of the fate of Christian and his associates, and of the productions of the island, Sir Thomas goes on to say in words which have at last been listened to — "I cannot, however, refrain from offering my opinion, that it is well worthy the attention of our laudable religious societies, particularly that for Propagating the Christian religion, the whole of the inhabitants speaking the Tahitian tongue as well as the English." Such was the first official account received of the little colony. Captain Pipon of the Tagus supplied further particulars. "He observes, that when they fell in

with the Island, they were extremely puzzled to know what it could be, as Pitcairn's Island was represented in their chart to be about one hundred and fifty miles further to the westward. If this new discovery, therefore, as they supposed it to be, awakened their curiosity, it was still more excited when they ran in for the land next morning, on perceiving a few Huts neatly built, amidst plantations laid out apparently with something like order and regularity; and diese appearances confirmed them yet more in the belief that it could not be Pitcairn's Island, because that was described by navigators to be uninhabited. Presently they observed a few natives coming down a steep descent with their canoes on their shoulders, and in a few minutes perceived one of those little vessels darting through a heavy surf, and paddling off towards the ship 3 but their astonishment was extreme when, on coming alongside, they were hailed in the English language with the cry‘ Won't you heave us a rope now.' The first young man that sprang up the side with extraordinary alacrity, and stood before them on the deck, said in reply to the question, Who are you?' that his name was Thursday October Christian, son of the late Fletcher Christian, by a Tahitian mother; that he was so called because he was brought into the world on a Thursday in October. Singularly strange as all this was to Sir Thomas Staines and Captain Pipon, this youth, soon satis-

fied them, that he was no other than the person he represented himself to be, and that he was fully acquainted with the whole history of the Bounty; and in short, that the island before them was the retreat of the mutineers of that ship. Young Christian was at this time about twenty-four years of age, a fine tall youth, full six feet high, with dark, almost black hair, and a countenance open and extremely interesting. As he wore no clothes, except a piece of cloth round his loins, and a straw hat, ornamented with black cock's feathers, his fine figure and well-shaped muscular limbs were displayed to great advantage, and attracted general admiration. His body was much tanned by exposure to the weather, and his countenance had a brownish cast, unmixed however with that finge of red, so common among the natives of the Pacific islands. Added to a great spare of good humour, we were glad to trace, says Captain Pipon, in his benevolent countenance, all the features of an honest English face. The ingenuous manner in which he answered all the questions put to him, and bis whole deportment, created a lively interest among the officers of the ship, who, while they admired, could not but regard him with feelings of tenderness and compassion; his manner, too, of speaking English was exceedingly pleasing and correct, both in grammar and pronunciation. His companion was a fine handsome youth of seventeen or eighteen of the

name of George Young, son of Young the midshipman. If the astonishment of the two captains was great, on making, as they thought, this first and extraordinary discovery of a people who had been so long forgotten, and in hearing the offspring of these offenders speaking their language correctly, their surprise and interest were still more strongly excited, when, on Sir T. Staines taking the two youths below, and setting before them something to eat, they rose up, and one of them, placing his hands together in a posture of devotion, pronounced distinctly and with emphasis, in a pleasing tone of voice, the words, "For what we are going to receive, the Lord make us truly thankful."

      The youths themselves were greatly surprised at the sight of so many novel objects; the size of the ship; of the guns, and everything around them; observing a cow, they were at first somewhat alarmed, and expressed a doubt, whether it was a largo goat or a horned hog, these being the only two species of quadrupeds they had ever seen. These young men informed the two captains of the many singular events that had taken place among the first settlers but referred them for further particulars to an old man on shore, whose name, they said, was John Adams, the only surviving Englishman that came away in the Bounty, at which time he was called Alexander Smith. This information induced the two captains to go

degree of modesty and bashfulness, that would have done honour to the most enlightened and virtuous people upon. earth. Their teeth are described as beautifully white, like the finest ivory, and perfectly regular, without a single exception; and all of them, both male and female, had the marked expression of English features, though not exactly the clear red and white of English skins, theirs being more what we call brunette. But their personal qualifications, attractive though they were, excited less admiration than the account which Adams gave of their virtuous conduct; he assured his visitors that not one instance of immoral conduct had occurred among these young people since their settlement an the island; the greatest harmony prevailed in their little community, they all declared that no serious quarrels ever occurred among them, though a few hasty words might now and then be uttered; but to make use of their own expression, they were only quarrels of the mouth; they never omit saying grace before and after meals; the Lord's Prayer and Creed they repeat morning and evening. Captain Pipon observes "It was pleasing to see the good taste and quickness with which they form little shades or parasols of green leaves, to place over the head or bonnet, to keep the sun from their eyes. A young girl made one of these in my presence with such neatness and alacrity as to satisfy me that a fashionable dress-maker

in London would be delighted with the simplicity and elegant taste of these untaught females. The same young girl accompanied us to the boat, carrying on her shoulders, as a present, a large basket of yams, over such roads, and down such precipices, as were scarcely passable by any animals except goats, and over which we could scarcely scramble with the help of our hands. Yet with this load on her shoulders, she skipped from rock to rock like a young roe."

      Such were the first accounts of this interesting settlement; but, remarkable as they were, no further notice was taken of the island for nearly twelve years, when, in 1825, Captain Beechey, in the Blossom, bound on a voyage of discovery, paid it a visit. A whaling ship had touched there in the mean time, and left behind a seaman named Buffet, who, being a man of some education and of a religious character, was so delighted with the behaviour of the people, that he begged permission to remain, and had become their schoolmaster, under Adams.

      "On the approach of the Blossom towards the island, a boat was observed under all sail, hastening towards the ship, on board of which were old Adams, and many of the young men of the island. They did not venture to lay hold of the ship, till they had first enquired if they might come on board; and on permission being granted, they sprang up the side, and shook every officer the

hand with undisguised satisfaction. The activity of the young men outstripped that of Adams, who was somewhat corpulent. He was dressed in his sailor's shirt and trowsers, and a low-crowned hat, which he held in his hand, till desired to put it on. He still retained his sailor's manners, doffing his hat, and smoothing down his bald forehead whenever he was addressed by the officers of the Blossom. The young men's dresses were whimsical enough; some had long coats, without trowsers; and others trowsers, without coats; and others again, waistcoats without either. None of them had either shoes or stockings, and there were only two hats amongst them, neither of which seemed likely to hang long together." Upon Captain Beechey's landing with some of his officers, the whole population assembled to meet them, received them with the utmost cordiality, and pressed them to stay several days with them. "The village," Captain Beechey says, "consisted of five houses on a cleared piece of ground sloping down to the sea. Dinner was laid for the party at young Christian's house, the table being spread with plates, knives, and forks. John Buffet said grace in an emphatic manner, and this is repeated every time a fresh guest sits down, .while the meal is going on. So strict are they in this respect, that it is not deemed proper to touch a bit of bread without saying grace before and alter it. On one occasion I had engaged Adams in conver-

sation, and he incautiously took the first mouthful without having said grace; but before he swallowed it he recollected himself, and feeling as if he had committed a crime, immediately put away what he had in his mouth, and commenced his prayer." The beds were now prepared. A mattress, composed of palm leaves, was covered with tappa, or native cloth, made from the back of the paper mulberry tree, and the sheets were of the same material. The whole arrangement was very comfortable, one interruption only disturbed their first sleep; this was the melody of the evening hymn, which, after the lights were put out, was chanted by the whole family in. the middle of the room. At early dawn, they were also awakened by their morning hymn and the family devotion, after which the islanders all set out to their several occupations. Some of the women had taken the linen of their visitors to wash; others were preparing for the next meal; and others were employed in the manufacture of cloth. "By our bed-side," says Captain Beechey, "had already been placed some ripe fruits, and our hats were crowned with chaplets of the fresh blossoms of the 'nono,' or flower-tree, which the women had gathered in the freshness of the morning dew.

      "Their cottages were spacious and strongly built of wood, thatched with the leaves of the palm tree. Immediately round the village are small enclosures for fattening pigs, goats, and poultry; and beyond them are the cultivated grounds.

Every cottage has its outhouse for making cloth, its baking place, its pigstye, and its poultry House. The Young children are punctual in their attendance at school, and are instructed by John Buffet in reading, writing, and arithmetic; to which are added, precepts in religion and morality, drawn chiefly from the Bible and Prayer-book, than which, fortunately, they possess no other books that might mystify and perplex their understandings an religious subjects. They seldom indulge in jokes or other kinds of levity, and are so accustomed to take what is said in its literal meaning, that irony was always considered a falsehood, in spite of all explanation they could not see the propriety of uttering what was not strictly true, for any purpose whatever. The Sabbath is wholly devoted to the Church service, to prayer, reading, and serious meditation; no work of any bind is done an that day, not even cooking, which is prepared an the preceding evening. I attended the church an this day, and found the service well conducted; the prayers were read by Adams, and the lessons by Buffet, the service being preceded by hymns. The greatest devotion was apparent in every individual, and in the children there was a seriousness unknown in the younger part of our communities at home. In the course of the Litany, they prayed for their Sovereign and all the Royal Family with much apparent loyalty and sincerity. Some family prayers, which were

thought appropriate to their own particular case, were added to the usual service; and Adams, fearful of leaving out any essential part, read in addition all those prayers which are intended only as substitutes for others. A sermon followed, which was very well delivered by Buffet, and lest any part of it should be forgotten, it was read three times. The whole concluded with hymns, which were first sung by the grown-up people, and afterwards by the children. The service thus performed was very long, but the neat and cleanly appearance of the congregation, the devotion that animated every countenance, and the innocence and simplicity of the little children, prevented the attendance from becoming wearisome." With respect to Adams himself, Captain Beechey states, that he had no doubt of the sincerity of his piety. He was an board the Blossom for two or three days, and slept in the captain's cabin, but he would never get into bed till the captain had got into his and was supposed to be asleep, when, in a retired corner of the cabin, he fell an his knees and performed his devotions, and he was always up first in the morning for the same purpo se. He told Captain Beechey one day, that it would add greatly to his happiness if he would read the marriage service to him and his wife, as he could not bear the idea of living with her without its being done when a proper opportunity offered. Though Adams was aged, and the old woman had

been blind and bed-ridden for several years, Beechey says he made such a point of it that it would have been cruel to refuse him, and they were accordingly, the following day, duly united. The marriages that take place among the young people are, however, performed by Adams, who makes use of a ring on these occasions which has united every couple an the island since its first settlement. The regulated age, under which no man is allowed to marry, is twenty, and that of the women, eighteen. The restrictions with regard to relationship are the same as with us, and are strictly put in force. Adams also officiates at the christenings." Captain Beechey concludes his remarks in the following words: "All that remains to be said of these excellent people is that they appear to live together in perfect harmony and contentment; to be virtuous, religious, cheerful, and hospitable, beyond the limits of prudence; to be patterns of conjugal and parental affection, and to have no vices. We remained with them many days, and their unreserved manners gave us the fullest opportunity of becoming acquainted with any faults they may have possessed."

      The favourable impression made by these accounts was fully confirmed by the report of Captain, now Lord Waldegrave, who visited the colony five years later in the Seringapatam, bringing with him some presents sent by the British

Government. But he found that the year before his arrival, they had sustained the most grievous loss that could have befallen them, in the death of their beloved patriarch, old Adams, which took place in 1829. Most providentially, however, an Englishman had been permitted to settle on the Island five months before his death, who was admirably fitted to supply his place, Mr. George Nobbs. His case, that of Buffet, whom we have mentioned before, and that of another Englishman, named Evans, who came about the same time, form the only three exceptions to the rule which is strictly adhered to, against any stranger settling on the island, and these three Englishmen have long ago become in all respects a part of the community by the intermarriage of themselves and their children with the islanders. Mr. Nobbs was originally in the British navy, which he quitted for the Chilian service under Lord Cochrane, with whom he served as lieutenant. On leaving that service he was, in common with many others, unable to recover his pay, and returned to England. But having no longer any ties there, and having, when in South America, formed a great desire to go to Pitcairn's Island and assist Adams in his work, he left England for that purpose in 1828. For nearly two years, by the way of the Cape of Good Hope, India, and Australia, he sought a passage; at length, at Callao, in Peru, he met the owner of a launch who, on con-

dition of his fitting her out, agreed "to accompany him. Mr. Nobbs expended what little money he still possessed in accomplishing this object. The owner was in bad health, nevertheless these two left Callao by themselves on a voyage of 3,500 miles, which they performed in forty-two days. The owner died soon after their arrival, the launch was hauled on shore, and the materials, after she was broken up, used to build a house for Mr. Nobbs. As he was a much fitter man to succeed Adams in the duties of schoolmaster and pastor than Buffet, he seems by general consent to have been elected into these offices, and to them he added the invaluable qualification of doctor, having formerly acquired no small stock of medical knowledge. Admirably discharging his threefold office, he has continued (with one short interval) labouring amongst his flock for twenty-four years, and we shall see that the virtues and excellencies of the people have not declined under his guardianship.

      This short interval alluded to (to make a digression from our narrative) was occasioned by the wicked arts of an impostor, named Hill, who landed on the island in 1832, and succeeded in persuading the simple islanders that the British government had sent him out to be their governor. He found that the three EngliShmen formed the only obstacle to his gaining complete ascendancy over the people, so he contrived to get them banished. They took refuge on the Gambier Islands, but

their exile was not of long duration, for Hill soon began to behave in such a way as to cause the poor people to repent of their confiding simplicity, and exert themselves, by the aid of a ship of war, to expel their tyrant, and recall their old friends. Every year after his return made Mr. Nobbs more and more necessary to the colony, and finally their desire that he should be enabled to assume the functions of pastor in a more legitimate way became so widely known, and seconded in the proper quarters, as to lead to the ordination which he has lately received in Engl

But to return to Captain Waldegrave, who was as much enchanted as his predecessors with the manners of these people. "They never," he says, "speak ill of each other. If any questions were asked as to the character or conduct of a particular individual, the answer would be something of this kind: If it could do any good I would answer you; but as it cannot, it would be wrong to teil tales.' The kind and benevolent feeling of these arniable people is extended to the surviving widows of the Tahitian men, who were slain on the island, and who would be left in a helpless and destitute state, were it not for the humane consideration of the younger part of the society, by whom they are supported and regarded with every mark of consideration." Captain Waldegrave examined the children, and was much struck with the thoughtful character of the answers he received.

      In 1831, as complaints had reached the British government from the people, of a want of water, and as they were even at that time apprehensive of the island becoming too small for them, it was resolved to remove the colony to Tahiti; and this was accordingly done. They felt much at leaving their happy home, and many would have stayed, hut the idea of separation was worse than that of change, so they went all together. A piece of good land was given them, and they were well received by the queen and people of Tahiti, while tur the English missionaries took change of their interests, and everything was satisfactorily arranged for their comfort. But this was not to last long. The change of life and Biet soon produced a fatal sickness, which carried off several of their number, and made them long to return; and what was equally distressing to these innocent people, the loose and immoral manners of the Tahitians filled them with disgust. Being very diseontented and unhappy, they resolved to go back, and were kindly assisted in getting a passage. Curiously enough, the copper bolts of the old Bounty, which they had brought with them, paid a great part of their passage money.

      When they once got back, they made a resolution neuer again to quit their own beloved island, nor are they likely to do so till the increase of population at some future day makes it absolutely necessary. This migration to Tahiti was apparently the most unfortunate thing that ever hap-

pened to them; but in rcality it proved a great blessing, as the mischiefs arising from it proved a beacon for the future, and prevented them from falling into the bad habits which intercourse with other people might have induced. Its injurious effect showed itself in a taste for ardent spirits, which, an their return, they learned to manufacture from the ti-root, a plant which grows an the island. But not long afterwards, fortunately all the stills were destroyed, and, grown wiser by experience, since that time no species of spirits have been drunk an the isl

The next peep we get at our friends is in 1838, when the island was formally taken under the protection of the British government by Capt. Elliott. Tliis measure had become absolutely necessary, in consequence of the difficulties and dangers to which the colony had been already exposed, and with which they were again threatened, by lawless strangers in whalers. The people also very earnestly represented to Captain Elliott, the necessity for having some appointed chief over their increasing community, for their internal regulation and government. He therefore resolved to confer the stamp of his authority an a magistrate elected by themselves, drew up some regulations to be observed under the authority of the British government, and presented them with a union jack, as a pledge of British protection. The laws which were then drawn up continue in force to

the present day, but though they are few and simple, we cannot do more than allude to them here.

      One of their peculiarities is, that on all public questions, every person on the island, both male and female, above the age of eighteen, has a vote. The chief or magistrate is elected annually: he has a council. of two, and there is no appeal from his authority except to the captain of a British man-of-war. He is to convene the public on occasion of complaints being made, to hear them in public, to commit them to a jury, and to keep a journal. Education is made compulsory between six and sixteen years of age. Other laws relate to hunting with dogs, killing cats, and other items of the same domestic nature. So important is it to them to preserve the last-named useful animals, as was informed by Mr. Nobbs, that at present, the punishment for killing a cat is to oblige the offender to produce three hundred dead rats under penalty of paying a heavy fine, or they would otherwise soon be completely overrun with these vermin. The law against the use of spirits or intoxicating liquors of any kind, has been mentioned before. When a man marries, he is to take his share of his father's property, which is again to be equally divided amongst his children. The wife also takes her proportion (an equal one with that of her brothers) out of her father's land, so that the Young couple come immediately into possession of their pro-

perty. These laws appear to have been amply sufficient for the government of the colony; so easy is it to govern people who are practically governed by their own consciences.

      In 1843, we have the following testimony to their good conduct from Captain Sir Thomas Thomson, of H.M.S. Talbot. He landed an Sunday, and found the islanders at church, so he went in. "Nobbs," he says, "who was reading the service, stopped, and asked me if he should proceed, which I begged him to do. He finished the prayers, and afterwards gave a short lecture. I was much struck with the attention and devotion of the whole congregation, as a visit from a man-of-war was quite an event, only occurring once a-year; and, although they were most anxious to hear the news, they continued their devotions with the same fervency as if we had not been. present. After the service was finished, I entered into all the complaints and disputes for the last twelve months, and to their credit, I may say, it did not take me more than an hour to arrange everything most amicably. I afterwards visited every house in the village, and was very much pleased with the cleanliness and order of the whole community."

      We have now an opportunity of judging of the people by some of their own letters, addressed to Captain Hope, of H.M.S. Thalia, who had sent them some presents, with a letter expressing his

regret at having failed in reaching the island, in consequence of contrary winds. I will read one of these letters from the school children, as the most characteristic: —

      "Dear and Honoured Sir, — Our teacher read to us your affectionate letter, and we, his scholars, have read it more than once, and will treasure its benevolent advice in our minds, as a rule of conduct. We much regret the untoward circumstances which frustrated your intended visit: for it would have been to us both a pleasure and a reward, if our educational acquirements had merited your approbation. We attend school five days in the week, five hours each day our routine of school duties is as follows, viz., commence with prayer and praise, conclude with the same; Monday — recital of weekly tasks, reading the Holy Scriptures, writing, arithmetic, and class spelling; Tuesday — the same as on Monday; Wednesday — promiscuous reading (individually) in history, geography, transcribing select portions of history, &c.; Thursday — the same as on Monday and Tuesday; and on Friday, which is the busiest day of the week, transcribe words with their definitions from Walker's Dictionary, read hymns, &c., and emulative spelling concludes the whole: we are generally an hour longer at school on this day. On Wednesday afternoon the elder scholars attend the Bible class with their parents. If the request is not improper, will you, honoured Sir, procure for us some copy-slips, as models for writing, and a few of Walkingham's Arithmetics, with a key to the same; for we often hear our teacher say, if he had these helps it would make his work easier, and we heartily wish he could obtain the means of making it so. We are indeed British subjects, and we think it a great privilege to be considered so, and when we see the flag of Old England waving from the staff in front of the school-house, we often remark to each other, 'That's our safeguard from the ugly French.'

      "As grateful scholars, we much regret the possibility of our beloved teacher being superseded, as you, Sir, seem to intimate in your letters. Whatever may be the qualifications of the person sent out, he can never be what our present pastor has been, and is to us. Fathers and mothers an their death-beds have bequeathed their children to his care, many of our parents have been educated by him, and we, his present pupils, from the time of our birth up to this day, have been cared for and watched over with parental solicitude. Now, dear and honoured Sir, if you would obtain from the Bishop of London, or some other dignitary, a licence for our Pastor, you would fill our hearts with joy, and we should trouble you with more than one letter expressive of our gratitude. We beg leave, honoured Sir, to subscribe ourselves,

"Your humble and obedient servants,      
"The School Children of Pitcairn's Island."

July, 1847.

("Signed by 15 children, on behalf of the rest.")

      This letter, if written by almost any other school children, might be suspected as bearing the stamp of the schoolmaster's hand, for, as we all know, letters do sometimes reach anxious parents from their children at school, speaking of their great happiness and the excellence of their teacher in terms so much above the average productions of the Young gentleman or lady, as to lead to very natural suspicions; but, in this case, I am disposed, from the uniform character both of Mr. Nobbs and the people for truth and simplicity, derived from so many sources, to give implicit credit to the genuineness of the letter.

      In 1848 they were visited by Captain Worth, from whose account of the island we have already quoted. He thus speaks of their employments and amusements: — "The principal occupations of the inhabitants, are cultivation of the land; building and improving their houses, which are extremely neat, clean, and commodious; rearing stock; fencing their plantations; making tappa; straw hats; fancy boxes, &c.; which, together with stock, fruit and vegetables, they sell to ships calling there, and barter for such articles as they want.

      The usual recreations of the elder branches, are hunting wild goats; playing at ball; wrestling on stilts (at which they are very expert) and dancing; for which latter purpose, they are allowed to assemble one evening in the week. For the more steady and serious part of the community, they have a very tolerable library, well stocked with books of history, travels and voyages, and likewise works of fiction, which have been from time to time collected from the different vessels that have called at the island. Flying kites, and playing in the surf on a board, are favourite amusements with the children; and also swimming and diving, in which the adults of both sexes join. In visiting there interesting and worthy islanders, it was my gratifying task to convey to them many useful presents; and nothing could exceed the heart-felt gratitude of these primitive, isolated, and excel-

lent people, who, with tears in their eyes, acknowledged the benefits they continued to receive from the countrymen of their forefathers; and if ever sincere and grateful prayers are offered up for such kindnesses, they surely were an this occasion. They consider themselves, in every sense, subjects of Great Britain; and sure I am, that her Majesty possesses not a more attached and loyal people. I could not but be forcibly struck with their anxious inquiries after her Majesty's health, as their beloved Queen and at their earnest hope, that she would continue to consider them worthy of her countenance and protection."

      Captain Fanshawe visited the island, in the Daphne,in 1849; and to his kindness I am indebted for the following remarks an his visit. He states that one of his objects was to ascertain whether the people were becoming too numerous for the place; and his report was, that it would probably suffice for twenty years to come. "They present," he says, "the very uncommon spectacle of a society, every individual of which appears to be solely guided in his practice by the precepts of Christianity. Mr. Nobbs continues to teach the school, and to administer all the offices of religion, except the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Their laws and regulations exhibit an anxious desire to prevent contention. Their system does not countenance the theory of common property, but every-

thing belongs to some individual or family; and their transactions are conducted in a very liberal spirit; crimes and misdemeanours appear to be almost unknown amongst them. The simple manliness of their character is very striking. They are visited every year by several whalers, whose crews, they say, always behave with the utmost propriety, and carefully avoid doing or saying anything that might shock them. They are very fortunate in having no anchorage, so that no vessel remains long enough to allow the evil-disposed time for mischief." Speaking of their hospitality, he says, "it is the custom for the different families to take it in turns to entertain visitors — this is not done with a view to share a burden, but a pleasure, as these good people take a delight in performing the rites of hospitality."

      In the year 1850, the island was visited by Mr. Brodie, who leas collected and published the most complete body of information yet given, with respect to the colony. This gentleman was left behind an the island, with four other passengers, by the ship in which he was taking a passage to California, and here they were detained for sixteen days. During this time, he employed himself in making every inquiry as to the past and present state of the inhabitants, and his testimony, after this minute inspection, to the goodness and hospitality of his hosts, is as decided as that of any former visitors; and it is so much the more valuable,

from his having had plenty of time to discover if there were anything that had been concealed from those who had only visited the island for two or three days. When it became certain that the ship had gone on, and all Hope of her return was given up, one of the islanders remarked to Mr. Brodie, that "now he had three times more pleasure in seeing him in his house than before; for while the ship was there, it might have been supposed that he looked for some return, whereas it was now quite clear that none could be made." "They appeared," says Mr. Brodie, "to rack their ingenuity in trying to put us at our ease, and to make us believe that the advantage was on their side, and this with a delicacy and natural good breeding, which it was refreshing to witness. Towards evening, oranges, pine-apples, bananas, plantains, &c. came raining in upon us, together with two large bags of new clothes, from which we were to appropriate whatever happened to fit." Mr. Brodie seems upon one occasion to have thought that he might please one of the young ladies by a little flattery, (as gentlemen in this country now and then say pretty things to the ladies), but he was mistaken, for she immediately said, "She did not think I was an Englishman." "I asked," he says, "with some curiosity, what could have led her to such a conclusion, and was informed by the fair damsel in question, that I flattered too muck to be British-born." He does

not appear after this to have repeated the experiment. Not content with heaping kindnesses on their guests during their stay, these generous creatures set to work to procure lime-juice, and to fill several barrels with it for them, that in case of their not again falling in with their own ship, by selling the lime-juice they might have some provision against immediate want. Fortunately they had it in their power to make some return for the lavish kindness with which they had been treated, for Mr. Carleton, one of the party, was well acquainted with music; he had observed their imperfect attempts at psalmody in church, and it occurred to him that a little musical instruction might prove a great amusement to them. "Our worthy friends," says Mr. Brodie, "caught at the proposal with eagerness. They proved remarkably intelligent, not one among the number being deficient in ear, while man• had exceedingly fine voices. Their progress surpassed the most sanguine expectations of their teacher; on the fourth day from the commencement of the lessons, they sang through a catch in four parts with great steadiness; for people who had been hitherto unaware of the existente of harmony, the performance was very remarkable. They are now sufficiently advanced to be able to pursue the study without assistance." To such good account have they turned these instructions, that the last reports speak of their singing

in church as far superior to that of most English churches, and Mr. Nobbs declares, that in no cathedral even that he attended in England, did he ever hear anything that came up to it.

      So attached did these good people get to their guests, that when a ship arrived at last to take them away, nothing but cries and lamentations were heard all over the Island. Brodie says, "the poor girls clung round us as we stood upon the beach, but more especially round Carleton, who had taken so much trouble in teaching them to sing, all of them in floods of tears. We tried to put a bold face an the matter, but had much ado to preserve that decorous impassibility, which is required of men with beards an their chins. Carleton tried to get up a chorus, but it broke down, and only made matters worse. This scene lasted for about an hour. I am sure that both of us felt glad when the Signal for embarkation was made by the boatmen. On parting, though the most marked reserve had been all along preserved hitherto, there was a general kissing all round; it could not be helped." "Thus ends," says our traveller, "my stay amongst the most simple, innocent, and affectionate people it was ever my lot to be thrown amongst. There is a charm in perfect innocence, which he must indeed be hackneyed and hardened who cannot feel. Such a society, so free, not only from vice, but even from those petty bickerings and jealousies, those minor

infirmities which we are accustomed to consider as engrained in human nature, cannot probably be paralleled elsewhere. It is the realisation of the golden age, all living as one family, the earth yielding abundantly, requiring only so much labour as suffices to support its occupants, and save them from the listlessness of inactivity: there is neither wealth nor want, a primitive simplicity of life and manners, perfect equality of rank and station, and perfect content."

      Mr. Brodie bears the highest testimony to the worth of Mr. Nobbs. He says, "Mr. Nobbs, to whom they look up with great respect (of which he is most fully deserving), acta as minister, although unfortunately not in holy orders; an which account he does not administer the holy communion. They are much in want of a church bell, that which they have being too small and cracked. Forty pupils attend the Sunday school. Funerals are attended by every person in the island, even if the deceased be only an infant. On the Queen's birth-day, which is kept as a public holiday, one of the Bounty's old guns is fired; before the day is spent they all collect, by order of the magistrate, in front of the church, hoist the royal standard, (which is a silk pocket-handkerchief) and give three hearty cheers for their beloved Queen. School is a great delight to the young people; many attend it till they are married, and some even afterwards. The men

wear (for their dress is improved since Captain Beechey's visit) short trowsers cut off at the knee, a shirt, and a cap; the women a petticoat a loose gown."

      This reminds me of a present which one of the officers of the Daphne told me he made to one of the young women, who had been his friend when he landed. His treasures not being extensive, he thought in vain of something to give her; at last a bright idea struck him. He had some gay curtains in his cabin, these he tore down and presented to the lady to make into a gown. Nothing could have pleased her better, and she considered herself the best dressed person an the island. If any one, after what I have said, should be inclined to smile at these gifts, or to suspect that these good creatures are not as innocent as they are artless, I would answer him in words which owe their origin to a story not unlike the preceding: 'Honi soit qui mal y pense." The impression made an the minds of the younger naval officers is well shown in the following characteristic letter from a midshipman of H.M.S. Daedalus to his mother: — "We reached the island," he says, January 30, and now I must give you a long account of that sweet little spot, of which I shall never be tired of speaking. At daylight a whale-boat came off to us, and we accompanied the crew to the shore, and were received by about thirty young girls, who were all

down an the beach to give us a hearty welcome to their home. After shaking hands with most of them, they each took the hand of an officer and led him up to the steep rock which leads to their village, and we were soon in lively conversation, and really to hear the frank, artless, and innocent way in which they conversed, was quite a treat to me, and then again to hear the dear English language spoken, was truly delightful. When we had ascended the hill, they paired off with the officer they had at first taken by the hand on landing to their respective homes, and there they made us eat fruit, poor things, for they had nothing more to offer, or we most assuredly should have had it. Well, after resting ourselves after our walk up the rock, which made us puff and blow, and elicited many a laugh from the girls, (who, I dare say, did not think much of our walking powers, being so easily tired), we all repaired to the church, a neat little building made of thatch. We remained there talking with them for some time, which was the pleasantest hour I have spent since I left England; we then went to the singing room, and there the greatest treat awaited us; the room was filled with men and women of all ages — on seats round the wall all the girls who sang were seated, they were from fourteen to twenty-five years of age. And now came the treat; they all struck up a lively song to welcome us to Pitcairn's Island. After

that they sang a great number of hymns in beautiful style, really better than you generally hear in England, first, second, and third voices. I felt so happy amongst them, to see these good innocent girls praising God in His own way in psalms and hymns, with their arms round each other's necks; it made me draw a comparison with our own land, and mark the difference. A strange thought entered my mind while I was looking with pleasure at them all — it was this: surely the devil has no resting-place here, and indeed if one might judge from the simplicity of their manners and conversation, I almost think he has not. I shall never forget their attention and kindness. My fair hostess had a sweet expression of countenance, with a touch of melancholy in it; her husband was very agreeable, about twenty; they had been married a year, and had one of the sweetest little babies I ever saw, so good tempered — the little thing would look up in my face, and stare with its beautiful black eyes, and then clutch my bright buttons in its tiny hands, and laugh — it appeared to be laughing all day. I think they are the most Christian people I ever met with in my life. I am sure, if I were rich, I would expend a thousand a year for these kind good people, who are so completely dependent on a few friends for every comfort they possess. I do hope many may become interested in the welfare of this little community."

      The last account of our islanders that I shall inflict upon you is from the pen of Admiral Moresby, who visited them in his flag-ship, the Portland. The admiral appears personally to have taken the deepest and most intelligent interest in their affairs. It is through his generosity that Mr. Nobbs has at length been enabled to visit this country for ordination; and, through some of his family and friends, a committee has been formed for supplying some of the more immediate wants of the colony. I will read an extract from his official dispatch, which shows how they are getting an almost at this moment, his visit having taken place in August last year: — "It is impossible," he says, "to do justice to the spirit of order and decency which animates the whole community, whose number amounts to 170, strictly brought up in the Protestant faith, according to the Established Church of England, by Mr. Nobbs, their pastor and surgeon, who has for twenty-four years zealously and successfully, by precept and example, raised them to a state of the highest moral conduct and feeling. Mr. Nobbs was anxious to avail himself of my offer to convey him to Valparaiso, and thence enable him to proceed. to England, for the purpose of ordination. At a general meeting of the inhabitants, their consent was given, provided I would leave the chaplain of the Portland until Mr. Nobbs returned. The advantage is so obvious, that I feel confident their Lordships will approve of my consenting."

      This was accordingly done, the chaplain of the Portland was left behind, and I have just heard that letters have been received from him, alter a residence of several weeks an the island, during which time he had a better opportunity of judging even than Mr. Brodie, in which letters he fully and unreservedly affirms the truth of all that has been said about the innocence and amiability of the people. In another letter, Admiral Moresby says, "I can assure you, most conscientiously, that the state of society at Pitcairn has not been too highly described. The Bible and Prayer-book of the Bounty, as handed to Mr. Nobbs by John Adams, have been, and continue to be, the objects of their study, and have enabled them to withstand the innovations that too fervid imaginations, in America and elsewhere, have thought, by their correspondence, it was their calling to effect. I was four days an shore, in constant intercourse with the islanders. I am convinced that the time and opportunity have arrived for giving them a minister of our Church: and that Mr. Nobbs is the person they wish, and the person at present best adapted for them. The islanders depend principally for their necessary supplies an the whaling ships, which are generally American; and, greatly to their credit, they behave in the most exemplary manner, very different from what I expected. One rough seaman, whom I spoke to in praise of such conduct, said, 'Sir, I expect

if one of our fellows were to misbehave himself here, we should not leave him alive.'

      "Pitcairn's Island ought to be preserved as the St. Paul's of the Pacific. I stayed four days upon that speck on the ocean, but rising like a paradise from its bosom, covered with fruits and no forbidden tree, and where, by the grace of God, John Adams, the mutineer and manslayer, has planted a faith, carried out by his descendants in lives of the simplest purity and virtue. I believe there was scarcely a dry eye in the ship when the islanders took their leave; we ran within hail of the settlement, hoisted the royal standard, fired a salute, and cheered them."

      Before we draw the lecture to a close, it will now be proper to mention a few facts about the visit of Mr. Nobbs to England, to which we have just referred. He arrived last October, was admitted to deacon's orders by the Bishop of Sierra Leone, and to priest's orders on November 30, by the Bishop of London, who, throughout his stay, showed him the greatest kindness. On December 17 he left England again for his own home. Before he set sail from our shores, I had the great pleasure of making his acquaintance, and from all I saw and heard of him, I am convinced that he fully sustained the character that had gone before him. He seemed just such a simple-minded person as you would expect a good man to be who had been living twenty-four years in a spot

so far remote from the world. Full of a straight-forward politeness to every one he conversed with, quite unconscious of the tremendous differ-entes of rank which separate the classes of our society, a duke or a duchess, a bishop or a lord, made no more impression upon him an account of their rank than if they had been commoners; and thus, while feted and caressed by the highest and noblest in our land, it had made no difference to him. "Go your ways," he seemed to say, "with all your old-world classes, distinctions, and etiquette, let me get back to my little flock in the Pacific."

      He spoke of the desolate feeling which oppressed him when he first arrived at the railway station. in London. He seemed, he said, to be quite alone in this great, busy, swarming world, while all that loved him were thousands of miles away. This Babel, as he called London — not an original name for it by any means — but how wonderfully like Babel must it have appeared to him! He was not long, however, in finding friends, for many were prepared to receive him, and he soon became a kind of fashionable lion; indeed his next wonder was how it happened that everybody seemed to know about him, how every one seemed to consider himself his friend. His time became completely occupied in satisfying the inquiries of the numerous people who were interested in him, and his lodgings became everyday so choked up with the

presents that were showered upon him for his people, that he told us he frequently found it difficult to make his way through them when he came home in the evening. Lists of the articles most wanted an the island were printed and circulated, and considerable supplies were collected. It might be feared, that as they are only 170 people in all, they might become overstocked with these supplies, or at least led to depend too much an the help of friends, and so relax the efforts of their own industry; but it so happens that from the difficulty of getting freight to such an out-of-the-way place, these gifts will reach them at different times, and some will be probably a year or more an their way, so that this fear need not cause us much uneasiness. Indeed their poverty is so great (I mean the power of commanding money), and their labour so hard, that they have long been in want of many very necessary things. A great part of the presents consisted very much of such simple articles as you would have sent to Robinson Crusoe, (supposing he had ever existed), as knives, needles, thread, calico, pots and pans, iron spoons, carpenter's tools, fish-hooks, nails, &c., though another portion of them advance a step beyond Robinson Crusoe, and comprise school-books, writing materials, an organ for their church, and the silver communion plate, which was used when Mr. Nobbs was ordained at Fulham, It was a very characteristic trait in our friend, that while these presents for the island were sent to

him with such profusion, he had scrupulously avoided considering one single thing as given to himself individually, or spending one single farthing that was given him for his own benefit: and it was only just discovered before he was leaving England, but happily in time to remedy his wants in some measure, that he was destitute of the means of appearing decently dressed even for the passage back. Thus was this good pastor literally fulfilling the command of his Lord to his disciples, "Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats."

      I ought not to forget to mention that the Government have most liberally contributed a supply of clothing; and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, with its wonted promptitude, has placed Mr. Nobbs an its list of Missionaries, with a salary of £50 a year. This will render him less dependent an the support of his flock, and an his own personal labour, which at his age is an important consideration.

      As an instance of his simplicity of manners and small acquaintance with our ways in England, I may mention the dilemma he found himself in one morning when asked to breakfast with the Bishop of London at the palace at Fulham. He had omitted to inform himself of the exact time when he was expected, so to make quite sure of not being too late, and having no watch, (for such articles are quite unknown in his Island , the sun

and the shadow cast by the pole in front of the school-house, being their only measure of time,) he got up long before daylight, and presented himself at the porter's lodge, just as the inhabitants of the place were beginning to unbar their shutters. The police, seeing a stranger strolling about at this time, and thinking his story a very unlikely one, were much inclined to take him up; nor did the porter, when he had rubbed his eyes and at last opened the gate, give him a much more welcome reception. However our friend was not a man to be put off in this way, and I have every reason to believe that he got a very good breakfast in due course of time.

      He found so many kind friends that he had no difficulty in seeing every thing that could be interesting to him in this country, and which his people would require an account of on his return. For this reason it was fortunate that he was here at the time of the funeral of the Duke of Wellington. It made a great impression on him, of course, especially the admirable propriety of behaviour in such vast masses of spectators as he saw assembled.

      But Mr. Nobbs' visit was not to be concluded without the gratification of that last wish of his heart, an interview with Her Most Gracious Majesty, whose very loyal subjects he and his people have ever been. Two days before he sailed, Prince Albert having been informed of

his wish by some of his kind friends, was good enough to send for him to Osborne House; but as we have no business to intrude upon the privacy of the Palace, I shall not be able to give you much account of what took place. I may perhaps mention the two requests made by our worthy Pastor, when asked by the Queen and Prince in turns, what they could do for his people. To the Prince he replied more like a courtier than we should have given him credit for: that he and his flock would delight in nothing so much as in having a portrait of the Queen, with himself and the Royal children. I need hardly say that his request was graciously complied with. To the Queen he replied, "Your Majesty could not do us a greater favour than to order one of your ships to visit us once a-year." Such were his two modest petitions. He came away enchanted with his reception, and doubtless this kind feeling and condescension shown by his beloved Sovereign, will for many years to come form the delightful topic of conversation amongst the islanders.

      But no condescension, no kindness of friends, no English luxuries, could make him forget for a moment his great desire to return home; and from the day of his arrival, he counted the days till he should sail to rejoin those who were so dear to him. Let us hope that he may have a prosperous voyage, and find that all has gone an happily in his absence. I asked him whether he expected ever to

satisfy all the inquiries with which he would be overwhelmed on his return. He confessed that this appeared hopeless, and he intends to draw up, while on the passage, a full account of all that he has heard and seen.

      His principal apprehension, with respect to the future of the colony, was on account of the smallness of the island, and the rapid increase of the population. He earnestly hopes that it will, at least, last his time, for nothing could ever induce him to lead the people to a fresh island. He thinks they may go on where they are for ten years, but not longer. Not that there is any difficulty in getting land at other islands, for both at Huahine and at the Sandwich Islands they have been offered it, but the experience of their short sojourn at Tahiti makes them dread ever thought of going amongst other islanders. Their only wish is, to settle on some island where there are no native inhabitants, and, on this account, they would like Juan Fernandez, if it did not belong to the Chilian government. They have now set their heart on Norfolk Island, in case it should ever be given up as a penal settlement. Mr. Nobbs had some interviews on this subject with our late Colonial Minister, who seems to have given him hopes that it might some day be turned over to them. It would admirably suit them, being many times larger than Pitcairn's, having a fertile soil, and, above all thinks, possessing no anchorage,

so that they would be nearly as free from molestation as they are now.

      The whole future, however, of this interesting people, fills one with an undefined dread, for one cannot help fearing that a state of things so unique, so remarkable, cannot last for ever, and that increased intercourse with Europeans, or a taste for less simple habits, may introduce some element of evil which may throw a blight upon their present innocence. This is connected with another question which presents itself. Cannot this community, so wonderfully preserved from outward taint, be made useful to others besides themselves, by becoming, as Admiral Moresby says in another letter, "a light to many nations"? Could not a band of missionaries be formed out of its sons, which might lend their aid in the grand work of evangelising the myriads of Polynesia, so nobly taken in hand by the apostolic Bishop of New Zealand? I asked Mr. Nobbs this question more than once, but I found that his own views did not run in that direction at all. He thinks that the islanders inherit so much of the Tahitian softness and gentleness from their female ancestors, that they are entirely unfitted, from this cause, as well as from their utter ignorance of evil, to cope with the difficulties they would meet in missionary work — that their habit of leaning on him, and on each other, for counsel and support, and their childlike simplicity in the commonest transactions, would be fatal impediments to the

energy and independence required for that species of labour. This is his view — it may, or may not, be a right one, but, as he is a man who does not lightly take up, or easily give up, an opinion, it seems improbable that anything of the kind will be done in his day.

      After all, however much we might desire to see their influence brought to bear on the heathen, we must think of them as they are, and we have no right to wish them anything but what they are. If they were more energetic and independent, they would be less simple and probably less innocent; and such a wonderful phenomenon is too rare to allow us to wish it to partake of any theoretical character. Their very faults and weaknesses have led to their present exquisitely happy condition, and it is not wonderful that we should dread anything which might break the spell.

      In discussing the character of his people with Mr. Nobbs, I asked him how he accounted for such an absence of evil amongst them — how it agreed with the belief that all mankind are sinful, and with the teaching of the Bible an this point. His answer was well worth remembering. "Because," said he, "the children have no bad example before their eyes; evil is no doubt in them as in all other human beings, but there is no encouragement from without to bring it to the surface; the Bible is the daily and hourly rule of life; if a dispute arises, they act an the injunction, 'let not

the sun go down upon your wrath.' Again, the young people know they can marry when they are old enough, so one temptation to sin is removed; there are no differences of religious opinion; a bad word or an indecent jest are unknown upon the island, nor are intoxicating liquors ever seen."

      Probably any community where such rules as these are not merely talked about, but zealously and carefully put in practice, might show a similar result. If, therefore, in conclusion, without being thought to have turned my lecture into a sermon, I might presume to draw a moral from the simple story of these happy islanders, I should say, let us each in our sphere, in some measure at least, try to imitate their virtues. It is true that such an absente of evil example from without cannot be attained in this country, least of all in this vast metropolis, but let us remember how all these happy results, under the blessing of God, flowed from the earnest convictions and persevering labour of one man, John Adams; and after he had been enabled to reform himself, let us remember who were those he found himself called to work upon — heathens, murderesses, adulteresses. It is probable that few could have to deal with a soil more unpromising than this, but there is little doubt that success, such as his, marvellous as it appears, would be found to follow any such attempts; for human nature is the same whether under the sky of England or of the Pacific

Ocean, and the faith that can overcome that human nature is the common property of those that seek it, in every climate and in every period of time.

APPENDIX.

      If the account given in the lecture of Mr. Nobbs is of a different character from those that have appeared in the old notices of the settlement, it must be set down to the greater accuracy of information which increased familiarity with the island has enabled us to obtain. The former misrepresentations about him were probably connected, more or less, with the period of misrule and confusion occasioned by the arts of the impostor Hill (alluded to in page 37), if indeed they were founded on anything more solid than a feeling of resentment against his intrusion into the island and of suspicion that he would do the colony more harm than good; but the unswerving testimony of every visitor of late years, and the close crutiny that has been made into the history of the island, leave no room to doubt that he is well worthy of all that has been said in his praise, and that those who have enabled him to act with authority in the work to which he has devoted his life, have done so with the greatest wisdom and prudence.

      Montagu Burrows (27 October 1819 – 10 July 1905) was a British historian. Following a career as an officer in the Royal Navy, he was the first Chichele Professor of Modern History at Oxford University, holding the Chair from 1862 until his death. He was probably the first academic to lecture on naval history at Oxford or at any university in Britain.

M. Burrows.
      Pitcairn's Island: A lecture delivered at the Christchurch school-room, St. Pancras, January 12, 1853.
London: J. Whitaker, 1853.

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