and deposit the several trophies that had been captured. The whole was a most imposing ceremony, and the effect greatly heightened by a large party of seamen and marines bearing the several captured colours and ensigns, many of whom had been in the different actions.

Sir Charles Knowles was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral of the Blue Feb. 14th, 1799; Vice-Admiral, April 23rd, 1804; and Admiral, July 31st, 1810; and on the 20th May 1820, in anticipation of the Coronation of his late Majesty, he was created an extra Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath. He died on the 28th of November last, in the seventy-eighth year of his age.

TAHITI, AND THE PITCAIRN ISLANDERS.

THE following account, at once the most recent and circumstantial, of the state of Tahiti, and the deplorable condition of the primitive islanders of Pitcairn, who have been transported to the licentious head quarters of the Missionaries, has been addressed from the spot to a scientific gentleman, who has kindly placed it at our disposal.

Tahiti, May 15th, 1831.

1

You remember, without doubt, the new Cithera and its inhabitants; who, notwithstanding what the Missionaries say of them, are the oddest Christians in the world, uniting the most immoral and vicious life to the strictest observance of the ceremonies of religion: and who, as you know, after having prostituted their wives, their sisters, and their daughters, and these latter, after having passed the night on board the vessels, never fail, at least on Sundays, to go to church, hear sermons, say prayers, and sing psalms. Such as they were then, so they are now, except that they are getting weary of restrictions, and do things a little more publicly, regardless of the Missionaries: and the laws which they have established. The causes which have produced this change I shall now proceed to explain to you.

The Queen had made a voyage to the west, to Raiatea, &c. I do not know with what intention, but there, on the eve of quitting to visit Huheine, &c. and return here, it was determined that she should be received every where according to the ancient customs, and that the operation of the laws should be suspended during her continuance in each island.

The customs here referred to have reference merely to the practice of making presents to the Queen, consisting of natural productions and stuffs of the country, in a droll manner it is true-since women, enveloped in Tapa (the country cloth), present themselves before her; afterwards men come and unrolling these envelopes, leave them naked in the presence of the Queen and the spectators; all this is accompanied by music, songs, and dances, of which the lasciviousness, not to say indecency, is only known in these islands, and of which the denoueument.

I could not learn whether she was received in this manner at Raiatea and Huheine; I believe not, though some of the natives assert that she was so. I know that she was so received at Charles Sanders Island, and in two districts of Morea, or Eimeo. When this news arrived here, it created an extraordinary sensation; the Missionaries on horseback flew in all directions; one would have thought we were in a besieged city. This, indeed, was not without reason, for if the same thing should happen here, it would be the signal for their expulsion. The laws once abolished, could never be re-established; this would the more annoy the Missionaries, as they are pretty "comfortable" here. But to return to the subject. Happily for the

Missionaries, the principal chiefs, Tati, Paofai, Hitoti, and Otomi, were as much opposed to these ceremonies as themselves, though not precisely from the same motives; for although they are very excellent men, and according to the Missionaries are even good Christians, provided they could be depended on; yet their disapproval arose first from certain humiliations to which they will not submit under the present head of the government, unless by force of arms; and secondly, because from the maintenance of the laws they derive their support, and between the three first-named Chiefs and the family of Pomare there exists an ancient enmity, of which the effects are often seen. Therefore, while the Queen was still at Morea the four Chiefs called a general assembly at Papiete, and after some discussion sent a commission to Morea to try Mahini, chief of that island and of Huheine, and the principal promoters of these ancient practices, and at the same time to announce to the Queen that she was not to expect a similar reception at Tahiti; to which they were resolved to oppose themselves by arms if necessary.

The most unfortunate circumstance in this affair, as regards the Missionaries who have published accounts of these islands, is, that the principal actors in this farce are Deacons of the Church established by them, such as the principal Chief of Raiatea, Huheine, &c. whose praises they have never ceased to vaunt. Therefore when Messrs. Baff and Williams arrived they strongly urged the necessity of suppressing the existing dissension, and in doing so almost excited a disunion among the Missionaries here. It was amusing to witness the courteous epithets banded between these Reverend brethren. They made more noise in their little council than all the Chiefs together while haranguing in presence of their armies.

When the Queen arrived at Tahiti a general assembly was called, and surrounded by armed people, the subaltern Chiefs deliberated on the manner of her reception. Some were for and some against the ancient practice, and separated without coming to any decision. Some Chiefs, and the people of Tairaibu, gave their Tapa, not in the indecent manner in which it had been done in the other islands, but, notwithstanding, contrary to the wishes of the principal Chiefs, and against the law. Some time after this, Tati, Otomi, Paofai, and Hitoti, having leagued together, marched to Tairaibu, to try the Chiefs who had acted against the law. The latter took refuge under the protection of the Queen, who refused to deliver them up; the firstnamed Chief (Tati) immediately armed all their people to take them by force, and the Queen on her side prepared for defence. Things were in this state when two sail were announced in sight, which proved to be the Comet, a British man-of-war, and a transport, having on board all the inhabitants of Pitcairn's island. The first could not have arrived at a better moment, nor the latter at a worse. They entered the bay of Papiete the following morning, and two days after the people from Pitcairn were landed. The Chiefs arrived with their armies on the 30th March. Tati and Otomi were the first, bringing with them about 1200 fighting men, and established themselves near the centre of the bay. Paofai and Hitoti arrived soon after, with 500 more. They had marched boldly through the Queen's army to join their allies. They were well armed with muskets, pistols, and spears. The Chiefs were attired in a distinguished and martial manner. Some time after, we saw the army of the Queen defile towards the north point of the bay, and establish themselves about a mile from where the Chiefs had encamped. The Queen's party did not exceed 600 men, and could not have stood against the force of the Chiefs. As soon as the Queen appeared round the point, she was saluted with eleven guns by the Comet, and immediately afterwards her commander landed to pay his respects.

The Queen still refused to give up the accused Chiefs, but offered, in their place, her aunt and some other of her relations, who had also been instigators, promising, at the same time, to desist from similar pretensions for the future, and to swear before the Chiefs and the people assembled, to ren

der obedience to the laws. These condescensions did not satisfy the Chiefs; they still demanded the accused. The Queen, accompanied by the Commander of the Comet and several other officers, approached, in the man-ofwar's gig, the encampment of the hostile Chiefs. Tati advanced to receive her, but soon returned; the Chiefs would not hear her. The Commander then addressed them, but without effect. They replied that they were very sorry to refuse him, but the interests of the island demanded that the guilty Chiefs should be given up. The Queen was, therefore, obliged to retire without having obtained her wishes. Night approached, and nothing was decided. The armies remained in their positions, and such order prevailed in their camp, as would confer honour on the most disciplined troops.

At daybreak we were much astonished at perceiving about thirty great canoes, in which were embarked the Queen and her party, with the intention of retiring to Morea. This movement was caused by a report that the Queen was to have been attacked on the following morning. When the Chiefs saw that she was about to abandon her island, thinking that she had already been sufficiently humiliated, they consented to pardon the Chiefs protected by her, and condemned the others. The scene that followed was most extraordinary. The armed multitude, which hitherto had maintained order and tranquillity, at once broke out into the utmost confusion and noise, and the previously hostile parties intermixed, and freely conversed with one another. This singular contrast shows how blindly these people submit to their Chiefs, and how great would be the authority of the latter, if they knew how to exercise it. While the Queen was in a small island in the middle of the bay, where, as it is said, she wept bitterly, the Chiefs retired, without farther conference, and in the evening Papiete was quite deserted.

I have already mentioned, that in the two English ships were brought all the inhabitants of Pitcairn; you have, of course, heard of these interesting islanders. Nothing could be worse than to bring these good and virtuous people into this gulf of corruption. The first moral lesson they received on their arrival, was to see about fifty women of Tahiti swim off to the ships in which they were, and commit in their presence, with the sailors, such acts of debauchery, that they instantly desired to return to their own island. Two days afterwards, however, they were landed at Papaoa, in the midst of the most corrupt people of the island.

From thence they solicited and obtained permission to come to Papiete; but this was of small avail, for you know that, at Tahiti, every where there exist but more or less of the same practices. If we are to credit the assertions of these people, they did not willingly quit their island, but did so at the instigation of those who went to seek them, and on condition that they should be brought back to Pitcairn, if they were not pleased with Tahiti. Notwithstanding, this promise was not fulfilled, for although they said to the Commander that they would have preferred dying of thirst in their own island to living amongst so corrupt a people as those of Tahiti, the Comet sailed, and left them here, not, however, before its Commander had secured them a piece of land and provisions for six months.

Six weeks have now elapsed since the departure of the ships; and six of the inhabitants of Pitcairn are already dead, of whom two were fathers of families, leaving each six children. The remainder are determined to return to their island; and in a small vessel which I have freighted to go to the neighbourhood of Pitcairn, twelve of them have embarked, for the purpose of preserving the stock they left on their departure. I offered 2000 dollars for a schooner belonging to Mr. Williams, Missionary at Raiatea. Had he sold her to me, I should have sent the whole of these interesting people to their own island. But Mr. Darling, one of the Missionaries, wishing to visit some islands in this schooner, would not forego his voyage. Seeing these people discouraged and dying, a subscription was proposed to defray the expenses of this same schooner of the Missionaries, to carry them

to Pitcairn. This would not occupy more than from three to six weeks at the most; Messrs. Pritchard, Wilson, and Nott, (Missionaries,) would themselves have subcribed for this benevolent purpose; but Mr. Darling refuses, being determined not to delay his voyage. The probable consequence will be, that these unfortunate people must all die if some means of restoring them to their island are not soon found. Nothing, however, can touch the heart of the Reverend Gentleman; within three or four days he is going to sail, leaving these unhappy people to their fate, without the least apparent concern. Adieu, my dear as many absurdities take place here as in other parts of this best of all possible worlds. But it is truly dreadful not to leave in peace those who are peaceable. The people of Pitcairn were certainly the most interesting people on the earth. Twice I have visited their island, and twice I have been enchanted with their frank and cordial hospitality, with the purity of their manners and the goodness of their hearts. But all this will soon be lost; for if they remain here, those who do not die will not long continue as they were before their arrival. Among this corrupt people, they will soon fall into similar practices,-at all events, the young. They had scarcely been here eight days, when some native men came and danced naked before some of their young females, who were going to bathe in the river.

You may make any use of this, in order that the truth may be known in England; for I am convinced, that the English Government would not have sent the poor Pitcairnians to Tahiti, but through the representations of the Missionaries.

NEWS FROM THE NEW WORLD.

MY DEAR EDITOR,-I had the pleasure of addressing you about three months ago from South America, and having now some leisure, I write you a few lines from the back settlements of the United States. Of late I have been kept in such a constant state of excitement, hurrying hither and thither, greedily drinking in by the ears information regarding the New World, reading thereof, and gazing intently on men, manners, and western scenery, that my mind for a time has become quite dissipated with novelty, though I have seen many sights of danger to sober me-in the shape of disease, murders, and dreadful tempests.

The three last Numbers of the U. S. Journal I have not seen; nothing but novels find their way here, and a few Numbers of the Edinburgh and Quarterly. The papers of the States are tiresome to the last degree, with squabbles about Clay and Jackson-Jackson and Clay-one man libels another in print, saying he is a turn-coat in electioneering. The aggrieved “ shoots the other down," as the term is, the next time he meets him. There is very seldom a fair gentlemanly duel in the Valley of the Mississippi; some downright assassinations among " gentlemen" have taken place even whilst I have been in the country. Oh! that I could transport myself speedily to a quiet apartment in Modern Babylon, with the last Number of the United in my hand, instead of being compelled to listen to endless bickerings about the qualifications of a President, discussions about the value of land, anticipations regarding the cotton-market, by gin-tippling, tobacco-chewing

Yankees. .

As to my own wanderings, I proceed concisely to say, that after leaving South America, I proceeded to the West Indies, arriving at Barbadoes in a small schooner. I was hospitably entertained by Sir James Lyon, and spent a fortnight in the island very agreeably and profitably--but alas! what I left smiling with pleasant residences, shaded with tropical foliage, and cul

tivated like a beautiful garden, is now lying waste and desolate; the dreadful hurricane of last month, like the breath of the destroying angel, has swept over it-the sounds of lamentation are heard on every side, and the air is loaded with corruption from 5000 human beings, violently deprived of life. In June, whilst I was in Barbadoes, there was the first hurricane of the season, which did considerable damage, but nothing to be compared to the subsequent one, far worse than the " great blow" of 1780.

Next I sailed for Tobago, where Defoe laid the scene of the shipwreck and hermitage of the celebrated Robinson Crusoe; there is the sandy beach where the print of the man's foot paralyzed him, the cave which he converted into a fortress, and the currents of the Oronoco sweep round the island, which brought over the savages from the main to their bloody feasts. Then, I reached the rich and picturesque island of Trinidad, one of the splendid possessions of England, of unknown fertility, which the abolitionists of slavery wish to cast off. Grenada, that gem of ocean, was the next resting-place; after which, St. Vincent's, whose scenery of the most sublime and awful description, is well calculated to withdraw the mind from the trifling sublunary pursuits of our ephemeral existence to the founder of the everlasting hills.

In a ship-of-war (H. M. brig Reindeer,) I shaped my course for Jamaica, across the Caribbean Sea. Yellow fever was in the island, and small pox had carried off 1000 of the inhabitants of Kingston in six weeks. Great alarm prevailed, too, on account of incendiaries firing the town continually; 1000/. reward had been offered for their apprehension, but without success.

In general, in the West India Islands, the greatest despondency prevails. Ruin seems to be staring the colonists in the face, principally owing to the uncharitable outcry the emancipators of slaves raise at home. Immediate emancipation is perfect folly; education of young negroes, (mental and manual,) is the only mode of preparing them (and not adults) for eventual and gradual manumission. I have been so excited by the misstatements of the Anti-slavery Society, that I (perhaps unadvisedly) put together a short pamphlet entitled "Comparative Slavery," in which I have endeavoured to show the difference in the treatment of slaves between the English and other masters.

To Cuba I was conveyed in the Blanche frigate, Commander Farquhar, and remained in the Havannah and Country nearly three weeks. I have endless anecdotes to tell of pirates, slavery, murders, robberies, leprosy, and yellow-fever. A poor man died of the black vomit in the same house in which I lived; and Azräel had begun to shake his dark wings over the devoted city. Really the Havannah is a perfect sink of iniquity; vagabonds from all quarters abound there; no police, and murders are of almost nightly occurrence. The usual instrument is an English black-handled table-knife, sharpened to a point. I knew of 2000 slaves being landed near the Havannah whilst I was there, and doubtless there were many more imported, for the island abounds in splendid harbours, but every one minds his own business, and slaves are not interrupted. I was always fully armed, for I moved about day and night. After sundown every one keeps the middle of the street, and carries a long sword and dirk. Pleasant state of society! The only two English ladies in the place told me, that they sit in fear and trembling at home when their husbands go out in the evening, dreading to see them brought home steeped in gore.

I next sailed for New Orleans, across the gulf of Mexico, in a Spanish brig; and after having escaped two other hurricanes, (which wrecked many vessels,) I was detained for a fortnight in the "Wet Grave" during the most unhealthy season of the year. The city was deserted, the inhabitants having mostly all fled to the north; hearses and a few creoles were the only moving objects in the melancholy streets. I ought to be heartily thankful to Providence for the way in which I have hitherto been preserved, but I often think with shame on my own foolhardiness, though I have great con