mercy of God, and by the aid of his Bible and PrayerBook, which he had so earnestly studied, John Adams succeeded in establishing such a community as has been the dream of poets, and the aspiration of philosophers! and the result of his humble endeavours was shown by the exercise "of all that is lovely and of good report" in the isolated Pitcairn colony, far away in the vast Pacific Ocean, CHAPTER III. GEORGE HUNN NOBBS SUCCEEDS JOHN ADAMS AS PASTOR OF J. HILL REMOVED FROM PITCAIRN. - RETURN PROCEEDINGS THE death of John Adams was a serious blow to the islanders; but he had appointed George Hunn Nobbs, who had a vocation for the ministry, to succeed him in the pastoral office. In addition to a fair amount of education, Mr. Nobbs possessed some knowledge of medicine and surgery, and exercised his skill with much benefit to the community. He was often sorely tried by the want of necessary remedies, the arrival of supplies being very precarious; but his unwearying watchfulness and care greatly tended to alleviate the sufferings of his patients.1 In 1830, the colony consisted of eighty-seven persons, when a long drought, together with a bad season for their plantations, gave rise to fears that they might be overtaken by famine. It had long been a matter of grave consideration, that as their numbers increased, the want of water would be severely felt; and in consequence, a proposal was made to the islanders by the 1 Mr. Nobbs' remuneration (for in course of time this new arrangement was established) consisted, as pastor, in his house being kept in repair, while as surgeon he received three acres of land for cultivation, and as schoolmaster the value of a shilling a month each from twenty-five to thirty scholars. But to the children of large families whose parents could not afford to pay, he gave instruction gratis. Government to remove them to Tahiti. This proposal in due course was submitted to Queen Pomaré, who seconded it with great zeal, and agreed to receive them into her dominions. There was, however, great difference of opinion among the Pitcairners as to the desirability of the change. Some were willing to leave the island; others (and among them Mr. Nobbs) were much opposed to the measure. But the strong ties of relationship and affection which bound together all the members of the little colony finally prevailed; and they determined not to separate. Early in March, 1831, they all embarked in a Government vessel, the 'Sarah Anne,' and arrived at Tahiti on the 21st of the same month. A tract of rich land was assigned to them by the Queen, and the Tahitians assisted in collecting wood, and also in constructing houses for their new friends, whom they looked upon as relations. One old woman came from a distance to recognize a long lost sister in one of the surviving women who had left Tahiti in the Bounty.' To the Pitcairners, however, the climate was peculiarly unfavourable, for sickness soon broke out among them, and Thursday October Christian, the first born on Pitcairn Island, fell a victim to this prevailing malady. Their simple austere mode of life, and their rectitude of conduct, rendered the licentious and lax morality of the Tahitians most repugnant to the Pitcairn people; and, notwithstanding the kind hospitality shown them -especially by the Queen-they determined, if even at their own expense, to return to their beloved island home. Some months before the general removal, the |