"Fletcher and his crew were now of opinion that it was from seaward the voices proceeded. Having come to this conclusion, the boat's head was turned in that direction, and 'Spring, boys, there's help needed somewhere,' was the prompt conclusion, and they bent to their oars with a good will. After pulling nearly a mile, the steersman, who had perched himself on the gunwale of the boat, fancied he saw three black spots on the water, about the size and appearance of cocoa-nuts, and quickly became assured they were human heads.

"Thinking these were all that were left of the crew of Young's boat, he became so affected that he sank down in the stern-sheets, and could not utter a word. This, of course, alarmed the boat's crew, but he speedily recovered himself, and simply said, 'Pull, boys; there they are, just ahead.' Soon they had the three on board, but they were actually afraid to ask what had become of the other three, fearing they were either drowned or eaten by the sharks; but one of the escaped men said, 'Pull on; the others can't be far off,' and about half a mile farther on the others were happily met with, but in a most exhausted state: humanly speaking, another half-hour would have sealed their fate.

"And now for ourselves, who were on shore. Many of us, both male and female, were assembled on the pier, looking at a young whale which had been killed the day before, when a boat appeared rounding the Windmill-point.' All eyes were directed towards her, and some one remarked, 'There are more than six people in that boat; some accident has happened.' Our faces blanched, and our hearts beat quick on hearing these remarks. After a few moments' silence, and as the boat drew nearer, we attempted to count the number on board. Having no glass at hand, we could only perceive nine. Three are gone, was the mournful conclusion; but whose husband, son, or brother? I now ventured to ask, but with bated breath,' Who's steering the boat?' Fletcher,' was the prompt reply-the only son I had out that day. Did I feel a relief? Wasn't

it selfish? I can answer the first query, let casuists decide the second.

"After a little further scrutiny of the quickly approaching boat, a tenth person was discovered, and then the eleventh; they were seated among the rowers. At last the twelfth was discerned seated low in the stern, with his head resting on the gunwale. Yes, they were all there, but this last undoubtedly injured. Well, the pier was soon rounded, and as soon as they came within hail, ‘All right?' was our half-fearful interrogatory. 'All right, thank God!' was the subdued but cheerful response. No one was hurt, and the man leaning on the side of the boat was the English sailor, still weak and pallid; our people had stuck by him, to the endangering of their own lives. What a picturesque appearance they exhibited; some with trowsers and no shirts, others with shirts and no trowsers, for the swimming-party had divested themselves of all incumbrances, even to nudity, and those in the boat had shared their garments with them, which were not many, as the weather was intensely warm. However, here they were, all mercifully preserved. And I am sure all hands were unfeignedly thankful, for tears of joy plentifully bedewed the faces of all present."

in

To this letter Mr. Nobbs added the following postscript:

"I have no knowledge of the Reuben Nobbs alluded to your letter. I saw the account in an Exeter paper, and read it to my family. It is a curious coincidence, and I can only account for it by supposing some one named Nobbs may have read the Rev. T. B. Murray's early edition of 'Pitcairn,' and so was induced to name his son Reuben. Nobbs is not, I believe, a common, though undoubtedly a plebeian name, and I never met a person of this patronymic in all my travels; but, strange to say, a few months since a ship called the Esk touched here on her way to China, commanded by Captain Charles Nobbs; of course we knew nothing of each other. The name was assumed by me as a matter of convenience when I first

went to sea, and beyond the worthy couple bearing the name, with whom I dwelt for some time previous, but who had no children of their own, I never have been acquainted with a Nobbs, male or female. You are acquainted with my mother's reason for my assumption of this nom de guerre."

To MR. and MRS. ROBERT WHITE, Son-in-law and Daughter of ADMIRAL SIR FAIRFAX MORESBY, G.C.B.

"Norfolk Island, February 19th, 1869. "MY DEAR FRIENDS,-'As your day is, so shall your strength be,' is the promise of our covenant God, and I quote it, as having indeed realized its fulfillment many times in my threescore years and ten, but probably never more so than during our last providential visitation; and I trust that you, too, in your present sunshine of domestic felicity, may experience and gratefully acknowledge it. Your honored father's letter of the 30th of September, with yours inclosed, I received yesterday, and though in declining health, I must not let this opportunity of answering it pass by. To Sir Fairfax I wrote last month, and more recently to Sir Thomas, so that I shall wait for returning health ere I again write to three of my best friends, or else employ one of my sons as my amanuensis, or to announce my death. I am not dangerously ill, but wearing away. I can not go to visit my distant patients on horseback, by reason of an almost broken neck, a reminiscence of war, glorious war—some fifty years since—and even walking quickly wearies me. The Melanesian clergy very kindly take the afternoon service on Sundays, and would do more were I to resign; but I do not intend to do

so, unless my infirmities prove too great a hindrance.

"We have been called to mourning. Thirty of our community have been taken away in little more than a year. Verily the mourners went about the streets. I have detailed the circumstances to the admiral, and he will, no doubt, send you his letter. I am too unwell at this time to enter into more particulars; but, blessed be God, it is

not a painful subject to meditate upon. Our dear departed ones knew in whom they trusted, and did believe and realized that He was able to keep that which they had committed unto Him. 'Death could not make souls afraid,' for God was with them here.

"When you write to my best earthly friend, tell him old and young, men, women, and children, unite with me, proffering our unqualified love to our dear old admiral. "In verity yours, while to the windward side of the grave-yard, G. H. NOBBS."

In a later letter addressed by Mr. Nobbs to his friend, the Rev. G. D. Glennie, he gives a more cheerful account of the state of the Pitcairn colony:

"Norfolk Island, July 29th, 1869. "The voice of health and gladness is again heard in our dwellings, although the exhausting effects of the typhoid fever have not entirely disappeared. Two grown persons have died of phthisis, consequent upon the debility caused by the epidemic last year.

"We are going on very comfortably, hoping and expecting that American whale-ships will again visit us— now that their internecine war is ended-for vegetable produce, beef, etc. Bishop Patteson left us a month since for the Isles of Darkness, taking with him some thirty neophytes, all of whom have been baptized, and several are communicants. One Melanesian deacon and three English clergymen, ordained since their sojourn at this place, also accompany him. There remain about thirty Melanesians and two clergymen. One or other of these latter generally takes the afternoon service in my church, and assists at the Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month. Our people are frequently invited by the bishop and his clergy to tea, etc., and accept similar friendly demonstrations from us, but the scholars never come near us, nor even into the town, unless there is timber or stores from Auckland to be landed and transferred to the mission, so that we are as much to ourselves as we can desire; and

NORFOLK ISLAND, 1869.—LETTER FROM MR. NOBBS. 345

were it not that so much land has been alienated, we have no reason to regret the establishment of 'St. Barnabas College.' I have recently written to Mr. Mills, and shall, with this, forward letters to Sir T. Acland and Admiral Moresby by the next conveyance, whenever it may occur.

"We are collecting materials for a new church, the old one, built under the convict regime, being in a very ruinous state. The pecuniary benevolence of Sir Thomas and the admiral have enabled us to procure from Sydney and Auckland many requirements for the undertaking. We were rapidly increasing, but the dreadful epidemic of last year decimated us, and there have this year hitherto been as many deaths as births; still I think the latter will predominate before the close of December. Two hundred and four births have taken place since our exodus in 1856 (these are strictly of our Pitcairn colony), and seventy-two deaths, thirty of which occurred last year. Twelve of our young ones were confirmed in May, and the communicants are one hundred and three. I am still graciously permitted to perform my usual duties, with the exception of superintending the school, from which I am precluded by deafness, which, though not total, has, I fear, become chronic. We have recently obtained a certificated school-master from Auckland, recommended by Bishop Patteson, so that I trust our children will not lack instruction.

"I shall be glad to hear that your young immortals are travelling with their faces Zionward, and that you may be graciously enabled to say with joy, 'Here am I, Lord, and the children thou hast given me.'

"Present my respects to Miss Glennie, to my cicerone, and such others of your family as were pleased to give me a well-remembered and kind reception some seventeen years since.

"With sentiments of grateful respect, believe me, my dear Mr. Glennie, very sincerely yours,

66 GEORGE H. NOBBS. "P.S. October 14th.-Bishop Patteson is still on his Melanesian tour. His lordship is at present on the island of