sures, with a view to adapt the future operations of the Missionaries to its present advanced state, and to the prospects opening before them. The Despatches before us come down to the 27th of September; and their contents present an encouraging view of the progress of the Mission, though the situation of the Missionaries continues to be one of much peril and difficulty, and which subjects their faith and patience to severe trials. They earnestly solicit a constant interest in the prayers of their friends in this Country.

Before we proceed to detail the most material parts of these Despatches, it may be noted, that to the full particulars of the Mission given at pp. 369-378 of our last Volume, it was inadvertently omitted to prefix the heading "Church Missionary Society;" and that, in consequence, that article is placed, on the last page of the Contents, under the head Miscellaneous," instead of having been assigned, in its proper place, to the Society.

Pacification of the Native Tribes. Various particulars relative to the successful exertions of Mr. Marsden and the Missionaries to terminate hostilities among the Native Tribes are given in the part of our last Volume just referred to: the following notices relative to that event, extracted from Mr. Marsden's Journal, lately received, will, however, be read with interest.

March 8, 1830-Soon after I had landed, some of the Chiefs came and informed me what had taken place, and what was likely to happen; requesting that I, with the Rev. H. Williams, would, early the next morning, visit the Camps of Rewirewi and Ururóa, the two contending Chiefs, and see if any thing could be done to bring about a reconciliation before their different friends arrived; stating, that no time was to be lost, to accomplish this purpose.

March 10-This morning, as soon as the day dawned, a Chief, named Temorenga, knocked at my bed-room window, and said that he wished to see me directly he had just arrived from Taiamai, with his Tribe. I immediately arose; and

Mr. W. Williams went with me, to speak to him. He had brought his Tribe to join the people at Kauakaua, to support Rewirewi. Temorenga had lived with me, at Parramatta, some years before: he was very glad to see me; and observed, that the New Zealanders would not attend to the good advice which he and I had formerly given them, when I was with them. He had been my constant companion, when I went to the River Thames, the Bay of Plenty, and the west side of New Zealand: he was always much attached to me; and is a man of great consequence amongst his countrymen. I urged him to use his influence, with the contending parties, for peace; and he promised he would.

After we had urged all the arguments we could, to bring about a reconciliation, we walked over the ground where the battle had been fought, and where the remains of some of the bodies of the slain were lying unconsumed on the fires. The air was extremely offensive, and the sight most disgusting: we could not but bitterly lament these dreadful effects of sin, and the baneful influence which the Prince of Darkness has over the minds of these poor Heathens: we then took our departure, with the hope that peace would be made.

March 13-In the last interview we

had with Ururóa's party, we pressed upon them to bring the negotiations for peace to an end; saying, that we were tired with visiting both parties without their coming to any final determination. They replied, that we must not be tired, but must act with firmness, wards until the difference should be setand continue to go backwards and fortled; for they could not make peace them

selves.

March 15-This day has been very stormy and wet. We could not visit the fighting Natives at their Camps, and therefore spent the day, in a great measure, in conversation on the evils of war, with such Chiefs as were at our Station; using what arguments we could to induce them to lay aside their destructive habits: telling them, that to kill one another was the greatest cruelty, as well as folly; that they ought to save every New Zealander's life they could, for the protection of themselves and their Country; that the time might come when a Foreign Enemy would visit them; and that, when they wanted protection, they would have no man to protect them. They heard us with attention, admitting the justice of

our observations; and I have no doubt but that they will reflect upon them, as they appeared forcibly struck. The Chiefs at Paihia wished us to keep up a constant communication with both parties, in order to make peace, though the weather was so wet and stormy.

March 17, 1830-Early this morning, Tohitapu, a Chief, called at my window, and said the army was moving from the Island of Móturóa, and he wished me to get up. Tarose immediately, and was informed that thirty-six canoes had been counted passing between the Main and the Island. I saw a long string of warcanoes proceeding, in a line, across the Bay. We launched our boats, and went to meet them; and were rejoiced to find that they were directing their course to the point agreed on the preceding evening. When we came up with them, we found that they had left their women and children upon the island; and that they were all fighting-men, well armed, and ready for action at a moment's notice. I counted more than forty men in one war-canoe. They stopped when we came up with them, and we held a consultation relative to our future operations. We were anxious that the two main bodies should not come within gun-shot of each other, for fear of consequences. It was agreed that three Chiefs should accompany us, as Commissioners, to Rewirewi's Camp; and that their party should take their station on the east side of the harbour, upon a high hill, opposite to Rewirewi's camp-in sight of it, but at such a distance that they could do no injury.

When these matters were settled, the three Commissioners accompanied us in a small canoe, which they paddled themselves. The fighting-men ran up to the top of the hill, naked, like so many furies; firing their muskets every moment, until they got to the station fixed on.

Here

they remained, constantly discharging their muskets, in the sight of the enemy. When we approached near the shore, the Commissioners brought their canoes between our two boats, and in that position we approached the beach: they told us, that if they were killed, we must be given up as a sacrifice for their lives; but we were under little apprehension of danger, from our repeated communications with both parties: and as both parties placed the utmost confidence in us, we were fully persuaded that the Commissioners would be cordially received. As soon as the canoe touched the shore, Jan. 1831.

they immediately jumped out, without speaking a word to any person, and ran with the utmost speed to the place where the Chiefs were assembled: we followed as fast as we could. It was not easy to make our way through the crowds of Natives that pressed upon us on every side': at length we joined the assembly. One of the Commissioners, known by the name of Captain Campbell, and who is a very great Priest among them, having sat for a short time in silence, stood up and addressed the Chiefs. After saying a few words relative to his own party, informing them that the sun was beginning to shine on them and that their prospects were brightening, he sang a song, or a kind of incantation or prayer, the meaning of which none of us could understand: he then proceeded with his Address, and was listened to with much attention and respect. Several of the Chiefs spoke in rotation. They gene rally held a small stick in their hand while they were speaking, walking at the same time backwards and forwards before the audience; and at length broke the stick in two, signifying that their anger was broken. Several Chiefs replied to what was said by the Commissioners; until the conditions of peace were closed, as far as they could be at that time.

The Commissioners appointed by Rewirewi and his allies were to call at the Missionary Station the next morning; for us to accompany them, as we had the other Commissioners, and to witness the final ratification of peace. As soon as these points were settled, the assembly broke up; and the Chiefs repaired to their respective Tribes, which formed separate parties under their own Chiefs, each Chief taking the command of his own men. They were naked, having only their belt and cartridge-box. They all loaded their muskets, each Tribe firing, by itself, several rounds, and dancing their war-dance. At length they all formed one dense body, repeatedly fired their muskets, and went through their various exercises, which they closed with a general war-dance. Their dance and yell made the air sound like the roaring of the sea in a storm, when the waves dash against the rocks. The party on the opposite hill began to fire their muskets, and dance, in a similar way. We now took our departure from these wild and savage scenes with much satisfaction, as we had obtained the object we had been labouring for. I

when I endeavoured to shew what the Apostle meant by the love of God in this passage; what was the great power of the Apostle's persuasion; and that, what ever dangers the Christian may be called to encounter, whatever trials to sustain, whatever privations to suffer, or whatever enemies may conspire against him, there is nothing, in earth or in heaven, that shall ever be able to separate him from the love of God. I stated, also, the perilous situations of many of the Saints, both of the Old and New Testament; out of which it appeared, to human reason, impossible for them to be saved; yet God gave them a glorious deliverance: and, as the Missionaries had the same God to protect them from evil, they might safely rely on Him.

Notices of Mr. Marsden's Conversations with the Natives.

March 23, 1830-We arrived at Waimate in the evening. In this Settlement there are a number of different Establishments belonging to different Chiefs, all either relatives or friendly allies. We had no sooner pitched our Tent, than we were surrounded by the Natives. Rewa, and some of the principal Chiefs, spent the evening with us. Our conversation turned upon the miseries of New Zealand, arising from their constant wars with each other: we told them, if they wished to enjoy their Native Land, they must not kill one another: if they continued to do so, they would have no man to protect their Country from any Foreign Enemy, should any, at a future period, wish to take it from them: they seemed sensible of this, and blamed Captain

I was

for all the public evils that had lately happened. In addition to Politics, we introduced the subject of Religion. One Chief, whom the Rev. W. Williams had formerly visited, was there he had told Mr. Williams that he had prayed to God every day, in consequence of what the Missionaries had said to him; but, he said, God was a great way off: he did not know whether He heard him or not, as he had received no answer. much struck with this observation: it evidently appeared that his mind was impressed with a desire to know the Only True God. He reminded me of the Roman Centurion, Cornelius, who prayed to God alway, until, through the medium of an Angel, he received instruction from Heaven to send for Peter, who would tell him words by which he would be saved. Mr. Kemp, one of the Missio

naries who occasionally visits Waimate, told me that the Natives asked him why the Missionaries did not come to live with them. "You tell us," said they,

66

about your Religion, when you come; but we forget what you told us before you come again, you are so long absent: you should live with us, and tell them to us to-day, and to-morrow, and the next day after; and then we should not forget them." Such are the observations which they make; and it is to be wished that their desires should be complied with.

March 28, Sunday About seven o'clock, I retired to Mr. Kemp's, where I lodged. He informed me there were several Young Men and Women who wished to come into the room, to have some conversation on Religious Subjects. I replied, that I had no objection; when twelve Young Persons came in their anxious countenances expressed the inward workings of their minds: their object was, to learn what they were to do to be saved. I endeavoured to represent to them the love of Jesus in coming from Heaven to die for a ruined world; and mentioned many instances of the love and mercy which He manifested to poor sinners, when on earth; such as-His compassion to the two blind men who sat by the way-side, begging-to the Woman of Samaria, who met Jesus at Jacob's wellto the Woman who was a sinner, who fell down before Jesus, and washed His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head-to the Woman who was taken in adultery, and brought into the Temple to Jesus-and to others: all of whom He had graciously received into His favour and love, and shewed Himself ready to pardon and to save them. I told them that they were exactly in the same state as those whom I had mentioned. They heard, with tears and deep attention, all I had to say. What I could not clearly express, Mr. Kemp interpreted. When I had spoken to them for about an hour, we all kneeled down to Prayer; when, to my utter surprise, a Young Native Woman began to pray. I never heard any address offered up to Heaven with so much solemn awe, with so much pious feeling, with so much sweetness and freedom of expression, with such humility and heavenly-mindedness. I could not doubt but that this Young Woman prayed with the spirit, and with the understanding also. She prayed, fervently, that God would pardon her sins, and preserve her from evil; and for

A Pious Youth died at Rangihoua a little before my arrival. Mr. King informed me, that a little book, containing. part of the Church Service and a portion of the Scriptures, which had been translated, was his constant companion. His afflicted Mother, when he died, put the book into his hand, and expressed her conviction, from his attachment to his book, that he had gone to Heaven. The late Dúatára's Son, a fine youth, died the day after my arrival. He was very anxious to see me; but before I landed, he was dead. His friends were much distressed about him. [Rev. 8. Marsden.

the Natives in the room, that they all might be preserved from falling into temptations by which they were surrounded. Her very soul seemed to be swallowed up by the sense she had of the evil and danger of sin, and the love of Jesus, who came to save sinners. Her voice was low, soft, and harmonious: her sentences were short, and fully expressed in the true spirit of Prayer. I never expected to see, in my day, any of the Natives of this barbarous Nation offering up their supplications for pardon and grace to the Only True God, with such godly sorrow and true contrition. The aged Widow of the late Chief, E'Ongi, and two of his Daughters, were in the room. When we arose, the old woman exclaimed, "Astonishing! AstonishIng! Astonishing!" and then retired. I must confess I was not less astonished than she was, as the circumstance was equally unexpected by me as it was by her.

She

May 6,1830-I dined with Mr.Hamlin: a Young Woman waited at table. seemed very much concerned about her future state, asking Mrs. Hamlin, with great simplicity, if there was any more room in Heaven? She said, her mind was very dark, and her heart very hard; and wished Mrs. Hamlin to tell her what she must do. Mrs. Hamlin told her, she must pray to God. She asked, "What must I pray ?" Mrs. Hamlin told her. She said, "O Mother!" which they use as a term of strong affection,

they are the very words we used last night, when I and some of the Girls were praying together; but I am afraid God will not pardon me, I am so great a sinner." She is humble, and meek in mind. I was much interested by her simple statement. I took tea with Mrs. Hamlin. They have some Domestic Servants who are deeply impressed with the importance of Eternal Things: the Word of God has produced a wonderful effect upon their minds; and the communications of the Spirit, both in their convictions and consolations, appear to me very uncommon: yet their experience seems perfectly agreeable to that of some of the Heathens in the Apostles' time.

Since the affair at Kororarika, the Natives here have been very quiet, though with much watchfulness: about five weeks since, a party from Matauri went down to the Southward, to seek revenge for the death of E'Ongi, the principal Chief, who fell on that occasion: they killed a considerable number; falling on them by surprise, and in a time of peace. This circumstance may probably involve them in much trouble, if not loss of lives. However, I rejoice sible respect, and receive our Message. to say that all parties pay us every posWe visit them as frequently as we can; and shew them all that we are their common friends, desiring not theirs but them, and that they may turn from their lying vanities to the One Only True God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. As we are situated between both parties, it frequently occurs that they meet here and deliver their harangues. The Natives in the Settlements behave with great order; and there is no doubt but the work of Divine Grace has begun amongst them: several here have been baptized, and there are many others in a pleasing state. The Mission has certainly never been in so prosperous a state as at present. [Rev. H. Williams.

It will, I doubt not, much cheer you, to hear that our work, at length, affords some prospect of an abundant recompense for the labour which has been carried on for so many years. The number baptized during the past year has been 8 Adults and 5 Children: two of the Adults are since dead. Many are in a most promising way. [Rev. W. Williams.

The following passages from the Rev. William Williams's Journal confirm the opinion thus expressed. April 25 Went up to the Pa, with Mr. Davis, and spoke to the Natives.