chancel, for the accommodation of those about to be confirmed. At half past three the afternoon service commenced. The candidates were first called by name, and arranged on the before-mentioned stools, the women on the right hand range or tier, the men on the left. It was, in truth, not only an impressive but pleasing scene. The men were arranged in good black or blue coats, with white pantaloons, and shoes and stockings. The women wore loose white frocks or tunics, and instead of bonnets, which many do wear on a Sunday, was substituted a snowy white handkerchief doubled triangularly, without any attempt at adornment, simply placed on the head, and tied with a half knot under the chin. The costume associated well with the occasion, and the subdued demeanor of the whole congregation was in excellent keeping with the sober light from the church windows, that by a process of some sort had been formerly rendered semi-opaque, in order that certain classes of the convict congregations might not, by signs or otherwise, correspond with their partners in iniquity, who were under solitary discipline in the adjoining prison-yard. Well, I repeat it was a most interesting sight, and one which I had often desired, but never expected, to see fulfilled. The women, arranged in rows in their white habiliments, looked like nuns, but I was well aware that went no farther than the outward appearance; they were also as barefooted as Carmelites, not from any superstitious penchant, but merely because they had no shoes. Every thing being placed in order by the good bishop, the evening service was read by the Rev. Mr. Patteson. After another excellent sermon by his lordship, illustrating the duties of Christian professors, the confirmation began by ten persons standing up in parallel rows of five each, without stepping from the place where they had been seated, when, having listened attentively to the preface and questions put by the bishop, they, with becoming earnestness, severally answered, 'I do.' By a motion of the bishop's hand they resumed their seats, and ten others rose, and so on in like order until all had been questioned

and responded. They then in similar order came up to the front of the altar, and, kneeling, received the imposition of hands. I am sure it would have gratified our many friends could they have been present, and seen parents kneeling by the side of their children. Many of these were also parents, and in one instance a great-grandmother was accompanied by grand-daughters, three of whom had families of their own; the fourth was unmarried, it having pleased God to summon hence the young man to whom she had been affianced. Yes, I am sure our Christian friends would have experienced unmitigated pleasure to have seen the aged and the young renewing and ratifying their Christian obligations in the name of the Lord, from whom cometh our help. Before the conclusion it became nearly dark in the church, and the bishop was obliged to repair to the outer door in order to distinguish the names of the persons on the certificates of confirmation. The bishop himself delivered them, first taking each person by the hand, and, using the Christian name of each, asked God's blessing on them; and then the members of the various families returned to their respective homes well pleased and edified."

CHAPTER VII.

Correspondence of Rev. G. H. Nobbs with Admiral Sir Fairfax Moresby, K.C.B., relative to Norfolk Island and the Whale-fishery.-Visit of His Excellency Sir William Denison.-His Opinion of the Pitcairn People.-Directions relative to Live-stock, and the Cultivation of Land. -Letter from Jane Nobbs.-Visit of Sir John Young.-Bishop Patteson attacked by the Natives of Santa Cruz.-Massacre of Fisher Young and Edwin Nobbs.

WE must make some observations previous to inserting a letter from Mr. Nobbs, at the date of which the Pitcairn Islanders had been located one year and a half on Norfolk Island.

Although the pastor and his family appreciated, on the whole, the advantages they enjoyed by the change, others felt differently, and especially two families of the name of Young. They were probably more delicate in constitution than the rest of their friends and relatives; the climate did not suit them, and the new system of diet was prejudicial to their health. They missed bread-fruit and cocoa-nuts, the milk of which was essential for their children as well as themselves. The unaccustomed labor of keeping roads and large houses in order was to them intolerable. They drooped in spirits, and their strength declined; in fact, they pined for their native island.

Though Mr. Nobbs and his family were determined to be contented in their new state of life, he could not prevail on the two families which we have mentioned to take the same view of their position, and therefore commences the following letter with some asperity:

TO ADMIRAL SIR FAIRFAX MORESBY,* K.C.B., and LADY MORESBY.

"Norfolk Island, January 1st, 1858. "Some simpletons are meditating a return to Pitcairn. It must be admitted that Norfolk Island does not, according to our experience, deserve the unqualified encomiums so lavishly bestowed upon it by transient visitors or unreflecting officials, who, surveying the trim grass-plots before each house, occasionally by permission taking a stroll in the two Government gardens, and drawing their rations from an imported commissariat, would be likely to overlook the immense labor by which the lawns and gardens were kept in existence during the summer months; and, moreover, that three crops out of every five of Indian corn fail from insects and drought, although attended by almost as many men as there are acres planted. This, then, is the true statement of the case. Norfolk Island is most fertile when irrigated, but from the paucity of running water and the infrequency of rain many promising crops become abortive. Nevertheless it is quite possible to live here very comfortably, and I and my married children have let go our best bowers with a long scope, and having plenty of room to swing clear of our neighbor's buoys, are busily employed in making ourselves at home. The prospect is vastly better than at Pitcairn, but even were it not so, a principle of gratitude would retain me and mine. My son Francis and some of the more intelligent of the community are employed in laying out the lands into fiftyacre lots, agreeably to the directions of Sir William Denison, who is very much interested in our welfare, and is, I believe, going to send a surveyor to inspect the divisions and confirm the allotments (one to each family) in fee simple. The unappropriated portion of the island is to be specially reserved for the rising generation; and a rapidly rising one it is, for there is an increase of fifteen during the past year."

* Since created Admiral of the Fleet.

Extract from another letter of Mr. Nobbs's, dated November 1st, 1858, giving an account of the whale-fishing, and also of the drought to which Norfolk Island is subject:

"Some of the seeds you so kindly sent me I planted during the winter season, and they are growing very well; the Savoys are superb, and the Brussels sprouts are excellent. The sea-kale and the asparagus have not thriven so well. The other seeds I have reserved for planting as soon as I obtain my allotment. I want them to remain permanently where I place them, as I am not sure they will bear transplanting. When I enter upon my possession I am going to take the liberty of calling it Killerton, and by that name shall have it inserted in the map of the island, and by that name bequeath it to my children. Our people are now busily engaged in killing hump-back whales, and have succeeded in securing one hundred and twenty barrels of oil; but it is somewhat dangerous work. Whether it will be remunerative remains to be shown. If they can by some such course of industry procure the means to purchase flour or biscuits for half the year we shall do very well. For though our agricultural pursuits are not all neglected, the long-continued droughts of summer are a sad drawback upon our crops. At this present moment the Indian corn, sweetpotatoes, and whatever else we have in the ground, is suffering from drought, and if rain does not fall soon we shall lose the whole crop; even now we are on short allowance of vegetable food, and were it not for some flour and biscuit the Bishop of New Zealand purchased, with the proceeds of a quantity of young pine-trees which he kindly took thither for us, we should be in poor case as to the result of our own exertions. But our covenant God, who is ever a very present help in time of trouble, will be our refuge and strength; therefore we will not fear."

November of the same year, 1858, two families of the name of Young returned to Pitcairn in a trading-vessel