ron happened to have a tuning-fork in his pocket; and the people, whose efforts in psalmody in church had been noticed as somewhat imperfect, caught with delight at the idea of a little musical instruction. They proved remarkably intelligent, not one among the number being deficient in ear, while many had exceedingly fine voices. Their progress surpassed the most sanguine expectations of the teacher. On the fourth day they sang through a catch in four parts with great steadiness. For people who had hitherto been unaware even of the existence in nature of harmony, the performance was very remarkable.

With regard to Mr. Brodie, it is worthy of remark, that though he had been thus detained at Pitcairn, he arrived at San Francisco, in California, twenty-eight days before the Noble, which had been ninetythree days from Pitcairn, the crew having suffered great privations from want of provision and water. His disappointment, which appeared so grievous, in missing his ship at Pitcairn, ended in his escaping the miseries to which the people

in the Noble had been exposed, and in reckoning those few weeks in the island as among the happiest of his life. Thus that which appeared to be a misfortune. proved to be a blessing, both to the visitors and their entertainers. Thus God often is conferring mercies upon us, even when thwarting our plans and seeming to inflict misfortune.

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Mr. Nobbs, it will be borne in mind, had spent the earlier years of his life in naval and military service. After his arrival at Pitcairn, however, he devoted himself as teacher and pastor to the intellectual and moral culture of the island families. had not at any time been set apart to the office of the ministry, although he had been long looked up to by the little community at Pitcairn. As they had grown up with a deep sense of loyalty to Britain, the land of their fathers, and had been trained in the principles of the Church of England, they very naturally looked to England and the English church for guidance and fostering care. Desirous that Mr. Nobbs should be ordained to the work

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of the ministry, they wrote the following letter to the chaplain of a man-of-war, who had written to them and referred to charges which had been made against the islanders and their teacher :

"Pitcairn's Island, South Pacific Ocean, "July 20, 1847.

"REVEREND SIR,-We received, on the 26th of February last, your acceptable present and truly valuable letter, which, so far from giving offence, is highly appreciated, and deposited in the archives of the island, to be referred to at public meetings and other suitable occasions. We extremely regret the circumstances which frustrated your intended visit, for we should be in the highest degree delighted to have made your acquaintance, received your advice, and, we trust, in some measure, your approbation; for we can assure you the report of our splitting into parties, &c. is incorrect. A few years since a partially deranged impostor, named Joshua Hill, alias Lord Hill, came here, and made much disturbance; but he was

removed by order of the British Government. Respecting the letter of which you saw a copy in the Oahu paper, so far from expressing the sentiments of the commu nity, not more than three persons were acquainted with its contents. The rest of us were ignorant of its existence till we saw it published in the above-mentioned paper. That part of it reflecting on our respected and worthy pastor has been publicly retracted, and an apology sent down to the Sandwich Islands to be inserted in the same paper in which the letter referred to appeared. Public wor ship has never been discontinued, in fact, since the death of Mr. Adams, in 1829. We cannot call to mind six Sabbaths in which divine worship, in accordance with the rules of the Established Church, has not been performed twice in the day. Whatever few exceptions there may have been, the cause was either the ill health of the teacher, or the unavoidable necessity of his attending on those who were very ill, or badly hurt. Moreover, we have a Bible-class for the adults every

Wednesday, and public school for the children five days a week. The number of children who attend school at present is fifty-three; they are all instructed, and make good progress. We have been thus explicit in the foregoing particulars, that you may understand the actual state of affairs among us. As British subjects, to honour and obey our most gracious sovereign, and all who are in authority under her, is our bounden duty, and we trust will ever be our privilege.

"And now, reverend sir, we would bespeak your attention and interest for the following items:-The whole community are members of the Church of England, and the service of that church is duly performed twice every Sabbath; but we are much in want of Prayer-books, Psalms, and Watts's Hymns for public use.

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procuring some for us would be conferring a most essential service. Elementary books for the younger classes in the school, and Walkinghame's, or other books on arithmetic, for the more advanced scholars, are greatly needed. In short, the want