Revised Jun 22 2021
Mr. Nobbs's own account of his return, and of the state of the island, cannot fail to prove interesting.
"Pitcairn's Island, July 21, 1853.
"It has pleased our heavenly Father to permit me to return in safety to my island home, and to a happy meeting with my family. I arrived here in H.M.S. Portland on the 15th of May, bringing with me my son and daughter. Admiral Moresby has continued to the last an untiring benefactor, to myself in particular, and the islanders in general. The expense and trouble he has put himself to on our account would almost exceed belief; his reward is with Him who doeth all things well. We landed on the Sabbath; and after the evening service, when Mr. Holman preached his farewell sermon, I read from the pulpit my ordination letters and licence as Chaplain of Pitcairn Island, granted me by my honoured patron, the Lord Bishop of London. The Portland remained off the island four days, and then left us for the Gambier Islands. The next day after her departure, the influenza made its appearance; and as there were two or three persons on board the Portland who were affected with bronchitis, I am inclined to think the germs of the disease were derived from them. Unfortunately, the wind was from the north-west, and the atmosphere was very dense and heated, which acted as fuel to the contagion; and so rapid was its progress, that in one week there were not ten persons capable of attending to their own wants. It was the most severe attack since 1840, the date of its first appearance among us.
"After an elapse of nine days, the Portland returned; and the people on board her observing a flag flying on the shore, supposed it to be an intimation that the surf was too heavy to admit of boats landing, and the vessel was in the very act of sailing away, when they providentially observed our boat coming off. On their making known to the Admiral our sad condition, he humanely lay by all night (it being very late when our boat got on board), and in the morning sent Captain Chads and his Secretary, with one of the ship's surgeons, to our assistance. As my small stock of tea and sugar was almost exhausted by imparting to those that had none, the Admiral sent on shore a good supply, and the officers also contributed biscuits and other necessaries. I attribute the severity with which the disease was felt, to the debilitated state of the community, owing to the scarcity of food which prevailed for some months prior to my arrival; when they had been reduced to great straits, in consequence of the want of rain, which had prevented their planting their usual crop of sweet potatoes. It was for some weeks almost actual starvation; their only resource being half-grown pumpkins.
"My dear wife, while relating to me the history of their privations, said the circumstance which used to affect her most was, that the younger children would wake up about midnight, and cry for hours from sheer hunger; so unsubstantial was the fare they had partaken of previous to their going to bed. And I well know, when my children cry from hunger, their good mother's sufferings, mentally and bodily, must have been very great. After remaining with us twenty-four hours, the good Admiral was constrained to leave us, by reason of the water on board for drinking getting short. His destination was Callao. Myself and my son and daughter, who came with me, escaped the epidemic, and the rest of the community have nearly recovered. No deaths have occurred; so that we are able to sing of mercy and judgment.
"I have administered the Holy Sacrament once since my return, and design (D.V.[Deus vult God willing]) to do so monthly. We have about 75 communicants. The number of inhabitants amount to 172; 85 males, 87 females. A dreadful accident occurred during my absence. H.M.S. Virago was just on the point of quitting the island; most of the community were on board taking leave; the few who remained on shore had assembled round the Bounty 's gun, with the intention of firing a farewell salute. Matthew M'Coy was employed ramming home the cartridge, when the gun accidentally exploded; the poor man was dreadfully injured, and survived but a few hours, although he had the attendance of two surgeons from the Virago. He left a family of nine children to mourn his loss. Two other persons were badly wounded, and it was doubtful for some time if they would survive: one of them still suffers from his wounds.
"I should be very thankful for some copies of some small work upon the Holy Communion: from not having been in a capacity to administer it hitherto, I feel that my flock have not had so much instruction from me on this momentous subject, as they ought to have had."
"The Dido has just arrived. She has brought large quantities of stores for us, both from the Government, yourself, and others: but we shall not have an opportunity of opening them before the Dido leaves, so I cannot add anything to the accompanying letter; but as soon as possible after the division of the articles among the families, I shall trouble you with an account of our proceedings. You would be amused to see what a state of excitement our people are in. I think it must in some degree resemble the first opening of the Crystal Palace.
"I trust you will excuse this hasty and perhaps unsatisfactory scrawl, but I have twenty letters to write, the Captain of the Dido to accompany in his visits to the several families, and also to attend the landing of the goods."
The Chaplain's want of certain books had been anticipated; a supply of works on the Holy Communion, the late Bishop Blomfield's Family Prayers, and other publications, having been despatched, as a grant from the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.