three other places, where they regularly hold divine worship on the Sabbath. The numbers attending each of the services are reckoned sometimes to amount to about 100 people. They have not extended their visits to many other places, but have had intercourse with people and Chiefs from various districts, both along the coast and from inland villages. These have generally appeared very friendly; some of them profess to have renounced heathenism, and others express a desire to have Teachers. The Teachers have also attempted to establish schools, but it is only on Sabbaths that there is a large attendance. Many in their immediate neighbourhood attend pretty strictly to the observance of the Sabbath, by cessation from daily employment; others appear to hold sacred only the hours of service. The people seem disposed to leave off some of their old customs and practices. Some, who profess to have joined the Teachers, have thrown away, or burnt, stones and trees which they formerly reverenced as deities, and say they have discontinued the horrid practice of burying alive young children and old people. On one or two occasions the Teachers dissuaded them from eating human flesh; and, in these instances, the bodies were buried and on another occasion they succeeded in separating two contending parties who had met for the purpose of fighting; the parties still continue hostile, but they have not had another meeting since that time. Thus we hope that their influence is being felt for good, and trust it will continue extending till the good word of the kingdom has taken deep root among them. At present we do not know of any avowed opposition to the Teachers and their work. Sandal-wood vessels continue to visit the neighbourhood of the district where our Teachers are placed; but it appears that there is none of that wood in the immediate locality. We can only hope and pray that no untoward circumstance may arise to the Teachers or their work from that quarter. On the morning after we cast anchor, we had a meeting with several Chiefs from different villages around. We took the opportunity of reminding them of the only object we had in view in visiting them, and leaving Teachers among them. We urged them to give all diligence in attending to the instructions they had begun to receive. Having stated our desire to occupy some new stations, with the view of the Teachers spreading more widely over the land, the Chiefs expressed their pleasure, and promised still to protect any new Teachers who might be placed among them. Those who had the prospect of having Teachers for the first time placed with them, appeared gratified, and promised to attend to instruction. Considering the probable claims of other stations, we could not spare more than five new Teachers for this Island. Had we possessed the agency, it appeared that we might have distributed them over an extensive field, both along the coast and at large inland villages. We have taken up three new stations, and have given instructions to those Teachers, who are located in pairs, to embrace, when they have become acquainted with the language, every favourable opportunity of spreading themselves over the land, by separating to other vil lages, whose Chiefs and people may invite them to their settlements. The number of Teachers now placed among them is nine. This appears an inviting field. The po pulation seems great, the number of children remarkable, and the people are collected into much larger settlements than we find in many of these islands. There ap pears also to be a much greater uniformity of language among the people of the different districts, than exists in Tanna and some others of the New Hebrides. Nor does there appear to exist that inveterate enmity among the different settlements, which has been such a hindrance to the work in Tanna, We received a pressing invitation to call at one of the villages where our Teachers are placed, to receive a present of yams which the Chief and people had been preparing, Willing to show them that we appreciated their kindly feeling, we called off that place on the following morning, and one of us, accompanied by Capt. Morgan, went on shore, and we were much pleased by the friendly disposition manifested by the people. Thankful for the favour shown us here, and commending the Teachers and people to the blessing of Almighty God, we sailed for Tanna. In leaving this Island we cannot but state our conviction, that the prospects are very cheering; that it ought to be visited again in at least twelve months; and, should things be as favourable then as they appear now, the land might be occupied by Missionaries on the return of the vessel from England. INDEPENDENCE OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS. THE following article is the copy of a Convention between the Governments of France and England in relation to the Independence of the Leeward Islands. The reciprocal recognition and formal guarantee, by the respective Governments, of this ancient right, was long felt to be necessary to its certain preservation; and the friends of justice and benevolence will rejoice to learn, by the solemn and explicit declaration to which their attention is now directed, that the object has been permanently secured. The peace and prosperity of the Leeward Group, and the christian labours of our Missionaries, will consequently be no longer exposed to the lawless violence of French aggression; while the islands will afford to the Natives of Tahiti, whenever it may be needed or desired, a safe asylum from the miseries of French despotism, or the corruptions of French manners. The declaration is as follows:→→→ "Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and His Majesty the King of the French, being desirous of removing a cause of discussion between their respective Governments, relative to the Islands in the Pacific Ocean which are hereinafter designated, have thought proper reciprocally to engage 1. "Formally to acknowledge the Independence of the Islands of Huahine, Raiatea, and Borabora (to the Leeward of Tahiti,) and of the small Islands adjacent to and dependent upon those Islands. 2. "Never to take possession of the said Islands, nor of any one or more of them, either absolutely, or under the title of a Protectorate, or in any other form whatever. 3. Never to acknowledge that a Chief or a Prince, reigning in Tahiti, can at the same time reign in any one or more of the other Islands above mentioned; nor, on the other hand, that a Chief or Prince, reigning in any one or more of those other Islands, can reign at the same time in Tahiti; the reciprocal independence of the Islands above-mentioned, and of the island of Tahiti and its Dependencies, being established as a principle. "The Undersigned, Her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and the Minister Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the King of the French at the Court of London, being furnished with the necessary powers, hereby declare, in consequence, that their said Majesties take reciprocally that engagement. 66 In witness whereof the Undersigned have signed the present declaration, and have affixed thereto the seals of their arms. "Done in duplicate at London, the nineteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-seven. TAHITI-BETRAYAL OF THE PATRIOTIC NATIVES. THE following statement from the correspondence of one of our brethren in Tahiti, under date of January last, informing us of the betrayal of the Tahitian Patriots into the hands of the French, by a mercenary Native, happily not of their own country, will be read with mingled feelings of pity and indignation. The involuntary surrender of these noble and high-principled men is naturally calculated to awaken strong regret; but this feeling admits of considerable alleviation, when we reflect on the deeply-trying circumstances in which they had long been placed, suffering the calamities of famine, disease, and mortality, in forms of growing intensity: it can scarcely be supposed that the consequences of submission to the invaders of their country will be more painful than those they had borne, and were still willing to bear, for the sake of liberty and independence. By returning to their lands, they will also be more accessible to Missionary labour and influence; and thus, it may be hoped, the treachery of their betrayer will be graciously over-ruled to the advancement of their spiritual interests :— I have now (writes our Missionary) to announce the restoration of peace to this long distracted country. The Tahitian Camps have capitulated, laid down arms, and returned to their respective districts. About the beginning of December, a native of Rapa, in the Hautaua Camp, (which is immediately behind Papeete, and opens a passage through the interior to the other two Camps,) discovered a path up the face of the cliff, by which a position might be gained that would command the Camp. He deserted from the natives, came to Papeete, and volunteered to lead the troops for a stipulated reward-I believe 200 dollars. Shortly afterwards all the troops marched up the valley. The great body placed themselves in front of the regular advance to the Native Camp, as if about to storm it. All in the Camp were on the alert to defend this road; but a large number were absent on a foraging expedition. In the meantime the Native of Rapa, with about thirty French Natives, and forty soldiers, were scaling the cliff at a little distance: the Rapa man, ascending by the path which he had discovered, and lowering a rope, pulled up and fixed a rope-ladder, by which the troops gained the summit, about 1,000 feet high! and prepared to fire upon the Camp, a little below them. The natives, seeing that resistance was now vain, laid down their arms, and were marched in as prisoners of war. The carrying of this position opened a passage to the other two camps. The priwere immediately released upon soners their submission to the Protectorate Government; and one of the captive Chiefs was sent to the camp at Bunaania, the nearest to Hautaua and the weakest, to advise their submission, and to intimate that if they continued to resist they would be attacked. They at once agreed, and a day or two afterwards marched out, and laid down 250 stand of arms-I believe one-half of all. Messengers were also sent to Papenoo Camp: they hesitated for some time, but at last submitted, and on New-Year's-Day marched into town, and laid down their arms; surrendering one-half as at Bunaania. They came in procession - the Chiefs first, the armed men next, and women and children last: when within 100 yards of the French Lines, they halted; knelt down and united in prayer; then rose and marched in. At the outskirts of the town, the Native Governor and Magistrates received them with friendly greetings, welcomed them as brethren, and conducted them to the Government-house, where they formally laid down their arms, and recognised the Protectorate Government. A general amnesty (without exception) was declared; all offences were declared forgiven; and the people directed to return quietly to their respective districts. The position of your Missionaries at the close of this protracted struggle, is, I conceive, very satisfactory: it is creditable to the Society, and our standing, both with the Native and French Governments, is such as promises well for the future. AITUTAKI.-PROSPERITY OF THE NATIVE CHURCH. IN no part of the Missionary field have the power and grace of God been more signally manifested than in the beautiful Island where Mr. Royle has pursued his solitary labours during the past eight years. Preserved by their simple habits and their isolated position from many evils-both moral and social-to which larger communities are exposed, the inhabitants of this favoured spot have received the Gospel with a readiness of mind, and are exemplifying its holy influences, to an extent that cannot fail to inspire feelings of admiration and devout thankfulness : The church, (remarks Mr. Royle, under date of July,) is, in this Island, the keystone to the structure of society. Politically free, the people enjoy liberty of speech and action to the fullest extent. The current of popular feeling, also, is so strong against a mere profession of religion, and, when detected, it meets with such severe censure, that it is hazardous for any one to assume a character which he cannot consistently sustain. Such a state of society places the church in a prominent point of view-"like a city set upon a hill, it cannot be hid." The conduct of its members is open to the closest observation, and their principles and motives undergo the strictest scrutiny. Their steady advancement in divine knowledge, together with their growth in the meek and passive virtues of the Gospel, as well as in the more active graces of christian character manifested in their daily conduct, entirely preclude everything like open hostility to the cause of our dear Redeemer. In proportion as their minds have become imbued with the spirit of Christ, they perceive more and more clearly that spiritual blessings are the gifts of Sovereign Lovethey view them in the light of talents, to be well employed for the common good of mankind. In their estimation, every privilege implies a duty; new mercies enhance their responsibilities; and every dispensation of Providence evolves a purpose of grace and mercy. With such feelings deeply sanctified, it is impossible that they should not be an active church. The piety of our church-members is not more exemplified in the domestic circle than it is by benevolent efforts abroad. The members of the Maternal Association, organised by Mrs. Royle two years ago, regularly visit all the motherless females in the Island, to interest them in the great salvation; some of whom, thus rescued from the paths of the destroyer, are gone to glory, whilst others, young in years, and in the bloom of health, have, to our unspeakable joy, united themselves to the people of God, and are now adorning their profession by a truly exemplary deportment. The male members of the church, in the capacity of Scripture Readers, visit every dwelling in the Island once a fortnight. Frequently these devoted men are seen sitting beneath the shade of the palm-trees, reading aloud the Inspired Word to a listening throng; and should any be impressed with the truths they hear, and manifest a desire for better acquaintance with the word of God, they are directed to the house of the Missionary. MANGAIA.-SPEECH OF A NATIVE DEACON. AMONG Our recent communications from the Hervey Islands, is the following translation of a speech delivered at a public meeting by one of the Native Deacons of the church in the Island of Mangaia, under the pastoral care of the Rev. George Gill, to whom we are indebted for its transmission in the English language. In his own simple but forcible style, and under an evident sense of the divine benevolence, the speaker draws a striking contrast between the barbarous and miserable condition of the Island when the honoured WILLIAMS first landed on its shores, and the comparatively pure and elevated state which it has since attained under the renovating influences of christian truth. In reference to these favoured Islanders, it may truly be said, That the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. The allusions of the speaker to the successive visits and apostolic labours of their father in the faith, and his expressions of affection and sorrow for that departed servant of God, are full of mournful and tender interest, and our readers will rejoice in the honourable testimony thus borne to the character and memory of our lamented Missionary : : We When Williamu first came to Mangaia, he brought a Native Teacher, whose name was Papehia. We were ignorant of the word of God, and knew not its name, nor had we any desire for it, when Williamu and Papehia first came to our land. saw the ship and greatly wondered-all the people shouted and said that it was a large canoe. When the vessel came near, a boat was rowed towards us: we went upon the reef and saw a man of our own colour jump from the boat, and swim to the shore. This was Papehia. One of our number, Ruaporo, seized him-he is dead now-he seized Papehia, and put some cord around his neck to strangle him, but he could not accomplish it. We all hesitated as to what we should do with Papehia. Some said, "Let us murder him?" Others said, "Do not let us kill him at once! let us seek a sure means by which he may die." And then, while some of us seized him and held him fast, others stole his property, his axe, and his basket. Not content that he should live, our spears and clubs being near us, we resolved to spear him, when he escaped to the sea, swam to the boat, and returned to the vessel. After this one of our party, who was very bold, went in his canoe toward the vessel, and we thought he would be killed; but after some time he came back, and with him another boat, bringing two Native Teachers, and their wives and property. He had promised to preserve them, and shield them from harm. The boat came near the reef, and we all hurriedly and wildly seized their property to steal it, and their wives to abuse them. Their cloth, their oil, their axes, and saws, we stole. We broke the saws in three pieces, and put them around our necks, and hung them on our ears, as ornaments. Their wives we carried to the bushes and the woods. There was no order observed-we were wild in our heathenism, and cared not what we did. But we were very much astonished at the books which we found among the property. The letters made us wonder, and we said that the books were the gods of the strangers. We were afraid when we heard the noise of a cannon from the vessel, and we sent these people back to the boat, but kept the property. One of our Chiefs put the cloth upon the pig, and offered him to the gods in the Marae; and some of us worshipped the pigs which they had brought, thinking they were gods. The ship left our land, and we returned from the sea-side to our dwellings, taking with us the property we had stolen, wondering at this and that; and rejoicing with our heathenish joy in these possessions, and then we danced and sang with delight. But our joy continued not long: sickness and death came to our land, and men and women died in great numbers day by daytwenty and thirty, and sometimes forty died in one day. So fell the aged and the young. Vain was the knowledge, and vain the joy, of heathenism! At this season of sickness and death we were seized with great fear, and the Chiefs and people asked one another what it was? and what should be done? We all said, and felt, that the God of the strangers had sent this sickness upon us because we had so ill-treated those who came to our land. The sickness continued, and also our fear. We determined to collect all the property we had stolen, and place it before our gods in the Marae: we then dug a pit, and threw all the property into it, and said in our prayers to the idols, That if the ship should return we would not illtreat the strangers, but would receive both them and their God. The sickness and death left us, and not long afterwards the ship returned, and all the people assembled together as before. We sent off a canoe to the ship, and then a boat approached the reef, and we saw two men of our own colour, whom we received as our Teachers, and they came to live on shore. There were many among us then who desired to kill these men-they expressed their thoughts and desires secretly, and began to plan schemes to effect their purpose; but the Great God, whom the Teachers served, protected them, as he does all his servants in every time of danger and death. The evil thoughts of the men who desired to kill were not accomplished, and after the Teachers had preached and explained the word of God for some time, there were two young men who said they would receive this word. They were the first to abandon all heathen customs: they still live, and are in our midst this day. After this many believed and received the Gospel, and utterly abandoned all their evil ways, such as murdering men and children, theft, the worship of idols, and the making sacred of property and food for them. Formerly we allowed not our wives to eat with us, but how we gave them liberty to do so. Now we know the true God, whose name is Jehovah-He is the Mighty One! and He is love! Let us walk in his light and in his love one toward another. 1 Williamu came again to this island this was the third time that he came, but, as before, he did not come on shore, because the wind and sea were not good. The next time he came, he landed, and preached to us from the First Epistle to Timothy, i. 15, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." He spoke to us in the Rarotongan Language, because that is very much like our own, and we understood him: the next day we gave him some native cloth, and a little of our poor property, as the sign of our love toward him. At that time there was no church formed in our midst; and, after waiting some months, Mr. Barff visited us, and separated some of us into a church, and this was the first time we sat down before the Table of the Lord to think of that great love that led him to die for us. Some time after this Williamu returned. and then Mr. Buzacott was with him. Mr. Buzacott prayed, and read the word of God, and Williamu preached from Haggai, ii. 7, "And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of Hosts." After visiting us once more, Williamu went down towards Samoa, to visit the heathen that are around that land, and far removed from the true light. He went to bless the heathen, but they killed him. Alas! for Williamu, our friend, that he fell there! We loved him, and we grieved for him. He was our friend, full of love and zeal for us all. We greatly desired a Missionary from Britain, who should dwell constantly amongst us-we prayed to God that he would send us one; and when Mr. |