this they enjoyed a calm until James II. began openly to favour the papists, when he commenced to persecute the dissenters, shutting up their churches, and making it criminal for their ministers to officiate in private houses. No sooner, however, were William and Mary seated on the throne, than another glimpse of sunshine brightened the prospects of the persecuted Presbyterians: this continued until the accession of Anne, when an act obtained the royal assent, which made it necessary for persons to qualify themselves for office by receiving the sacrament in the Episcopal church; and provided that if any such person should ever after go into a Presbyterian meeting-house, he should forfeit £20 sterling for every such offence; and that he should be for ever disqualified for any office, until he could make oath that he had conformed to the church. By another act, in the last year of her life, the education of youth was entirely taken out of the hands of dissenters: and in fact, so far had persecution arrived during this reign, that between the time of her death and the news of it arriving in Ireland, three Presbyterian churches, in the north of that kingdom, were nailed up by the church party.

Under the present royal family, however, the Presbyterians have not only been tolerated, but countenanced and supported. Their churches are amply protected by law; the test act has been repealed, and their congregations receive from the treasury an annual salary, according as they stand in the first, second, or third class, respectively, of £100, £75, or £50 sterling.

Properly speaking, there are four denominations of Presbyterians in Ireland-the Synod of Ulster; the Southern Association; the Associate Reformed Synod of Ireland; and the Covenanted or Reformed Presbyterians, who trace their original to the Waldenses.

Concerning the Southern Association we know very little, with this

exception, that it is generally sup posed in the north to be Arian; but whether it deserves this appellation as a body, or has got it in consequence of distinguished individuals belonging to it, who held these sentiments, we will not take it upon us to say; though, for our part, we do conscientiously think, and unhesitatingly say, that any body which permits its members, or any of them, to proclaim and vindicate a doctrine contrary to its standards, does in this world deserve the stigma at tached to those who avow such doctrine, and certainly will not be held guiltless before God. We would say with the poet

"He who allows oppression, shares the

crime."

On this subject we are not left to conjecture, or to grope our way through darkness; for the Great Head of the church has commanded us, saying, "Come out from amongst them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing." I confess freely, that I am one of those who would think that I was polluting the mantle of charity, by covering with it the clean and the unclean. And perhaps this is one of the most effectual ways, in which the great adversary can injure the church of the living God. A brother sees something wrong in our standards of doctrine-he is too zealous and conscientious not to declare it wrong; but, yet he is a brother, and better that the ark of the covenant should get a little wrong touch, than that a good brother, who sets at nought his fathers and his brethren without hesitation, should be dealt with fully and fairly and fearlessly! Out upon such tender-heartedness say I;" let God be true and every man a liar;” let right continue to be right, no matter who says it is wrong. If we are not assured that our doctrines and standards are according to the word of God, why let us be very cautious in awarding censure to those who gainsay them, until by diligent and prayerful research we find out what is truth; but, on the

(Continued from p. 318.) Monday, 7th. On Saturday, Mr. Bingham and myself took tea and passed the evening on board the Pretpriatie, Capt. Kotzebue-the ladies having declined the invitation, which extended to them also. She is a well built, substantial and fine ship of 22 guns, constructed under the direction of Capt. K. expressly for the voyage she is now perform ing. Her deck is remarkably handsome, and the accommodations of the officers and crew very convenient. She is however entirely too low between decks, both for comfort and beauty, not admitting of an upright position in a man even of or dinary size. The captain's cabin is large, airy, and well, but not handsomely furnished-no carpets or drapery. The chairs, sofa, tables, and sideboard are of plain mahogany, with one or two large mirrors. The most VOL. IV. Ch. Adv.

ornamental article is a richly painted half length portrait of Alexander of Russia; to which may be added a smaller engraved likeness of the same noble character, exquisitely finished, and said to be much more correct than the former. It is the production of a French artist, executed at the time the Emperor was in Paris; and, if I am not greatly mistaken, I have seen copies of the same in the United States.

The officers' cabin is separated from the captain's by the companion way, and is fitted so as to afford, beside a comfortable dining and sitting room, a large state-room for each of the lieutenants, midshipmen, and naturalists. Immediately forward of this is the forecastle, where the crew, one hundred in number, are neatly and conveniently accommodated. One end of this apartment is used as a chapel, and furnished with an altar-a shrine of the Virgin Mary-a tolerably executed Madonna-one or two crosses, and a painting of our Saviour, surrounded by portraits of the apostles, in twelve compartments of the same frame.

There is a publick service every Saturday evening, and we were gratified by the opportunity of witnessing the ceremonies of the Greek church. They consisted of the services of the rubrick, prayers, lessons, chaunts, the offering of incense by the priest (who officiated in an embroidered mantle of green, crimson, and gold)—the kissing of the Bible and of a cross, at the close of the service-held by the priest to each individual after the benediction. There was no exhortation, nor any thing in the form of preaching. During the ceremonies, which occupied more than an hour, the crew stood six abreast, three on the starboard and three on the larboard side, in regular lines from the altar to the bows, and observed the greatest order, and seemed to listen with suitable solemnity to the worship. The officers, among whom we took our places, formed a group im2 Z

mediately behind the chaplain, and by their apparent reverence and devotion, set a commendable example to the crew. Their full, deep-toned voices, and in some instances, good taste in singing, added much to the effects of the chaunts and anthems, the chorusses of which, in two or three cases, were very fine.

Though in the whole there was a striking want of that simplicity, which we believe characterized the primitive church of Christ, still we could but regard with tender interest and complacency, a scene in which so large, so youthful, and so noble a company, publickly and solemnly testified their remembrance and fear of God; rather than in uniting in the shameless exhibitions of debauchery, which too often, by day and by night, scandalize the Christian name of ships at anchor at these Islands.

Within the last two days, there have been arrivals both from the leeward and windward stations, and the very animating letters received by them from the missionaries and chiefs, promise a more interesting state of things in the mission, than we have yet known; and have made our monthly prayermeetings delightfully profitable. But as incidents of this kind will be fully noticed in the publick journal to the Board, I shall not, in general, enlarge on them, but confine myself to those which you will be less likely to find in print.

Wednesday 9th. Yesterday morning, Mr. Hoffman and myself, after an early cup of coffee, visited the salt lake, of which, I have already given you a description. The morning was so fine, the air so pure and bracing, that without any exertion or fatigue, we returned in time to dine with the family at 1 o'clock. Before reaching the village, we descried a sail, coming from Tanai; it proved to be the native brig Ainoa, which came to anchor just after dark. Shortly after, a messenger from the royal family

arrived, requesting a visit from us to Kaahumanu, who had been absent some months to the leeward, and had just landed. Our interview with her and the heads of the nation, was uncommonly pleasant and interesting. We found them in one of the upper rooms of her new house, on the point. The room was well lighted by several handsome glass lamps, and was furnished with a neat Chinese sofa, under a large and richly framed lookingglass. Two mahogany card-tables were covered with expensive cloths of orange and blue, and three large field bedsteads were hung with drapery of beautiful figured yellow merino cloth. On the floor, in the middle of the room, which was spread with new mats, of the finest and handsomest kind, the group was seated; consisting of Kaahumanu, in the centre, Karaimoku on one side, the queens of Rihoriho on the otherwhile Opiia and Hoapiri Wahine, the sisters of Kaahumanu-Keariiahomu, her husband (a son of Taumuarii) Laanui, the husband of Opiia-Tahitona, a Tahitian (private tutor and chaplain of Kaahumanu and Keariiahonui) and two or three confidential attendants, made up the circle. They were all well dressed, (not a naked person in the room) and apparently most happy in the arrival of the regent and queen. The first salutation we received from Kaahumanu, was in these words-"We are saved by Jesus Christ," or "Jesus Christ is our salvation;" and the whole conversation of the evening was on the subject of religion alone, which seemed to be the only subject of their thoughts and desires. When I recollected what they once were, noisy, drunken, debauched, disgusting idolators, and observed the sobriety of their appearance-the mildness of their manners-the piety of their conversation, and the tenderness and affection of their while looks and expressions to us, my heart deeply felt the power

of

the contrast, and most sincerely blessed God for what my eyes saw and my ears heard, I was most forcibly reminded of a little circum stance which gave rise to a happy train of thought and feeling, during our first voyage to Lahaina. Shortly after our arrival at the islands, as you know, we were almost immediately separated from the rest of the mission family, and sent alone to Maui. Not yet familiarized to the noise, the rudeness, and the nakedness of the natives, and in a degree ignorant of the general mildness and harmlessness of their character, for the first few hours, at least, on finding ourselves surrounded by 200 of them, we naturally felt, in some respects, exposed to trials and dangers; we knew that the " tender mercies" of the heathen are "cruel," and felt ourselves completely in their power. While indulging in reflections of this character, I accidentally raised my eyes to the main top of the barge, and very much to my surprise, in the device on the top cloth, found a subject of meditation, that totally changed the character of my feelings, and so effectually lulled every apprehension to rest, that I have never known one of the kind since-It was a sketch from Isa. xi. 6. "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them."

After a half hour's general conversation, they requested to have a hymn and prayers; at the close of which we returned home, greatly pleased with our interview, and with the happy prospects which the engagedness of the chiefs presents for the nation at large.

After breakfast this morning, the whole company, including the young prince, who had not come on shore last night, came to the chapel to return publick thanks for their safe

return to Oahu, and happy meeting with their friends.

Saturday, 12th. We were last evening called to part with our Russian friends of the Pretpriatie, which left the harbour early this morning, and now looks only like a lofty spire in the midst of the ocean, as she is gently securing an offing from the island before night. We have formed a pleasant acquaintance with several of her officers, though only one, besides Captain Kotzebue, speaks much English. But none have taken such hold on our hearts as the interesting and accomplished young Hoffman-he has been so constantly in our family-has so greatly commended himself to our love by his intelligence and good breeding, by the warmth and polish of his manners, by the tenderness of his heart, and by a thousand evidences of a virtuous and amiable spirit, that our parting embraces were more like those of long beloved and bosom friends, than of strangers whose acquaintance has been only of a day. He spent both the last evenings with us, and among other little mementos, has left an elegant piece of Latin for each of us, in H.'s album. We feel sad at every remembrance of him, and our prayers hover around the ship that bears him from us, as we see her fading from our sight, probably forever.

Sabbath, 13th. The chapel has been filled to-day with hundreds of well dressed and respectable looking chiefs and people-and a more interesting congregation than they formed, can scarcely be imagined. There is indeed every reason to believe, that on the minds of many the word of God is working effectually, while the ears of all appear to be opened to the messages of salvation and of grace.

In the afternoon I held a service with the natives, in one of the valleys east of Honoruru. An incident or two during my walk, will show the state of feeling in the minds of

many

of the people. When going, I met a company of females near a mile from the village, who I knew belonged to the families of the chiefs on the point. I was surprised to see them so far in the country on the Sabbath, and asked them where they had been; they replied, "To the thicket (or wilderness) near the mountains, that we might pray in secret places." They were then on their way to the chapel, for the afternoon worship.

On my return I met an interesting looking young man, and asked him where he lived, he answered, "Far in the country, where I work during the week, but to-day is the Sabbath, and I do not work, but go to the house of prayer, to hear the good word of God." And on reach ing home, I found another waiting to inquire of Mr. Bingham and myself, whether it was "a sin to pray to Jehovah when walking along the street, and when at work;" for his heart often wished to pray when thus occupied, but he dared not, lest it might be wrong.

Monday 14th. Yesterday a French merchant ship, which has been in port for several months undergoing repairs, put to sea; and this morning the native brig Ainoa, left the harbour for Maui, taking to Lahaina our friend and patroness Hoapiri Wahine, who has been absent from her husband, on a visit at Tanai, for many months.

February 24th. There have been two late arrivals-the whale ship Swift, Capt. Arthur, from a cruise, and the brig Tamaahmaah, Captain Meek, from Norfolk Sound and the port of St. Francisco, in California. Neither of them, however, have brought any news or interesting intelligence.

Kaahumanu does not enjoy very good health, and by the advice of Dr. Law, her private physician, has retired three or four miles up one of the valleys, east of Honoruru, for the benefit of the mountain air. Those unacquainted with the atten

tion and respect required by the high chiefs from inferiors of all ranks, would scarce believe the bustle and confusion this movement of her ma jesty has created. The removal of the court of Great Britain from St. James's to Windsor Castle, would not make a greater change in the west end of London, than is perceived in the fashionable circles of our metropolis. The road leading to her retreat, has been almost constantly marked by the equipages (two or three single horse wagons,) and by crowds of more humble gentry on foot, with hundreds of attendants and servants bearing furniture and provision, and a variety of luggage. Karaimoku and his family, which since the absence of Rihoriho, has included the young queen's Kekauruohi, Panahi, Kinau, and (at present) Kekauonohi, are the only grandees that remain. The etiquette of the court seems to require their presence at least occasionally, and though Kaahumanu only went on the morning of the 22d, they have just returned this evening from spending the day with her. We were quite amused with their appearance, as they approached the Mission House. Karaimoku rode in a neat yellow wagon, drawn by a fine and well harnessed horse; his wife, the queens, and his trusty and confidential attendants, were on horseback; while their respective retinues, making a large crowd, ran after them on foot, bearing the badges their distinction, and spit boxes and tobacco pipes, the inseparable appendages of their persons. queens were the objects of special notice, as exhibiting something that was entirely novel to us. The horses they rode were gay and spirited, and being unaccustomed to riding, and accommodated with men's saddles only, they rode astride, instead of sitting in the American manner. Being very modestly dressed, however, there was nothing particularly objectionable in their attitude, especially as it seemed requisite for

of

The