from our knowledge of those persons whom you have sent from your churches, we are satisfied that they have been se lected with judgment and caution, and are, generally, well adapted to the work assigned them. In all similar cases you will continue to use great prudence, and not appoint any to so high a situation until their piety has been proved, and their prudence satisfactorily ascertained. It is of great importance that you should continue to watch over them with great circumspection, and whenever any of them may act inconsistently with their character, either as Christians or teachers, let them be immediately recalled. It would be well also to inform them, previously to their appointment, that this will be the case whenever such impropriety occurs. Some have been authorized to administer the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's supper; in such cases double vigilance and care are requisite. We beg to suggest to you that as the demand for such persons may increase, it will be prudent to make yourselves intimately acquainted with all such persons in your congregations as appear eligible, to take them under a train of suitable instruction, and to appoint them to active situations as catechists and teachers in the schools, and visitors of the sick, &c. They will thus develope their principles and character, and enable you to form your judgments with greater accuracy, and to decide with more propriety on their piety, their talents, and their adaptation to such high avocations. Let such persons be always considered by their pastors, and the churches from which they go, as being still in connection with them, and be as often visited as opportunities will allow. "As it is hoped that a period will arrive when all the churches in these islands will be supplied with native pastors, and when it will be no longer necessary for the Society to send them from England, we beg to remind you that it is the wish of the Society that a college should be established here, for the education of young men (natives) for the ministry; and that, so soon as a suitable number of young persons of promising piety and talent can be found, such a college should be commenced. We therefore suggest that you all should keep this in mind, and endeavor to find such men, in your several congregations, and devote them to this great work. This is an object deserving your very serious and constant attention. "When it is considered what vast sums of money have OF THE DEPUTATION, &C. 233 been expended upon these islands, by the Society, in supporting this mission for nearly thirty years, it will be admitted as highly reasonable, that now, having embraced the gospel, the people should do all in their power, if not to reimburse the Society, at least to meet the present expenses of the mission, that its funds may be devoted to the support of the gospel in other parts of the heathen world. Justice to the Society, and love to the perishing heathen, claim this reasonable service. The Society receives with great satisfaction the noble contributions which are made from time to time; and thanks you, dear brethren, and, through you, your numerous flocks, for your united exertions, which have been so productive. Let this liberality be continued; and allow us to suggest whether the subscriptions might not be increased; and, if not increased, whether some other plan might not be acted upon to render the present subscriptions more productive, by affording greater security to the property subscribed. "Though it is the wish of the Society that the missionaries, whom it sends into the heathen world, should not interfere with the politics of the countries where they may reside, yet, as you have to instruct these people in all the institutions of civilized society, and have been called upon by them to assist in forming the several codes of laws under which we are happy to see them living, it is necessary that you should continue to explain to them their own laws; that you should watch against their falling into neglect, on the one hand, or being unjustly applied, on the other, until such time as the people become so thoroughly versed in their meaning and administration as to render your assistance unnecessary. Kings and chiefs, whose modes of thinking and habits of acting were formed under the influence of a cruel despotism, will be liable to indulge in unjust aggression; while a people, trained to absolute submission, without being allowed to exercise either their own judgments or their own wills, are in danger of a pusillanimous surrender of their just rights and liberties. But with your discreet and intelligent advice and assistance, to which the people are prepared to pay the greatest deference, both these descriptions of evils will be prevented, and the civil rights of both the rulers and of the ruled will be secured, and peace and harmony maintained. But, in all such cases, you will see it prudent never to interpose your advice or influence, but where you perceive that the alleged wrongs are likely to arise, and even then, with all due deference to the powers that be, and which are ordained of God. "While we see, with great satisfaction, all these islands living under just and humane laws, and blessed with all the institutions of the gospel, in full operation, we rejoice in beholding the progress which civilization has made in islands so lately in the depths of barbarism and the grossest superstition. That, in so short a period since the downfall of idolatry, so many of the people should have become acquainted with the arts of reading, writing, and arithmeticso many excellent places of divine worship and numerous comfortable dwelling-houses built, and articles of furniture made such a complete change effected in the manners of the people, from gross sensuality to the greatest decency and good behavior—a people degraded by crime below any other people upon the face of the earth, but now the most generally, and most consistent, professors of Christianity of any nation under heaven :-these are to us facts so singular, that we are at a loss for words to express our gratitude to God, while we would encourage you, dear brethren, to proceed in your noble career with zeal and delight, aiming at still greater things-the entire extirpation of every remaining evil, and advancing your flocks to a still higher elevation on the scale of moral character, and in the ranks of civilized society. "That the school, which proposes to afford your dear children a suitable and useful education, should have commenced its operations before we finally leave you, is to us highly satisfactory. We have assisted you in placing it on the best principles, and under the most useful and efficient regulations; and we commit it to your guardian care, trusting that you will watch over it with an attention and an assiduity which shall ensure, under the divine blessing, those benefits which it proposes to confer upon your numerous families, and, perhaps, on children yet unborn. Accept of this institution as a proof of the Society's affection for you, and its concern for the welfare of your rising families:more convincing proof it could not give you. a "We deeply regret the occurrence of so many untoward circumstances, which have prevented the cotton-factory from imparting its promised advantages to the people sooner. However, we are happy to see it now in such a state of progress as to be on the eve of commencing operations. This OF THE DEPUTATION, &C. 235 factory affords another proof that the Society feels the most lively concern for the temporal, as well as for the spiritual, benefit of these people; and we can conceive of nothing which could promise more to advance the personal comfort and general civilization of these islands, than this factory. But until the people actually taste the advantages and participate the comforts resulting from it, which we hope will now be soon, it will be for you to encourage their hopes, and to stimulate their exertions, both in cultivating the raw material, and in learning to manufacture it into cloth, which will contribute greatly to their comfort, while it will be the means of increasing the food of these islands, by preventing the bread-fruit trees from being broken down to make cloth, as at present. 'Never, brethren, were men placed in circumstances more important, more responsible, and more desirable than yours; and never did men more need divine wisdom, prudence, and circumspection than you. Not only the present, but future, generations hang upon your decisions. In things both temporal and spiritual, the people, from the highest to the lowest, look to you for counsel, and instruction, and example. An error in judgment, or in conduct, affecting any point of importance, might be followed by results beyond calculation injurious. While you will feel the indispensable importance of constantly seeking that wisdom which comes from above, and that aid which God only can afford, your united exertions, your mutual counsel, and your general co-operation, will, under the smiles of heaven, realize the hopes which the Society and the Christian world entertain. While all eyes are upon you, be active, quit you like men, be strong. While we assure you of the continued and warm affection of the Society and of ourselves towards you, cherish towards that Societyin which we hope to participate-sentiments of the warmest Christian affection and friendship. We are one. Let brotherly love continue. And, though far apart, let us be constantly present with each other in spirit, in holy Christian communion: let us be striving together for the faith of the gospel, that for us to live may be Christ, and to die eternal gain. "The period which we have spent with you we reckon with the happiest of our lives; and we shall ever recollect it with the warmest gratitude to that God who kindly conferred this honor upon us. Accept our affectionate gratitude for every kind and friendly attention which we have received in 236 FAREWELL-LETTER OF THE DEPUTATION, &c. your several families. Allow us to share your esteem and your affectionate prayers. We present our Christian love to our esteemed sisters, your dear partners in life. Assure them of our sense of obligation for every kindness we have received at their hands, and which will be long remembered, and of our sincere hope that they will continue to devote themselves to the great objects of their mission among the people with whom they dwell, and prove themselves helps meet for their husbands, while they give their attention to the training up of your numerous families in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. "As we shall ever take the liveliest interest in the prosperity of this mission, and in the welfare of all our dear brethren and sisters who are employed in the great Redeemer's cause here, you will allow us to calculate on the pleasure of often hearing from you, by letter, that we may participate both in your trials and your joys. Cultivate the spirit of strong Christian love among yourselves, and that union of heart, and co-operation in all your plans and exertions, which will ever strengthen your hands, and promise success in your work, while it will tend to establish the confidence of the Society in the wisdom of your operations. "Affectionately we commend you, and your partners, and families, and flocks, to God, and to the word of his grace, who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. "We remain, dear friends and brethren, yours, with great esteem, in the bonds of the Gospel, (Signed) DANIEL TYERMAN, A Dead Calm-The Harvey Islands-Two Native Missionaries left there-Their Labors and Success-The Deputation land at AtuiChristianity on that Island-Extraordinary Preservation of five Christian Natives-Rarotonga-Reflections-Affecting Account of Oli and Mydo, the two first Converts to Christianity from the South Sea Islands-Sailing on the Great South Sea-Reach Wangaroa Bay, New Zealand. June 9. WE are in a dead calm, rolling upon the indolent waves, beneath a burning sun, and unable to proceed on our |