Pitcairn's Island  Notes  Source  Whalesite

Address by Rear-Admiral Moresby to
Pitcairn Islanders
(May 17, 1853).

      Your Pastor has requested you to remain after this General thanksgiving to hear the observations I have to make on various circumstances that have been brought to my notice, they are meant for your future benefit but I request you will keep in mind that they are not intended to dictate what is to be performed, but given as from a friend for your consideration.

      The simple but effective rules which old John Adams left are still sufficient for most local purposes if regarded with due observance, the Magistrate also performing his duty in the Spirit of the oath which he takes on his election. This book which contains some of your early laws & regulations has neither date or signature, some of them have been modified as you saw occasion but there is no record. I recommend you to have these laws and regulations fairly

transcribed – Your Register continued & carefully preserved. I am told that some of the Younger members of your Community are averse to having a Register kept. The Magistrate by his oath is compelled to keep a Register and must produce it when a case is referred to by any of Her Majesty’s Officers. The Young men so outnumber the mature in age, that great mischief might result on putting a question of this sort to the vote especially under circumstances of excitement, in fact this has already occurred and your fast increasing numbers require a remedy to this growing evil, a more watchful and experienced guide than when your community consisted of children of the first generation of those who landed from the "Bounty". —

      I have read the laws & regulations that have been registered, have been informed of those that have been modified, and of the customs that have by usage become a law. I think by extending the spirit of the first article of the law which I see by Brodie’s Book was established the 30th day of November 1838 on the occasion of Captain R. Elliot’s visit: – a desirable object will be gained

with a due consideration for the Public good.

      After the Regulations for the Appointment of the Magistrate established in 1838 I recommend you to add: —

      The Chief Magistrate should be exempt from personal labor in all public works, his duty being to superintend the performance of them and the equal distribution of their expense.

      The Chief Magistrate has not the power of making new laws or subtracting from those existing.

      The Chief Magistrate must be 28 Years of age, the Councillors 25 Years of Age.

      Individuals must have obtained the age of 20 to entitle them to vote for the election of a Chief Magistrate or Councillor or at a Meeting called for the Public Service.

      No new law can be established or a present one revoked without a majority consenting at a public meeting summoned by the Chief Magistrate at the instance of at least one third of the Householders or Elders. If a majority of two thirds fails to carry the proposition it is to be referred ten days after to a meeting of the Elders, a majority of whom will decide the question.

      The right of voting as an Elder is vested in Married Householders, widowers or widows being 25 Years of age. Bachelors and Spinsters not householders at 28 Years of age.

      The Chief Magistrate is to take cogniance of all complaints or breaches of the law, in the first instance in trifling circumstances he must endeavour to judge between the parties complaining and arrange their differences, should his attempt be unsatisfactory he must call the councillors to his assistance, before them a rehearsing is to take place and the verdict of the Majority given: – should this again fail the parties are to be warned that all reasonable expenses for loss of time must be paid. A jury of the elders must be summoned and their verdict considered decisive. In all public meetings when an equal number of votes occur for and against, the Magistrate shall have the casting vote.

      The Magistrate must keep a List of voters and on a Jury being summoned he is to place the names carefully concealed from view in a Bag or Box from which before a Councillor and the Parties accusing and

accused, or before the parties litigating, he is to cause the necessary number of names for forming a Jury to be drawn, should any be objected to by the parties, the reasonableness of such objection is to be decided by the Magistrate and Councillors, and if approved, other names are to be drawn to complete the number.

      In all cases where the Public good is concerned and the assistance of persons required by the Magistrate, his summons is to be immediately obeyed under penalty of fine to the amount awarded by the Magistrate and Council or Jury of Elders if referred to.

      A person refusing to serve on a Jury without any reasonable objection shall likewise be fined in the manner above specified.

      The Magistrate according to his oath must keep a Register of such proceedings as may involve any question where life or property is concerned or that may be necessary to refer to Her Majesty’s Officers visiting Pitcairn.

      The addition of the foregoing will I trust ensure the happy continuance of your present unity and give weight to the experience of age.

      You have nearly all conversed with

me on the late famine and the prospect of removal before your numbers exceed the ability of the soil to support you; the scarcity has shown how soon and unexpectedly the necessity may arise — it is for yourselves to consider this serious question, whether Bee like you would swarm away or one and all prefer searching for a more extensive land. You have friends who are willing to assist you but you must not be dependant. Great exertion and fixed resolution to meet difficulties will be required & sacrifices of present comfort, but all for the sake of your children. You must teach them not to be dependant for although they may be launched well they cannot always be taken in tow nor must you rely now on periodical supplies or relief. Mr Nobbs your Pastor will tell you how he was received and the circumstances of your Island life enquired into by our Gracious and Beloved Queen and her Royal Consort the Price Albert; he will tell you that many great and good persons have interested themselves in your welfare and why? because, where — had been sown and their increase only anticipated a good harvest has been gathered.

      It is delightful to witness your Pastor’s

return and very gratifying to have your estimation of Mr Holman’s Ministry. We have all been made happy in relieving your wants.

      I said no new law was necessary, but let me recommend one new Custom. That every house should possess sufficient brooms for the girls to sweep inside the house and the Boys outside twice a day and the collection of your refuse should be daily placed where it would come in season as manure for your crops. Act up to the old saying — "The city is soon clean when every man sweeps before his own door".

      I would recommend also that a book should be procured to register your Laws and Regulations, signed and dated by the Magistrate and Councillors specifying that they are those now in force and witnessed by your Pastor, the Magistrate and Councillors and that you should refrain from bartering away your provisions before a sufficient store is in hand for your future wants.

      I must leave you on Thursday. You need not hurry over your consideration

of my propositions. Send the result of your meeting by the first opportunity.

      Pagination of the original autograph has been maintained.

      Sir Fairfax Moresby GCB (786 – 1877) was a Royal Navy officer. In 1850 Admiral Moresby became Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Station. His main responsibility was to protect British commercial interests in Valparaíso in the face of unrest among the people of Chile. He also took an interest in Pitcairn Islands at this time and planned the emigration of the islanders to Norfolk Island.

Document no. 70. May 17, 1853. "Address by Rear-Admiral Moresby to Pitcairn Islanders". Pages 1326-1341.

Pitcairn's Island  Notes  Source  Whalesite