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of civilization had not prepared the way, in gree, for the introduction of the GOSPEL amongst the inhabitants of Otaheite. On the 7th November, he adds, "Since I closed my letter of October 2, I have received more particular accounts from the Missionaries. I rejoice exceedingly, that their labours are at length crowned with such wonderful success. Nothing can be more gratifying to the religious world in general; but more particularly to us on this side of the globe. They have their way now plainly opened. The natives in the Society Islands have literally "cast their gods into the fire." I am persuaded more is effected than was ever imagined by the warmest advocate of the Mission, in this limited time. What is twenty years for so great a work! The glory of the Lord is now risen upon these heathen; they begin to see his salvation. Pomare writes like an apostle : his heart appears to be deeply engaged in the work, and he is a true friend to the cause."

The Missionaries, in a letter dated Eimeo, September 6th, 1815, state, that "In the month of May, the queen, and her sister Pomare Vaheine, went over to Taheite. In the mean time the king, who had resided for some time in our neighbourhood, thought, while this party was absent, of going himself on a slow journey around Eimeo, stopping a while at different places, to see if he could persuade the chiefs and principal people to cast away their idols, &c. When he had proceeded in this manner as far as a small district called Maatea, he sent us the enclosed letter, to inform us of the state H

of religious affairs in that part of the island." The

letter was as follows.

My dear Friends,

Maatea, 3d July, 1815.

May you be saved by Jesus Christ, the only Saviour by whom we can be saved. This is an account of our journey :-The ratiras (or chiefs) are inclined to hear and obey the word of God; the word of God is now growing in Moorea (Eimeo.) Jehovah himself, He it is that causeth the growth of his own word; for that reason it prospers; it grows exceedingly! Many there are now that lay hold on the word of God; there are thirty-four or thirty-six in Atimaha of this description. There are others of the common people that are left; they pay no attention to these things; but the ratiras, they all regard the word of God. As for Maatea, they all here-the ratiras and common people-all of them have embraced the word of God; ninety six new ones are of this description. Not many of Haumi have as yet regarded the word of God; but Hamuna has. Hamuna is a man of knowledge; he has been hitherto a priest of the evil spirit (i. e. an idol priest,) he has entirely cast away the customs of the evil spirit. I am highly pleased with these things; and particularly that the ratiras attend so well to the word of God. This was my business in this journey; it was to make known to them the word of God; and behold they have listened unto it; they have regarded it. Had it been otherwise, I should have been much grieved.

We shall not go from this place yet awhile; we were to go this day to Haumi, but the ratiras detained us, saying, Stay a little, that you may know that we have in truth hearkened to the word of God. To this I said, Agreed; we shall not go till another Sabbath day is over, then we shall proceed. They answered, that is well. The idols of these ratiras are committed to the fire, they are entirely destroyed.

To-morrow is our meeting for prayer, the commencement of the new month. Should these ratiras ask me to write down their names, how ought I to act? Shall I write them? Write your mind to me. without delay, and give me instructions how to do. May you be blessed of God,

POMARE, KING. Can this be Otoo, the once apparently stupid, indolent, wicked Otoo? Oh what a change in the whole man this letter evinces! Is not sin a hard master? When sin reigns in the soul of a man, it not only pollutes his heart, but it darkens his understanding. He acts without system; he runs his race with uncertain steps; it is a devious path, wandering in which he is continually lost. But when the soul of such a sinner, full of contrition, resolves to return to virtue, and to God, every step he takes towards truth and righteousness enlightens his mind, and enlarges his way, until he finds deliverance from the power of sin; then, basking in the rays of the Sun of righteousness, his faith is strengthened, and he beholds the way of

the saints, who go from strength to strength, until they reach the heavenly Zion. 'Thy word," he exclaims," is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."-Thus a traveller, lost in the thick gloom of a forest, will find as he approaches a clearing, (as we call it in America,) a light faintly beaming on his path; and following its guidance, he travels on, until he reaches the open settlement. There the sun cheers him with his effulgence; he breathes a purer air, and he sees a beaten road, which leads him safely to his home.

Accounts received from the Missionaries, dated March 30th, 1816, communicated intelligence to the following effect. In the beginning of November, 1815, peace being seemingly restored between the contending parties at Otaheite, Pomare returned thither with his people, in order to reinstate them in their lands. On approaching the shores of Otaheite, the idolaters fired upon them. The king commanded that the fire should not be returned, and messages were exchanged, which led to apparent reconciliation.

After this Pomare and his people landed, and several of them were reinstated in their possessions, but jealousies and alarms still existed. The idolatrous chiefs, at length, with a strong force, attacked Pomare and his Christian adherents, on Sabbath day, November the 12th, at the time of morning prayer, believing at such a season they could easily be cut off. They had assembled, however, under arms, to guard against such a stratagem.

Though disconcerted at first by a sudden and furious attack, they soon rallied again, as their auxiliaries, the Raiateans, and the people of Eimeo, had kept their ground. The engagement then became desperate. Several fell on both sides. What was very pleasing to behold, the converts, when they had a little respite, (all not being engaged at once,) fell on their knees among the bushes, crying to Jehovah for protection, and for the support of his own cause against idolatry. Upafara, chief of Papara, and the principal man on the side of the idolaters, was killed.

When his death became known, his whole party were thrown into confusion, and Pomare obtained a complete victory. The vanquished were treated with great lenity, the king giving orders that they should not be pursued, and that their women and children might be kindly entertained. Even their property was spared, and the bodies of such as had fallen were decently interred. That of their chief was respectfully carried to his own land for burial.

Such self-command, so much mercy extended to enemies vanquished in battle, was indeed a new thing in Otaheite. This clemency on the part of King Pomare, (once the revengeful, bloody Otoo,) produced the happiest effects on the minds of the heathen all exclaimed, that the new religion must be good, which taught its professors to practice such distinguished benevolence; they declared also, that their gods were cruel and false, had deceived them, and sought their ruin; they were resolved to trust them no longer. On the evening of

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