land of his parents, prior to entering upon the work to which his life is devoted.

Many a Missionary spends the greater part of his life without being able to produce any powerful or favourable impression upon the people among whom he has laboured; others expire in a field, on which they have bestowed fervent prayer, tears, and toil, but from which no fruit has been gathered; the second generation have to commence under circumstances corresponding with those under which their predecessors began. When success attends their efforts, and a change takes place decisive and extensive as that which has occurred in the South Sea Islands; yet so mighty is the work, so deep the prejudices, so difficult to be overcome are evil habits, and so slow the process of improvement upon a broad scale, even under the most favourable circumstances, that the ordinary period of a Missionary's life in actual service, would appear too short to raise them from their wretchedness, and elevate them to a standard in morals, habits, intelligence, and stability in religion, at which those who were instrumental in originating their emancipation, would like to leave them. They never can be expected to advance beyond those who are their models, their preceptors, and their guides; and if the successors of the first Missionaries be in any respect inferior to their predecessors, the progress of the nation must, in regard to improvement, be retrograde-unless this deficiency be supplied from some other source.

On this account, it does appear exceedingly desirable that the successors to the first Missionaries among an uncivilized people, who may even renounce idolatry, should be in every respect equally qualified for this office with those by whom they were preceded, and that

even the children of the Missionaries should be able to carry on, to a greater degree of perfection, that work which their parents were privileged to commence.

I am aware that the expense attending a measure of this kind will probably prevent its adoption in those Institutions by whom the first Missionaries are sent out; but this does not render the measure less desirable or important in its immediate or more remote and permanent influence upon the nations converted from idolatry. The same difficulties occur with regard to the promotion of civilization, and the culture of the mechanic arts, among the barbarous nations. The primary design of all Missionary contributions is the communication of Christianity to the heathen; and it is to be regretted that the smallest portion of the pecuniary means furnished by Christian liberality for this purpose, should be appropriated to any other purpose than the direct promulgation of the gospel. It has been already stated, that a sort of Civilization Society, an institution for the purpose of promoting intellectual culture, scientific pursuits, agricultural and mechanical arts, and advancing all that we understand by civilization, among the barbarous and unenlightened nations of the earth, would be highly advantageous. The agents of such an institution would merit the sanction and support, not only of every Christian, but of every friend to improvement, virtue, and humanity. They might remain distinct, and yet co-operate harmoniously with the Christian Missionary: the one directing his attention to present circumstances, the other principally to the future destinies of those to whom they were sent.

As it is, however, the Missionary Societies, in reference to unenlightened nations, where any measure of success

attends their efforts, have no alternative, but are, from circumstances, under the necessity of attending to these departments of effort. They must either supply the apparatus and sustain the heavy expense of carrying on the work of civilization, or leave those on whom they have been instrumental in bestowing the light of revelation a prey to indolence, or to unprincipled individuals, whose influence will be exerted to neutralize the advantage Christian instruction may have conferred.

Christianity and civilization ought never to be separated, and although we rejoice in the temporal advantages which follow the former, by the introduction of the arts and comforts of society, it is to be regretted that the Missionary Societies should be prevented from sending the gospel to waiting nations, by the drafts made upon their resources for the establishing and maintaining agencies for the purpose of attending only to temporal concerns. Civilization never precedes, but invariably follows Christianity, and until some other means of facilitating its progress be supplied, it will not be neglected by those who are employed in the propagation of the gospel throughout the world. The difficulties already alluded to, connected with the Missionary stations, are not the only ones that exist. They would operate powerfully, supposing the children were all that the parents could wish; supposing they were qualified by talent, disposed by deliberate choice, and prepared by Divine grace, for the work of a Christian Missionary; but these indispensable requisites, it is unnecessary to remark, a parent, with all his solicitude and care, cannot always secure. God may see fit to withhold those decisive evidences of genuine piety, without which the fondest parent would tremble at the idea of introducing even his

own child into the sacred office of an evangelist. However Missionary pursuits may have been accounted the honour, or have proved the happiness, of the parent, the child, as he grows up, may not even possess a desire to engage in the same: that desire the parent cannot give; and without it, it would be both cruel and injurious to every party to urge it.

The alternative is most distressing to contemplate. There are at present no situations of comfort to fill, no trade or business that can be followed. Productive plantations, regular labour, mercantile establishments, warehouses, and shops, it is to be expected, will ultimately exist and flourish in these islands, but they cannot be looked for in the short period of fifteen years from the time when the people emerged from the grossest ignorance, the most inveterate vices, and the most enervating and dissipating idleness. The circumstances of the female branches of the Mission families is, perhaps, still more discouraging.

I have extended these remarks much beyond what I intended, when speaking of the South Sea Academy; and although they may be less interesting to the general reader than other matters, they will serve to shew what are some of the heaviest trials of a Missionary life among an uncivilized people; and may not only awaken the sympathies of the friends of Missionaries, but lead to such a consideration of the subject, as may result in the suggestion or application of a remedy, which, if it shall not altogether remove them, shall, at least, alleviate their pressure; which is, perhaps, felt more heavily by the present generation, than it will be by their successors.

CHAP. XIX.

Voyage to Borabora-Appearance of the settlement-Description of the island-Geological peculiarities of Borabora, Maurua, &c.-New settlement in Raiatea-Arrival of the Dauntless-Designation of native Missionaries-Voyage to the Sandwich Islands-Marriage of Pomare and Aimata-Former usages observed in marriage contracts-BetrothmentAncient manner of celebrating marriage-Resort to the templeAddress of the priest-Proceedings of the relatives--Prevalence of polygamy-Discontinued with the abolition of idolatry-Christian marriage--Advantageous results-Female occupations-Embarkation for England-Visit to Fare-Improvement of the settlement--Visit to Rurutu and Raivavai-Propagation of Christianity by native converts-Final departure from the South Sea Islands.

MR. ORSMOND, who removed to Raiatea in the close of the year 1818, was accompanied by Mrs Orsmond, who, in the communication of useful instruction to her own sex, and in every other department of female Missionary labour, was indefatigable, until her decease, which took place very soon after her removal from Huahine.

In November 1820, nearly two years after this, Mr. Orsmond, in compliance with the urgent request of the chiefs and people, removed to the island of Borabora, where he established a christian mission, and continued his valuable labours till required by the united voice of the Missionaries, in the Windward and Leeward Islands, to take charge of the South Sea Academy, founded at Eimeo, in 1824. During the year 1821, the inhabitants of Borabora erected a substantial place of worship; and in the month of January 1822, according to a previous