he had been authorized by the British government to reside at Pitcairn's Island; when in fact he had received no such authority. Mr. Nobbs appears to have been of too plain and straight-forward a character to suit this new-comer, whose presence among the people caused much trouble; as he divided their little society into two factions; one siding with him, the other with the constitution as it was. length, partly by splendid promises, and partly by instilling into the simple minds around him the fear of giving offence to the government at home, whom he affected to represent, he enlisted some of the natives against the three Europeans, and succeeded in excluding them and their families, for a time, from the island.

At

Happily, the Hill dynasty was not destined to last long. He had given out that he was a very near relative of the Duke of Bedford, and that the duchess seldom rode out in her carriage without him. But while the people listened to his magnificent accounts of himself and his noble friends, who should arrive on their shores,

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in the ship Actæon, in 1837, but Captain Lord Edward Russell, a son of the Duke of Bedford!

A spectre could not have been a more appalling visitant to the so-called relative, who would have been forthwith taken from the place by Lord Edward Russell; but this could not have been done without orders. Soon afterward, Captain H. W. Bruce arrived in the Imogene, and carried off Mr. Hill, landing him, in 1838, safe at Valparaiso.

Mr. Nobbs, during his absence from Pitcairn, was at the Gambier Islands, where he employed himself as a teacher, biding his time in patience, and employing, in his own homely and useful manner, the talent intrusted to him.

In about nine months after Mr. Nobbs had been at the Gambier Islands, the people of Pitcairn recalled him, with the other Europeans; the request for their return to the island being accompanied by an offer of payment of all their expenses; and they returned accordingly, without further delay.

Having thus introduced Mr. Nobbs to our readers, we return to our narrative. In the year 1830, the Hon. W. Waldegrave, (now Earl Waldegrave,) then captain of a British man-of-war, touched at Pitcairn.

From him we have an account of the state of the island five years later than the last testimony, and one year after the death of Adams. From it we learn that the kind providence of God had provided for the vacancy created by the death of the father of the Pitcairn family, and that the religious training of the rising generation had not been neglected.

"Pitcairn's Island, March 17, 1830.

"On the 15th of March I landed at this island, and was friendly and hospitably received by George Nobbs, and all the inhabitants. My officers and men were most kindly treated at breakfast and dinner, and slept in their houses. My crew received a supply of cocoa-nuts and fruits. I had the gratification to hear William Quintal answer several questions as to his knowledge of the redemption in Christ,

and of the different habits of the Jews, their sects and diseases, perfectly, clearly, and distinctly; showing that he understood their meaning. I also heard two little girls repeat part of a hymn, which showed to me how well they had been instructed; and lastly, I attended at their evening prayers. I can only trust that the God who preserves this island and its inhabitants from foreign injury, may keep them alive in the true faith of Jesus Christ, in purity and peace, so that each person, at his death, may quit this world in the expectation of being for ever in heaven, through the merits of Jesus Christ. It was with very great satisfaction that I observed the Christian simplicity of these natives. They appeared to have no guile. Their cottages were open to all, and all were welcome to their food; the pig, the fowl, was killed and dressed instantly; the beds were ready; each was willing to show any and every part of the island. Before they began a meal, all joined hands in the attitude of prayer, with eyes raised to heaven, and one recited a simple grace,

grateful for the present food, but beseeching spiritual nourishment. Each answered, Amen, and after a pause the meal began. At the conclusion, another grace was offered up. Should any one arrive during the repast, all ceased to eat. The new guest said grace, to which each repeated, Amen, and then the meal continued.”

There having been the fear of a dearth of water at Pitcairn in 1831, the people, eighty-seven in number, were removed from the island, by order of the British government. On being landed at Tahiti, on March 23d, they were well received by Queen Pomaré.

Captain Sandilands, of the ship Comet, gave an interesting report of this case of emigration, and of the manner in which the voyagers were welcomed by Queen. Pomaré, who was then the ruling sovereign of Tahiti. At her majesty's desire, Captain Sandilands landed the people of Pitcairn at her residence, about three miles from the anchorage, where houses were provided for them, until she gave up