insensible. They have already attempted to establish themselves upon the island of Camaram; the very spot which three centuries ago was occupied by the Turks, for the purpose of securing the Red Sea against the Portuguese. Its harbour is excellent; and they conceive that were they once to fortify themselves there, they would command the passage, and, by the cooperation of their allies, render a continuance in that sea impracticable to any fleet except their own, by cutting off all the necessary supplies. These expectations lord Valentia thinks are completely annihilated by what he calls the discovery of Dhalac, Valentia, and the other islands, and by the connexion with Abyssinia, whence the whole British navy might be supplied with provisions. The speediest way of preventing danger is by taking the Isles of France and Bourbon. Shut out as our enemy is from the Cape by our arms, and from South America by the effect of his own crimes, he would then have no port upon the

way.

It was from Egypt that the Portuguese in India were attacked by the Turks; from Egypt we have been threatened. France will assu'redly never lose sight of that country, and sooner or later will obtain possession of it, unless we secure it for ourselves. It is therefore doubly of importance, that we should strengthen ourselves in the Red Sea, both for security against the enemy if we suffer them to obtain so valuable a country, and for our own advantage if the boldest policy be pursued, which is always the best. And were there no further political views in opening an intercourse with Abyssinia, its trade alone is an object of sufficient importance. The pilgrimage to Mecca is at an end; the conquests of the Wahabee have put a stop to it. This pilgrimage was not only the keystone of Islamism, but it was the main spring of Arabian commerce. The Africans

are now cut off from their old sources of trade, and it is our own fault if English and Indian goods do not find their way to the heart of that continent through Abyssinia. Ivory and gold are the only articles of value which Abyssinia at present produces. Others would doubtless soon be found; but of these the quantity is sufficient to pay for the manufactures at present imported, and gold would increase in proportion as trade extended eastward into those countries where it is found. Impressed by these views, lord Valentia on his return to England, laid a memorial before the Court of Directors. Upon them it had no effect; but some private merchants were convinced by his statements, and obtained a license from the Company to trade direct to Abyssinia. They have accordingly sent off a vessel upon this speculation, and we rejoice to say that Mr. Salt is gone in her, charged with a letter and presents from the king to the Neguz of Abyssinia. Two pieces of curricle artillery, with all the necessary accompaniments are part of this present. A cannon has not been seen in the country since the time of the Portuguese. If our friend the Ras be living this will ensure him the superiority over his enemies, and it may even be hoped that with these means, and the of a presence few Englishmen, the government may recover strength and stability, and the civilisation of Africa proceed as rapidly on this side, as there is reason to expect it will on that of Sierra Leona, under the aus pices of the African Society.

Before his lordship departed from the coast, some unlucky hostilities took place with the people of Arkeko, which, owing to a succession of bad weather, could not be properly terminated. This, however, is of little consequence, for, before any regular trade can be established there, those "gates of Abyssinia" must be thrown open. From thence the Panther, narrowly escaping ship

argent in a purple field, bearing olive branches in their bills. These colours did not excite more surprise in the navy, than the remarkable deportment of all on board. Not an oath was heard among them; and the sailors who were at Spithead when the Duff finally departed, talk to this day of the Ten Commandments, as they called her, in which, when she set sail, the captain, the crew, and the cargo, were all sing ing psalms.

The kings of Spain and Portugal, never, in the plenitude of their zeal, sent forth a mission so abundantly stored as this. There were men of all useful trades among the missionaries. Only four among the number were ordained ministers, and one had attended the hospitals, and understood printing. All possible means were provided for making them well acquainted with the countries to which they were bound, and even while the Duff lay at Portsmouth, a manuscript vocabula, ry of the language of Taheite, which had been made by some of the poor Bounty mutineers, was procured for them. It had been determined to station them at Taheite, the Friendly Islands, the Marquesas, the Sandwich, and the Pelew Islands; but as the practicability of this distribution depended upon circumstances which could not be foreseen, a discretion ary power was vested in a committee of the missionaries, subject to the approbation of captain Wilson; and if any difference of opinion should arise, the directors recommended their " appealing to the decision of Divine Providence, by a solemn and religious use of the an cient institution of drawing lots." As they approached the scenes of their destination, the brethren, who, during a seven months' voyage, had had leisure and opportunity to become acquainted with each other's temper, were desired to choose the place where each would be left. Eighteen, including all the married men, declared for Taheite, ten for

Tongataboo, and two for St. Chris tina. On the 5th of March, 1797, they anchored at the former island. The natives flocked joyfully to the ship, carrying as usual, pigs, fowls, and fruit, to market. It was Sunday, "the day of the Eatooa," or Deity, on which the new comers "durst not trade." Greatly as this surprised the islanders, the repulse. which their women received, astonished them still more. The transports of their joy subsided, and the greater number returned to shore, and about forty only remained to hear a sermon. There were two Swedes on the island, who spoke English. These men served as interpreters, and the news that people from Pretane were come to settle there, occasioned general exultation. A large house was allotted them which had been built for captain Bligh, who the natives said, had told them he should come back and reside there; and shortly afterwards, the district of Matavai, in which it stood, was formally ceded to the missionaries. They took possession of their new dwelling, and received a due proportion of the stores with which the mission had been not less profusely than injudiciously provided. According to the plan of the voyage, the Duff was now to visit Tongataboo and the Marquesas, and then return to Taheite; but before she departed, the missionaries on shore, alarmed by what they heard from the Swedes and what they saw of the natives, proposed, that the whole body should settle there as a necessary measure of security. The brethren, on board, unhappily for some of them, could not be persuaded, neither did captain Wilson perceive any such necessity as was alleged; and having remained a fortnight, the vessel sailed.

When the Duff reached Tongataboo, an Englishman and an Irishman, by name Ambler and Connelly, came on board; two fellows who bore such evident qualifications for the gallows in their countenances,

that they were rightly suspected of having made their escape from it by way of Botany Bay. Bad, however, as they seemed, and indeed, proved to be, they gave a sensible and honest opinion when their advice was asked. The natives, they said, would receive the missionaries gladly, and treat them kindly, but property would not be safe; and if they were encumbered with iron tools, and should endeavour to defend them selves from robbers, their lives would certainly be in danger. This advice so far impressed them, that they resolved to take no more property than, according to their notion, was absolutely indispensable. Many chiefs offered to receive some of them, but they would not separate, and were left under the protection of Toogahowe, who, by Ambler's account, was the greatest warriour, and most powerful man in the island. Ambler himself promised to instruct them in the language.

The two remaining adventurers were now to be landed at St. Christina, or Ohittahoo, according to its native name. Harris, the one who had been ordained in the Methodist church, was nearly forty years of age. He was the only man who had fixed upon this station when the brethren made their choice, and he had persuaded Crook to be his companion. Crook was a young man of two and twenty, who had been a gentleman's servant. The first visiters who came off to them were se ven beautiful young women. They swam to the ship perfectly naked, except that a few green leaves were fastened round the waist; and no sooner had they got on board, than the hungry goats attacked them, and eat up their Eve aprons. These are the islanders whom Cook thought superiour in beauty, both of form and features, to all the other Polynesians, and whom the Spaniards, when Mendana discovered them, beheld with such admiration, that the chief pilot of the expedition declared nothing in his life ever caus

ed him so much regret as leaving such beautiful creatures to be lost by their idolatry. The missionaries had been disappointed in their expectations of Taheitean beauty. They were not so here, and they say of the women that, as models for the statuary and the painter, their equals can seldom be found. But their condition was worse than that of the other islanders. Food seemed to be scarce among them, and if any were given to the women it was taken from them unless they could conceal it. The men all appeared to have a thoughtful cast of countenance, such it is well expressed, "as men acquire who are struggling for subsistence, and can hardly get it;" but they had their mad fits of laughter and loquacity. Tenae, their chief, the eldest son of the Royalet who reigned in Cook's time, gladly consented to receive the missionaries, promising to give them a house, and a share of all that he had; and he led them to one of his best houses, telling them they might occupy it as soon as they pleased. It was built of bamboos, about half an inch apart from each other; within which, long blinds or curtains made of leaves were hung. The length was twenty five feet, the width only six. The back part was ten feet high, the front only four. It was thatched or rather roofed with hard leaves, so well laid on as to keep it perfectly dry. A floor mat which reached from end to end, and some large calabashes were all the household furniture. When they returned on board the two brethren were asked their opinion of the place, and whether they were still in the same mind to settle there. Crook replied, that all which he had seen tended to encourage him. There was not, indeed, the same plenty here as at the other islands; but comfort was not what he wanted when he devoted himself to the mission. Harris, on the contrary, disapproved of every thing; "he judged the scene before him a solemn one,"

and seemed to have lost all his firm ness as well as his ardour. It was agreed that they should go on shore the next day, take their beds with them, and make a trial.

The next day came. Harris declined going, that he might remain on board to pack up their things in small parcels, for the greater facility of carrying them up the valley. Crook landed, took possession of his new abode, commended himself to the protection of that God to whose service he had devoted himself, and in that faith lay down and slept in peace. He had already studied the language with such attention, that he could understand almost every thing that was said; and he began to eat their sour mahié, in spite of the uncleanliness of the preparation; and to attach himself to the place as that which he had chosen, and where he was to remain. Harris, meantime, could not be persuaded to leave the ship till the weather rendered it probable that she might be driven off the island, and then he was set ashore. The ship, however, returned to her former anchorage, and, after six days, the two missionaries came on board to deliver their opinions. Harris complained of the poverty of the island, and that he could not eat the mahié; his companion declared his resolution of remaining, even though the other should not; however, they both went on shore again for farther trial. Three days after this, Tenae invited them to go with him to another valley. Crook readily agreed. Harris, probably afraid that the ship might leave him, would not go, and the chief to accommodate him in the most obliging manner he could, left him his wife to be treated as if she were his own, till he came back. It was in vain, that poor Harris protested, he did not want the woman! she was left with him; and finding herself neglected, called some of her female friends to satisfy themselves concerning his sex while, he was asleep. This inquest was not made without awakening him. His

fear at being so awakened, and his horrour at the thought of remaining among a people so "given up to wickedness" then completely overcame him. He got down to the beach with his chest, at evening. None of the crew were ashore, and the ship lay out of hail. There he remained sitting on the chest till about four in the morning, when the natives drove him away, and stole his clothes. A fisherman had compassion enough to swim off to the vessel, and tell the captain of his situation. The boat was sent for him, and he was found in a pitiable condition, like one out of his senses. Crook, however, was not shaken by this desertion. "It would," he said, "greatly have increased his happiness, to have had a friend and assistant, who might have comforted him in the time of trouble; but since the Lord had ordered things otherwise, he thought that it better suited his character and profession, to resign himself to God's fatherly care, and rest in his promises, than to quit a station where a door of usefulness was so evidently opened; and should his blessed Saviour make him the honoured instrument of preparing the way for some of his more able servants, he should at least have the happiness to reflect, that his life was not spent in vain." Various sorts of garden seeds were left him, with tools, medicines, an Encyclopedia, and other useful works. He came on board the evening before the ship departed, to take his leave. Then indeed, tears glistened in his eyes, but none fell; nor did he discover the least sign of fear or unwillingness, to enter upon his work alone.

This interesting man, thus left alone among the natives, suffered; much from hunger, during the first. six months; but he was kindly treated, and the chiefs always gave him part of their scanty portion. After he had been about a year on the island, an American vessel entered the bay, and he went on board to learn whence she came, and to write