Its object was to obtain a peace with Shunghee's ene-' mies at the North Cape. The Chief took an affectionate leave of the Settlers; and told them, that, if he fell, they must be kind to his children; and if he survived, he would take care of their families when they should die. The expedition returned, however, in about a fortnight, his people having quarrelled with those of Whangorooa, into which place they had put for refreshments; and being afraid, he said, that the Whangorooa people would attack the Settlers in his absence, he for the present abandoned the expedition. The superstitions of this noble race cannot be contemplated without commiseration. A Christian Assembly (says Mr. Kendall) could not tolerate the recital of cases, a variety of which might be brought forward to shew in what a sad state of captivity the Great Deceiver of Mankind holds this people. In the time of sickness, and the near prospect of death, their situation is truly distressing. They will pray, and that sincerely; but, how dreadful are their petitions! The most respectable characters among them will use words, with the utmost fervor of soul, of nearly the same import in the English Tongue, as the most hardened sinner in a Christian Land would shudder at, in the time of severe illness or at his dying hour. One of our Scholars, for instance, was taken very ill. I heard the prayers of his Father over him, and saw his motions. The poor blind Parent, instead of importuning the Supreme Being, as one would have imagined, for the recovery of his Son, was uttering the most dreadful curses and imprecations against Him. When I asked him his reason for the use of such language, he replied, it was a good thing at New Zealand: he did it to frighten the "Atua" away, who would, otherwise very probably have destroyed his Son. The boy had been out in the rain a whole day, and had caught a severe cold; but the Natives will not allow that heat or cold can hurt a man. They ascribe every pain they feel to the "Atua," who, they say, is preying upon them. They consider the Supreme Being as an invisible Anthropophagus, or Man-eater; and regard him with a mixture of fear and hatred-betraying impatience and anger whenever they are visited by sickness. Pride and ignorance, cruelty and licentiousness, are some of the principal ingredients in a New Zealander's Religion. He does not, so far as I can learn, bow down to a stock or a stone; but he magnifies himself into a god. The Chiefs and Elders of the people are called "Atuas," even while they are living. Our aged friend Terra says, that the God of Thunder is in his forehead. Shunghee and Okeda tell me, that they are possessed with Gods of the Sea. When the clouds are beautifully checkered, the "Atua" above, it is supposed, is planting sweet potatoes. At the season when these are planted in the ground, the planters dress themselves in their best raiment; and say, that as "Atuas" on earth they are imitating the "Atua" in heaven. The lands are, from that time, considered sacred, until the sweet potatoe crops are taken up. No person presumes to go upon them, except such as are consecrated for the purpose of weeding and inspecting them. Among such a people, as has been before observed, no salutary change can be expected, but from the blessing of God on the persevering labours of his servants. And that this change is gradually taking place, there is abundant reason to be satisfied. We can now rejoice (Mr. Wm. Hall writes) that, through the Grace of God, the Great Enemy has lost his ground very much, among the poor dark-minded Heathen around us. Some of them are living with us, who formerly used to break down our fences, and abuse us, and steal and carry away every article that they could get hold of. But now we can see a wonderful alteration in them: they are become quite familiar and sociable: they live among us, and work with us; and we can almost say of some of them, that he that stole steals no more. You will rejoice with me (says Mr. Kendall) at the opening prospects of usefulness among this noble race. The Society will be the means, I trust, under the blessing of God, of raising the people of New Zealand from that low and degraded condition in which they lie through their ignorance of Him, and of bringing many to eternal happiness. Mr. Marsden writes, with his accustomed animation I believe that the time is now come, for these Nations to be called into the Outward Church, at least. The way is clear: and Divine Goodness will provide the means for their instruction. I admit that many difficulties will be met with on all untried ground; and that the wisest men will sometimes mis take, in their views of accomplishing their objects, with respect to a Nation which has had no intercourse with the Civilized World: yet these difficulties will be overcome, under the blessing of God, by constant perseverance; and I have no doubt but that this will be the case, in the present instance, with regard to New Zealand. Time will make this matter more easy. The work is now begun: the foundation is now laid: and I hope we shall soon see the structure rise. WEST INDIES MISSION. It is not to be wondered at, under the circumstances of the White Population of the West Indies, that many are reluctant to admit the probability of benefit from the education of the Slaves. These persons will meet attempts of this nature with indifference; and, not unfrequently, with contempt and hostility; and that so deeply rooted, that even the sanction of high authority to such measures will not soften the prejudice of some minds. This is as impolitic and unwise in reference to even present and temporal interests, as it is likely to bring down the retributive justice of Heaven for the neglect of a plain and solemn obligation. This prejudice is, indeed, silently wearing away; and the number of Planters is gradually increasing, who, some from the highest motives and others from a conviction of its salutary influence on the mind and conduct, are favourable to the instruction of their Slaves. A conviction is gaining ground, most advantageous to the interests of all parties, of the inefficacy of human restraints and punishments to produce that uniform obedience which is seen in well-instructed and religious Slaves. Every well-conducted School, established in any of the Islands, is operating a beneficial change on the minds of those who witness its influence. When, in this way, the Planters come to recognize the positive advantages which will follow to their interests and comforts by the education of their Slaves in Christian Principles, they will not leave the benevolence of others to be taxed for its support. Till then, the Christians of this country will cheerfully contribute to the establishment and maintenance of efficient Schools; not only for the actual benefit of the Scholars themselves, but to demonstrate to their Owners that he who neglects the religious education of his Slaves neglects his own interests as well as duty. The Committee are enabled to testify, from past experience, that, by means of Schools in the West Indies, when properly conducted, a most beneficial change is taking place in the state of morals. There are, indeed, difficulties of a peculiar nature to contend with, in all Colonies where Slavery prevails; and which require the maintenance of a firm, and apparently severe discipline. Among other regulations, for example, for the promotion of good morals, it has been found requisite to refuse re-admission to the Schools to any female who may have suffered herself to be seduced from the paths of virtue. This rule, as it may be easily conceived, has been found necessary in a state of society, where the sin of unchastity has almost lost, among this class of persons, all character of guilt and shame. The superintendents are sometimes under the painful necessity of making examples of the elder females: and this, under peculiarly distressing circumstances; for their very parents have not always courage to resist, with sufficient firmness, the surrender of their daughters. Much good has, however, been effected. The standard of moral feeling has been raised. A barrier has been opposed to the overwhelming torrent, and means of escape from it provided. The marriages of Young People one with another, have been promoted; it having been happily decided by Authority, that the notion, long prevalent, that Slaves were incapable of contracting marriage and more especially without the consent of their Owners, has no foundation whatever in law. Young Women have been, accordingly, happily married to sober and well-disposed Young Men of Colour; and the number of such marriages is continually increasing. Antigua. To the three School-Stations, of English-Harbour, Bethesda, and Hope, mentioned in the last Report, a fourth has been added at Falmouth. The number of Scholars, according to the last statements, was as follows: English-Harbour Boys' School.... Bethesda. Hope 20 109 320 340 52 Total...... 841 In the support and direction of these Schools, the Society acts, as was stated in the last Report, in conjunction with the English-Harbour Sunday-School Society. The Patroness of that Institution is the Hon. Lady Grey; and its President, Mr. Dawes. Of 9007. currency expended to March 31, 1818, the ChurchMissionary Society contributed about 5501.; the remaining sum of 350l. arising from other quarters. The Missionaries and Members of the United Brethren's and the Wesleyan Societies, render every as ́sistance to these Schools. The "Female Refuge" and the "Distressed Females' Friend Society," are two benevolent Institutions, particularly designed to assist Young Females, who, under circumstances of great difficulty and temptation, are anxious to lead honourable lives *. These Institutions have been the instruments of much good; and the Committee rejoice that the Society has been the means of procuring for them some assistance to their plans, * Some account of these Societies, and of the English-Harbour Sunday-School Society, is given in the Missionary Register for 1816, pp. 146-149, and 195-197; and for 1818, pp. 431—434, |