under the direction of the Missionaries, he himself composed the alphabet at the beginning of the Taheitean Spelling-book, which was the first process of the kind ever performed in his dominions.

In the following month he wrote letters to the Rev. Sam. Marsden, of New South Wales, and some of the Brethren, who left the islands in 1809, and had settled in the colony. In that to Mr. "Health and prospeMarsden he says, rity to you, and also to your family, and the salvation of Jesus Christ, who is the true Saviour by whom we can be saved. The word of God has taken great root here at Tabeite, and also verily at Raiatea, and in the other islands; the word of the true God is generally believed; he himself caused his word to take root, and therefore it succeeds in these countries. From ancient times these countries were perpetually enveloped in gross darkness, but at this present time they are illuminated; by Jehovah himself the light was communi. cated, consequently they are enlightened, and are brought to know and receive the excellent word; the Lord himself graciously sent to us his word, therefore it is that we are now instructed. idols of these countries are wholly abolished; they are burned in the fire; also are abolished the various customs connected with them; they are totally cast away by the people; all this has been effected only by the word of God."

The

On the 6th of December, in the same year (1817,) a vessel, of about 70 tons burden, which had been built by the Missionaries, was launched at Oponohu harbour, in Eimeo. On this occasion Pomare performed the usual ceremonies, and as he passed along, pronounced the words "laorana Haweis," (i. e. "Prosperity be to the Haweis.") It was the particular wish of Pomare that the vessel should be called after the late Dr. Haweis, as he had shown himself a distinguished friend of the Otaheiteans.*

On the 23d Feb. 1818, died Teina, Pomare's infant son. By this bereavement the Queen was greatly distressed, but the King did not appear to be much affected by it,

On the 13th May, 1818, a general meeting of the natives was held in Eimeo, when it was agreed to form a "Taheitean Auxiliary Missionary Society," in aid of the Parent Society in England. On this occasion Pomare delivered a sensible and interesting address, in which it was his object to excite his subjects to the display of greater liberality in the cause of the Gospel than they had ever formerly shown in favour of idolatry. The King was appointed President of the Society. The first anniversary of this Institution was held in what was called the Royal Mission Chapel, in the district of Pare, Otaheite, in May, 1819, on which occasion Pomare presided, and at least 5000 of the natives were present. The King and some of the pious Chiefs, as well as Missionaries, addressed the meeting, Three of the Brethren preached at one time to three very large congregations, which were all collected within the Royal Chapel. On the following Sabbath the King was baptized in the presence of a numerous assemblage of his subjects, Mr Bicknell administered the rite, and Mr. Henry addressed the people on the occasion.

Pomare is about six feet in height, and proportionably stout, but stoops, and has rather a heavy appearance. He is about forty-five years of age. There is something morose in the ordinary aspect of his countenance, but this disappears the moment he enters into conversation. His voice is soft and agreeable; his address prepossessing; his manners easy and affable, and his disposition kind, generous, and forgiving. He spends much of his time in making tours through the different parts of his dominions, accompanied by numerous attendants. When in his house,

The Royal Chapel is 712 feet long, by 54 wide. There are three pulpits, 260 feet apart from each other, 29 doors, and 138 windows.

gress of Vienna the memorable declaration which denounced the Slave Trade as "the desolation of Africa, the degradation of Europe, and the afflicting scourge of humanity," and which affirmed that the final triumph of the Cause of the Abolition would be "one of the greatest monuments of the age which undertook it, and which should have gloriously carried it into complete effect," France and the Netherlands were prevailed upon to sign Treaties stipulating for the total and immediate Abolition of this Trade. The result of the efforts used with Spain and Portugal was not so favourable. Both these Powers, however, agreed forthwith to confine their Slave Trade within certain specified limits. Portugal still refused to fix any precise period for the final abandonment of it; but Spain consented totally to abolish it from the 30th of May, 1820, five months being allowed for completing the voyages that might have been commenced prior to that period.

The Governments of Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands, further agreed to admit the proposed right of search; but neither the French nor the American Government could be prevailed on to assent to this important arrange

ment.

Extent to which the Slave Trade is

carried on.

The vast extent to which the Slave Trade on the West Coast of Africa continues to be carried on, is proved by ac counts received from the River Bonny, dated in July and August, in the last year; from which it appears, that from March to July in that year, there had usually been in the Bonny from nine to sixteen Slaving Vessels of all descriptions at the same time, each capable of carrying from 300 to 700 Slaves; and that two of these vessels, which were there in March, and had then sailed to the West Indies, had returned in July, and were engaged in their second voyage. During the above period of five or six months, 120 sail of French, Spa

nish, and Portuguese vessels had visited the River Bonny for the purpose of procuring Slaves; in consequence of which, the preparation of palm-oil is said to have been totally neglected by the Natives.

An account received from a Gentleman on board the Cyane, an American Sloop of War, which was sent to cruize on the coast of Africa, for the purpose of suppressing the American Slave Trade, dated in April last, states, that, since passing the river Sherbro, that vessel had detained ten slave ships, four of which were sent in for adjudication; but the others, being well covered by fabricated papers, were given up. The number of vessels engaged in this inhuman traffic, the writer says, was incredible: he supposed that not fewer than 200 sail were on the coast at the date of his letter, all of them fast sailers, well manned and armed, and many of them owned by Americans, though under foreign flags. The Cyane had been constantly chasing, night and day, since her arrival on the coast; and sometimes had several slave ships in sight, at the same time.

When Governor MacCarthy visited Bathurst, in the river Gambia, in the month of August last, on his way to Europe, he learnt, on undoubted authority, that the Slave Trade was at that time carried on with great activity, by various merchants both of Senegal and Goree. These persons were pointed out to him; and it was added, that they had established agents for this purpose at a small village called Albreda, in the river Gambia, about 40 miles above its mouth. Albreda was formerly a French Factory dependent on Goree. By the treaty of 1783, it will be seen that France relinquished all right to its occupation. Indeed by the terms of that treaty, which has not since undergone any modification, it clearly appears that the river Gambia was as effectually and unreservedly ceded to Great Britain, as the river Senegal was to France; and, as France would fairly object to our attempting to re-establish ourselves on

any part of the Senegal, or even to navigate that river at all, so are we entitled to maintain the same exclusive right of occupation and navigation in respect to the Gambia.

Since the British establishment of Bathurst was formed on the island of St. Mary's, near the mouth of the river, no French vessel has been allowed to enter or leave the river without undergoing an examination. Notwithstanding this restriction, however, a very considerable Slave Trade is carried on by the French Factors of Albreda, throughout the whole length of the river Gambia; for, although the authorities at Bathurst do not permit any vessel with slaves on board to pass that settlement, yet they are carried in canoes to the left bank of the river; and thence conveyed by land to Cacho or Cazamens, whence they are shipped for the West Indies. By these means the whole of that noble river, which would otherwise be entirely free from this traffic, is, from one end to the other of its navigable course, exceeding 1000 miles, made the scene of the atrocities of the Slave Trade: and thus not only is the progress of civilization and improvement in that fertile region retarded, and the natives prevented from pursuing a course of peaceful industry and beneficial intercourse; but wars are excited among them, and the sur rounding districts are involved in depredation and blood. Such being the case, it appears to be highly expedient that the British Government should claim the strict execution of the provi sions of the treaty of 1783. This mea sure is pressed on us, under existing circumstances, by the highest moral considerations; and Great Britain there. fore seems bound to vindicate her exclusive right to the navigation of this river, were it only to deliver our suffer. ing fellow-creatures, in that quarter of the globe from the violence and cupidity of the Slave Traders. This subject the Directors believe is now under discussion between the two Governments.

Extent and Enormilies of the French
Slave Trade.

Of the Extent of this Trade, the following extract sufficient. ly testifies. It is abundantly confirmed by witnesses and documents, brought forward by the Directors :

In the year 1820, the French Slave Trade had swelled to a more enormous extent than at any former period. During the first six or seven months of that year, the coast of Africa is described as having actually swarmed with French Slave Ships. A distinguished Officer of the British Navy, who was himself an eye-witness to the fact, writing on the subject with deliberation, and after his attention had been called to a careful recollection of what he had seen, uses this remarkable expression : "The number of French Slave Ships now on the coast is something incredible."

The Spanish Slave Trade having ceased universally in May 1820, and England possessing by treaty the right of seizing and confiscating Spanish contrabandists, the flag of that nation cannot now be safely employed by Slave ships. On this account the French flag is eagerly sought after, not only by Spaniards, but by Americans and Portuguese, in order to protect their criminal traffic; it being the opprobrious distinction of France, that her flag alone can now be safely resorted to for the protection of Slave ships to the northward of the Equator.

Manner in which the engagements of various European Powers have been fulfilled.

The Directors now proceed to give some account of the manner in which the engagements of these different nations on the subject of the Slave Trade have been fulfilled. By France.

Notwithstanding the stipulations entered into by France for the Abolition

of the Slave Trade, the Directors have had the painful duty, year after year, of exhibiting to the Institution numerous and irrefragable proofs of the continuance of this Traffic by the subjects of that kingdom. They are much concerned to say, that the account which they have now to render of the state of the French Slave Trade is even more afflicting than any which has preceded it. Indeed, so multiplied and so flagrant have been of late the violations of the French law on this subject; to such an extent, and with such impunity, has this trade been carried on, almost without the affectation of disguise; that the evil, practically speaking, could scarcely have been greater, had it been actually tolerated by the Government of France.

Of the enormities attending the French trade, the Directors state two cases, the details of which cannot be read without horror. These are the cases of the ships Le Rodeur and La Jeune Estelle. We shall abstract the particulars of each with as much brevity as practicable :

Le Rodeur left Havre for the coast of Africa, and reached her destination the 14th of March 1819, anchoring at Bonny, in the river Calabar. The crew, consisting of twenty-two men, enjoyed good health during the outward voyage, and during their stay at Bonny, where they continued till the 6th of April.

They had observed no trace of Ophthalmia among the natives; and it was not until fifteen days after they had set sail on the return voyage and the vessel was near the equator, that they perceived the first symptoms of this frightful malady. It was then remarked that the negroes, who, to the number of one hundred and sixty, were crowded together in the hold and between the decks, had contracted a considerable redness of the eyes, which spread with singular rapidity. No great attention was at first paid to these symptoms; which were Dec. 1821.

27

thought to be caused only by the want of air in the hold, and by the scarcity of water which had already begun to be felt. At this time, they were limited to eight ounces of water a day for each person; which quantity was afterwards reduced to the half of a wine glass. By the advice of the surgeon, the negroes were brought upon deck in succession, in order that they might breathe a purer air. But it became necessary to abandon this expedient, salutary as it was, because many of those negroes affected with Nostalgia (i. e. a passionate desire to revisit their native land) threw themselves into the sea, locked in each other's arms.

The disease which had spread itself so rapidly and frightfully among the Africans, soon began to infect all on board. The sufferings of the people and the number of the blind augmented every day; so that the crew were seized with the dread of not being able to make the West Indies, if the only sailor who had hitherto escaped the contagion, and on whom their whole hope rested, should become blind like the rest.

This calamity had actually befallen the Leon, a Spanish vessel, which the Rodeur met with on her passage, and the whole of whose crew having become blind, were under the necessity of altogether abandoning the direction of their ship. They entreated the charitable interference of the Rodeur; but the seamen of this vessel could not either quit her to go on board the Leon on account of the cargo of negroes; nor receive the crew of the Leon on board the Rodeur, in which there was scarcely room for themselves. The difficulty of taking care of so large a number of sick in so confined a space, and the total want of fresh meat and of medicines, made them envy the fate of those who were about to become the victims of a death which seemed to them inevitable, and the consternation was general. The Leon has not been since heard of, and in all probability was lost.

The Rodeur reached Gaudaloupe on the 21st of June, 1819, her crew being