hospitals and other public institutions, in the most minute manner, which has already had a salutary effect.

"I may be mistaken, but I think that he is almost the first crowned head that ever entered the doors of a prison, with the benevolent object of inquiring into, and improving its state; this he has lately done, and not in a superficial manner; having, in many instances, entered closely into the examination of particular cases with great interest, and caused many to rejoice in being set free. This work is carried on without any parade; he just steps into a sledge with a single horse, and no one knowing where he is going, of course there can be no preparation made to receive him; in this manner all are taken by surprise, and the real state of things fairly developed, whether rough or smooth."-p. 134.

During his residence in Russia, Wheeler, as before intimated, acted as a sort of quiet missionary. Religion seems never to have been absent from his thoughts, and he now began to pant for a wider field of operation. In 1832, therefore, he resigns his appointment, which he appears to have successfully executed, and sails for England, leaving his family behind, his eldest son succeeding him in superintending the improvements which had been made. His plan now was, to make a visit of Christian love to the inhabitants of the South Sea Islands, and having with the assistance of his friends purchased the Henry Freeling, lately a post-office packet" of 101 tons, he sails on this errand in the autumn of 1833. The volume gives copious extracts from his journal kept during the voyage, containing accounts of the tremendous storms the vessel encountered, especially on her passage round the Cape of Good Hope, but otherwise presenting few incidents which possess any particular interest. In September of next year he arrives at Van Diemen's Land; he afterwards visits Botany Bay; and sailing for the Society Islands early in 1835, reaches Tahiti about the last of April.

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His usual method, on visiting the Islands, was first to call on the missionaries, who in all cases gave him a friendly reception, then by their concurrence and help to hold meetings after the manner of the Friends. Some of these meetings were holden on ship-board for the benefit especially of the sailors, whether English or American, who might chance to be in harbor, but most of them were holden on land and were composed mainly of natives.

At

these meetings Wheeler's certificates from the Society of Friends at home were usually first read in the language of the inhabitants; this was followed by an interval of "silent waiting," during which our missionary of love generally found his mind much "exercised," and was finally "moved" to speak, one of the missionaries, or some other individual, acting as his interpreter. This was a novel proceeding in these Islands, for they had never before witnessed a Quaker, or Friends' meeting. In nearly all cases, however, the people manifested great seriousness, listened attentively to what was uttered, and expressed their gratitude for this visit of benevolence. The addresses of Wheeler are full of the spirit of love; occasionally some of the principles of the Society of Friends are explained in them, especially the nature of their "silent worship," but nothing appears to have been said in them which could excite jealousy in the breasts of Christians of other denominations, through whom the Islanders had been converted to the faith of Jesus. Indeed the harmony which seems scarcely for a moment to have been interrupted, between Wheeler and the regular missionaries, or resident teachers, forms one of the most beautiful features of the narrative, and rarely has there been witnessed a more decisive manifestation of the spirit of Christian brotherhood.

Tahiti, [Otaheite,] as is well known, is the largest of the Georgian, or Society Islands, being about a hundred miles in circumference. The following extracts from Letters of Charles Wheeler, son of Daniel, and his companion on this South Sea visit, relating to the religious character of the inhabitants, or the state of Christianity in the island, are the more deserving of attention, as the Wheelers, from not being connected with any of the Missionary establishments, or with the mercantile interest, may be regarded as disinterested and independent witnesses, and their habits of observation and great uprightness and Christian benevolence add weight to their testimony.

The population of Tahiti, which was estimated by Cook at 100,000, was, when Wheeler visited it, reduced to 10,000. "The low lands next the sea, which constitute but a small portion of the whole island, are universally selected by the natives for the place of their abode." The tropical heats and the ease with which subsistence

is procured, are attended with their usual effects on these islanders. "There is nothing, perhaps, in the Tahitian habits more striking or pitiable than their aimless, nerveless mode of spending life. The community, with the exception of a few foreigners, or foreignized natives, might seem to exist to fish, pluck and eat fruit, bask in the sun, dabble in the water, or frolic on the sand."

"Their outward circumstances, there can be no doubt, have derived material benefit from the introduction of Christian teachers and civilized regulations, so far as they have been introduced; these, besides preventing certain Pagan enormities amongst the natives, constitute a valuable check to the vicious and overbearing conduct of foreigners, which so lamentably sullies the history of these islands. Adventurers of all kinds are not now at liberty to take up their abode on shore, without reference on the part of Government to their respectability and motives in coming; but certain credentials or recommendations, as we are told, are required, without which no one is encouraged or openly allowed to remain. This is a very useful restriction, as previously to its adoption the most worthless characters have caused much disorder and misery by settling among the natives and marrying, to remain only till caprice has dictated the desirableness of a move, when their families have been deserted without scruple or redress."-pp. 753, 754.

How much of real Christianity there is among the inhabitants presents a different question.

"It is nearly impossible for a visitor, who cannot even speak the language, to pronounce with much certainty on a subject of such moment, as the religious state of the community. Certainly appearances are unpromising; and however unwilling to adopt such a conclusion, there is reason to apprehend that Christian principle is a great rarity. Far, however, be it from me, to depreciate the labors of those who have been the instruments of the change produced in this island. So far from considering the beneficial results of their efforts as unimportant and insignificant, I regard them as of the highest moment, and as fully equal to what could in reason have been anticipated. In my opinion, if nothing more had been effected by the Tahitian Mission than the translation of the holy Scriptures into the language of the country, every sacrifice that has been made would have been abundantly rewarded. But the translation of the sacred writings is not all. Idol worship, the adoration of nonentities, or of supposed divinities, in the form of images, with all the frightful train of debasing ceremonies and human

sacrifices, are abolished; open infanticide, which prevailed to such a dreadful extent, is done away; and some degree of attention is paid to the improvement of the minds of children."*. -pp. 757, 758.

This is to look on the favorable side. On the other side are the vices and misery introduced by foreigners, and the effects of the almost universal selfishness they have manifested, and in but too many instances, continue to manifest in their traffic with the natives. Take the following from the diary of Daniel Wheeler at Tahiti.

"We have met with great civility and willingness to lend a helping hand in many of the American captains; at the same time, we are frequently sensible of a mixture which cannot be reconciled. The foregoing remark has no allusion to the inconsistent conduct of the crews of many of the American vessels, which we have fallen in with here, that are called 'temperance ships.' At first I could not but view these with satisfaction, and with a degree of thankfulness, as likely to contribute by their example to the welfare of the islanders. But, alas! I now find, with horror and surprise, that the word 'temperance' applies only to the ships, and not to their crews, none probably of which are members of a temperance society; they are merely bound by articles, that the voyage shall be performed without any spirits being on board, except as medicine, and their sobriety only exists because they cannot get the liquor; when on shore, and unbound by these articles, they are lamentably, in many instances, notorious for drinking to excess; and their immoral conduct, at this place, makes me shudder for the awful and woful consequences, both as regards themselves, and the daughters of Tahiti. Although great exertion is made and promoted by the Missionaries here to stop this overwhelming torrent of iniquity, yet all their measures are abortive, and can never be successful unless co-operated with on the part of the masters of the shipping. Notwithstanding the disuse of spirituous liquors is rigid

* The practice of compelling the people to attend public worship, in some of the Islands, however, is more than once alluded to with disapprobation by the Wheelers. Thus, Charles says, "the same compulsory system which obtains in Tahiti, ensures for the present in Eimeo an external attention to the services of the chapel; but the very existence of this detestable regulation indicates unsoundness. The fact that the poor native is subjected to a penalty if he absents himself from the chapel, and the sight of a man with a stick ransacking the villages for worshippers, before the hour of service, a spectacle we have witnessed, are so utterly abhorrent to our notions, that I cannot revert to the subject without feelings of regret and disgust."-p. 763.

ly enforced at Tahiti, and no person is allowed to have the article in his house; yet this bane of the human race is still to be purchased on shore, and the supply is kept up by the American ships; it is clandestinely landed amongst the supposed empty casks which are sent on shore for water, (an instance of this kind took place a few days ago,) and by other methods. A considerable quantity was brought in last week by an American schooner from Valparaiso, and safely landed; but has since been discovered, the casks destroyed and their contents totally lost. By what is said, I do not mean to imply that this gross immorality is confined solely to the crews of the American vessels, because those of the English are perhaps equally implicated, but with this difference, they do not assume the character of 'temperance ships.'

"How dreadful and appalling the consideration, that the intercourse of distant nations should have entailed upon these poor, untutored islanders, a curse unprecedented and unheard of in the annals of history; it is said that one-fourth of the whole population is miserably affected with disease brought amongst them, and kept up by the licentious crews of the shipping." -pp. 316, 317.

We find Wheeler frequently returning to this subject. Speaking of the Islands of the Pacific generally, he says: "scarcely a ship arrives, but it has for sale rum, muskets, and gunpowder." We are aware that things have changed somewhat for the better since, and recent accounts especially are very encouraging.* Still the evil referred to, is far from being wholly corrected, and the "demoralizing and devastating effects" of traffic, and intercourse of the natives, with foreigners who visit their shores, present a subject of painful reflection. Civilized nations have much to do, to repair the wrongs they have inflicted on these simple and unsuspecting Islanders, whose confidence they have abused, and whose morals they have corrupted.

The following passage, which illustrates the Quaker views of the Gospel, will also show the manner in which Wheeler was accustomed to speak to the natives on the subject of religion, and we cannot but think such preaching more useful than the method frequently adopted, of begin

Thus it is said, that seventy hogsheads of rum being recently put up at auction "at Honolulu, only five were sold, and this was after the sale had been in vain attempted at several other places which had been visited," and that at the Marquesas and Tahiti "munitions of war and spirituous liquors are declared contraband."