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In the year 1811, my wishes in this particular were amply gratified, by an accidental acquaintance with Mr William Mariner, who had recently arrived from the East Indies, and was the bearer of a letter to one of my connections in London. Hearing that he had been a resident among the natives of the Tonga Islands, during a space of four years, my curiosity was much excited. sought his confidence, and soon found that the knowledge he was able to communicate respecting this uncivilized, but interesting portion of the human race, was equal to my expectations, and promised even to realize all my hopes; for, in fact, having been thrown upon those islands at an early age, his young and flexible mind had so accorded itself with the habits and circumstances of the natives, that he manifested no disposition to overrate or embellish what to him was neither strange His answers to my inquiries regarding the religion, government, and habits of the people* with whom he had been so intimately associated, were given with that kind of unassuming confidence, which bespeaks a thorough knowledge of the subject, and carries with it the conviction of truth.

nor new.

* All previous accounts by circumnavigators regarding these islanders had been imperfect, by reason of the shortnes of their stay; of these, however, Captain Cook's is the most accurate. The missionarics might have furnish

was also the Commander, and served in this capacity under Lord Cornwallis, in the former American War; but having sustained some severe losses, he returned to England, married, and resided in London. He had several children, the second of whom was William, the subject of the present memoir, who was born at Highbury Place, Islington, September 10th, 1791. At an early age, his father sent him to Mr Mitchel's Academy, at Ware, in Hertfordshire, where, with the exception of the vacations, he remained five or six years, and returned home at the age of thirteen, in consequence of the death of Mr Mitchel. During the latter period of his stay at school, I can furnish some account of his habits and disposition, upon the authority of my friend Mr Whiston Bristow, * now of Hitchin, Hertfordshire. At this early age, Mariner discovered a mind disposed to activity, fond of information, and very susceptible of external impressions. From his habits and sentiments, he seemed fitted for a life of change

* This gentleman accidentally called one evening at my house, when Mr Mariner was amusing the author of "The Farmer's Boy" with some anecdotes of his travels. Mr Bristow had scarcely taken his seat, when Mr Mariner recognised in him an old school-fellow, and one of his most intimate associates. This happened in the early part of my acquaintance with him, and gave me great pleasure in affording me a knowledge of Mr Mariner's former ha bits and disposition, from an intimate friend who had known him well,

and adventure. He was greatly attached to books of travels, and used often to say, how much he should like to live among savages, and meet with strange occurrences,-a disposition not uncommon in some young minds, but which those who are fond of presentiment will readily account for in their own way. His sports and amusements were frequently those of an active, adventurous, and sometimes of a daring kind. The advantages he had acquired from Mr Mitchel's instructions were not inconsiderable, in respect of his age. Besides the common acquisitions of reading, writing, and arithmetic, he had made much progress in the knowledge of history, geography, and the Latin and French languages. The latter he could read with great fluency, and converse in upon common topics, with tolerable correctness. As his father intended him for the sea, and being of opinion that his education was already sufficient for this line of life, he resolved to keep him at home till something suitable and advantageous should offer. William, however, was not much inclined to a maritime life; and as his mother was wholly averse to it, his father was at length dissuaded from his intention, and placed him in the office of his friend Mr Harrison, a respectable solicitor, late of Burr Street, Aldgate, with whom he was to remain a few months, previously to ar

it

ticles being signed. Six weeks had scarcely elapsed, however, before an event occurred, unimportant enough in itself, but which served to make a complete change in his future prospects.

Captain Duck, who had formerly served his apprenticeship to William's father, was about to sail in the Port au Prince, private ship of war, * belonging to Mr Robert Bent † of London, This vessel had a twofold commission. If not success

ful in her cruise for prizes within certain latitudes, she was to double Cape Horn, and proceed into the Pacific Ocean in search of whales. Just before his departure, Captain Duck came to take leave of William's father. After dinner, the conversation naturally turned upon the ensuing voyage, when Captain Duck, who was a man of very sanguine expectations, spoke with great confidence of speedy success and an early return, and gave such flattering descriptions of his mode of life, that William's natural disposition was soon roused, and he was smitten with the strongest desire to accompany him. Captain Duck immediately offered him every encouragement as his clerk; and the

Of nearly 500 tons, 95 men, and mounting 24 long nine and twelve pounders, besides 8 twelve pound carronades on the quarter-deck. She formerly belonged to the French government, was called Le General Dumourier, and was taken off Port au Prince by an English vessel of

war.

† Now of West Moulsey, near Hampton Court.

consent of his father being obtained, in a few days he took him on board, under his immediate protection.

The melancholy fate of the Port au Prince, and the consequent train of interesting events which occurred to young Mariner until his arrival again in England, seven years afterwards, will be fully detailed in the following pages. These events seem to have made a considerable change in his personal character and external habits. I have heard it observed by those of his friends who knew him formerly, that, on the first renewal of acquaintance, they could scarcely recognise him to be the same individual. His love of adventure has changed into a sedateness of character, and a disposition to rest and quiet, arising from disappointments and unexpected dangers at too early a period of life. He is rather taciturn than loquacious, and, as has already been observed, more inclined to speak of the events of his life as common occurrences, than as interesting anecdotes. When, however, he is animated into social converse, he furnishes descriptions that are very interesting and natural.

On his return from the West Indies, after a lapse of a few months, he brought to me memoranda of the principal events which had happened at the Tonga Islands during his residence there, together