Revised Jun 19 2021
"Pitcairn's Island,June 22nd, 1834.
"MY LORD,—I beg to avail myself of an extra moment allowed me, since writing the accompanying hasty letter to your Lordship, to say that the actual population of this island is about sixty-two souls. They are fast increasing, and the major part are young persons and children. I have about forty scholars on my school list, between the age of four and seventeen years. The island is well supplied with the most essential articles; water being (per se) one main exception, which it becomes requisite to manage. Pitcairn's is remarkably healthy; wood plenty; the finest yams, potatoes (Convolvolus batata) , and plantains; hogs, fowls, ducks, and fish; a young cow and bull; three donkeys. And in furtherance of the plan I suggested to my friends in England (be pleased to see paper No. 4), with regard to these people, is to instruct them, as far as may be possible for their general welfare, according to right reason and sound doctrine; and, especially, in ethics, industry, the mechanical arts; and to keep under the growing population by encouraging emigration—thus going forth from time to time as native teachers to the other islands, as in another generation the population here must in due course become very dense for so small an island, of about five miles in circumference, and a considerable part mountain land They should begin in time to cultivate as well domestic economy.* I wish, moreover, to instruct them in the essential art of governing themselves hereafter, and in state policy. At present they are too much like children, and have scarcely been taught anything (old John Adams himself, a common sailor, was very limited) thus for their good. In 1825, Capt. Beechy informs us, that he found them at prayer from morning till night, whereas I found them, in 1832, more fond of play than prayer or work,—a little of each would perhaps be best. I have the honour to be, my Lord, your Lordship's most obedient humble servant.
"In the event of your Lordship having occasion to send a ship of war this way, may I beg that the captain may receive instructions to look over my documents and private papers, which I happen to have here with me, and report the same to your Lordship.
∗ "There has been a great relief to the isle, in the recent removal of the three exiles with their families (Gambier's or Lord Hood's), eighteen persons in number."