schools and churches, and raising up the whole people to an elevated state of Christian civilization." And to effect this, we are instructed to use our exertions, "to introduce and get into extended operation and influence among them the arts, institutions, and usages of civilized life and society: above all, to convert them from their idolatries, superstitions, and vices, to the living God."

These instructions are explicit and particular; and we here declare that they express our whole object. These we feel ourselves bound to obey; and in doing it we have no fear but we shall have the ap. probation of every philanthropist, as well as of every Christian.

The means which we have used to accomplish these ends, and which are now in a train of operation, are such as the publick have a right to know, and we have no right or desire to conceal.

Persuaded that while the chiefs were untaught, our instructions must be comparatively limited both in extent and influence, we have devoted much of our time to the instruction of the royal family, and other leading persons in the nation. In these instructions we have made it our main object to "turn them from their idolatries, superstitions, and vices, to the living" and redeeming "God.”

We have always felt most sensibly the difficulties in the way of introducing the arts, institutions, and usages, of civilized life and society; and have therefore kept far within the limits of our instructions on these subjects.

When we have been requested by the chiefs or people to give instruction or advice, we have uniformly and perseveringly withheld it, on all points where we could not refer the decision of the question either to the scriptures, or to the uniform practice of Christian nations. But where the scriptures are plain, or the practices of Christians uniform, we have felt, and still feel, at liberty to speak with freedom; although we are opposed by the prejudices of the people, and the practices of the profligate.

We have inculcated on the chiefs not only the common duties of morality, but we have also taught them that he who ruleth must be just, ruling in the fear of the Lord; and have endeavoured to convince them that they are set for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. We have told them that "as a roaring lion, and a raging bear, so is a wicked ruler over the poor people." We have never dictated to them the particular punishment due to any individual person, or even any individual crime; believing that in doing this we should be intermeddling with that which belongs only to rulers. We have given them general

principles derived from the word of God, together with scripture examples of their application; and when these have not been clearly understood, and they have asked further explanations, we have some times referred them to modern examples in Christian nations. We have thus pursued one undeviating course; neither with. holding instruction nor interfering with their authority as rulers of the land.

We have not been blind to their defects, by which sometimes they have screened the guilty from deserved punishment, neglected their promises, and even encou raged iniquity. We have sometimes too known of their childish, ill-timed, and im proper punishments, and more improper threats. On none of these have we look. ed with indifference. But while we have with sorrow witnessed these things in those to whom we are sent as teachers, and whose intelligence, virtue, honour, and happiness, we desire to promote; we have also felt, that should we interfere by direct and positive remonstrance and advice, we should not only go beyond the limits of our instructions, but should also incur the displeasure, both of the rulers themselves, and also of all those who are witnesses of our operations.

While we have thus been endeavouring, both from the scriptures and the example of pious kings, to point out to the chiefs their duty as rulers, we have also endeavoured from the same authorities, to inculcate on the people their duties as subjects. We have taught them that they "must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience' sake," rendering to all their dues, "tribute to whom tribute, fear to whom fear, and honour to to whom honour is due;" and while we have continually inculcated on our hear ers, not only that they should be "not slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord," we have also distinctly held up the doctrine of the apostle, “that if any would not work neither should he eat."

We have to all, both chiefs and people, insisted not only on a belief of the doctrines, but also obedience to the precepts of the Bible, including justice, honesty, integrity, punctuality, truth, purity, good order, union, kindness and peace. These we have always told them, are signs of a good heart and evidence of a preparation for heaven. These are the doctrines and the duties which we have inculcated, not only from the pulpit, but in all our private instructions and intercourse with the chiefs and people. The press, too, has been sacred to the same cause; and we appeal to all our candid observers, and to an enlightened public, whether the ob jects accomplished are not worthy the exertions we have made.

Is it nothing that the vices of the drunk ard and the gambler, with which the land was formerly almost overrun, should now be limited to a comparatively small number?-that the observance of the Sabbath should be almost universal?-that schools should be established in every part of the islands, and be attended by 25,000 scholars; among whom have been circulated more than 40,000 tracts, containing various texts of scripture beside the decalogue, and all inculcating the duties mentioned above? Is it nothing that nearly all of the chiefs and leading persons on the islands, and many others too, should be taught to read and write, so as to correspond by letter? Is it nothing that thousands who formerly devoted their time to gaming, quarrelling, and the practice of iniquity in all its varied forms, and the thousands who wasted their days in idleness, should now be assembled in schools, and spend their leisure time in reading scripture tracts and listening to instruction? Is it nothing that a number of the leading persons in the nation, as well as several others of a lower rank, should publickly declare their belief in the doctrines, and render obedience to the precepts of the Bible? If all this is nothing, then we confess that our labours have been vain, and our object is proved unworthy the patronage of the wise or even the benevolent.

While we allude to these changes, we' are far from being blind or indifferent to the barbarism, fickleness, duplicity, neglect, laziness, and other varied vices and crimes, which to some extent still remain, and which are more or less visible even to a transient visiter; neither do we vin

dicate or in the least degree offer a palliation for these things. We only complain and remonstrate against those illiberal and unmanly charges, by which the mission is made accountable for the daily blunders, the childish actions, the long established customs, and even the inherent depravity of the people; and all, forsooth, because we attempt to make

them better.

If the doctrines and duties of Christian. ity, in which the church of England, the church of Scotland, the Presbyterian and other churches in America are agreed, are not adapted to correct the evils which

exist in heathen nations;-if these doctrines and duties, when faithfully taught by precept and example, have no good influence to cure the evils of the human heart, and to promote virtue, order, and happiness in society, then the missionary, and the philanthropist too, may sit down together in despair, and pronounce the evils among heathens incurable; for if these fail, we may challenge the wisdom VOL. V. Ch. Adv.

of the world to devise a system of morals, and to propose any practicable measures, which will raise a savage tribe or a hea then nation from their native depravity, to a state of civilization and virtuous life.

If then we have mistaken the grand principles of reformation, or if we have taken a wrong step, we will be grateful to any man, who, in a friendly manner, will inform us of it. If we have spoken or done evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why should we be smitten?

From those gentlemen who reside or occasionally touch at these islands, we ask an investigation of our conduct. We do more-we challenge it.

We have here stated our whole object, and also the means we use to obtain it. We know that the cold-hearted misanthropist and the superstitious heathen, will be opposed to the former, and will charge all the crimes and defects which still remain to the account of the latter. But there are those around us, and who occasionally visit us from abroad, who can judge candidly. We request them to examine the above statements, and we, on our part, pledge ourselves, that if we may have a candid hearing, with witnesses, we will substantiate every thing which we here assert.

By the General Meeting of the Sandwich Island Mission, at Kailua; signed by all the Members present from the five stations.

The preceding appeal contains the most recent intelligence from the Sandwich Islands which has till now been published. But Mr. Loomis has enabled us to state the consequences of this appeal in the place where it was first printed and circulated. The invitation and challenge which it contained, could not be refused by the enemies of the missionaries, without placing themselves before the publick in a most disadvantageous light. They therefore resolved to meet it, and addressed a communication to that effect, to such of the missionaries as were nearest to them. This produced the extended correspondence to which we have already alluded, and the whole of which we have carefully perused. It belongs to the American Board,

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if they shall think proper, to give it to the publick, and we hope they will do so. In our judgment, it contains nothing that need, or that ought to be concealed. We were permitted to make one short extract, as necessary to the statement we contemplated, from the first letter of the opponents of the missionaries. The whole of this letter is temperate and respectful. Speaking of the meeting which they proposed to have with the missionaries, they say "They are of opinion that an opportunity more desirable than the present cannot offer itself, when the result of an investigation may be heard by naval officers of their own country, whose judgments ought to be supposed unbiassed, in estimating the value of the statements, and assigning the measure of truth and propriety with which they are made."

We wish this extract to be well noticed. We hope it will be kept in mind that "the naval officers of their own country" were, in the first instance chosen, not by the missionaries, but by their adversaries themselves, to be the judges or umpires in this controversy. Captain Jones, the commander of the United States' ship of war Peacock, remained nearly three months at the Sandwich Islands. Before his arrival, he had frequently heard the most unfavourable reports relative to the missionaries; and their enemies, for some time after his arrival, had his ear very much to themselves. They doubtless believed that they had made on his mind an impression favourable to their cause; otherwise they would not have selected him and his officers to arbitrate in it. Whether they had, or had not, actually made such an impression is unknown to us. But we are well informed that Captain Jones was, as peculiarly became him, careful not to commit himself by any opinion, either of a favourable or unfavourable kind, in relation to either of the parties.

With the dignity, impartiality, and prudent reserve, of an able publick officer, he heard the representations on both sides, but would take part with neither, till he had heard all that they had to say, and had seen them confronted face to face.

Several weeks elapsed before the missionaries could be called from their several stations, and convened at Honolulu. When they came together, they addressed a note to their opponents, requesting that a committee might be appointed, of an equal number from each party, to arrange the manner in which the intended interview should be conducted. To this note, the British consul, who appears to have been the leader of the opposition to the missionaries, replied that he could not conveniently consult his associates, but that he could answer for them that no such committee as had been suggested, would be appointed on their part; and he named the time and place at which he and his friends would expect to meet the missionaries in a body. In this manner they did meet-Captain Jones and his officers, with some of the chiefs of the islands, being present. When the parties were convened, those hostile to the missionaries were requested to specify their charges in writing, and to name the witnesses by whom the charges were to be supported. This they absolutely refused so much as to attempt; but required the missionaries to vindicate themselves, without any specification of charges; and affirmed that their challenge imported that they would take this ground. It was replied by the missionaries, that they had never taken this ground; that they could not be supposed to have acted so absurdly as to accuse as well as vindicate themselves. After some altercation, Captain Jones remarked, that as the purport of the missionaries' circular address was disputed, it might be proper that it should be read-observing at the

which perfectly satisfied impartial and judicious men, that all the reports which had implicated the conduct of the missionaries were groundless and slanderous--that not a single charge against them could be substantiated that reports to their disadvantage had been widely and maliciously circulated by "THE PROFLIGATE AND THE WICKED"-that although the missionaries had not done every thing, yet it could not be denied that they had done much, very much, good"-that to expect more from their labours than had been realized, would be "expecting more than belongs to human nature"-that "give them but a candid and fair hearing, and the friends of Christianity and civilization will find no just cause of dissatisfaction in the course they are pursuing." Here is the verdict of the court which their very enemies selected to try them. What then, though the profligate and the wicked widely and maliciously circulate reports to their disadvantage? what though sea captains, who touch at the islands, and learn nothing of them but from their enemies, or who are excited to madness by finding that prostitution is coming to an end, represent the missionaries as bringing ruin on the islands? what though reviewers, at the distance of half the circumference of the globe, sneer at these holy and devoted men, and with affected sapience undertake to tell how they might do better;-What of all this? An investigation, had before competent and candid naval officers on the

*It is by no means to be understood that there are not a few honourable exceptions to this character of sea captains. Lord Byron was the uniform friend of the missionaries, and several others have befriended them-showed them acts of kindness, and expressed pleasure at witnessing the effect of their labours. Since we began to write, we have read in the New York Observer, a noble testimony in their behalf, given to the world by Captain M. SAYRE, of the ship Marcus. But these alas! are only exceptions to a general rule.

spot, has resulted, not only in acquitting them, but in pronouncing them in the highest degree meritorious; and the unprejudiced world, when it shall learn their award, will, we are confident, give it a sanction and a seal.

The letters brought by Mr. Loomis from all the principal chiefs in the Sandwich Islands, except Boki,* are in their own language and handwriting. Having heard Mr. Loomis read, as heretofore intimated, a translation of several of these letters, we found them all speaking in the most favourable terms of the missionaries. We asked permission to copy that of Kalaimoku, merely on account of the high station which he holds, and the dominant influence which he is known to possess. Its simplicity and piety will, we are sure, gratify our readers. It is as follows:

"Love to you Mr. Bingham

"This is my opinion, concerning all of you missionary teachers of us. I know of no faults in you. If I knew of any I would mention them to you. No, ye are upright. When you gave us the Palapala [instruction in reading and writing, &c.] we learnthen we obeyed. Our females are sacred.f ed: When you gave us the word of God, We have learned the word of God; but foreigners come here and commit wicked. ness in our land-men from America and from Britain. Be not agitated; it is on selves. Here is my mind with the word of our account you are blamed, it is not yourJehovah-I have given my heart unto God,

* Of this vacillating chief we shall give some account hereafter. Meanwhile we would observe, that he professes at present to be friendly to the missionaries, and expressed a willingness to give writ ten testimony in their favour. It was not, however, obtained by Mr. Loomis. Mr. L. notwithstanding, is of opinion with Mr. Stewart, that the letter with his name, in the Quarterly Review, is at least a virtual forgery. He may have said some things which the letter represents him as having said; but they are persuaded that the letter itself was written by an Englishman or an American, and not, as it purports to be, by Boki himself, or from his dictation.

The meaning is, that females are restricted from adulterous connexions, prostitution, &c.-Note by Mr. Loomis,