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Desertions have happened, more or lefs, from many of the fhips that have been at the Society Ilands; but it ever has been in the commanders power to make the chiefs return their people : the knowledge, therefore, that it was unfafe to defert, perhaps, firft led mine to confider with what ease so small a fhip might be furprized, and that fo favourable an opportunity would never offe: to them again.

The fecrecy of this mutiny is beyond all conception. Thirteen of the party, who were with me, had always lived forward among the people; yet neither they, nor the mefs-mates of Chriftian, Stewart, Haywood, and Young, had ever obferved any circumftance to give them fufpicion of what was going on. With fuch close-planned acts of villainy, and my mind free from any fufpicion, it is not wonderful that I have been got the better of. The poffibility of fuch a confpiracy was ever the farthest from my thoughts. Had their mutiny been occafioned by any griev ances, either real or imaginary, I must have discovered fymptoms of their discontent, which would have put me on my guard: but the cafe was far otherwise. Chriftian, in particular, I was on the most friendly terms with; that very day he was engaged to have dined with me; and the preceding night he excufed himself from fupping with me, on pretence of being unwell; for which I felt concerned, having no suspicions of his integrity and

honour.

It now remained with me to confider what was beft to be done. My first determination was to feek a fupply of bread-fruit and water at Tofoa, and afterwards to fail for Tongataboo, and there rifk a folicitation to Poulaho, the king, to equip my boat, and grant a fupply of water and provifions, fo as to enable us to reach the Eaft Indies. The quantity of provifions I found in the boat was 150 lb. of bread, 16 pieces of pork, each piece weighing 2 lb; 6 quarts of rum, 6 bottles of wine, with 28 gallons of water, and four empty barrecoes.

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April 29th. Happily the afternoon kept calm, when we were fo far to windward, that, with a moderate easterly breeze which fprung up, we were able to fail. It was nevertheless dark when we got to Tofoa, where I expected to land; but the fhore proved to be fo fteep and rocky, that I was obliged to give up all thoughts of it, and keep the boat under the lee of the ifland with two oars; for there was no anchorage. Having fixed on this mode of proceeding for the night, I ferved to every perfon half a pint of grog, and each took to his reft as well as our unhappy fituation would allow.

In the morning, at dawn of day, we fet off along fhore in fearch of landing, and about ten o'clock we difcovered a tony cove at the NW part of the island, where I dropt the grapnel

*It is to be obferved, that the account of time is kept in the nautical way, each day ending at noon. Thus the beginning of the 29th of April is, according to the common way of reckoning, the afternoon of the 28th,

within 20 yards of the rocks. A great deal of furf ran on the fhore; but, as I was unwilling to diminish our stock of provifions, I landed Mr. Samuel, and fome others, who climbed the cliffs, and got into the country to search for supplies. The reft of us remained at the cove, not difcovering any way to get into the country, but that by which Mr. Samuel had proceeded. It was great confolation to me to find, that the fpirits of my people did not fink, notwithstanding our miserable and almoft hopeless fituation. Towards noon Mr. Samuel returned, with a few quarts of water, which he had found in holes; but he had met with no fpring, or any profpect of a fufficient fupply in that particular, and had only feen figns of inhabitants. As it was impoffible to know how much we might be in want, I only iffued a morfel of bread, and a glass of wine, to cach person for dinner.

[To be continued.]

The Converfion and happy Death of CHRISTOPHER SINCLAIR, of Fryup-Dale, near Whitby; written by his Father, Mr. John Sinclair.

HRISTOPHER SINCLAIR was born Auguft 28, 1769, at

years of

age, his inclination led him to a feafaring life; accordingly he was bound apprentice and ferved feven years to the entire fatisfaction of his mafter and owners. In 1790, he was impreffed into his Majefty's fervice, where he faw much wickedness, which fo affected his mind as to conftrain him to weep and pray earnestly to God to be delivered from fuch a fituation. Because he appeared more ferious than others, he was frequently called by way of reproach, a Methodist Dog. As no war commenced, he had his choice either to remain in the fervice, or to have his liberty: he readily preferred the latter, and returned home in January 1792. The remaining part of the Winter he applied himself to the study of navigation and aftronomy, in which he made great proficiency, until April, when he was feized with a fevere pain in his back, accompanied with a dry cough, fhortnefs of breath, and univerfal weakness. Thefe alarming symptoms induced me to apply to a doctor of great reputation for his experience and fkill, and who at first entertained fome hopes, that he could be useful to my fon. Upon examination the Doctor found three of the joints of his back diflocated. And to add to our affliction, in a few days after we discovered that two ribs were flipped off his breast bone. felt a fevere pain all over his body, accompanied with a violent cough, fore throat, and fever.

He

May 17, 1792, about four o'clock, after a reflefs night, he defired me to carry him to his chair: when I had him in my arms he cried out with a lamentable voice, and tears running down his face, his hands and knees trembling, "Ọ father, I am dying, and

not

not prepared! I fhall die! I fhall die! I know it for certain: I feel the terrors of the Lord upon me: I am going to misery! What fhall I do? "O pray for me." Thofe who know any thing of the feelings of a parent, may eafily conceive what I felt, while my dear child clung around my neck, the appearance of death upon his countenance, and trembling every lub under the apprehenfion of the wrath of God. I anfwered, "That I hoped the Lord had heard my prayers for him, and that I was glad to fee the hand of the Lord upon him for good." He replied, "O father, it is now too late: for I know I fhall die in a little time: perhaps this day, or this hour!" Our cries alarmed the rest of the family, who all joined in weeping over him. He defired us not to weep for the lofs of his body, but earneftly pray to the Lord that he would have mercy upon his foul; for he was just going to appear before that God whom he had fo long offended. I encouraged him to hope for mercy; that the Lord had no pleasure in the death of a finner, and that to fee our danger and feel our mifery, was half way to the kingdom of heaven. He imme. diately answered, like one ready to perish, "O that is good news; but perhaps I have finned the fin against the Holy Ghoft; if fo, I cannot be forgiven." Being overwhelmed with forrow, I said to him, I cannot fpeak to thee as thy fituation requires, I will therefore fend for thy uncle John Collier, who is able to fhew thee thy duty, and point thee to the Lamb of God; for he furely died for thee. He laid hold of thefe words and repeated them frequently; at the fame time requesting that his uncle might be fent for directly; adding, "For my foul is at ftake;" When his uncle came and afked him how he did, be faid, "I am going to die, and I am not prepared: what fhall I do?" His uncle anfwered, "I perceive there is a change in thy mind fince last Sunday when I then spoke to thee on the neceffity of preparing for death, thou feemed not much concerned about the matter." He replied, "O yes; but I was afhamed to ask your advice then; but now you have done well to come; for I am weak in body, and in great diftrefs of mind, and still I fear I am too late." His uncle affured him, that the Lord was ready, and willing to pardon all his fins, provided he truly repented, and turned to Jefus Chrift in faith. After fome time employed in explaining the nature of converfion, and exhorting him to look unto the Lord for prefent pardon and peace, he went to prayer; during which Chriftopher appeared to be in greater diftrefs and agony of fpirit. Many of our neighbours and friends came in, and afked how he did? He thanked them, and faid, "I am going to die; my body is in great pain from head to foot; but this is as nothing compared to the diftrefs of my foul." He then cried with great fervency, "God be merciful to me a finner! O my Saviour, undertake my cause before the throne of juftice: I acknowledge I deserve everlasting punishment; but thou hast died for me! One drop of thy precious Blood is fufficient to take away

away my fins; yea, the fins of the whole world.” His ftrength now failed him; and we again kneeled down to prayer and commended him to God. Several chriftian friends then took their leave, exhorting him to hold on his way. After which he faid to me, "O my dear father, why are you caft down? It increafes my forrow to see you fo affected." I defired him to bear with us, and not to fuffer this to trouble him; but strive to lay hold on Chrift, which if he did, would be an unfpeakable comfort to us all. He answered, "I have hold, and through grace, I will not let him go except he bless me. I will call upon him with all my might, and if I die before I obtain the bleffing, I will die crying for mercy: yet I have now no doubt but the Lord will fupport my dying body until I obtain the bleffing." I now defired him to take a little fleep, as he had had scarce any for several days and nights; but he anfwered, "I have no time for fleep; I am ftill afraid of death; and if I lofe my fenfes and die, what will become of me?" However he was prevailed upon, and flept for the space of twenty minutes; then he opened his eyes in thankfulness for being preferved. As he seemed fo much oppreffed I afked, If there was any fin in particular which he had committed that lay upon his mind? He replied, "None in particular; but my life has been a life of fin; my occupation expofed me to the worst of company. It is true, I did not join them in fin in the highest degree, yet when I have been called a Methodist dog, and a Methodist devil, I have curfed and swore as well as the worst of them. I have been proud of these once active but now trembling limbs, which would never be the last up the lofty maft. O father, I broke all the laws of God, and your advice I have caft behind my back. I do fee myself one of the vileft of finners. God be merciful to me a finner. O Lord Jefus have mercy upon me!" In this manner he spent moft of the night.

Friday, May 18, his uncle afked how he did? he replied, Very poorly in my body; and as to my foul, I have ftrong con"fidence in God that he will ere long manifeft himself to me to "the Joy of my heart. I do now believe that the Lord Jefus "died for me, as tho' there were none in the world befide myself. "O come, Lord Jefus, into my foul." Being defired to repofe himself a little he ftill anfwered" I have no time, for I have not "that fatisfaction and peace of mind I long for." Notwithstanding be fuffered racking pain of body and was fo weak that he could neither lie down nor fit, but was always, night and day, fupported between two perfons, yet I never heard him once complain that he fuffered too much. He fill held faft his hope, and believed the Lord would deliver him, tho" he seemed to tarry long. His conftant petition was, "O come, Lord Jefus, and have mercy upon me, a finner, not worthy the leaft of all thy mercies. "Have mercy upon me, and magnify thy grace in the redemption of my foul." After we had been at prayer, and his uncle was "taking

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taking leave of him, he fuddenly cried out with a loud voice, "He is come! he is come! O it is sweet, it is fweet: I am now "happy. O praife the Lord, praife him with me! O bleffed

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His

Jefus, thou haft done all things well. O come Death, now I "fear thee not." Thus after 36 hours diftrefs, the Lord was pleased to fet his foul at perfect liberty, and we again fell down upon our knees and praised God for his mercy and goodness towards us: our tears of forrow were now turned into tears of joy and gladness. Chriftopher could not forbear speaking of the goodnefs of God, and faid" O bleffed Jefus, thou art altogether lovely, "the fairest among ten thousand." Then addreffing his uncle, he faid, "Lord blefs you for what you have done for me:" Uncle replied, Thou must give God all the glory it is the Lord that hath done all for thee, not unto me but unto his holy name be the praise given. "O yes, he replied, but I am unable to exprefs the thankfulness I now feel to God for all his mercies to"wards me. I want to praise him with a nobler voice. I want you all to help me to praife him. O praife him with me, for "he hath done all things well. Till yefterday morning I was "blind and foolish, but now I have found him whom my foul "loveth; and I cannot but love you, for you have fhewn me the way of Salvation: the Lord blefs you and yours. I hope we "fhall all meet in heaven, and there we thall praife God and the "Lamb for ever. O what a meeting will that be to part no more." I cannot help admiring the goodness of God towards my dear child, in fupporting him while under this fevere affliction of both body and mind; but efpecially in this one inftance, for three weeks he had a continual cough; I have known him cough for two or three hours without any intermiflion: but from the time he faw himself a loft finner, until the Lord fet his foul at perfect liberty and took him to himself, he was not heard to cough; thus gracioufly did the Lord deal with him.

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Having now obtained the blefling of pardon and reconciliation with God, he was defirous to prevail upon all who came near him, to feek the Lord while he was to be found; fo that he let none go away without firft exhorting them earneftly to repent and turn to God. His brothers and fifter being all prefent, his bowels yearned over them; and he began with the oldest faying, My dear bro ther John, come near me, and give me thy hand. O my dear brother, repent before it be too late. I am going to die, I hope this night; and thou dost not know how foon it may be thy cafe; to night thy fummons may come, and thou must then appear before an offended God, without an intereft in Jefus Chrift; and if this fhould be the cafe, it would have been better a thousand times for thee never to have been born. I need not ask thee, if thou art ready? I know thou art not. O John, my heart is enlarged towards thee; be not fo foolish as I have been, to put off repentance to the laft two or three days of my life. But bleffed be VOL XIX. May, 1796.

God,

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