their Christian obligations in the name of the Lord, from whom cometh our help. Before the conclusion it became nearly dark in the church, and the Bishop was obliged to repair to the outer door in order to distinguish the names of the persons on the certificates of confirmation. The Bishop himself delivered them, first taking each person by the hand, and using the Christian name of each, asked God's blessing on them. And then the members of the various families returned to their respective homes well pleased and edified."

CHAPTER VII.

CORRESPONDENCE OF REV. G. H. NOBBS WITH ADMIRAL SIR FAIRFAX MORESBY, K.C.B., RELATIVE TO NORFOLK ISLAND AND THE WHALE FISHERY - VISIT OF HIS EXCELLENCY SIR W. DENISON HIS OPINION OF THE PITCAIRN PEOPLE-DIRECTIONS RELATIVE TO LIVE STOCK, AND THE CULTIVATION OF LAND

LETTER FROM JANE NOBBS-VISIT OF SIR J. YOUNG BISHOP PATTESON ATTACKED BY THE NATIVES OF SANTA CRUZ-MASSACRE OF FISHER YOUNG AND EDWIN NOBBS.

WE must make some observations previous to inserting a letter from Mr. Nobbs, at the date of which, the Pitcairn Islanders had been located one year and a half on Norfolk Island.

Although the pastor and his family appreciated on the whole the advantages they enjoyed by the change, others felt differently, and especially two families of the name of Young. They were probably more delicate in constitution than the rest of their friends and relatives; the climate did not suit them, and the new system of diet was prejudicial to their health. They missed bread-fruit and cocoa-nuts, the milk of which was essential for their children as well as themselves. The unaccustomed labour of keeping roads and large houses in order was to them intolerable. They drooped in spirits and their strength declined; in fact, they pined for their native island.

Though Mr. Nobbs and his family were determined

to be contented in their new state of life, he could not prevail on the two families which we have mentioned to take the same view of their position, and therefore commences the following letter with some asperity :

To Admiral Sir Fairfax Moresby,' K.C.B., and Lady Moresby.

"Norfolk Island, January 1st, 1858. "Some simpletons are meditating a return to Pitcairn. It must be admitted that Norfolk Island does not, according to our experience, deserve the unqualified encomiums so lavishly bestowed upon it by transient visitors or unreflecting officials, who, surveying the trim grass-plots before each house, occasionally by permission taking a stroll in the two Government gardens, and drawing their rations from an imported commissariat, would be likely to overlook the immense labour by which the lawns and gardens were kept in existence during the summer months; and, moreover, that three crops out of every five of Indian corn fail from insects and drought, although attended by almost as many men as there are acres planted. This, then, is the true statement of the case. Norfolk Island is most fertile when irrigated, but from the paucity of running water and the infrequency of rain many promising crops become abortive. Nevertheless it is quite possible to live here very comfortably, and I and my married children have let go our best bowers with a long scope, and having plenty of room to swing clear

1 Since created Admiral of the Fleet.

of our neighbour's buoys, are busily employed making ourselves at home. The prospect is vastly better than at Pitcairn, but even were it not so a principle of gratitude would retain me and mine. My son Francis and some of the more intelligent of the community are employed in laying out the lands into fifty-acre lots, agreeably to the directions of Sir W. Denison, who is very much interested in our welfare, and is, I believe, going to send a surveyor to inspect the divisions and confirm the allotments (one to each family) in fee simple. The unappropriated portion of the island is to be specially reserved for the rising generation; and a rapidly rising one it is, for there is an increase of fifteen during the past year."

Extract from another letter of Mr. Nobbs', dated November 1st, 1858, giving an account of the whale fishing, and also of the drought to which Norfolk Island is subject:

:

"Some of the seeds you so kindly sent me I planted during the winter season, and they are growing very well; the savoys are superb, and the Brussels sprouts. are excellent. The sea kale and the asparagus have

not thriven so well. The other seeds I have reserved for planting as soon as I obtain my allotment. I want them to remain permanently where I place them as I am not sure they will bear transplanting. When I enter upon my possession I am going to take the liberty of calling it Killerton, and by that name shall have it inserted in the map of the island, and by that name bequeath it to my children. Our people are now busily engaged in killing hump-back whales, and have

succeeded in securing 120 barrels of oil; but it is somewhat dangerous work. Whether it will be remunerative remains to be shown. If they can by some such course of industry procure the means to purchase flour or biscuits for half the year we shall do very well. For though our agricultural pursuits are not all neglected, the long continued droughts of summer are a sad drawback upon our crops. At this present moment the Indian corn, sweet potatoes, and whatever else we have in the ground is suffering from drought, and if rain does not fall soon we shall lose the whole crop; even now we are on short allowance of vegetable food, and were it not for some flour and biscuit the Bishop of New Zealand purchased, with the proceeds of a quantity of young pine-trees which he kindly took thither for us, we should be in poor case as to the result of our own exertions. But our covenant God, who is ever a very present help in time of trouble, will be our refuge and strength; therefore, we will not fear."

November of the same year, 1858, two families of the name of Young returned to Pitcairn in a trading vessel which they hired for that purpose.

In a letter from Mr. Nobbs, dated March 25th, 1859, he says:

"At present there is no prospect of any others. returning. But I believe if the next whaling season be successful several families will engage some small craft or other to convey them to Pitcairn. I and mine will remain, if it pleases God, and do all I can to induce others to follow my example. So well are my