being discovered; but she drove on shore before she was entirely consumed, though there is not a vestige of her now to be seen. They carried their precautions so far as even to destroy all the dogs, for fear the barking of these animals might at any future time betray them.

"About four years after they landed on the island, one of their wives died, which was Williams's. The rest agreed to give him one of the black females, or natives of Otaheite, as a wife, to supply the place of his former one; and this caused the first disturbance on the island, and the consequent death of Christian and four others,-namely, Brown, Martin, John Mills, and John Williams, as also of two of the Otaheitans. Christian was the first, who was shot while at work in his yam plantation.

"The next disturbance took place about three years afterwards, and arose from one of the remaining Otaheitans refusing to work: but he was killed before he could do much mischief, except his wounding old Adams in the right shoulder. He attempted indeed after this to knock his brains out: but Adams being a strong mau, parried off the blow, though not without having his left hand much shattered, and losing his forefinger.. Before he could repeat this blow Quintal dispatched the first Otaheitan: and the other, his companion, ran off to the woods; but coming back a few days afterwards, the women killed him in the night, while asleep, as they were afraid he might treacherously kill some of the Englishmen, to whom they were more attached than to their countrymen. Thus only four Englishmen were left, of whom one went mad and drowned himself, and two died natural deaths; the last, about eighteen years ago, 'leaving me,' says Adams, to bring up their children, which I have done in the most Christian like manner my means would allow.' They say prayer in the morning, one at

noon, and another at night, aud never omit asking a blessing or returning thanks at meals.

"Adams is now fifty-seven years of age; has three daughters and one son: the last is about fourteen years old. The whole of this little community are in number fortyfive, including men, women, and children. Christian left three sons, who are now all alive on the island. They have had two births since the frigates were there; they were then forty-three, and not forty eight, as stated by Sir Thomas Staines. Adams said, this must have been a mistake, as no deaths had occurred since the ships left them. They have plenty of fowls, goats, and hogs, on the island; and I left them a ram, two ewes, and a lamb of the South-American breed, as well as some potatoes, wheat, and paddy, for cultivation, with such other useful articles as the ship afforded.

"Adams reads the Bible to the islanders every Sunday evening; but he has not been able to get any of them to learn to read for want of a spelling-book, of which he had only a few leaves. Their greatest want was implements for agriculture, mechanic tools, and cooking utensils, of which we could only supply them with our pitchpot, one or two spades, and a saw, with a few knives and forks, some plates, a few pairs of shoes, and the reading glass of my sextant for old Adams, whose sight was failing,

"Five Otaheitan women and old Adams alone remain of the original settlers. Two ships had been seen from the island before the frigates appeared; but although they were near enough to see the people on board them, and made signs to them from the shore, they did not land. There were no canoes built on the island at that time, so that they could not go off.

"These are the principal facts with which my memory furnishes me at present; but I hope I shall be able to give you a better description of

the island and its inhabitants when I return again to Calcutta."

In the Sydney Gazette, New South Wales, another account of Pitcairn's Island appeared about the time Captain Henderson was writing the above in Calcutta. It is the substance of a narrative given by a woman of Otaheite who was the wife of Isaac Madden, one of the mutineers. It enters into a detail of the births, deaths, and marriages on the island; and particularly describes some dreadful quarrels which occurred in consequence of drinking ardent spirits, which the settlers had contrived means to distil. The concluding paragraph presents the following intelligence respecting the actual

condition of the island.

"They have hogs and fowls, and are very diligent in cultivating the ground. They dress their food like the Tabeitans (Otaheitans), having no boilers. They make cloth, and clothe themselves like the Tabeit ans. They have sent away their still, the fruitful cause of so much mischief, in the American vessel that called last; and they have obtained a boat from her, which adds greatly to their comfort. The

women work hard in cultivating the ground. This woman's hands are quite bard with work. They have a place of worship, and old Adams officiates three times every Sabbath. He prays extempore, but does not read. Their ceremonies of marriage, baptism, and at funerals, are very simple. It does not appear that any of the people have learned to read. The first settlers discouraged the Taheitan language, and promoted speaking English. This woman, however, can speak neither English nor Taheitan, but a jumble of both. They speak of seeing two ships some years ago, which kept in the offing, and did not come near the island. Except Master Folger, as they call him, and the two king's ships, they have seen no ship till the American that brought away Jenny. Jenny says they would all like to come to Taheiti or Eimao. We were thinking that they would be a great acquisition at Opunohu, along-side of the sugar-works, as they have been accustomed to labour, for the Taheitans will not labour for any payment."

VIATOR.

Sermons, by the late Very Rev. ISAAC MILNER, &c. &c.

(Concluded from p. 35.) WE resume, with great pleasure, our review of these valuable volumes; and the further we proceed in the consideration of them, the more we are attracted by the genuine piety, simplicity, and affection, and the familiar but persuasive earnestness which prevail in them, and which so soften the force of the author's intellect, and irradiate the depths of his theological knowledge-qualities, notwithstanding his efforts to conceal them, that are

still apparent throughout-as to bring down every sentiment to the common level, and to render them applicable to the immediate prac tical benefit, of the mass of his hearers. In these discourses we seem to be admitted to the private conversation of the venerable author. We hear his weighty remarks: we perceive bis, superior and intimate knowledge of his subject: we are convinced of his affection to us; and we cannot help feeling a confidence and repose of mind in adopting his counsel. Religion, as exhibited by him, becomes a practicable as well as a

most momentous concern, about which we are not left to fluctuate in hesitation and uncertainty, but are roused to an immediate and determined effort to comply with its demands.

Such are the impressions with which we rise from these sermons. We cannot convey an adequate conception of them by any observations we may make. They must be read, and read devoutly, in order to be duly appreciated. We proceed, however, to give the best idea we are able of their solid excellence, and of the important decisions on a variety of great ques tions in religion, which are to be found in them.

...The sixth sermon of the first volume is on John xx. 17. Go to my brethren and say to them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God. The subject discussed is, What are the genuine marks by which a person may be rationally authorised to take comfort to himself that he preserves the character of a child of God? The following are amongst the signs which the Dean enumerates:-1. A serious con

cern respecting the salvation of Christ. 2. The choice of God to be our Father, and our coming to Him by the new and living way, through Christ the blessed Peacemaker. 3. A spiritual union with God as his adopted children, who hold communion with Him, and walk before him in his holy faith and fear. 4. A sympathy and fel lowship with all the true servants of God. 5. An understanding enlightened to see the excellency of having the righteousness of Christ; and affections so fixed on heavenly things that the comforts, pleasures, pomps, and vanities of this earth become, in the comparison, insipid and unsatisfying. The application which follows is directed to administer consolation to the humble, to detect the vain excuses of the double-minded, and to alarm the careless and worldly.-We are

tempted to quote largely from this sermon; and the passages we are about to extract, though detached from each other, will be found to contain very weighty observations. To the charge of using "cant terms," the Dean gives this prompt

answer :

"Let no man tell me, that, in calling good men children of God, I use cant terms, or mystical, unintelligible terms; rather, let any one so disposed be asham ed to have forgotten that even in his Catechism he owns that at baptism he was made a child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.” Vol. I. pp. 194, 195.

The scriptural caution with which he speaks of the character of the true believer in Christ, appears from such expressions as the following:

"I mean those who have fled for re

fnge to Jesus as their only hope, and have shewn, by their sound Christian fruits, that He is their only hope, and that they are entitled, (on true scriptural grounds) to be denominated heirs of the promises." Vol. I. p. 193.

And thus throughout these discourses a careful reader will perceive that nothing is stated crudely or drily, as the dogma of a partycreed, or the section of an abstract theory. The venerable writer rises far above such considerations: his language is that of a person deeply imbued with the spirit of the Bible, and with the sentiments of our Reformers, and constantly aiming at the edification and salvation of his hearers. This will be further apparent from the following pas sage, which contains both an able discrimination of different charac. ters, and a view of the manner in which they should respectively be treated.

"The most precious remedies be

come poisons, when circumstances are changed. To a downcast, disquieted, humble soul, afraid of sin, disliking the ways of the world, and panting after holiness, I preach the blessings of the Gospel,-a crucified Saviour, and the forgiveness of sins,-and the man will