The year 1822, was also distinguished by an event of the highest importance, and happiest results to the mission. It had, from the first, been an object with the missionaries at the Sandwich Islands, to pay a visit to the Society Islands, where God had so signally displayed his power and grace. It was known that the languages of the two groups of islands were similar, and it was thought that an interview with the English missionaries at the Society Islands, would afford great assistance to our missionaries at the Sandwich Islands, in perfecting their knowledge of the language, and also aid and encourage them in other respects. The chiefs were so fully convinced of this, that, at one time, they had determined on making a voyage to those islands themselves, in company with some of the missionaries; but this determination had been overruled, doubtless by the influence of foreigners, who knew, that should such a visit be made, many of the reports they had themselves so industriously circulated, must immediately be proved false. But while the missionaries were grieved at this disappointment, an unexpected occurrence gave them all the advantages of the visit, and added many others.

"Soon after the great change in the South Sea Islands became known in Great Britain, it was determined, by the directors of the London Missionary Society, to send out a deputation, as soon as convenient, to take a view of things

on the spot: to aid the missionaries in organizing new churches; to aid the converted inhabitants in fixing their social institutions; to suggest practical improvements; and to make a report of facts and proceedings, and to recommend measures in the face of Europe and the world. It may be questioned whether a more honourable service has been assigned to men, since the apostolic age. The directors were looking out for suitable men to be employed in this agency, for more than a year, when the Rev. Daniel Tyerman, of the Isle of Wight, and George Bennet, Esq. of Sheffield, were appointed. They sailed from London in May, 1821; reached Tahiti, in October; resided at that, and the neighbouring islands till March, 1822; and then entered upon their visit to the Sandwich Islands."

A mysterious but kind Providence brought these gentlemen to the Sandwich Islands about the middle of April. They were accompanied by Mr. Ellis, one of the English missionaries from the Society Islands, by Auna and his wife, converted Tahitians, and other natives of those islands. They had not intended to tarry more than two or three weeks with our missionaries, but peculiar circumstances led to a protracted stay of several months. The benefits of this providential visit are thus recorded in a communication from Messrs. Tyerman and Bennet, to the American Board of Missions. “Our arrival appeared to be

most opportune. Many false and injurious reports had been propagated here by some foreigners, respecting the state of religion in the Society Islands, in order to prejudice the minds of the king and chiefs and people of these islands against the gospel and the missionaries. Your missionaries had projected, a short time previous to our arrival, a voyage to the South Sea Islands, accompanied by some of the chiefs, to ascertain the real state of things there; but the foreigners, by their influence, had prevented the vessel from sailing. At the time of our arrival, the people were labouring under the influence of the prejudices which the foreigners had produced among them. But our testimony to the wonderful work of God in the South Sea Islands, together with that of the people who accompanied us, appears to have confounded the opposers, and confirmed the king and chiefs and people in the confidence, that the prejudices which had been excited were false and unfounded. We had no idea that this important object was to be answered by our voyage. Truly, God is wonderful in counsel, and mighty in executing."

On the 22d of August, the gentlemen of the English deputation sailed from the islands, leaving behind them Mr. Ellis, and two Tahitian chiefs, with their families; who had been prevailed on by an earnest request from the chiefs and our own missionaries, to take

L

up a permanent residence there. The accidental discovery that Auna's wife was the sister of one of the Sandwich Island chiefs, was one circumstance that helped forward this result. Many reasons conspired to render a step like this proper and desirable. Mr. Ellis, from his intimate knowledge of the Tahitian language, was, in the course of a few weeks after his arrival, able to preach fluently and intelligibly to the natives in the Hawaiian tongue. He of course would be a valuable assistant in the work of translation, which at that time engaged much of the attention of the missionaries. A six year's residence at the Society Islands had given him an acquaintance with the characters and dispositions of the natives of those islands, which, differing but little from those of the people of the Sandwich Islands, he would be an able adviser in all the plans of usefulness at the latter place. His labours seemed to be more needed here than at his former station, as he left there many other competent labourers. When, to all these considerations we can add, that Mr. Ellis "possessed excellent missionary talents, real piety, and much of the spirit of his office; an ardent zeal for the salvation of souls; an entire devotedness to his work; a good share of general knowledge, and a useful proficiency in an acquaintance with medicine; an ability to ingratiate himself with the natives, together with amiable and affec

tionate dispositions; and that his wife was like minded," no other reasons need be given why his permanent abode at the islands should have been on all hands desired.

The effect of this addition to the mission family was such as you would expect. It gave an immediate and powerful impulse, that has been felt to the present time, and was certainly not the least among those causes which have made the mission to the Sandwich Islands the wonder of Christendom, and crowned it with success almost without a parallel. Yours,

E. E.

MY DEAR L.-In January, 1823, the infant child of Mr. Bingham died. This event would have been attended with more than usual solemnity, as being the first that occurred among the members of the mission family; but it became still more interesting, as connected with the introduction of Christian burial into this benighted country. You have been told of the abominable practices which attended the deaths of the natives, and espe cially those of the chiefs;-but soon after the interment of this child, the death of a half sister of the king took place, and she was decently buried, being followed to the grave by her near friends, in mourning dresses, without noise or tumult. The king had previously