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MISSIONARY LETTERS
(typed copies)
From the Sandwich Islands Mission
to the
American Board of Commissioners
for
Foreign Missions
1819 - 1837
8 vols.
"Supplementary to the letters published in the
Missionary Herald
of the same dates."
Vol. 1
THIS IS A REPRODUCTION OF
A N UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT
FOR REFERENCE AND STUDY ONLY
N O T TO BE REPRODUC'D IN ANY W A Y
WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF
THE COPYRIGHT O W N E R
�I N D E X
Pages
: New York, Nov.28,1822 ...... ....... .33
ANONYMOUS
A U N A , JOURNAL OF : Written in Tahitian & translated
into English by Mr.Wm.Ellis,
May-July 1822 ---------------------- -227-231
Brig Thaddeus, Dec.15,1819 -------- -40
BINGHAM, HIRAM
Hanarooah, May 13,1820 ------------ -41-43
Hanarooroo, July 23,1820 --------- --44-45
[Hanarooroo?], Aug.17,1820 -------- -88
Hanaroorah, Oct.11,1820 ----------- -46-47
Hanaroorah, Nov.2,1820 ------------ -48-50
[Hanaroorah?, 1821?] -------------- -52
Woahoo, Jan.3 1 , 1 8 2 1 -------- ------- -53
Woahoo, July 7,1821 — -......... —
54
Sandwich Islands, Oct.13,1821 ----- 55
Woahoo, Dec.25,1821 -- ---------- --- 56
Woahoo, Feb.2,1822 ------- ------ -----57
Waohoo, Aug.9,1822 ------------------18-19
Oahu, Oct. 12,1822 ------------------ -58
Oahu, Dec.28,1822 --------------------62
Oahu, Mar. 15,1823 -......... ....... .63
Oahu, Mar. 19,1823 .................- 65
Oahu, Mar.20,1823 ----------------- -64
[Late in 1 8 2 2 ? ] ........ -.......... .59
Hanaroorah , May 24,1823 ----------- -35-36
Lanaina, Aug.30,1823 ---------- ---- -66
Oahu, Oct.27,1823 ................—
67-73
Oahu, Nov. 8,1823 ...... ... ....... —
74
Honoruru, Nov.21,1823 ------------- -75-80
Oahu, Jan. 1,1824 ------------------- -82-83
Honoruru, Jan.12,1824 ---------------81
Oahu, Sept. 14,1829 -------------------374-379
See Joint Letter, July 23,1820 ---- 1 - 3
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Nov.19,1820 .......51
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July 6 , 1 8 2 1 .......4-7 "
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Oct.11,1821 ----- 8-10
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Nov. 25,1821 .......11-14
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Feb. 1,1822 ------ --15-17
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June 27,1822 ------132
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Oct. 12,1822 -------20-23
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Nov.18,1822 -------60-61
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Dec. 28,1822 -------24-25
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Jan.11,1823 ..... 26- 2 9
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Mar.20,1823 -------3 0 - 3 2
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Oct.23,1823 ----- --3 7- 3 9
•BINGHAM, MRS.S.M .:Brig Thaddeus, Nov.8-Dec.15,1819 -- 84-87
Woahoo, Sept.26,1820 -------------- --88
BISHOP, ARTEMUS : Ship Thames,L.I., Nov.20,1822 -------163-164
"
" , Dec.20,1822 -------- ----165-166
Honoruru, Oct.15,1823 ------------- --171-174
�-2Pages
BISHOP, ARTEMUS : Waimea,Tauai, Jan.7,1824 -----------175-176
Waimea,Tauai, Jan.14,1824 ---------178-179
See Joint Letter, May 5,1824 ---- -34
"
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Oct. 23,1823 --- -37-39
BLATCHLEY, ABR. : Honoruru,June 17,1823 ----- ------ -212-213
See Joint Letter, May 5 , 1 8 2 3 --- -34
"
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"
Oct.23,1823 --- -37-39
CHAMBERLAIN,DN'L: Wahoo, Oct.6,1820 .............. —
120-123
Atooi, Nov.10,1820 ............... .124-126
Atooi, Nov.14,1820 — ..... -..... - 127-130
Woah oo, Nov. 1 7 , 1 8 2 1 .............. .131
Atooi, Nov.11,1822 ...... ....... .134-135
[Atooi, Feb.1823?] — .... -....... .133
Boston, Aug.27,1823 -------------- -136
See Joint Letter, July 23,1820 -—
1-3
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July 6 , 1 8 2 1 --- -4-7
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Nov. 25,1821 --- -11-14
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Feb. 1,1822 ---- -15-17
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Nov.11,1822 --- -117
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Dec. 28,1822 --- -24-25
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Jan. 11,1823 --- -26-29
CHAMBERLAIN,LEVI: Ship Thames, Nov.20,1822 -...... - 181c
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Nov.20,1822 ----------183-184
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Feb.2,1823 — .......- 186-188
Oahu, June 10,1823 ------ ------ --- 189-191
Honoruru, Sept.1,1823 -------------192-194
Honoruru, Oct.15,1823 -------------195-200
Honoruru, Jan.1,1824 ------------- -201-202
Honoruru, Jan.9,1824 ------------- -204-208
Honoruru, Jan.12,1824 -------------209-211
See Joint Letter, May 5,1823 ---- -34
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"
"
Oct.23,1823 --- -37-39
DEKOVEN, HENRY S: Middletown, July 12,1823 ----------234-235
ELY, JAMES
: See Joint Letter, May 5,1823 ---- -34
"
"
Oct.23, 1823 ..... 37-39
ELLIS, WILLIAM : Oahu, Mar. 10,1823 -------..........214-216
GOODRICH, JOSEPH: Long Island Sound, Nov.20,1822 -- -181a
See Joint Letter, May 5,1823 ---34
"
"
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Oct. 23,1823 --37-39
: Atooi, Nov.21,1820 ...............
149-157
HOLMAN, THOMAS
JOINT LETTER
: Bingham,D.Chamberlain,Whitney,
Ruggles,& Loomis, Hanaroorah,
July 23,1820 ............-....... Whitney & Ruggles, Atooi,Oct.14,1820
Bingham & Loomis, Hanaroorah,
Nov. 19,182
0
Ruggles, & Whitney, Wymaah,Atooi,
Nov. 19,1820
Ruggles & Whitney,
- Feb.1
1821?
0 8
1-3
105-106
�-3Pages
JOINT LETTER : Bingham,Thurston,Ruggles,D.Ckamberlain
Loomis, Woahoo, July 6,1821
4-7
.
Bingham,Whitney, Ruggles, Atooi,
Oct.11,1821...... ........ -......
8-10
Bingham,Thurston,D.Chamberlain, &
Loomis, Woahoo, Nov.25,1821 --------
11-14
Whitney,& Ruggles,Atooi,Dec.28,1821 —
109
Bingham,Thurston,D.Chamberlain, &
Loomis, Oahoo, Feb.1,1822 ---------
15-17
Whitney,& Ruggles, Atooi,Feb.4,1822 —
115
Bingham,Thurston,Whitney,Loomis,
Mission House,Oahu, June 27,1822 -----
132
Tyerman & Bennet , Woahoo,Aug. 9,1822 -
217-226
Bingham,Thurston & Loomis, Oahu,
Oct. 12,1822 ......................
20-23
Whitney,Ruggles & D.Chamberlain,
Tauwai, Nov. 11,1822 — — --------- -—
117
Thurston & Bingham,Oahu,Nov.18,1822 --
60-61
Bingham,Thurston,D .Chamberlain,Loomis,
Oahu, Dec.28,1822 ................. 24-25
Bingham,Thurston,D.Chamberlain &
Loomis, Honoruru, Jan. 11,1823 ------
26-29
Bingham,Thurston & Loomis, Oahu,
Mar.20,1823 — -....................
30-32
Richards,Stewart,Bishop,Blatchley,Goodrich,Ely,L.Chamberlain,Honoruru,
May 5,1823 —
---------------- 34
Bingham, Thurston, Stewart,Bishop,Blatchley, Goodrich, Ely, L. Chamberlain ,Loomis,
Honoruru, Oct.23,1823 ...... ...... 37-39
KEALIIAHONUI: Oahu, Nov.8,1823 ................. - 74
LOOMIS .ELISHA: Oahu,Aug.9,1822
........... .137-138
" Oct .14,1823
.... .140-144
" Dec.31,1823
...... .146-148
See Joint Letter, July 23,1820 ------- 1-3
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Nov. 19,1820 — ......51
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July 6,1821 - - - - - 4-7
�-4Pages
: See Joint Letter, Nov.25,1821 --- 11- 14
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Feb. 1,1822 — ---- 15-17
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June 27,1822
132
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Oct.12,1822 ----- 20-23
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Dec.28,1822 ----- 24-25
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Jan. 11,1823 —
26-29
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Mar.20,1823 ---- 30-32
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Oct.23,1823
37-39
OLIPHANT, MR.
: Canton, China, Jan .21,1822 ........ 232-233
158
RICHARDS, WM.
: Lahaina , Aug .30,1823 ------------See Joint Letter, May 5,1823 ....
34
RUGGLES, SAM’L
: Wymai,Atooi, Aug. 2,1820 .......... 103-104
See Joint Letter, July 23,1820 -1-3
ft
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""
105-106
Oct.14,1820 --"
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Nov.19,1820 --107
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108
Feb.
1821 ---"
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"
4-7
July 6,1821 --"
"
ft
8-10
Oct .11,1821--"
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Dec.28,1821 ———
109
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Feb.4,1822
115
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117
Nov.11,1822 --STEWART, C. S.
: Ship Thames, Feb. 2,1823 -.... .... 167-168
Lahaina , Dec • 1823,-.............
160-162
See Joint Letter, May 5,1823 -— -- 34
"
"
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Oct.23,1823 --37-39
THURSTON, ASA
: Owahoo, Apr. 4, 1 8 2 1 ...............
92-93
Owahoo, May 4, 1821 — ............. 89-91
4-7
See Joint Letter, July 6,1821
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Nov.25,1821 --11-14
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Feb.1,1822 ---15-17
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June 27,1822 —
132
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Oct.12,1822 --20-23
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Nov.18,1822 ——-— 60-61
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Dec.28,1822 ———— 24-25
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Jan.11,1823 ———— 26-29
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Mar.20,1823 --30-32
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37-39
Oct.2 3 , 1 8 2 3 --THURSTON, MRS.A.: Journal ,[Kailua],Sept.1821 ------- 97
[Kailua ?], Oct .16 , 1 8 2 1 ..... ..... 96
Woahoo, Jan. 31 ,1822 ..............
94-95
TYERMAN & BENNET: Woahoo, Au g .9, 1822 ..... -........
217-226
98-101
WHITNEY, SAMUEL : Woahoo, July 20,1820 ..... .......
Atooi, Aug.1 ,1820
101-102
Journal ,Atooi, Jan.1-Feb.4,1822
111-114
110
Atooi, Feb.4 ,1822
Atooi, Aug.12, 1822 ..... -....... - 116
Waimea,Tauwai, Jan.4,1824 ------ - 118-119
See Joint Letter, July 23,1820 --- 1-3
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Oct.14,1820 --105-106
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Nov.19,1820 --107
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108
Feb. 1821 ....
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Oct.11,1821 --8-10
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109
Dec.28,1821 --"
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Feb.4,1822 ——
115
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Nov.11,1822 --117
LOOMIS, ELISHA
�.
1
9 Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 112
Hanaroorah, Woahoo.
No. 3
July 23, 1820.
Rev. & Very Dear Sir:
Far removed from the loved dwellings of Zion in our dear native
land, surrounded with pagans & strangers, we would lift up the
voice of grateful praise to our covenant Father & call on our
patrons & friends to join, for the Lord hath comforted his
people and ministered unto us an abundant entrance among the
heathen. But here we see no altars of abomination, nor bloody
rites of superstition.
Jehovah has begun to overturn the
institutions of Idolatry & to prepare the way for the nobler
institions of his own worship. While we were tossing on the
rolling waters of the Atlantic, & while Zion was on her knees
before the hearer of prayer, he was casting down the vanities
of the heathen & demolishing the temples of paganism, and holding
in derision, the former pride & disgrace of this nation. Wafted
by the propitious gales of heaven, with "flut & gladsome song"
we passed the dangerous goal of Cape Horn on the 30th of Jan.,
set up with joy our Ebenezer there, & on the 30th of March arrived
off the shore of these long lost & long neglected "Isles of the
Gentiles". But how were our ears astonished to hear the voice
devine proclaim, "in the wilderness prepare ye the way of the
Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God " ! How
were our hearts agitated with new & various & unexpected emotions,
to hear the interesting intelligence, "Tamahemaha is dead," "The Taboos are broken" - "The Idols are burnt" - "The Moreahs
are destroyed" - and the priesthood abolished". This victory
was achived by that arm alone which sustains the universe. He who
in wisdom has ordained that no flesh should glory in his presence
has saved us from the danger of glorying in the triumph, & taught
us, with adoring views of his majesty to "stand still & see the
salvation of God". Long indeed, and we expect to toil with slow
and painful progress, to undermine the deep laid foundations of
the grossest Idolatry. But he whose name is Jehovah looked upon
the bloodstained superstruction, enacted in insult to devine purity,
& without even the winding "rams horn" of a consecrated priest, it
sinks from his presence & tumbles into ruins, & he commands us as
the feeble follower of the captain of salvation to go up every
man straight before him, & "in the name of our God to set up our
banner".
We have been allowed to plant the standard of the cross at Kirooah
& at Hanaroorah where the chiefs, the natives, & foreigners may from
east to west hear the glad sound of the Gospel. Most gladly would
we meet the standard on every Isle in this cluster but we have no
priesthood to send, & the people are without any form of religion,
waiting as it were for the love of Christ, though they know not hie
name nor the way of salvation. From Ataer the call is loud and
impressive "come over & help us".
Two of our members Brothers
Whitney & Ruggles accompanied George to his Father who received
his long absent son with the tenderest affection & made him second
in command over his Islands. He said that the arrival of Hoomeboome,
as his son is called, made his heart so joyful that he could not
talk much that day. He expressed much gratitude for the kindness
�of the friends of Hoomehoome, in providing for his comfort, his
instruction, & his safe return, & in sending teachers to their
Islands to instruct him & his people in the arts & sciences & in
the principles of the Christian religion.
The king said with
respect to George, "I love Hoomehoome very much more than my other
children" (of whom he has a daughter older, & a son younger) "I
thought he was dead - I cry many times because I think he was dead some captains tell me he live in America - I say - no - he dead - he
no more come b ack - But he live - he come again - my heart very
glad" - He engages to he a father to us as we have been to his son.
He is importunate in his entreaties that some of us should settle
them, promises to give us houses & land as much as we need, & ex
pressed a great desire to learn, & has commenced the work in earnest.
The brothers after spending 8 weeks in instructing him and his wife
& family & exploring the Island returned to this place. Tomorrow
it is expected that they with their wives will proceed again thither
in the ship Levant, Capt. Cary, on her way to America via Canton.
We hope the Board will have it in their power immediately to station
there an able preacher of the gospel, a skillful & devoted physician,
an industrious farmer, & an accomplished Lancesterian school-master.
At Kirooah, our brothers, though subject to many and great privations
are allowed to engage in their appropriate work with fluttering
hopes of success. The king leads the way as their humble pupil,
and now begins to read intelligently in the new Testament, desirous
to outstrip all his subjects in the acquisition of useful knowledge.
Two of his wives & two stewards, under their instruction exercise
themselves in the earnest reading lessons of Webster’s Spelling Boo k .
At this place we have a pleasant school all evening with desirable
progress in the rudiments of the English Language.
The number
under our instruction here is about 30 among whom are the Gov. or
head chief of this Island, - his wife, - the daughter of the chief
of Harakehooa, & 11 children of whitemen.
One of them, George
Holmes, exhibits a fine genius for painting.
We send you a specimen
of drawing & lettering executed by him under our instruction, which
we think could not without better models, be exceeded by any school
boy in America. We need here the aid of a preacher of the gospel
& a schoolmaster who is skilled in the Lancasterian method of instruction, & a tried physician, who would cheerfully & patiently
endure the necessary toils & privations to which he must be subject
in removing the disorders of body & soul, among the heathen & among
his fellow laborers. - God has hitherto preserved our health thus far
but the heathen around us, are wasting away b y disease, induced not
by the climate, but by their imprudence & vices.
Dr. H. Has purposed
to take his station at Mo w e . That is fruitful Island, & we hope
soon to see the standard of the gospel planted there.
The scruples
of the king with regard to the danger of additional missionaries in
this field we hope will be over before they can arrive.
He expressed
a regret that no one of us could repair & build vessels for him.
We think that a pious & skillful & devoted shipcarpenter, inured
to selfdenial, & able to recommend & enforce the religion of Christ,
might be of incalcuable use to the people. Such a mechanic they
would prize above all others.
We know not what divine wisdom intends
to do here.
But we think a great effort ought to be made in every
Island, to establish Christianity, & to take possession for Christ
& the church, before that Idolatry which seems to have been crushed
by a single blow of Jehovah's arm should again be revised.
The case
is so new and unparalleled in the history of the world that we know
not what to say.
"When hath a nation changed its God?"
�3
The enemy may have retired but for a season, to appear again
in his wrath to kindle the flames of preoaution, & reestablish
the worship of deamons in all its forms of pollution & cruelty.
How often did Israel, the choice of God, give melancholly proof
of the most deeprooted depravity & the incurable propensity of
the human heart to the grossest Idolatry, even with the lively
cruelties of divine truth in their hands, and the awful majesty
of Jehovah's presence before their eyes. Were it not for the
fact that the present is an age of wonders, & the hope that the
Christian church will not relax the ardor of effort, nor the
fervency of prayer for us & this people, we should expect soon to
see the altars abomination enacted, & a powerful priesthood of
superstition arrayed against this little, feeble, band of Christian
pilgrims, before one of us could preach plainly & impressively in
the native tongue the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ. But,
in God is our hope, & we will not fear. We dare not put our trust
in princes. The king of Zion alone is worthy of our confidence.
It is He that has begun the glorious work and it will go on.
The powers of earth and hell cannot successfully o ppose it. We
are nothing - And whether defeat or success shall be our particular
lot, we know that the holy cause in which , under your patronage,
we were allowed to embark, cannot fail of ultimate & universal
triumph.
Zion shall arise and shine, - the Redeemer shall reign The Isles shall wait for his law - The glory of the Lord shall
cover the earth, & all flesh shall see it together for the mouth
of the Lord hath spoken it. Cheered with these divine consolations,
in the midst of trials & privations - contented & happy in our
work, weak and inexperienced as we are, we turn our eyes to you
for counsel, & to Heaven, for help, and subscribe ourselves dear,
Sir, your servants for Jesus' sake, & fellow laborers in the vin iard
of our Lord.
H. Bingham
Daniel Chamberlain
Samuel Whitney
Samuel Ruggles
Elisha Loomis
P. S. We send you by the Levant, a copy of our journal up to
the 19. July. 1820. - We wrote you by the ship Mercy Capt. Smith
about 50 days after an embarkation, & sent on arrival another
letter No . 2 by the L'Argle Capt. Sherbrook, in the second we gave
a more particular account of our arrival & settlement - but this
may reach you first.
H. B.
To:
Rev. Samuel Worcester D.D.
Salem, Mass.
U.S.A.
�9
Previous to Sept. 1824
N o. 7
V
Page 114
Sandwich Islands, Woahoo.
July 6 , 1821.
Rev. & Very dear Sir:
Our unchanging Benefactor is now kindly offering us another
opportunity to communicate with y o u . The Ship Alexander,
Capt. Comerford, which left Boston last October, for Columbia
River, arrived here yesterday, & will sail for America
tomorrow by way of Canton. By the last conveyance Capt. Lewis
of the Ship Arab, we wrote you in our joint letter, of the
general prosperity of our schools, of the removal of Brother
Thurston from Kirooah & settlement at this place, of the defection
& excision of Dr. H . of the
erection of our framed house, and
gave some intimations of a contemplated visit to the Society
Isles by the special & gratuitous favor of King Tamoree. - It is
now about 3 months since he began to contemplate that enterprize,
& he seems steadily to aim at it as an object noble, & truly
desirable. He is disposed to fit and man, and send at his own
expense one of his new & fine Brig's lying in Wymaah Bay without
employment, in perfect trim for a voyage, & well furnished with
the substantial provisions for such a voyage.
He wishes to
open a friendly correspondence with Pomare, to inquire how he
and the missionaries d o , & how they live, & to give us the
opportunity to see them, that We may be more useful to him &
this nation.
He wishes also to procure seeds, plants, shrubs, etc.
from the variety & exuberance of those he can afford.
We wish to
cherish in Tamoree such a noble spirit. We desire to draw in the
influence of Pomare at this time to encourage the rulers
of these Islands to acknowledge Jehovah as their God and Jesus
Christ as their Savior.
We desire to see our Missionary Brethren
there, to make ourselves minutily acquainted with the whole
economy of their establishment, to avail ourselves of their per
sonal advice from long experience, to see the state of their
schools & church, the modes of instruction & of worship adopted
among the people, to learn what la w s , customs, a r t s . etc. they
have recommended or would recommend, to obtain copies of all their
elementary books, translations etc. to consult them especially
respecting the most convenient characters for writing & printing
this language; to be refreshed by our brethren there, in our
distant pilgrimage in this western work. There are facilities for
our work which we should hope to obtain; facilities of which we
now feel the most pressing need . & without which we believe many
of our plans must be less wisely concerted, many of our measures,
less decided, & our labors more tedious & unsuccessful, our steps
more tardy & hesitating in many parts of the great work of
laying the foundations broad & lasting, in this new & large &
interesting plan, where the temple of the Lord Jehovah must rise
in order & beauty, fitly framed together, holy & filled with his
glory. - Nor can we say that an ardent desire to rejoin with our
brethren then over the late downfall of Idols & the signal triumph
of the cross in these favored Isles, to refresh them with good
news from a far land & to preach among our fellow laborers there,
& the natives converted Christianity, has had no influence in
our mind in looking at the question of expediency as to sending
one or more of our men here to them at this time.
Remember
�5.
ing the desire of our Patrons, that we might enjoy the benefit
of a personal interview with those honored servants of the Lord
Jesus should providence put it in our power, we have presumed
upon their approbation of the intended visit in view of w hat
we conceive to be weighty reasons in its favor, provided no
material objections are opposed to it. Now we apprehend no
increase of expense to our patrons, no lass of time, as our
schools can be well conducted in the mean time, & the business
of acquiring this language will not be retarded; no loss of
influence with this people, who have seen a good account of
the improvements at Otaheite & desire to see the same here, No sacrifice of health, as it is the opinion of those deemed
competent to judge that these would rather be a prospect of
promoting health.
We have deliberately consulted the opinion
of several gentlemen acquainted with the return of the voyage
& with the chiefs of both nations, who advise us to go, & who
from habitual a cts of kindness deserve our confidence as friends,
as Capt. Davis and others.
They tell us that the passage is
uniformly pleasant, occupying about 20 days to go & 15 to return.
Tamoree is particularly desirous that one of the brethren from
that station should go, & to the mission it appears desirable
that one of the Missionaries should also go from this station,
which Tamoree dedidedly approves.
It has seemed desirable to us
all that some such expedient should be tried to revive the
drooping heart & sinking health of Br. B. for which medicine
seems to be applied in vain.
He has lately come to this Island
to make an experiment, to consult on the subject, & to inform
that Tamoree says his Brig is ready to go, that has engaged a
good man to take c harge of her as master, & that he wishes Mr. B.
to come down with a view to embark shortly. With such facts,
hopes & prospects before us we have resolved unanimously to make
an effort to avail ourselves of the present opportunity of
visiting the Society Islands, b y sending one or two of our number
to meet our brethren there, - Brother B. is designated as one, & Brother R . as the other, should there be on his return to Atooi
a fair prospect of bene fitting his health by the contemplated
visit.
Otherwise Br. W. would be allowed to go in his stead.
Should Br. H. go as one, his wife would deem it her indispensable
duty to accompany him; indeed such is her anxiety for him and her
ardent hopes of seeing him benefitted by such a measure that she
has been ready to lead the way & to smile at the prospect of being
allowed to make such an effort to save the valuable life of her
husband & to prolong his important labors among this people.
M rs. B. also to second that effort & the more perfectly to carry
into effect the whole design of the enterprise, is ready, & is
approved by the family to accompany her husband, committing her
school meantime to the care of Mrs. Thurston.
Within 2 days
the ship Tartar sails to Atooi, in which Br. & Sister B. expect
to take passage, & shortly after B r . & Sister B. will probably
follow in the Schooner Eagle, Capt. Con. - And at Atooi com
plete the needful preparations & embark shortly should the great
Lord of missions permit, & smile
on our path - Should he hedge
up the way, or materially change the prospect so as to make
appear u n ??-nentable, - Br. B. will reside a short time at that
station attending on his appropriate duties and return to Woahoo
as soon as it shall appear to be best.
�6.
W e have now given you a summary of our present views on this
interesting subject. - You are aware of the very great difficulties
which must meet us in the commencement of our work, difficulty in
acquiring, & printing an unwritten & an almost unknown tongue, without
competent instructors, & without any standard of pronunciation, as
we have reason to believe that the youths who left this country at an
early age, & have received the rudiments of an education in America,
have but a very imperfect knowledge of their own language, & an
squally imperfect acqqauintance with ours; difficulties also of
fixing on a character on which to write the language which would
enable the learned of Europe to get a knowledge of it, & at the same
time make this language a convenient medium of access to the English
language, & to the Otaheiten Books. Many of our pupils will doubtless
visit to become acquainted with both. We have not yet agreed on the
alphabet to be employed, - we are strongly inclined to adopt as the
basis, what is termed the foreign sounds of the vowels in the Roman
alphabet, & there are so many of our consonants as this language
requires, that we should have an alphabet not very much unlike that
of Otaheite, & so near to that of the English, as not greatly to em
barrass the young Otaheiten in acquiring the English, or the American
in reading this language. But we think an interview with the mission
aries at Otaheite would be a great help to us in this respect now,
as well as in many others.
We will now undertake to give you the outline of our history for
a few weeks past. We have often heretofore had occasion to speak of
the wonderful preservation of our lives & health. The family has
lately been afflicted with sickness, tho the chastening rod has been
laid on us with a gentle hand. The dysentary has threatened almost
all the family. - Capt. Chamberlain & Thomas Hopoo have been sick with
it & under the Dr.'s care. M r s . C . has lately been confined at the
same time with her sixth born babe, - An infant orphan taken in to
the family, bereft of its mother by death, of its name also by death,
of its father also, a white man, by desertion, covered with a loathsome
eruption, nourished & cherished especially by Sister L . and apparent
ly almost cured - died last week with dropsy in the brain, - & was
directly interred by us - yesterday we attended the funeral services
& interment of Mr. Lovell, 2nd officer of the American Brig Inou,
Capt. Grimes, who has been several weeks in the mission family,
sinking in the last stages of the consumption, & who died on the 4th
inst. - He was the son of Mr. Lovell of Boston, an officer of the
Customs in that town. The care of the sick, disturbed rest, & ap
prehensions of a return of the comman complaint Br. B. omitted to
preach in his turn on sabbath, the only instance of this kind since
our landing. Through the Merciful kindness of our covenent Father,
the family are now comfortable, though Capt. C. is not entirely
recovered. But let us with gratitude look upon another part of the
proposed outline - During this season of affliction, our flourishing
school has passed its 4th quarterly examination, to the great satis
faction of the family, of the American consul, and several other
govt. parents, & in our report of the orphan school, patronized by
foreigners, we had occasion to acknowledge 707 doll. subscribed, &
527 collected during the last year for the support & education of
orphan children, & the subscription has been augmented since to more
than 800 doll. - The liberal gentlemen in port, with two of the
principal chiefs have subscribed 4 to 500 Doll. for the purpose of
erecting soon a decent church for the worship of Jehovah with the full
�7.
approbation of the King & Chiefs. - Capt. Brown subscribes
for the pulpit - Capt. S. turns 100 0 ft. of lumber which we
bought of him at $50 & plans to that subscription, Captains
Ebbetts & Davis subscribe 40 each and 60 each to the school
fund besides many other favors to the family.
The house for
public worship is to be built in the native style, thatched
with grass, & lined with mats but will be furnished with
glass windows, good doors, with 2 rows of long seats separated
by an aisle, besides a decent pulpit, & appropriate seats for
the Mission family, & will accomodate about 200 persons, for a
few years, till a chapel can b e erected still more commodious
& permanent.
This we consider as important testimony from this government
as well as from the foreigners, in favor of the worship of the
true God. - And we would call on our patrons & helpers in our
native land to help us praise God for those gracious answers
to their prayers.
Some of the most interesting facts stated above respecting
the subscription for the house of worship, & the decided
approbation of the King & Chiefs, were communicated to us on the
last monthly concert, & we were made to rejoice in the gracious
promise, "While they are yet speaking I will hear." - The
success of the mission may be measured by the faith & fervency
in prayer, of its friends - We are cheered with the hope that
it will prosper, though we are less than nothing - The work &
the glory of it belong to the Giver of all things. With
cordial salutations to your dear Sir we are your servants for
his sake.
H. Bingham
A . Thurston
S . Ruggles
D . Chamberlain
E . Loomis
To:
Rev. Sam. Worcester, D .D.
cor. Sce. A.B.C.F.M.
To the care of Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Boston, Mass.
�8.
9 Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 116
Sandwich Islands, Atooi
Oct. 11, 1821.
Rev. & very Dear Sir:
It is with deep & tender emotions, that we avail ourselves
of the present favorable opportunity to communicate with you,
to tell you of our mercies, trials & labors, & to ask the
continuance of your counsels, & of your prayers & thanksgivings
on our behalf.
God has been merciful to us - Our lives are
prolonged, & the field of missionary labor lies open to
invite our industry & zeal, & though called to sow in tears,
we are encouraged to hope that a joyful harvest will eventually
succeed, nay we rely with confidence upon the unalterable
truth, that the word of the Lord will not return unto him void,
& that when he begins a good work he will carry it on to per
fection.
The little church in this wilderness, enduring her well appointed
sorrows, while she hears the voice of the roaring Lion, louder
& louder, feeble & defenceless as she is, might tremble, &
faint, or retreat, did she not also hear distinctly the well
known voice of her beloved Shepherd, "Fear not little flock,
it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" - It
is not from the Rulers of Islands, nor from any of the poor
children of pagans, that we hear the execrations & denunciations
of clamorous opposition, - we look to them as friends, & they
with some confidence look to us as teachers, & while this con
tinues to be the case, we hope not to be dismayed by those who
esteem themselves to be far wiser than the children of light.
o
It would doubtless be a comfort to you to know that the union
of this missionary band, is not impaired, but strengthened by a
small diminution of its numbers, & that we are comforted with
the assurance that "there is no restraint unto the Lord to
save by many or by few." It is a privilege which we value to be
allowed to uphold eachothers hands, & to encourage eachothers
hearts in the great and good work to which we have been called,
a work, from which we desire not to be dismissed, till our
Divine Redeemer shall take possession of these Isles, & pro
nouncing our work to be done shall invite us to his rest, a work
in the mutual prosecution of which through the vicisitudes &
trials of two eventful years nothing has occurred to sever the
bonds of christian confidence, nor to prevent us from pursuing
steadily hand in hand, with mutual confidence, still the grand
objects of our Mission.
It has been a source of mutual comfort to us that Brother & Sister
B . have been permitted in the good providence of God to spend a
few months at this station, where it has been our desire that
one of the preachers might be located, provided he could be spared
from the other station at Woahoo, - Thus we have been allowed to
attend together upon the preaching & the ordinances of the
gospel, to give up our precious little ones in baptism, to our
gracious covenan ting God, & to show forth among this dying people
the death of Christ the Lord, by distributing & receiving in his
name, the lively symbols of his body and blood. Br. W. has also
�been encouraged to pursue the study of systematic Theology,
with a view to preach among the gentiles the unsearchable riches
of Christ.
You will know what we mean if we tell you that the numbers of
this body have been called tenderly to sympathize with Brother R.
in view of his sorrows & of his precarious health. His co n
stitution as you doubtless know was considerably impaired before
he left America, & it appears to be our duty to inform you that
we have painful evidence that it is failing more & more exhibiting symptoms which do not yield to the force of medicine,
& which we fear will early deprive his dear companion and associates
of his society & official aid in our w o r k . By a late visit to
Woahoo it was thought that he was benefitted, though he obtained
no permanent relief.
We have all indulged the hope that a visit
to Otaheite would revive him, & very much facilitate the progress
of our work, but our hopes respecting that enterprize are yet
deferred. And we know not what to do for him.
We turn our eyes
to you for advice, for specific advice, & for aid.
We trust
nothing will be wanting on your part to strengthen this station
by sending without delay a Preacher & a Physician, to be employed
principally at this place, nay we would fain hope they are
already on their way hither.
Yesterday, D r . H . & his wife & babe, embarked from this Island,
on Board the Ship Mentor, Capt. L . Porter, bound to Boston, via
Macao.
Brother B. will embrace the first opportunity to return to Woahoo.
Tamoree, usually called king of Atooi, has been at Woahoo several
weeks, but is expected to return here.
Having received a friendly
visit from Rehoreho he went with him in the Cleopatras Barge,
from this Island, in order as he says to return the visit, and
to convince the windward Chiefs that himself is "m i t e ." Probably
this Island will come more completely under their control than
it has been, but we do not think the present appearances, warrant
any neglect of this station.
Gov. Cox, is now here as superintendant
during the absence of Tamoree. Cox appears to be truly our friend.
He speaks better English than Tamoree, is learning to read &
write, occasionally attends public worship, & speaks decidedly in
favor of the Mission.
We have not been without our fears as to
the removal of Tamoree, but we are not now particular distressed
with that circumstance, though we feel his loss. His habits of
temperance & sobriety may enable him to do good at Woahoo among
the more dissipated chiefs who respect him.
The school conducted by Brothers W. & R . in rotation, under the
direct patronage of Tamoree is still continued here, though
somewhat diminished in numbers in consequence of his absence.
The acquisition of the language is still & must be for a long
time an object demanding much of our attention.
We have not yet
agreed upon a n alphabet with which to write it - It is most
probable that we shall adopt as the basis, "the foreign sounds of
the vowels” & with the Roman character follow as nearly as is
convenient the plan pursued in reducing to form the Language of
Otaheite.
We ask your deliberate advice on the Subject. - & if
�10.
you can send u s any books in the Otaheiten tongues, or on the
subject of "Phonology" you would contribute important aid in
this difficult business.
There is another point, of a different nature, on which we ask
specific advice, of very tender interest to our female helpers,
who anticipating the feelings of orphans & widows turn their
eyes to you as a father for early instruction adapted, to guide
them in such trying scenes as might arise should lover & friend
be taken from them.
Believing still, that the Lord will provide, & devoting ourselves
daily to his service, with sentiments of filial esteem &
Christian fellowship we are, dear sir, yours
H. Bingham
S. Whitney
S . Ruggles
To: Rev. S. Worcester
Cor. Sce A.B.C.F .M.
�11
9 Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 117
Sandwich Islands, Woahoo,
Nov. 25, 1821.
Rev. & very Dear Sir:
By the kind providence of our ever present, ever gracious helper,
we are allowed to address you again, by the Globe, Capt. Gardiner,
of Nantucket. We wrote you a joint letter, by the American
Ship Alexander, Capt. Comerford, July 5, in which we stated our
design to send to Otaheite by one of Tamoree's Brig's which he
assured us should go free of our expense; together with some
of the prominent reasons which induced us to avail ourselves
of what appeared to us to be a very favorable opportunity to
aid the cause of our mission.
The object then appeared highly
desirable, & still appears no less desirable, viewed in its own
proper light. But God who seeth not as man seeth, has allowed
our hopes to be deferred & in a measure to be disappointed,
though he has not suffered our hearts for a moment to be discouraged,
as to the great work in which we are engaged. It would perhaps be
difficult for you to conceive, as it appeared wonderful to us,
how, on any rational ground, the spirit of mercantile monopoly
should rise up suddenly as a lion from his lair to prevent a feeble
missionary from visiting his brethren in another part of the
Pacific Ocean, boldly denouncing the devoted servants of Christ
from whom the grateful Otaheiten receives the word of life, as
bad men, meddlers & speculators; unblushingly & publicly imputing
to them & us the same motives, principles & objects which regulate
its own exclusive policy, a spirit which to serve its purpose here
does not hesitate to join with a supposed enemy in repeating in
the ears of kings & chiefs the same injurious instructions which
long ago filled the mind of Duaterra that noble chief of New
Zealand, with the most distressing & gloomy apprehensions, viz.
"that it is the object of the missionaries to get possession of
the Island".- This spirit of mercantile monopoly which in this
quarter most evidently prefers gain to godliness, uniting its
influence with that which opposes improvement, & loves darkness
rather than light, has, it is believed, by deceptive insinuations,
and artful & slanderous declarations, perplexed and biased the
mind of Kahumanu, Kaneo & others in influence, & warped Tamoree
from his purpose to send his Brig to Otaheite, &.he tells us
that if we go in his brig, the foreign merchants would be highly
displeased & angry with him, & they tell him too that the expense
would be too great.
Thus the plan appears at present to be
defeated. In several instances we are sorry to say that men on
whom we placed some confidence & who spoke in favor of the voyage,
till they saw it would probably be accomplished if they did not
oppose it, have since opposed it with all that virulence which
might have been expected from men of the work had the hope of
their gains been really put in jeopardy as far as they pretended
or feared that it would be.
The weapons used in this opposition
are such as would not be lawful to use in any civilized country.
And it can never cease to be a matter of wonder to us that while
those weapons were wielded with one hand against the Otaheiten
expedition, the other was diligently employed in erecting here a
temporary, but decent house for the public worship of Almighty God,
and not unfrequently extended in deeds of charity to/ the mission
family. It illustrates the truth that the silver&
he gold is
t
the lord's, & gives us new evidence that although satan roars,
�IS.
the Rightful proprietor & Redeemer of the heathen will not
abandon the work which he has commenced in this Land. This
house is erected principally b y the foreigners trading here,
but with the express approbation and cooperation of this
government; erected with a view to the propagation of evangelical
doctrines, which are sometimes met here as in other parts of
the world by that ungrateful opposition which rankles in the bosom
of those who sometimes hear but always hate the truth, and which
shows itself in great swelling words of vanity, reproaching
equally the faith & practise of the church of Christ, & the laws,
the attributes & administration of a holy & longsuffering God.
He gave the command, the promise, & the prediction. "Go up to
mountains & bring wood & trust the house, & I will take pleasure
in it & I will be glorified saith the Lord".
"We have kept the
dedication of this house of God with joy" & it shall be our
delightful employment to fill it with his praise - "The Lord has
done great things for us whereof we are glad" - Our friends &
patrons in America will rejoice with us, & help us to bless God,
& with compassion & benignity will they join with us in supplica
tion for our opposers, in the language of tender solicititude & ?
confidence, "O that they were wise that they understood this, that
they would consider their latter end, for their rock is not as our
Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges" - N or will a
unanimous Christian public forget to pray for those whose names
were ones broted with ours as members of this church & mission
but who have strangely wandered from the path, & forfeited our
confidence & fellowship, prematurely abandoned the work when
their aid was most needed, & done much to betray the sacrid cause
into the hands of its enemies. "Father forgive them - they know
not what they do." The Board will not fail to view with us the
early defection of those of our number as a matter of the most
deep and unfeigned & lasting regret, not so much as it affects
our private happiness or personal interest, & deprives us of
the necessary aid and cooperation of their expected helpers - But
as it disappoints the affectionate confidence of the friends of
missions, - as it confounds & disappoints the most reasonable
expectations of this needy heathen people - as it indicates to the
sagacious rulers, insincerity in the promises of c hristians, &
implies deception in our first engagements, & instability in our
avowed purposes - while professed assistant missionaries quit this
field fully open to invite the most humble faithful & pe rservering
labors; & so obviously allow opposite interests to come in com
petition with the welfare of the heathen:
In short, as it inflects
a wound upon this member of Christ's church which must long con
tinue to bleed & throb with anguish, & which no human physician
can ever heal. But our Divine physician, to whom we must now
look to heal our sicknesses, can mollify this wound, & tho he may
not remove this thorn in the flesh we humbly trust he will, as he
has done, make his, grace sufficient for us. Nay he can, & we
believe he will, through the wisdom & promptitude of the Board,
the ever honored conductors of this mission; the sympathies &
prayers of its friends, & the daily strength imparted to us,make
the things which happened unto us fall out rather unto the further
ance of the gospel.
In a joint letter to you Dear Sir, written at Atooi, Oct. 13, #
by Brothers Bingham, Whitney & Ruggles, & forwarded by the Ship
Packet, Capt. Hill, it was stated that the day preceding, H . & his
#
By mistake that letter was dated the 11 of Oct.
�13
wife & babe, embarked from that place, on board the Ship Mentor.
Capt. Porter, bound to Boston by way of Macao. The history of the
Dr.'s defection we sent you by the ship Arab, Capt. Lewis.
Permit us again to assure you that the union of this consecrated
band is not weakened but rather strengthened by the diminution
of its numbers, - & "there is no restraint unto the Lord to
serve by many or by few." It is due also to your parental
solicitude for one who has had his full share of affection in
the trials of the church, due also to him in his peculiar sorrows,
that we should say here that we have still happy evidence of his
unalienable attachment to the cause of this mission, to the souls
of the heathen & to the pastors & members of this church, & is
ready most promptly to correct the erroneous reports which had
unfortunately began to obtain currency here, "that he dissents
from the voice of the church, & that his express approbation of
deliberate and united decisions had become a cause of speedy &
bitter regret” - Several reports of this nature, circulated in
this place, & distinctly made known to him, he steadily maintains
have no foundation in fact.
We are happy to inform you in grateful acknowledgement of tokens
for good to us & to this nation, that in addition to friends
whom we have found in the merchant service, several gentlemen
engaged in the whale fishing have also repeatedly called on us &
treated us with great civility & kindness & have very obligingly
offered to forward to us from Nantucket in future voyages, any
supplies, or letters, free of expense, which our friends or patrons
may choose to commit to their care. The newly discovered fishing
ground off the coast of Japan, will doubtless lead many of the
respectable citizens of lew England from Nantucket & New Bedford
to pass by our door, taking in at this island water & fresh pro
visions, & greatly administering to our comfort & security, and
not a little, we hope to the good of this nation. Mr. Baker of
Nantucket, of the firm of Baker & Barret, kindly disposed, as we
are told, toward us, would, doubtless, if requested by the pru
dential Com. cheerfully act as an agent to take charge of letters
& supplies & see them shipped for us by the best opportunities. Shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord and shall we not
receive evil. We regret to mention that our very interesting
l i t t le family of native females who were enjoying the Christian
care & kindness of this mission family is entirely scattered from
our fold, except one very promising betrothed to Thos. Hopoo.
Two of them at least, have been led in disgraceful captivity by
citisins of a civilized & Christian country, who stand as high in
the affections of a wife at home & in the confidence of their
employers, as the commanders of the Cleopatras Barge, or even of
the Thaddeus. Men who glory in their shame, & threaten "prosecution
& vengeance if their names are mentioned in America", even to
prevent the repetition of their most flagrant & inexcusable im
purities. We are not however wholly discouraged as the successful
education females in the family, nor do we dispair of seeing some,
still in our schools, conscientiously resisting the temptations,
& unwarrantable solicitations of the worldFeeling more than ever, the need of the sympathies & the counsels
of the Board, we again turn our eyes to you. In prosecuting the
�14
study of the language, which presents many obstacles difficult
to be overcome, we are now encouraged to hope that as soon as
January next we shall he able to put to press a Spelling hook
for the use of our schools containing about 1000 words of the
Owhyhee Language, adopting as the basis of the alphabet w hat is
termed the foreign sounds of the vowels, unless some new light
on that point should induce us to commence printing with a
different plan. Any books from you, in the language of Otaheite,
Hew Zealand, or of the Indian tribes of America would be acceptable
to us, & such as can be from time to time afforded us, innumerated
in the list, left in the hands of the Treasurer. As our little
library is divided to accommodate the two stations, we feel it
the more necessary to make this request.
In connection with this letter we send to the Treasurer a list of
articles which we desire may be sent us as the means of support,
if in your view it should(be)preferable to the plan of purchasing
them here at an advanced price, as we think 1000 doll. in your
hands would be worth 2000 in ours, provided the conveyance could
be safe & free of expense.
Be assured, however, that should the funds of the Board be
dificient, or more imperitiv ely needed in any other quarter of the
great missionary field, we have no anxiety as to the means of our
personal support or comfort, & we desire that our wants may give
no needless solicitude. The Lord of Missions who will both guide
you by his wisdom, and afford you abundantly the means of gratifythe feelings of benenolence, towards us, & towards the heathen,
will also, we are pursuaded, in his own way, provide for us, our
wives, & our defenceless little ones, in this far land of heathen
strangers, - Here we desire to live, & labor for Him - Here we
desire to die, when our work is finished - Here if it may please
God, we desire our bones may slumber & our flesh also rest in hope
till the memory of the Resurrection, when he that soweth & he that
reapeth shall awake to rejoice together over the rich ingatherd
harvest of the ransomed heathen, safely housed in the heavenly
garner of our all gracious & Redeeming God.
In the Labors & fellowship of the gospel, we are, dear Sir,
most truly, & affectionately
Yours
H . Bingham
A . Thurston
D . Chamberlain
Elisha Loomis
To:
The Prudential Com.
A.B.C.F.M.
�15.
9
Previous to Se pt. 1824
V
(Extracts from this letter printed
19 Missionary Herald 11, Jan. 1823)
Page 119
Sandwich Islands, Woahoo,
Feb . 1 , 1822.
Very Dear Sir:
Your letters from Boston & Andover by the Brigs Owhyhee & Rob Roy,
together with the pamphlets and various articles of supplies, were
duly & very thankfully received. By the Ship Paragon, Capt. Henry,
bound to Boston by way of Boston & Cape Good Hope, we now send you
in connection with this, a duplicate of our joint letter of
Nov. 27, 1821, which was sent by Ship Globe, Capt. Gardiner by way
of Cape Horn to Nantucket. We send also a copy of the Mission
journal from Dec. 25, 1821 to Jan. 30, 1822. By the Brig Poellar
Capt. J. Meek we forwarded our journal from Nov. 16 to Dec. 24,
with a letter from Br. B. to the Treasurer.
Since our last letter, our families have been increased in
numbers.
To give you a brief view of the state of the mission
families & schools; The present number of natives in this family
including Honoree & Hopoo is 24, 17 boys & 7 girls, which with a
kind laborer Mr. Harvard makes our number 43. - The expense of
living on plain & simple food is about equal as to board to what
it is in Boston. Mrs. C. takes the principal charge of providing
our meals, which is no small task.
The number of pupils at this
station exclusive of a few of high rank occasionaly taught, should be recorded 4 0 - 2 instructed by Mr. T. 10 by Mrs. T. &
28 by Mr. B. The sabbath school is interesting & promising - At
Atooi there are 10 native children in the mission family, besides
3 adult male domestics who have wives, making their number 22. their pupils since Tamoree has been absent, from 20 to 30, making
the total in our families 65, about equal to the present number
of regular pupils, including the pupils in the families. You will
see therefore that the mission on its present plan cannot be sus
tained without incurring considerable expense to the Board, as we
have yet no adequate resources to rely on here. We are desirous
to enlarge our plan of operation, by taking a new station as soon
as the chiefs shall point out a desirable spot; placing two of
our number there to begin the work & thus actively wait for rein
forcements, increased supplies, tho we believe the expense would
not be increased in proportion to the increase of missionary work
which would probably be advantageously accomplished. - Several
places seem to be inviting in many respects. Ohido, on Owhyhee,
Lahinah, on Mowe, & Hanapapa on Atooi, provided the arrangements
of the government should decidedly favor either.
We are more than satisfied with the high ground taken by the
Prudential Com. with respect to the situation and appointment of
laborers for this field. You are doubtless well aware that in
the present vascillating state of this nation, and in view of the
deep sublity of the arch enemy to discover & thwart our plans
by superior forecast or assiduity, the unhappy defection of part
of our number; the laborious business of making books & translations
of the Bible in this difficult unwritten tongue, & the terrible
influence of profane & licencious outlaws & others, more to be
�16
deprecated than the absurdities of superstition, the exigencis
of this mission demand the aid of no ordinary talent. A con
siderable number of laborers who are emphatically prudent, tried,
& faithful of such qualifications, & for such purposes as have been
heretofore specified could now we believe be very advantageously
employed in this great field, & we repeat our request that as
in the wisdom of the Board and the providence of God, it may be
allowed thy way be sent, to our aid & to the help of the nation.
We desire still further that among the missionaries of the Board
our case may be regarded as in a very important & striking sense
peculiar, as having peculiar claims. Your Missionaries at Bombay
& Ceylon always enjoy the personal advice & cooperation of able,
experienced men, in the promotion of their plans, your missions
in America are visited by the officers of the Board and others
competent to give important advice and aid. We are alone, and need
that salutary aid. They labor among a people where character and
history are known, we are among a people almost unknown. Their
plans of operation are well matured & tested by successful ex
periment - Here new plans are to be adapted to the character &
condition of a singular people - Their civil institutions are al
ready established - here the laws of society of the State are yet
.to be formed, not directly by the missionary, but indirectly by
the increase of light. Your Missionaries to Palestine too find
friends, instructors, guides, & helpers, wherever they go. How
widely different the character of those we meet with, how incon
siderable the comparative aid they are willing or able to afford.
We greatly feel the need of able counsellors ourselves as well as
able teachers of the people. We therefore earnestly entreat the
Board to endeavor to meet the special exigencis of the mission,
by appointing to its aid one or two able preachers, possessing
richly those excellent qualifications implied in the terms "wise
as serpents & harmless as doves", "patient in tribulation,” "apt
to teach” , "always abounding in the work of the Lord” , and with
special qualifications & auxiliaries, for attempting an entire
translation of the Scriptures, so soon as the language can be
sufficiently acquired.
We are happy to announce to you that on the first Monday of
January we commenced printing, & with great satisfaction have put
the first eight pages of the Owhyhee spelling book into the hands
of our pupils, copies of which we now transmit to you for the
examination of the Committee, and as little articles of curiosity
from these dark Isles. By the next conveyance we hope to send
complete copies, with a preface.
The edition will be small, about
500 copies, - We should be obliged, if the Committee should suggest
alterations & amendments, from a perusal of the first 8 pages.
We feel it necessary to ask for some additional type, a quantity of
Small Pica accented letters - a small assortment of flowers, &
interesting cuts for ornamenting childrens' books, tickets, & c ;
together with a quantity of good demy printing paper, if such or
similar paper has not been already sent. We intend to print a
catichism historical & doctrinal, a scripture tract, a grammar
and vocabulary, as we make advances in the language.
Our pupils
will devour books in this language as fast as we can make them. The translation of the Scriptures into any language is a great
work, but especially if there be no learned men who write and speak
that language fluently.
�Add to this the great apparent poverty and the ambiguity of the
Owhyhee language, & a good translation of the entire bible is not
to b e expected for many years go come. Probably our eyes will never
be gladdened with such a goodly sight.
More than all other means & helps, we need the (hole in paper)
of the Holy Spirit, sent down from heaven, to help our (hole)
to make the gospel the power & the wisdom of God; to turn the
hearts and santify the souls of the rulers & the people, that they
may obey & worship & enjoy our excellent Redeemer.
We ask for this
dying people, the continued and special prayers of those that love
the prosperity of Zion.
We pray, too, that the distressing & deep
felt loss of your able & worthy associate, our father and guide,
the beloved & venerated, & ever to be lamented, D r . Worcester, may
be most kindly overruled, for the comfort of the Board & other
afflicted associates, for the support of the missionaries, who
most sincerely mourn his death, and for the good of the poor heathen,
for whom he lived & prayed & toiled, with well directed zeal, &
with whom he died. Dear, honored & devoted servant of God - we loved
y ou
May the blessings for which he prayed still continue to
descent to bless the earth.
We tender to the Board & his bereaved friends our sympathies. - We
see not how his place can be filled on earth, while he we trust, one
of the sons of God, with adoring gratitude & joy fills a higher,
nobler, happier sphere in Heaven.
May the blessings of the Most High ever rest on the Board to guide
its deliberations, to direct its officers, to enlarge and succeed
abundantly its benevolent operations, till all its members shall
be dismissed from their toil and called respectively to their seats
in glory.
Most truly and affectionately,
Yours in the Lord
H. Bingham
A . Thurston
D . Chamberlain
E. Loomis
Joint letter from
Sandwich Islands,
N ov. 13, 1822.
Paragon
To: Jeremiah Evarts E s q r .
Treas. of the A.B.C.F .M.
and clerk pro tem of the Pru. Com.
Boston.
�18
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V
Page 120
Oahu (Woahoo)
August 9, 1822.
To J. Evarts, Esq.
Treas. & Cor. Sec .
A.B.C.F.M.
from
H. Bingham
A. Thurston
D. Chamberlain
E. Loomis
This letter is printed 19 Missionary Herald 98, April 1823,
slightly edited.
P.S. Accompanying this you will receive an account written by
brother L. respecting our expenses, & our wants. You will
from that be able to calculate what remittances we may need,
when the large reinforcement proposed shall be added to the
mission, and all must probably be dependant on the Board, for
almost their whole support. As soon as they can acquire the
language, it is probable that their chief employment must be
instruction for some years, excepting perhaps the Physicians &
one or two others. - You will also receive a letter from the
Missionary Deputation on the subject of the settlement of
Mr. Ellis here and the prospect of the return of Capt. Chamberlain with his family to his native land, concerning which we
send you a copy of a resolution passed by the Mission on the
27 of June, - Should that event take place we shall write you
at full length on the subject, in the meantime we can assure
you and the Board that their proposed return is not in consequence of any disaffection towards the mission or the missionary
work or any personal or private desires to revisit their friends
or country, but because the decline of his health and disinterested
regard to the welfare of his family, & the cause of Christ seems
to recommend it.
H. Bingham.
We are again induced to speak of a subject which we have once
or twice hinted at, that of procuring for the king a decent
dwelling house from the liberality of some of the friends of
this mission & of this nation, should there be any who would be
disposed to do good in this way; - we should be glad to hear
your sentiments on the subject. The king we think is expecting
it, & we should now find it a very great acquisition. Houses for
the missionaries will be needed also.
We ask advice on the subject of the connection between us and
M r . Ellis as a missionary of Lorrd. Soc . - On the subject of Capt. C.'s
return, on the prop riety
or expediency of sending our children
from this land of pollution to our friends in America for their
�19
education, - on the subject of supporting the children of the
natives to any considerable extent. Our English friends express
a decided and unanimous opinion that that is not the best method
of doing good to the Islanders, They have probably made
known their views to you on their points.
In haste I am truly yours,
H . Bingham
Aug. 10 , 1822.
�20
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V
Page 124
Oahu, Oct. 1 2 , 1822.
Very Dear Sir:
We have this day written you b y the ship Hamilton, Capt. Martin,
a gentleman who deserves our thanks for his kind attentions to
us, and who has now just left this harbor, bound to Boston by
way of Canton & Cape Good Hope. Tomorrow we shall forward this
with a large packet, by the Ship Spermo Capt. Bunker homeward
bound by the way of Cape Horn - & having just received communi
cations from the Board by Ship Parthian Capt. Brewster 117 days
from Boston the shortest passage recorded here, we hope to make
you by the Hamilton or Spermo the most speedy returns ever re
ceived at Boston from this place - perhaps 9 months from the date
of Mr. L. Chamberlain's letter 5th June 1822, in your behalf Two months since we wrote you by the Ship America Capt. Dakoven
our highly esteemed friend, bound to N . York by way of Cape Good
Hope - In our letter dated Aug. 10 we gratefully acknowledged the
receipt of letters & pamphlets from you & our private friends,
and seasonable supplies from the Board; the arrival here of the
Missionary Deputation M r . Tyerman & Mr. Bennet, together with
M r . Ellis from the Society Isles, also the receipt of a letter
from Mr. Oliphart, China, accompanied by a donation from him to
the Mission of 300 doll. as also a kind letter and pamphlets from
Rev. Mr. Burder, London, by the Ship LeAigle, Capt. Starbuck .
We also announced the expected settlement of Mr. Ellis here with
his family to enter into our labors, especially with a view to
facilitate the study of the language & the translation of the
scriptures, and also the probably return of Capt. C. with his
family to his native land, who b y the way is now at Tauwai; with
the animating progress of instruction in these Islands which still
continues. About 6 weeks ago, Aug. 22 the Deputation, with Mr. Ellis
left this place on board H .B .M . Cutter Mermaid in which they came,
by whom we sent letters to the Windward & Leaward stations at the
Society Islands & to M r . Marsden with letters of introduction to
our brother Missionaries at Bombay, Calcutta and Ceylon where the
Deputation hope to call in their tour round the world - Within
four days we shall send communications to Messrs. Tyerman & Bennet,
& the Missionary at the Society Islands by the Brig Cossack, Capt.
Dix, bound to Lima, by way of Huahine & Otahiti , , to return by the
same way with a view to bring Mr. Ellis whom we shall expect to
see here in about 5 months - Within ten days we expect to send to
Canton by the Ship Tartar our acknowledgement of Mr. Oliphart's
favor already prepared; also about the same time to write to Mr.
Burder by an English Whaleship now in this port homeward bound
and to America by an American home bound whaleship within two weeks.
We might add to this singular concurrence of circumstances that
Capt. Chase of the Ship Alexander having left this port a few
days since returned shortly after towing in 3 or 4 whales which
he yesterday cut in & tried just at our door. We might announce
the loss of two English Whaleships, The Pearl, Capt. Clark &
the Hermes, Capt. Phillips, both wrecked in company the same
hour April 25 on an unknown reef in Lat. 25 North Long. 175° =56
West, near the Island Lisianskys. The crews got upon the rocks
�21
where they remained 2 months, when Capt. Stevens who carried
out from Ceylon the Missionary Deputation was approaching the
same dreadful ruin, Capt. Phillips sent a boat just in time
to save him from ship wreck - Capt. S. took up the two crews wrecked
there, except 12 men who chose to remain and complete the schooner
which had been begun, from the wrecks of the two ships as they
broke up & went ashore - A few days since the 12 men brought in
this little schooner named Deliverance into this port and sold
it for 2000 doll.
Doct. Law the physician of the Hermes has arrived here and will
probably remain awhile - To Capt» P. we gave a bible & some small
articles for his use, about to sail for England. It may give
some further variety to say that the schooner Eagle, Capt. Rogers
sent out to recover from the Spaniards on the coast of New Spain,
the Brig Cossack, after losing half her crew by desertion took
possession of the Cossack lying at anchor, without bloodshed But while the hands we principly employed in bringing her safely
to sea, the Eagle got entangled in the kelp & becalmed near shore,
was left by C.R. and his two remaining hands who went on board the
Cossack & came off safely, but the Eagle went ashore - add to all
this the Ship Wellington condemned here, is now in the market &
her hull is offered to the Mission for 600 doll. - Should the king
approve we should be disposed to obtain her plank & beams of
her two decks which might be easily taken out for the purpose of
building a printing office and a dwelling house - the rest for
fuel - Mr. H . would take charge of her & break her up for a share,
the iron, & c . Sixteen fine ships now in sight from our door,
seven in the harbour - 8 lying at anchor in the roads, and one
under full sail bearing away for beloved America - besides a
considerable number of smaller vessels in port giving an air of
life and importance to this place, of which we had little conception
while in the quiet retreat of our native homes.
Since Mr. Ellis
left us, the first Edition of our little spelling book has been
quite exhausted - But 500 copies were printed in the first edition
& t he work was not completed before they were all taken up &
many more called for, we have therefore struck off another edition
of 2000 copies hoping to add immediately 8 pages more - Since
Mr. E. left us we have had our public worship conducted in the
vernacular tongue 3 times a week and once in English.
Congrega
tions of 100 to 400 natives hear the gospel preached in their
own tongue at this place; and at Atooi the brethren with the
faithful Auna the Tahitian brought & left by Mr. Ellis, have pub
lic worship on the Sabbath and the people give attention.
Brother Whitney we hope will soon be licensed to preach.
Taumuaril, Kaahumanu, Cox and other chiefs are now there, & lately
Kaahumanu who is learning to read sent to us for several hundred
books more than we had. Adams too at Hawaii (Owhyhee) has lately
sent us a letter requesting us to send them books there and fur
nish them with the means of instruction, saying there are many
who would become pupils. - We had our 9th Quarterly Examination
on the 14 last month. - Probably not less than 500 persons in
these Islands were there learning to read.
Thus you see the Lord is graciously pleased so to smile on our
public efforts as to continue our encouragements to labor in this
dark uncultured region.
Praise ye the Lord.
�22
We find occasion to appear before you in the posture of
importunity - & with a view to a more vigorous prosecution
of our great work to ask for money & articles of trade - A box
of common hardware would be useful - also slates, pencils, lead
pencils, penknives & every article needed in our rising schools These together with books we have gladly furnished to our pupils
hereto gratuitously - We ask your advice whether we shall con
tinue to do so or whether we shall barter them for such things
as we need for our support as soon as there shall be such a
desire for that the pupil would gladly buy them for their own
accommodation.
We shall also need a quantity of Brass Rules & furniture for
the Press & 500 lower case Roman k's Small Pica , and 500, Do, Pica.
The number of k's is very great in this language, and small in
the English.
We think it advisable to ask now for 40 Reams of good printing
paper, the same size as that on which the spelling book is printed,
or if it could be procured about an inch wider to give a better
margin, it would be preferable. By the time you can send it to
us we shall probably wish to print an edition of 10000 copies,
preserving the precise form & size of the pages except the margin
which is a little too small - We send you a specimen of the sheets.
Should you send printing paper it should be well secured from
damage in close fin
e b o x e s . Within 2 years we hope to print a
grammar & vocabulary & shall need accented vowels. We must look
to you also for a quantity of thin pasteboard for covers to the
spelling books, with sheep skins for the backs, and Marble paper,
cartridge paper, & c , suitable for covering the books we print, &
perhaps a set of Bookbinder's tools, though Mr. Ellis expects
to bring his - He can superintend both printing & binding - & some
of us can soon acquire the art if necessary. - Some of the Tahitians
who will come as Mr. Ellis's domestics can bind books, tolerably
well. - Mr. E . will bring his press, types and tools, ready for
business - And we hope come to the people in the fullness of the
blessings of the gospel of peace.
We should be glad to receive also a little ruled writing paper of
a good quality of the size of our transcribed journals & for the
same purpose - We have before asked for a few blank books for our
convenience & hope they may be on their way hither & perhaps other
articles herein mentioned.
Should the stationers in Boston unite and send us 10000 small
convenient ruled copy books, it would facilitate the business of
teaching the nation to write, & save much of our precious time a few plates for copies would also be useful - If possible do
send us a few Elegant Script types, that we may print the Alphabet
at least in Capitals & small letters, and a line or two just for
a copy to be attached to the spelling book so that every scholar
that has a book may have a copy for writing constantly with him.
The whole nation is to be taught to write as well as read - &
much of the reading which many of them will have for many years
will probably be in manuscript.
We send you by this conveyance our Thermometrical Register for
�23
the year ending in July, kept. principally by Br. Loomis , and
journal from Feb. 2 to April 20 - together with extracts from
the journal of Auna in his late tour to the windward Isles and a copy of Mr. Oliphart's excellent letter - We regret that
owing to the variety and pressure of our work for 6 months
past - our increasing correspondence & attention to the language,
we are not able to transmit our journal up to this time, though
we have endeavored to make you fully acquainted with the general
state & progress of the mission by frequent & long letters We rejoice to see the names of some of our designated helpers,
& hope they will join us (hole in paper) the work demands their
prompt,
efficient help.
We close with our fervent wishes that Divine wisdom may fill
the vacancies in the Board, crown their plans & deliberations
with success & supply abundantly the world wide filled with
faithful laborers, & bless them with the smiles of his eternal
love, & ever gracious Providence.
Affectionately yours,
H. Bingham
A. Thurston
E. Loomis
To Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Treas. A.B.C.F.M.
Missionary Rooms, Market St. No. 69
Boston, Mass.
�24.
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Page 130
Oahu, Dec . 28, 1822.
Very Dear Sir:
By Capt. Gardiner, we forwarded our journal from the time of
the departure of the Miss. Dep. Aug. 22 to the sailing of the
Baleana Nov. 27 - In Oct. we wrote you by the Ships Hamilton
& Spermo, sending our journal of a period of three months All these communications we hope you will have received before
this can be expected to reach you. We have just received the
refreshing communications by the Rover.
She had a long passage
of 181 days, whereas the Parthian which left Boston the same
day arrived in 117 days.
Since the sailing of the Baleana, the business of instruction
has proceeded much as it had a month previous. Thos. Hopu
leaving his class in Hononruru, to the care of Kanaa, a native
assistant teacher, is now engaged in teaching the school of
about 50 pupils, which was opened by Brother Loomis at Kairua.
Hopu prays with the people of Kairua on the Sabbath and endeavors
to teach them the words of the Lord Jesus - James Kahuhu is
employed at this village as an assistant teacher also. Brothers
Thurston & Bingham are much occupied in teaching & preaching Brother L. also engages in teaching & occasionally in social
prayer with the people.
Sisters Bingham & Thurston continue to
instruct though the number immediately under their care has
been somewhat diminished during the last quarter.
Capt. C. has commenced building a small stone house for a print
ing office, and preparing stone for the walls of a dwelling house
at this place.
The want of beams, plank, boards& shingles we
very sensibly feel, & must doubtless labor under the embarrassment
till a supply shall arrive from the shores of America - We have
been enabled to procure some logs & spars from the N .W. Coast,
& have sawed by hand several hundred feet, but there is nothing
of the kind now in this market. Our church Edifice has lately
been repaired and considerably enlarged, by a new subscription
of 140 doll. chiefly among the masters of vessels lately in port
and Mercantile agents.
In this our friend Mr. Hunnewell has
been particularly attentive.
The brethren at Tauwai having been often distressed with appre
hensions of fire while in their thatched house in the center of
the village, and desirous of enlarging the sphere of missionary
labor at that island with some assistance from Capt. C. - have
each built a dwelling house of stone, Mr. Whitney on the bank
of Waimea River, & M r . Ruggles on his land at (hole in paper).
They are making advances in the language & continuing their
efforts in teaching. - Kaahumanu is at Tauwai still, but is ex
pected to return here before long - Auna & his wife continue
their pious efforts there. - The desire of instruction among the
chiefs and people, is probably gaining ground - & we hope favorably
as to their reception of the new labours designated to these
islands, & who we hope in the good providence of God to greet on
these shores in about 3 months, - We have lost no time in
�25
attempting to prepare the way for their reception, and agreeably
to the suggestion of the Pru. Com. we shall continue to do what
we can, that the rulers may he in readiness to receive them.
Should a part of the chiefs now residing here remove soon to
Hawaii, as it is rumored, that will probably facilitate the re
establishment of a station on that important Island, now occupied
by the soitary Hopu. - Should circumstances admit, it would be
agreeable to our wishes that a part of the recruits should occupy
Hawaii, part Maui, part Oahu & part Tauwai, endeavoring to unite
our strength with theirs,and laying out the sum to the best ad
vantage for the enlightening, purifying & renovating the nation.
Such is the degree of fickleness, duplicity and instability in
the opinions, manners, and measures, even among the rulers, that
it is extremely difficult for us so to arrange any particular
plans as to meet theirs three months forward.
This must be our
apology for a seeming deficiency in our former communications to
the board respecting the number & the qualifications of the persons
to be sent to this field.
It is a dificiency which we ourselves
have had occasion deeply to regret - & we must trust the wisdom
and goodness of Christ the great Lord of the harvest to overrule it,
directing himself the proceedings of the Board, & appointing the
labors, trials & comforts & the measure of success to every
missionary that he calls into the field.
May his blessing ever rest on you Dear Sir and on all your honored
associates in the cause of God.
Very affectionately yours,
H.
A.
D.
E.
Bingham
Thurston
Chamberlain
Loomis
To Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Treas. A.B.C.F.
Missionary R ooms,
Boston, Mass.
�26.
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Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 131
Honoruru,
Jan. 11, 1823.
Very Dear Sir:
Your letter of July 20, 1822, with the Herald of that month,
and other pamphlets, have just arrived & refreshed us by their
interesting contents. - The letters, newspaper & pamphlets sent
by the Rover, Capt. Cooper, we acknowledged in our letters
of the 20th ult. by the Ship Spartan & the Brig Quill.
We rejoice, & would give thanks to God who has not only prolonged
your life to return to the b osom of home, but through his rich
mercy has made your late, interesting tour serviceable to your
health while he has blessed your eyes with the wonders he is
doing by means of your Western missions, & at the same time
strengthened you to engage in the important service of promoting
the best interests of the "Southwestern tribes", for whom, in a
special manner the prayer of faith seems to have been offered for
a few years past. - The Lord has heard that prayer, - blessed be
his name. We rejoice in the success which the great Lord of
the Harvest is pleased to grant to all the missions under the
patronage of the Board, and of all other associations of men
formed for the grand object of enlarging the holy kingdom of the
prince of Peace, of whose peace and increase there shall be no end.
We sympathise too with our brethren in this field, & with our
patrons, in view of the afflictions with which our fellow laborers
are visited.
When one of the beloved pioneers of the Palestine
Mission fell at Alexandria, how did the heart of his bereaved
brother & companion sink within him!— Every friend of Israel
wept. - Mr. Parsons, was to some of us a very pleasant & intimate
acquaintance, an affectionate & precious friend, and to all a
kind and much esteemed brother - and as a missionary he was ex
ceedingly dear to thousands who love & pray for the peace of
Jerusalem. He walked with God, & God took him - How holy, - how
happy, - how precious, how exquisitely blessed must be that fellow
ship in heaven which, we have good evidence to believe, pervades
the bosoms of such men as Moses & Elias, Nehemiah & Daniel, Paul &
Timothy, Scott & Brainard, Worcester and Parsons. They rest from
earthly labors, but their works do follow them, to cheer, to
guide, to stimulate and aid their brethren here below.
We rejoice to learn so definitely by your last letter that by
the favor of Providence, the increased and liberal offerings of the
Christian public, & the voluntary self devotement of those who
desire to bear a part in the great work to which we were sent forth,
the Board were so far prepared to accomplish their design to rei n f o r ce this mission, as to have at least seven men under appoint
ment, to be embarked in Oct . with the prospect of sending also the
assistant in the Treasury Department, one more Physician, & one
or two more mechanics. - these, all may we not hope with their
companions & the youths from the For. Miss. Soc. have already passed
the Equator in the Atlantic, pressing forward with the favorable
wind of heaven to meet us in about 3 months, to give & receive
the right hand of Christian & Missionary fellowship, & to proclaim
�27
with Godly zeal, the blessed gospel of a crucified & exalted
Savoir to this needy waiting people & to labor with us to
win them to Christ.
We are happy to learn that so great a proportion of the number
to be sent are destined to preach , as the field is now much
more widely open for the kind of labor, than it has at any
former period appeared to be; for the king two days since, in
a communication to the mission written by his own hand & sent
at the public examination of the schools, expressed decisively
his desire that all the chiefs of all these Islands might
listen to the words of the Preachers, learn the will of Jesus
Christ and be saved by him- - You will not understand this
declaration of the king, as a profession of cordial faith in
Christ, or of love to his cause, but simply his approbation of
our design to preach, and a wish that his chiefs may attend to
what we may say, to see if they can obtain the benefit we pro
pose. - But even this we regard as a very desirable advance
made by the king at the very time when he & we are expecting soon
a large reinforcement of the mission, & as we know of no direct
opposition on the part of any chief but rather a general desire,
certainly among the principal chiefs to be instructed, we con
sider the way fairly open for the teachers in the reinforcement.
Two or three Physicians are equally demanded, & we should hope
that they will be prepared to preach also as soon as they can
acquire the language. Mechanics, the king & chiefs will have,
(we are convinced) at some rate, & if they cannot be aided by
those whose character, & communications would have a salutary
influence in their morals, they will have in their service those
whose moral influence will be pernicious. - But as a considerable
number of mechanics of different kinds, from different countries,
sojourn among the people now, and as the demand for teachers is
so rapidly increasing, we should hope that every mechanic employed
here by the Board, would be competent to teach a good school, &
to conduct profitably, a prayermeeting, or religious conference
among the natives, should the exigencies of the mission & of this
yet unstable nation demand it, & were all duly qualified to
preach it would doubtless be still better, so that every tentmaker
should be a Paul, & every fisherman a Peter, in the great work
of gathering these gentiles. But neither we nor the Board, have
in looking for the adequate number of laborers for this field,
expected the interposition of miricles,
nor with the present
system of education in America, & the increasing demand for min
isterial labors there & the growing and imperious calls for
missionaries from almost every part of the heathen world, could
it have been expected that the American Church should send forth,
amply qualified to preach the gospel every man whose services
were needed here. From a late survey of this field by gentlemen
worthy of high confidence, the Lond. Miss. Dep. , they expressed
an opinion, 'that as the grand instrument to be employed in
promoting the good of the nation must be the preaching of the gospel,
at least for many years to come, it is desirable that every man
in the missionary service here should be a preacher', not imply
ing however that laymen might not be useful as such, but that
preachers could be much more so, & as the expenses of maintenance
must be about equal it would be far better to employ only the
latter, allowing too that they might turn to good account whatever
�28
skill they might possess in various useful arts.
A s to native youths to be sent from the foreign mission school,
all would doubtless be received here that could be educated there But as to the time of sending them forth and the qualifications
they should bring in order to aid the cause we have thought it
needless for us to remark at all, submitting our views entirely
to our patrons., or rather supposing our views so far to accord
with what was expected by Dr. W. that we did not deem it necessary
to speak of their requisite qualifications. - We may however be
allowed to express an opinion, that while they enjoy the excellent
culture of the foreign Mission School, & the benefit of Christian
society, they ought to be allowed to grow nearly to the stature
of a man in Christ, before they can be safely trusted to the
corrupting influence of the children of this adulterous & crooked
generation. Christ can indeed sustain them if they are truly his, so he could Peter when walking on the raging flood, or when satan
desired to sift the disciples as wheat.
Since that dreadful
hour he has lost none of his desire or his power to sift those who
profess to abandon his cause. - Let them be well proved - and
acquire some decision & weight of character, as men and as c hristian
missionaries, and they may be expected to be very important auxil
iaries, instead, of gracious embarrassments to the mission. Such
we take it are your expectations of those now to be sent and such
also of course are ours. - There is room & work for all & more
than (hole in paper) propose to send. - May the gracious Lord
uphold & guide (hole) all who are called to this field, & raise
up many more, yet to enter it.
Since our last letter to you, Taumuarii & Kahumanu, and their
attending chiefs have returned from Tauwai, & continue their
attention to instruction. - Taumuarii left orders for a school
to be collected at Hanapepa, under Mr. R's instruction who has
with his family removed to that place, expecting one of the re
cruits soon to join him there.
Brother W. writes that he expects soon to have the superintendance
of a school of 50 pupils at Waiwaa under the particular patronage
of Wahine-Nui, the present superintendent of Tauwai.
On the 9inst. we had examinations of our schools at this place
which now comprize more than 200 pupils, most of whom appeared in
decent order at the chapel, with a good number of spectators Br. T. conducted the examination - which was in our view more
flattering than any former one which we have had. - N ot less than
12 Chiefs & Chief???including the favorite queen Kamamalu, & her
sister Kinau - the king’s brother Kauikioule& his sister Nahienaena
& Opiia one of the wives of the late king - with her present
husband Laanui, bore an interesting part, of the examination; nor
was the king's copy-book with its fair, neat pages, & his communi
cation before alluded to, which was read to the assembly, less
interesting. - The assistant teachers, Honorii, Auna the Tahitien,
James Kahuhu, Kanae & Taumi appeared at the head of their respective
schools and assisted in the examination - The two latter, with
Abner Morse read original compositions - The queen recited about
half of Watt's catechism Kahuhu read with fluency a passage from
the Bible, Kepiolani the wife of Naihu & Tuhio their friends
presented their first essays in composition, & Naihu with sim
plicity handed in a declaration written by his own hand, containing
�29
four words - "Aroha au ia Tehova” - I love the lord. - Opiia
exhibited fair hand writing with many others - H onorii gave an
address to the pupils, & B r . T. closed the exercises with prayer Such is the outline of the examination at the commencement of the new
year, & we sincerely hope the progress in businessofinstruction may
be very much greater for a year to come than it has been the year
past, & O that the reviving grace of God might descend upon
our pupils in whose instruction we find increasing pleasure and as
New Year's Eve was marked by a precious new year's gift, presented
to B r . & Sister B . a pleasant son, to bear the loved name of
Levi Parsons, may it prove the harbinger of peace to the mission
for the year, and may this be one among the many whom God will
raise up to fill in some importantsensethe plan of that dear lamented
brother, & may we with our patrons be allowed "to sit with him on
heavenly plans".
With respectful & Christian salutations to yourself & your beloved
associates we are, dear Sir, affectionately yous, in the Lord
H . Bingham
A . Thurston
D . Chamberlain
E . Loomis
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Treasurer & Cor. Sec. A.B.C.F.M.
Missionary Rooms,
N o. 69 Market St.
Boston - U.S.A.
�30.
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Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 133
Oahu, Sandwich Islands, March 20, 1823.
V ery Dear Sir:
You will doubtless see by our last letter of Jan. 11 which we
sent you by the Ship Parthian, Capt. Brewster, some account of
the progress of instruction in the Islands during the preceding
quarter, the special favor of the king towards the objects of
our mission, his desire that the chiefs might listen to the
word of God proclaimed to them by us; the increasing call for
teachers; the prospect of the easy access of the expected re
inforcement which you informed us you were about to send to
these opening whitening fields, together with our view of the
qualifications of laborers most likely to meet with encouragement
among this people, at the present period. - We gratefully acknow
ledged also the birth of a pleasant son to Brother & Sister B.
which was to bear the loved name of Levi Parsons. But as the
friends of Israel were soon called to mourn the death of that
dear Missionary to Judea, so have the parents of the little L.P.
and the members of this mission been called to ask of the rulers
of this land a burying place for this tender babe, who as the
first of our number, has quickly finished his few fleeting days
on earth. As for God his way is perfect. We desire to hold
ourselves & our surviving little ones entirely at his disposal.
Thy will O Lord be done.
The remainder of this letter published in 19 Missionary Herald 315,
Oct. 1823, excepting the following conclusion.
Should our views accord with yours on this subject, & we desire to
be corrected if they do not, the loss of Capt. C. of whose con
templated return we have before apprised you, will be regarded as a
smaller calamity to this infant mission than it otherwise would
have been. - Unable to accomplish the original design, unable as
he has been & must be in his situation with his large & rising
family, to do anything to defray or deminish the expenses of the
mission,even had his health been continued, his return to America in
the present embarrassed state of your friends, must be regarded as
a less embarrassment to the mission, & to your cause in general,
than it otherwise would be, since the bare expense of their
returns must be small compared with what would be needful to sustain
them permanently here. But the decline of Capt. C ’s health, the
difficulty experienced in attempting to preserve his children
from contaminating intercourse with this rude people, where
delicacy is scarcely known or thought of, when vice made bold by
foreign influence stalks through the land unmasked, these are the
primary reasons for his return, these are the afflicting circumstances of his leaving us. Brother and Sister C. have labored hard & suffered much in the
cause which they left their home and country to support, & which
they would still willingly toil & suffer to support did duty
plainly demand it, & which they with reluctance leave. We trust
their various cares and efforts have not been in vain. -
�31
From A ug. 1820 to March 1822 they provided pretty uniformly
for the table of the family at this station assisted sometimes
by Mrs. L. - In March 1822 w ith some view to another station,
Capt. C. resigned the stewardship, & the principal care and
labor of that office was devolved on M r . & Mrs. L . assisted
sometimes by Mrs. C. & occasionally by the other Sisters who
were engaged in teaching, or laboring at other stations, till
N o v last when Br. L. being at Hawaii and Capt. C. intending to
return to America, & the health of Mrs. L. being impaired - the
sisters by mutual consent made a distribution of such cooking
utensils &c as could be well divided, and since that time each
has set her own table in her own apartment, with a view to save
strength and expense - & at the same time to be equally com
fortable in prosecuting our great work. But unable as we have ever
been from the time of our landing to procure for them suitable
help, or suitable conveniences, and in many instances needful
comforts, we have often been pained to see them litterally worn
down with fatigue in attempting to meet the wants of this large
family, instructing and aiding the people with promptitude under
a pressure of duties which seemed scarcely to be diminished when
sinking health actually demanded a respite.
In the case of
Br. & Sister C. the infelicities in the carriage of some of their
children, their care & solicitude for their comfort & their
apprehensions for their safety in this polluted land, where
without the firmness of Christian principle they could not be use
fully employed without coming into too close contact with the
natives.
These have been no small part of the burden of their
sorrowing parents, while struggling with the ordinary evils of
our rugged path, on this new missionary ground - Nor have the
efforts of other members of the mission been small to give their
children suitable instruction and to watch over them in various
situations. It is now almost a year since they asked the deliberate
counsel of their brethren as to the expediency of their attempting
to return, & had it not been for the very decided opinion of the
Lond. Miss. Dep. in favor of their return we might perhaps have
been more slow to give our advice to that affect. But from that
period to the present the members of this body have been most
unanimously in favor of their attempting to return as soon as
providence should open the way. We have endeavored to give you
some of our reasons for so doing - It only remains for us to
recommend them affectionately to the Board, & to the dear churches
in our native land whither they are now bound, & to hope that you
will not disapprove of what with the utmost deference to your
wishes, we have assumed the responsibility of doing.
They now
leave this little church, in person but not in heart, and when
they shall be united with any other local church of Christ they
will be considered as dismissed from this.
They have engaged their
passage in the Brig Pearl Capt. Chandler, bound to America by the
way of Cape Horn, for which we have drawn on you 800 dollars,
their outfits, not estimated with exactness being about 400 doll.
We have lately purchased the hull, two masts & bowsprit of the
ship Ruby, for which we have drawn on you for 405 dollars - with a
view to aid in building a printing house & dwelling house - & to
accommodate ourselves with fuel. Other considerable extra expenses
we have incurred, and feel obliged to draw on the Treasury, by this
conveyance the sum of 3,600 doll. with the deduction of 64 14/
�32
for which we send you Brother Ellis's bills on the Lond.
Miss. Soc. We are sorry to draw so l a r g e l y at this time but
we know not how to avoid it and yet prosecute our enlarging
plans. We still hope that our supplies may he if possible
procured in America as the advanced prices here and then the
heavy premium to he granted to those who take their pay at
Boston render our expenses great in comparison of what we
really enjoy in return. - Capt. C. we hope may be of some
service to you and us in this respect.
P raying for the divine blessing on you, dear sir, & on your
associates, on those who leave, and on those who remain & also
on all our helpers, we remain very affectionately your brethren,
and fellow servants in the Redeemers glorious cause.
H. Bingham
A. Thurston
E. Loomis
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Treas. & Cor. Sec. A.B.C.F .M
�N ew York, N o v . 28, 1822.
Wrote to Mr. Bingham & Mr. Thurston, & their associates describing & introducing the mission family on board the
Thames giving also, a list of boxes sent by the Octavia,
Capt. Blanchard, viz:
N o. 1. Madeira wine - 2 doz.
2 . Crockery - 3. Crockery for Mr. Richards.
4. A box from Pepperell, Ms.
5. & 6. Two small boxes of garden seeds.
7. A box from Rushville, Ont. Co. N ew Y o r k .
8 . A painted chest for Mr. Bingham.
9. A box from Cherry Valley.
11. & 12. Two boxes of Bibles from the Am. Bib.
Soc. (These two were returned from Boston)
Mentioned, also, a small package of books, a small box
of types &c which I expected to leave on board.
(Sent the types & a keg of printing ink by the Octavia.
She sailed Dec. 9th)
�34.
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Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 137
Honaruru, Oahu, May 5th, 1823.
To:Jeremiah Evarts, Esq., Corresponding Secretary of
the A .B.C.F .M.
From:
William Richards
Chas. Saml. Stewart
Artimas Bishop
Abraham Blatchely
Joseph Goodrich
James Ely
Levi Chamberlain
Printed in 20 Missionary Herald 179, June 1824.
�35
9
Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 139
Hanaroorah, May 24, 1823.
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Cor. Sec. A .B .C .F .M .
From: H . Bingham
A . Thurston
E. Loomis
William Richards
Chas. Saml. Stewart
Artimas Bishop
Abm. Blatchely
Joseph Goodrich
James Ely
Levi Chamberlain
Honored and very Dear Sir:
Letter printed 20 Missionary Herald 183, excepting the
following paragraphs:
Your letters by the Thames, the Octavia & the Champion, the
supplies shipped by the two former, the Missionary Heralds
completing the last volume, with other papers, pamphlets
& donations, & numerous letters from the friends of the mission
aries cheering their hearts, have been duly and thankfully re
ceived. We are encouraged to expect soon a considerable ship
ment of needful supplies, with letters by the Paragon.
We would unite with our friends & Patrons in thanksgiving to
God for his smiles on the churches, on the Board, on the mission
& on the Hawaiian Nation. Nor would we fail to notice with
gratitude to him the late appointments of the Board by which the
important and responsible stations both of the late Cor. Sec.
& the former Treasurer are now filled.
The letters to the mission,
the certificates & recommendations of the reinforcement &
particularly their kind & faithful, well adapted instructions,
have been read here with great satisfaction.
The exigencies of the mission demand the prompt eficient aid of
one in Mr. C's capacity and as to the physician his services will
be so much needed at the different stations that we really know
not where to locate him. The native youths we hope will prove
faithful and useful. We are well satisfied as to the importance,
the comfort & aid of such an auxiliary and coadjutor as brother
Ellis.
We are desirous to plant three new stations at the windward
in the course of three months, provided we can muster strength
sufficient without depriving Tauwai entirely of expected aid.
Our present plan is to make a very thorough survey of the
principal island Hawaii, by a deputation consisting of Mr. Thurston,
M r . Ellis, Mr. Stewart & Mr. Goodrich, assisted by M r . Harwood.
This investigation will probably occupy 2 months, after which
�36.
the reinforcement will it is supposed be located on three or
four different islands. M r . Thurston has been appointed to
take a station at the windward with a new colleague. M r . Bingham
& M r . Ellis are expected to remain here. With the hearty con
currence of the king and chiefs we have resolved on occupying
Lahaina & one or two stations on Hawaii, probably Ohido or
Kairua or both. We shall first attempt to bore the Lava at
the latter place for water. Perhaps the Lord of missions will
give us water from the rock, and springs in the desert even
of Kairua.
That is a favorite place of the rulers, & a very
important post in the nation, & may long continue to be such.
It cannot therefore be well abandoned entirely by the mission.
Further particulars as to our history & our plan you will find
in other letters addressed to the Missionary R ooms, & in the
journal of the Mission from March 10 to the present date which
will accompany this.
P. S .
May 2
8
Dear Sir:
The unexpected detention of the brig Arab Capt. Meek, by which
we send this, and the very favorable apportunity for occupying
Maui, occurring now, enable us to add one more article to our
communications by this conveyance, - W e have the happiness to
inform you that, as the king's mother & sister both under in
struction, are now going in the Cleopatras Barge to reside for
a season at Maui, accompanied in their passage b y Karaimoku,
all of whom are desirous that some of the missionaries should
go with them, we have since the above was written, resolved
to avail ourselves of the present opening; and in pursuance
of this and a former resolution to occupy early a station at
Lahaina, two of the brethren, M r . Richards and M r . Stewart,
are already appointed to go with their families to take up their
residence there, & they have engaged to embark today. - Brother
Thurston who had no preference for Lahaina, will choose a
station on Hawaii and which the deputation is expected to em
bark next week to explore, - The lot of Mr. Bishop and Mr. Goodrich
will also doubtless fall on the same important Island. Brother
Ely is expected to go with Taumuarii & Kaahumanu to Waianai on
the western part of this island, & leaving them there proceed
to (hole in paper) the brethren at Tauwai & return here to
meet the deputation returning from the windward to finish the
business of location till another reinforcement shall arrive from
America - or, England if it shall be found necessary to look to her
for additional help.
Accept Dear Sir the assurance of the vain personal esteem and
fraternal affection of yours
H.Bingham
�37
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Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 142
Honoruru, Oahu, Sandwich Islands,
October 23, 1823.
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Cor. Sec. of the A.B.C.F.M .
Boston.
From: Hiram Bingham
Asa Thurston
Chas. Saml. Stewart
A . Bishop
Ahm. Blatchely
Joseph Goodrich
James Ely
Levi Chamberlain
E. Loomis
Printed 20 Missionary Herald 186, except following paragraphs:
Permit us then respectfully to express it as our opinion that
at least three able, pious devoted, self-denying, efficient
missionaries will be demanded without delay, if such can be
furnished for this field, who we would fain hope may be ready
in one short year from this date to blow the trumpet of Jubilee
on the shores of Hawaii or Tauwai.
Should one or all of them
possess some skill in the healing art, that talent would be
useful.
Indeed it will be quite impossible for one medical man
to attend to all the claims of the mission families, so widely
scattered, & with means of intercourse so contingent.
By the next conveyance that should afterward offer, when the
three shall have embarked - four others, faithful men of like
qualifications, thoroughly furnished, we could wish might be
sent to aid in establishing two new stations, one perhaps at
Ke-a-ra-ke-ku-a where Capt. Cook was killed & one perhaps at
Waipio on the opposite part of Hawaii, or at some other port
which, might at the time of their arrival here appear to be more
eligible.
Will it then be asked if seven more men are needed? where thirteen
men with some native assistants are already employed? There
are indeed thirteen laborers now in this field, nine of whom
including Mr. Ellis, are preachers. This probably gives about
16,000 souls to each preacher, a number nearly equal to the
whole population of the Society Islands, where 16 missionaries
are very advantageously employed. Let seven more preachers be
added if you please, to the nine already wearing out here, &there
will still be about 9,000 souls to each, a number four times as
great as is supposed to be proper on an average, even in a
civilized, Christian country, to be committed to the charge of one
man.
It is granted then, that seven more men at least will be
needed.
�38
P.S. October 25th.
Since the above was written, M r . Thurston & his family have
embarked in company with Naihe & Kapiolani. Gov. Adams who
embarks from this place today takes M r . Thurston under his
particular patronage.
It is doubtful whether Mr. Ely will
go thither, in that case Mr. Bishop will return sooner from
Tauwai. Mr. Stewart has now taken leave to return to Lahaina Dr. B. is expected to follow him next week to attend on
Mrs. Richards - About the same time Mr. Bp. is expected to go
to Mr. Whitney's aid - Mr. Ruggles has gone down to bring some
things for his own use, & will hasten back hither to proceed to
Waiakea. - Mr. Ellis or myself is depended on to render some
assistance at the Waiakea Station the first year - though our
constant labor here is almost indispensable. The distribution
of the new laborers you see is such as to give almost every one the
advantage of having the aid of an old one who is acquainted with
the people & the language.
Though you have sent us your best,
yet more men & better men must be our motto.
Affectionarly yours
H.B.
P.S. 2nd
Dear S i r :
As the mission may not soon have another opportunity to express
as a body their sentiments on the subjects & considerations
brought into view in the above letter, it may be proper to say
that were the absent brethren present, M r . Richards, Mr. Whitney &
Mr. Ruggles, we are persuaded they would cheerfully subscribe
their names to every sentiment it contains, nor would Mr. Ellis
dissent from the opinions & facts there stated.
On the subject
of assistance needed he has been particularly consulted, as to
laborers, stationary, types etc.
Besides of approving of what
we have said, fie has given it as his opinion that when any
translations of the Scriptures are ready for the press, "The
British & For. Bib. So.” would gladly furnish half the paper needed
to publish them.
We chose to apply first to your Sister American Society believing
that they would be ready to supply both types & paper to the full
amount of our immediate need. Mr Ellis has assisted us very
kindly in making out the detail of types needed which was intended
to be an appendix to our long letter which we knew not how to
make shorter.
In the body of the letter " 5 Cwt. of type - Pica” was supposed to
be about the size and quantity of the type needed for the purpose,
with the "400 reams of paper," good Demy.But the following detail
will probably be more satisfactory to you should you apply for
a font - larger or smaller, and will be a better directory to the
F ounder who may be employed to put up for us a font and other
apparatus connected with it in order to meet our wants: viz:
(See Scheme for the Font)
In connection with a Font of the above description, be it more
or less than 5 Cwt. we would request you to send us also Type Cases,
�39
Brass Rules, single & double, & Leads in suitable quantity for
the Fount and Furniture, a large supply, also an Imposing stone,
Demy Chases, Reglet, Spring Points, Sliding Galleys, Sponge,
Pelts for Balls & Printing Ink.
You will not think that in our estimate of printing paper ”400
reams", we are calculating on too large a number of copies. One
of the gospels would require about 9 sheets of paper to a copy and 4,000 copies for each of the five stations we think will be a
small supply for the nation three years hence; but this will require
400 Reams. If one fourth of this could be received 20 months from
this time & each of the remaining fourth at intervals of 3 months
afterwards,it would be equally as agreeable to us to receive it
all at once. - We hope the 40 rms. before sent for is now on the
way; should it not have been shipped before this reaches you,
we shall fear very great embarrassment for want of it, though we
have lately obtained seven reams from Canton which we shall soon use.
Again very affectionately Adieu
H.Bingham
E. Loomis, Printer.
�9
Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 146
Brig Thaddeus, Capt. Blanchard, Lat. 2 °
Long. 29° W. Fifty one days from Boston
Dec. 15, 1819.
To: Rev. Samuel Worcester, D.D.
Salem, Mass. U.S.A.
From: H. Bingham
Letter printed 16 Missionary Herald 91, Feb. 1820.
�41
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Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 149
Hanarooah, Woahoo,
May 13, 1820.
Rev. & Very Dear Sir:
It is with heartfelt gratitude to the great Head of the church
that we are allowed to announce to you the safe and happy
arrival of our mission in the Sandwich Islands.
He who commands
the winds and the waves, has ordered them in mercy with respect
to us since I wrote you by the Ship Mary, Capt. Smith, Boston.
The stormy & dangerous region of Cape Horn was the place of
our peculiar rejoicing, w ith joyful hearts we were enabled to
set up our Ebenezer there, Jan. 30, 1820, & on the 30 March,
the long looked for Owhyhee with its cloudcapt and snow capt
mountains appeared full in view, to the joy of the little
multitude on board. After a pleasant and prosperous passage of
163 days, we came to anchor in Kirooah Bay, Owhyhee, the seat of
goverment, April 4, 1820. - You will rejoice with us to know
that we were kindly received. - A negociation of eight days with
the King & Chiefs,resulted in obtaining permission to settle in
the Islands,with the promise of the patronage & protection of
the government.
We are called upon to admire and adore the providence of God
that brought us hither at this most interesting period when
the Islands were actually without any religion & emphatically
waiting for the law of Christ. The aged & venerable & lamented
Chief Tamaahmaah is dead. We find,inscribed in the flesh of
many of his subjects, tattooed upon their arms & breasts, this
monumental record, "Our great & good chief Tamaahmaah died
May 8 , 1819”. His son Reehoreeho succeeds him, a young man,
though loose in his habits, yet friendly to the whites and favor
able to the improvement of his people, and opposed to Idolatry.
Yes my Dear Sir, tho' you may not be prepared to hear it, & though
the Christian public in America will hardly be pursuaded to be
lieve it, we anounce it as what we see and hear, & testify that
w h i c h we do know, That the king & high priest have united their
influence to demolish the taboo system which has been founded
in ignorance & superstition, cemented with human blood, and sup
ported for ages by unhallowed & misguided passions that the Idols
& Moreahs of these Islands are burned with fire, the priesthood of
superstition is abolished, & the religious taboos are at an end.
"This is the Lord's doing & it is marvellous in our eyes."- The
Lord has triumphed gloriously - His own arm has achieved this
victory over the gods of the heathen. Before he allowed us to see
the altars of abomination, he prepared the way for the march of
truth over the ashes of Idols & the ruins of temples, & removed
the grand barriers to the introduction of c hristianity. Tamaahmaah
was exceedingly tenacious of his religion, probably as an engine of
government. At his death the first Chief who is called Billy Pitt,
renounced idolatry & broke Taboo. But it was some months after
that event, and shortly after our embarkation, w hile Zion was
interceding w i t h the Heaven of Prayer in behalf of these long lost
Idolatrous lslands t hat the king and high Priest together gave a more
decisive blow to the delusions of Idol worship, by renouncing it
publicly & declaring that there is but one God that can serve & do us
�42
good, & that he is in heaven. - The high priest with his own hand
set fire to the moreah, and the king began to eat with woman as
in christian countries. This was followed by great numbers.
One
powerful chief refused to destroy his gods & break taboo - Though
public orders were issued, & sent even to A tooi to abolish
Idolatry.
This chief raised a rebellion in Owhyhee & approached
the seat of government with a disaffected party & with hostile
intentions*. He was met & killed in battle, & his party overcome,
with the loss of 40 or 50 men according to some accounts. This was
the principal contest.
There was no disturbance in any other
Islands; but all are now in peace.Tho' there is still a disaffected
party, the change of government, the war, as they call it, the
maintenance of a soldiery at Kirooh , it is said have contributed
to impoverish that Island. Though the country about Kirooh
is almost destitute of arable land, of wood, & of good water, yet
we considered it a station too important to leave unoccupied at
the present time. On the 12 April, Brother Thurston & Dr. Holman
(at the king's request) & their wives, Thomas Hopoo & M r . Tennooi
landed & took up their residence there, to commence their work
under favorable circumstances. The rest of our number proceeded
immediately to Woahoo, where we hope to have a permanent &
principal station. We reached this Island on the 14 April, & on
the 19 we disembarked & took up our residence here on the day
which we had agreed with our brethren at Owhyhee to observe
unitedly as a day of thanksgiving, for the distinguished mercies
whic h had been bestowed upon us by the liberal hand of Jehovah
since we left our native land, & for our happy landing, our kind
reception,& for our prospects of a peaceful & permanent residence,
& immediate & extensive usefulness among the heathen. We now
occupy one house of Capt. Winship's and one of Capt. Lewis. The
king has given orders to the head chief on this Island to build
us houses, & he has given us the assurance that he will begin the
work soon
As the Thaddeus Proceeded to Atooi, Brothers Whitney
& Ruggles proceeded thither to accompany Geo. P. Tamorii & to
introduce him to his Father, to make known our business & the
pleasure of the A .B.C.F.M. to interest the chiefs & people there
in our object, to explore the Island & prepare the way for
planting the standard there also as soon as divine providence
will permit. Their wives remain here, & they are expected to re
turn next month. Tho' the king expressed some apprehensions, that
on account of our great number we might be burdensome or dan
gerous, yet I believe a preacher might be stationed on every
Island of this cluster in a very short time, and find little
opposition in commencing his appropriate work. We are not now
authorized to send for more missionaries, nor should we think it
prudent now to invite them, but we hope these Islands will soon
all be blessed with preachers & schoolmasters, & this whole
nation civilized & evangelized. - Pleasing as are our hopes, &
flattering as are our prospects, we shall nevertheless find
enough for the trial of our faith & patience, while we have to
struggle with ignorance & jealousy, avarice, idleness & licentiousness
(fostered and patronized as they have been by some who seem to
have escaped from the light & the restraints of the gospel] -[Subilentio]
We are happy to say that we have found friends here both from
Europe & America, who have shown us no small kindness. - Yesterday
I had opportunity to send letters & Pamphlets to our Brethren at
Otaheite & Eimeo, by the Clarion, Capt. Gregsby - An American Brig Today Capt. Pigot, of New York, & Capt. Starbuck, master of an
English Whaleship the L'A igle, now in port,are unitedly circulating
�43.
a subscription paper for the purpose of establishing here a
school fund for orphan children. They appear to be real
gentlemen, & really friends to our cause.
Capt. Best, master
of an English Whaler, has treated us kindly has left this
harbour today - Messrs. Greene & Scoville, Holmes & Manine &
others we might name among our friends, & we would by no means
forget the particular attention & friendship of several of the
officers of the Thaddeus. Mr. Hunnewell is a neighbor to us
for the summer, till the Brig returns from the coast.— As Capt.
Starbuck has offered to take letters, and forward themas soon as
possible we have thought it best to furnish him with a packet,
though we hope to have a more direct conveyance for our journals
and letters which we now resume.
I have preached five times since we made the Islands, twice on
Board the Brig, & thrice in my own borrowed house. - "The Isles
shall wait for his law" furnished me with an interesting theme
for the first discourse at Owhyhee, & "Behold I bring you good
tidings, &c " for the first at this Island. We have a consider
able audience here of Americans & Europeans. We hope the gospel
is not sent in vain to them. Our singing drew tears from the
aged eyes of M r . Holmes, who had not heard one of the songs of
Zion for 20 years before -. We are all now enjoying good health.
But we look forward to the days when another physician or two
will be needed. We wish you to send us one as soon as possible:
one who has the heart of a missionary & the skill of a physician
of liberal education. - I purpose to write you by every opportunity,
& to look to you for counsel & efficient aid in our pleasant &
important work.
I am dear Sir, yours in the gospel of our Lord,
H. Bingham.
Mrs. B . the friend of my heart, & the dear help meet whom divine
wisdom & goodness made for me, & whom akind providence brought to
my bosom, desires to be affectionately remembered in cordial
salutations to you Sir, as our patron, counsellor, friend &
father & to your dear Lady as a sister & fellow laborer in the
vinyard of our Lord.
H.B.
To:
Rev. Samuel Worcester, D/D.
Salem, Mass.
United States of America.
�44.
9 P revious to Sept. 1824
V
Page 150
Hanarooroo, Woahoo,
July 23, 1820.
Dear William Tennooe:
Painful as is the duty of this Church to withdraw from you the
hand of fellowship, & to consider you as no longer a member of
this consecrated body, yet the folly and wickedness which you
acknowledge you have wrought in the indulgence of your sinful
lusts & your perserverance in the broad & downward road seem
unavoidably to require it. As a professed disciple of Christ
you have received into convenant with this Church - We as the
covenant people of God have watched over you, we have labored
to instruct you in your duty - to provide for your wants, to
raise you from the darkness of heathenism and the pollution
of sin, to make you happy and useful, to reclaim your wandering
steps, to save you from the needless reproaches of the world,
and to guide you in the paths of peace & holiness and the
way of eternal life. But you have violated your covenant vows;
you have treated lightly the friendly admonitions of the church;
you have grieved the hearts & shamed the faces of all your
brethren; you have wounded the Redeemer in the house of his
friends, & given occasion to his enemies to speak reproachfully;
according to your own confession and abundant evidence, you
have repeatedly been guilty of intoxication, by the wicked and
intemperate use of strong drink, and you have been guilty of
breaking the Sabbath, God's holy day of rest, by absenting yourself from the worship of God, & by spending the day in the open
commission of scandalous sins. For these sins, there is, and
can be no excuse. The only apology by which you pretend to
palliate them, by no means acquits you & justifies your sins,
but increases your condemnation. The Scriptures admit of no
apology for Sin. The crimes of our men can never be the justi
fying cause of the crimes of another. You dear William have
been kindly reproved, and faithfully admonished & repeatedly
warned of your danger, & affectionately entreated to cease from
sin, and repent and turn to God, & to the obedience of his com
mands. Brothers Thurston & Whitney laboured and prayed with
you at Kiaroah & directed you to this place to save you from
total apostacy, from temptation & ruin. Here brothers Chamberlain
& Whitney have again admonished you & called on you to repent,
and required that a public confession of your sins should accom
pany repentance. They have 'told it to the church', & the church
has been but too deeply convinced of your sin and folly, have
kindly admonished you, and called you to "bring forth fruits meet
for repentance” , & publickly and humbly to confess your sins &
cease from them, and to renew your covenant vows, & seek divine
forgiveness, & by increased humility & fidelity, to engage anew
in the service of the Lord, but alas, you refuse to hear them, &
give too much evidence that "your heart is not right with God” ,
you still choose the paths of wickedness, the company & practice
(hole in paper) the vile, & with hardened impenitence and in
gratitude you declare your determination to continue in the course
of the same scandalous sins for which you are admonished. Our
duty is plain.
The Church has but one voice on the subject.
�45.
The precepts of our Saviour are olear and decicive. II. Thess. 3 .6.
"Now we commend you, brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh dis
orderly" and in Matth. 18.17, "if he neglect to hear the church
let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican". Also
Rom . 5.11. "But now I have written unto you not to keep company,
if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator or covetous
or an Idolator, or a railor, or a drunkard, or an extortioner,
with such an one no not t o eat". Wherefore, in view of your sins
and impenit ence, & in obedience to the commands of Christ, we
have lifted up our hands to cut you off from the communion and
fellowship of this Church, to deliver you over to Satan for the
destruction of the flesh, to express to you distinctly what we
now declare publicly, t hat you are of right, ought to be excommuni
cated from the Church of Christ . - "Remember therefore from whence
thou art fallen & repent. - Remember that God will require you to
pay him your vows, & to obey all his commands. - Remember that you
have forfeited the confidence and patronage of the American Board,
rewarded with ingratitude the kindness and the hopes of the
Christian public, by whose care you have been instructed & by whose
bounty you have been fed and clothed - Remember too, and "Be not
deceived, neither fornicators, nor Idolators, nor adulterers, nor
thieves, nor covetors, nor drunkards. nor revilers, nor extortioners,
shall inherit the kingdom of God". I Cor. 6 . 9,10 In behalf of the Church of Christ in the Sandwich Islands,
H. Bingham, Associate Paster.
William Tennooe
(Copy of the letter of excision, addressed by the Church to
Wm . Tennooe & publicly read to him, at the close of divine service.
After it was read, it was judged advisable by the brethren that a
copy of it should be forwarded to our patrons the prudential Com
mittee of the Board, to give them a succinct history of our trials,
and painful duties, with respect to the sad fall & deplorable
defection of their unhappy youth. Much as we need the sympathies
& counsels of our friends, most gladly would we spare their hearts,
and bear the grief, the shame & confusion alone, & forever hush
in silence the sorrowful story did the nature of the case admit.
H.B. )
To: Prudential Committee of the
American Board C.F .M.
Boston, Mass U.S.A.
By the Levant, Capt. Cary
�46
9
Previous to Sept. 1824
N o. 4
V
Page 151
Hanaroorah, Woahoo,
Oct. 11, 1820
R e v . & Very Dear Sir:
First portion of this letter printed 17 Missionary Herald, 217,
July 1821.
One of her sons received to her bosom, has forsaken her, & taken
"the seat of the scornful" standeth in the way of sinners & walketh
in the counsel of the ungodly - despises her solemn feasts &
trifles with her saared vows. - Another on whom she had relied
as her solace in affliction her comfort "in sickness and distress"her counsellor in adversity, & her efficient aid in the great
duties of Christian life, has become as a broken reed to pierce
her hand, the grief of her heart, & the cause of her sorrows.
He has like ungrateful son, loaded her with reproaches - despised
her remonstrances, shunned her society, lost her fellowship,
treated her solemn admonitions with contumelious railing, & for
months has trifled with her best feelings, denied her claims to
the comforts freely bestowed on her, by her far distant friends,
& resolved to leave her alone in a strange land, & to publish
an ill report of her laws, her ordinances, her officers & members,
& of her faithful attempts to execute the plain & unequivocal
statutes of her Lord, with respect to such as "walk disorderly",
"with slanders", "railing" & "covetousness". O my dear Sir, it is
impossible for you to know how the hearts of the brethren &
sisters have been without exception wrung with anguish by the
singular, the unexpected, the wild & wicked irregularities , of one
who we did hope would establish for himself the high & happy rep
utation of "Luke the beloved physician". Long before the close
of the voyage this little community began most sensibly to feel
the unpropitious influence of a most refractory spirit in two of
its members, Dr. H. & Wm. T. who both declared their determination
not to comply with the principles established by the Board, &
expressed to us in the instructions of the prudential committee,
for the regulation of our economical policy. Both the Dr. & his
wife spoke often of acquiring personal wealth & returning early
if they should succeed, to their own country.
The Dr. objected
to subscribing to our byelaws founded on the above named princi
ples, because he said they cut him off from his original plans.
He wished to acquire the miens of returning at pleasure to
America, & to educate his children there &c. When it was stated
to him, that in case it should appear best for him to return,
the A. Board would doubtless be responsible for his passage, he
replied he did not wish to be dependent on the board for his
passage. When he was referred to the general tenure of our
instructions, he replied that the manner in which those instructions
were given was improper, & that he did not understand them at the
time of embarkation, that he had not subscribed them all & c . Sister H . too, from the time of leaving Boston repeatedly talked
loudly of returning to her friends. After three or four weeks she
was reminded that while her brethren and sisters were laboring under
all the distressing evils of seasickness - at the commencement
of a long & painful voyage & of an enterprize so vast and over
whelming, in its responsibilities, she ought not to weaken their
�47
hands & discourage the hearts by thus talking openly of returning.
But, that very hint, made the strain louder, & it has been grow
ing louder & louder till this day; and now she assumes the re
sponsibility of the Dr.’s disorderly removal to Mowe contrary to
the remonstrances of the brethren, & does not hesitate to declare
that if that removal should be the means of hastening the Dr.'s
dismission from the service she should glory in the separation.
Tho' she assumes that responsibility we cannot consider her as
accountable to the mission or to the Board for the Dr.'s disregard
of t he regulations of the service, nor for his repeated violation
of the plainest rules of charity, & breach of his covenant vows
with this church.
Provided it had been expedient for the Dr. to
remove to Mowe, which was indeed opposite to the opinions of all
his brethren, we think he ought first to have consulted them on
the subject. But instead of this, he made the engagement to go
& settle there without consulting even Brother Thurston with whom
he resided. When we learned his design we remonstrated (hole in
paper) it & he persisted, - Disorderly as the measure appeared to
be in itself, we were more grieved that he should lay his plan &
persist in it, for going to Mowe, instead of complying with Sister
Loomis's request to visit her in her anticipated confinement. Do not weep over this, God was merciful & turned our tears into
rejoicing with respect to her. But you may wish to have the
particulars more clearly stated. This we will attend to as soon
as we see how the discipline of the church will terminate - Both
of them, the D r . & his wife are under censure. Dr. H . has been
three months suspended from the fellowship of the church without
a dissenting voice. He has now received the 2nd admonition Br. Thurston says "it is most manifestly our duty to proceed in
our course of discipline with him even to excision if he does
not confess his faults & evidence repentance
future amendment" But my dear Sir I cannot now say more on this point.
I hope to
write you better tidings soon.
I remain yours with great esteem
H . Bingham
Brother Thurston says in a letter to me on the subject " Your
opinion perfectly accords with my own that Dr. H. is the son of
the Apostle, "a railer" - "covetous" "disorderly" .
To: Samuel Worcester, D. D.,
Salem, Mass.
U.S.A.
�48.
9
Previous to Sept 1824.
V
Page 153
Hanaroorah, Woahoo, N ov. 2 , 1820 .
Very Dear Sir:
It is now almost a year since the date of your friendly letter
deceived by the Brig Pedlar, Capt. Meek, on the 23 of May last.
It was a very great comfort to us to receive the continued
assurance of your affectionate regards, your readiness to com
fort us with a letter, & to provide for our happiness & use
fulness in the Isles of the gentiles. We are happy to know
that we are remembered by those whom we love, & that many of the
friends of our Redeemer do not forget to pray for our prosperity
& success. May the grace of God be multiplied to them, & the
answer of their prayer be sent down upon us, tho’ we are unworthy.
Wonderful have been the kind dealings of our heavenly Father with
us, since you left the little band in Boston harbor, to launch
into the broad ocean, on a great & trying, a (hole in paper)
& responsible enterprize; yourself to return to"the loved dwellings
of Zion”, the bosom of your family, the circle of your able &
efficient associates, to labor & pray & live. for the same grand
object ”the conversion of the world". - The year has indeed been
varied with changes unceasing & events to us & the christian
world deeply interesting, but we have uniformly slumbered & waked
in uninterrupted peace. - We have been allowed to sit down quietly
in the midst of the heathen, where, since our embarkation, Jehovah
has abolished their Idols & altars of abomination, & here, to
preach the everlasting gospel; to begin the work of opening the
dark minds of the children of pagans to the dawning light of
service & invitation; to tell the poor sons & daughters of want of
wretchedness; how christians love them, & pray for them & con
tribute of their substance, for their good, & send their dear
children & beloved friends to live & labor, & die with them to
make them acquainted with the great salvation, the dying love of
Christ, the character & kingdom of the great and glorious God.
This is our happiness - this is our life - God be praised for
granting us the privilege - He has so kindly preserved our health,
that with the exception of what might be deemed salutary seasick
ness, we have scarcely had any occasion, any one of us to say "I am
sick" - And none except Dr. H. & his wife have been inclined to
say, "I am not contented in the work" - If we have had trials they
have been less than could have been expected to be found in our
new & untried course - Some indeed have been sharp. But we hope
they will work for our good. We will not name them as matters of
complaint against the providence of God, nor of disapprobation of
an oversight in the agents of the foreign Mission School - nor
as a ground of any real uneasiness in our present situation: Though
the fall of Wm. Tennooe & the certain and determined defection of
Dr. H. will cause the Christian world t o t
e m b l e - & make many of
r
our dearest friends to weep, & probably convince the Agents of
the School that their knowledge of the defects both of Wm. & the
Dr. ought to have withheld their approbation, at least till they
should have given more satisfactory evidence that they were true
men, & capable of resisting temptation with more firmness - &
uniformly disposed to walk in the path of duty & of peace.
�49.
the single fact, that animosity was felt & manifested by the
Dr. against Tamoree, & Tennooe & M r . Loomis at the school,
which proves to have been deeply rooted, ought to have debarred
him forever from entering upon this work in such a state of
mind. His refusal to comply with the rules of the school at
Cornwall, ought alone to have made the agents hesitate as to
the expediency of recommending him to the Board. Br. Ruggles
knew that the Dr.'s disposition and manners were such as to
disqualify him seriously for the work & he was faithful to tell
the Dr. as a brother that he thought it would be impossible
without material reformation for him to live in peace with the
mission family. His wife is fully aware of this now, & she
makes this the ground of her plan to justify a speedy separation
from the mission- Though in her declarations on the subject she
would imply that the disposition of the other members of the
mission is such that the Dr. with his temper of mind can never
live in peace with them. And we have no reason to doubt that
she has urged him to measures which would hasten his dismission
from the service, - measures which she knew would expose him
to public censure - She knew that all the brethren and sisters
disapproved of his plan to remove to Mowe, & yet she urged his
removal - without once asking counsel even of her own brother,
or even stating any visible call which they had to go to Mowe.
Now she says openly that if his removal to Mowe should procure
his removal from the mission or hasten his dismission from the
service, she should glory in the separation. I have mentioned
this single fact, of their removal to Mowe, not as the grand
cause of difficulty into which they have plunged themselves,
but as a specimen of what has been uniformly disorderly for
many months together. Now this I say - if the agents of the school
at Cornwall did know of such a trait of character in the Dr. though I a m by no means competent to advise, they would have been
justified in withholding their approbation, at least for a season.
I presume however, that they did not know him, but relied prin
cipally on recommendations from unknown men. But I forbear
The
subject is too painful to dwell on, except when imperious duty
demands - All the mission f
a mily are exhausted with it & with one
voice, much as they need a physician, they would desire the Dr. &
his wife were safely landed on their native shores, could they
return without doing mischief to the cause of missions. Both
are under censure of the church & there is little doubt that the
Dr. will suffer himself to be excluded. Do not weep dear sir the struggle in our minds is over.
The fountain of my tears on
this subject is dry - They often wet my couch before we landed The point at which we now feel most sensibly is the interest we
have in our friends who must suffer pain for months & years to
come - Difficult as our situation has been, I am happy to say that
none of us now have what might be considered a personal difficulty
or controversy with them. All the other sisters I think have been
wise & prudent, diligent & in a good degree devoted to their ap
propriate work - Br. Loomis is rapidly rising in missionary excel
lence, appears to be stable minded, desirous of improvement, ready
to do good according to his ability - Br. W. we love exceedingly an ardent, active, faithful brother. Br. R . is devoted to the
heathen - & peculiarly acceptable to them, & beloved in the family Capt. C . has always appeared well, as a man of judgment, patience,
meekness, experience, & prayer, but in the late trials in the
church has exhibited his peculiar excellence & greatness as a
Christian. He is a good counsellor. Br.Thurston & his beloved
�50.
Lucy are above praise - meek - sober minded - patient - perservering
"always abounding in the work of the lord”, being in favor with the
Royal family, the common people, foreigners, & the members of the
Mission.
Yesterday Capt. Allen, Ship Maro, Nantucket, called & dined with
us, visited the school, took tea & offered politely to forward
letters the earliest opportunity to our friends. He has today made
us a present of oil, tea, butter, candles, dried apples - worth
60 doll. He does not anchor, but sails immediately I send one
letter in haste & that to my Dear friend & brother, the treasurer
of the Board, happy to subscribe myself his obliged & affectionate
friend.
H. Bingham.
P. S.
I thank you for you (seal hides word) our likeness - If you have
a convenient opportunity to send them safely to my parents in
Bennington, Vt . you would much oblige us & them. Mrs. B . the
dearest friend of my heart, joins me in cordial salutations to
yourself & Lady — Remember me affectionately to Dr. Worcester &
the other members of the Pru. Com. & M r . L .E. Dwight - Armstrong
& Mr. Taylor.
To:
Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Boston, Mass.
U.S.A.
F r o m Hiram Bingham
Received Aug. 2, 1822.
Politeness of Capt. Allen, Ship Maro.
Forwarded by the U.S. Consul
M . Hogan from Valparaiso.
�9
Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 154
Hanaroorah, Woahoo, Nov. 19, 1820.
This letter printed 17 Missionary Herald, 215, July 1821.
To: Rev. Samuel Worcester, D.D.,
Cor. Sec. A.B.C.F .M.
Salem, Mass/
From:
H. Bingham
E. Loomis
By the Volunteer, Capt. Bennett.
Received June 5, 1821.
�9 P revious to Sept. 1824
V
Page 155
My Dear Friends:
Allow me the pleasure to make you acquainted with Capt.
Hale, of the Brig Ann, a gentleman who has called on us
repeatedly, & shown us kindness, & who will be able to
tell you many particulars relative to our situation, &
the progress of our work, which we have not time to
state to you in writing. You will he gratified to see a
man who has taken tea at the missionaries table, in the
Sandwich Islands.
Yours with cordiality,
H . Bingham.
To:
Dr. Worcester & Rev. Mr. Cornelius of
the Tabernacle Church Salem.
Received Dec. 28, 1821.
�53.
9
Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 156
Woahoo, Jan. 31, 1821.
Very Dear Sir:
In the pressure of claims upon my hands and pen, I still
love to remember you. An English ship has just stopped
here for a few hours to take a little water, on her way to
Bengal, and with the expectation of writing soon, in full
length to the Board by the Arab, Capt. Lewis, now in port,
& about to sail for America via Canton, I send you these
brief notices to tell you that by the Levant we forwarded
28 pages of our journal to you, afterwards by the Volunteer
44 pages, & we have written 4 or 5 letters to the Sec. since
our arrival. We intend to send the remaining pages of our
journal up to this time by Capt.Lewis together with a history
in detail of the defection of Dr. Holman, with so much of the case
of Mrs. H. now suspended as properly belongs to that subject.
My dear sir, weep not, nor judge anything before the time-In a letter to Dr. W. by Br. Whitney, another by myself to him
& one to you, & another by Capt. C. to the Pru. Com. we have
given you some information respecting some parts of the dis
tressing subject. - By the vote of this body, Brother Thurston
& myself are now preparing what we hope will be an impartial
history of the case from the beginning to end. The Dr. is at
length excommunicated from the church and of course, dismissed
from the mission, on the charges of "walking disorderly, slander.
& railing" & "covetousness" No doubt has been expressed to my
knowledge as to the justness or fall, & regular support of these
charges, yes, & only one, Mr. R. has in the end expressed a
desire that he might be permitted longer to hold his standing,
and even he whose heart is sinking under the affliction has long
since wished the Dr. & his wife safely landed on their native
shores. - We think our excellent spirit appears in the members
of this church generally.
By the Cleopatra's Barge, the Jontar & Lascar, we were happy to
receive the communications, supplies, house frame &c which you
sent us - Accept our cordial thanks, - & have the goodness to
tender to the owners Messrs. Bryant & Sturges the grateful a c knowledgements of this Mission, for the very great favor they
have so generously bestowed on us. - Our schools are making de
sirable success; the mission still prospers, notwithstanding its
afflictions - the family in usual health.
Our Sabbaths pleasant,
& the favor of the people & the smiles of providence, encouraging.Mrs. B. begs with me our affectionate rememberance to yourself &
Mrs. E . & your dear children.
She was pleased to hear that
Mary had been at her Sister's house. Love to your associates.
Yours effectionately,
H. Bingham.
P.S. We have raised here by
subscription for orphan children to be supported in
our family about 600 doll. & the paper is going on in
creasing well.
To: Jeremiah Evarts, E s q . Boston, Mass. U.S.A.
Received Nov. 10 , 1821.
�54
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Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 157
Woahoo,
July 7, 1821.
This letter printed 18 Missionary Herald 111, April 1822.
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.,
No. 50 Cornhill,
Boston, Mass. U.S.A.
From H. Bingham
Per Ship Beaver Jennings
from Canton. Capt. Comerford, Ship Alexander.
Received Feb. 1, 1822.
P.S. As the original record which I made of these facts was
not sent not being copied by brother L. I had supposed before
I went to Atooi — & finding on my return that a few small errors
had been sent by the brethren, I thought it desirable to putitin
your power to correct them, - or at least to prevent them from
appearing in print when you select from the journal.
H.B.
�55
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Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 159
To Jeremiah Evarts Esq.
Permit me, dear Sir, to introduce to your acquaintance
Capt. Samuel Hill, of the Ship Packet, as a gentleman who
has favored your missionaries in the Sandwich Islands with
his polite attention, who offers to forward our communica
tions to you & to render us other important aid, & who
would he able to give you interesting intelligence, respect
ing our situation, & important information respecting these
and other Islands of the Pacific, and its adjacent coasts.
He has done me the honor to dine with me twice at our humble
table, spent several hours with me, & presented me very
kindly with several valuable publications, some of which are
from the pen & superintendence of Dr. R. Morrison, China,
with whom he has the happiness to be acquainted.
In much haste dear Sir
I am very respectfully,
Your friend & Servant
H. Bingham
Sandwich Islands, Oct. 13, 1821.
Received June, 1822.
�56
9 Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 160
Woahoo, Dec. 25, 1821.
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.,
Treas . A .B .C .F .M .
Boston, Mass.
From: H. Bingham
By Brig Pedlar, Capt. Meek,
York.
Received Aug. 26, 1822.
This letter printed 18 Missionary Herald 320, Oct. 1822.
�57
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Previous to Sept* 1824
V
Page 161
Woahoo, Feb. 2 , 1822.
My dear Brother:
By this conveyance we send various communications, letters,
journals, &c . Mrs. B. having prepared by the help of two
of her pupils, for her sisters, I proposed to her to send
it you unsealed, as a confidential friend - and as one who
desires to know all our state & to do us good. With her
consent though it was wholly unexpected, I send you her
packet open but with no view to the publication of any part though we do not prohibit selections, if there be anything
desired in your view - worthy of public notice. - (Mrs. B.
requests me to retract this last sentence) - We thank you
for your kind attention to former pages of her journal, as
well as to other communications from u s .
The drawings of our buildings, I doubt not you will be pleased
to see, as well as the letters from Wm . Beals. - Several
reasons have induced us to send you the packet open - We wish
you to forward to Mrs. Whiting early the single sheet addressed
to her, - and when convenient, seal the invelope and forward
the remainder of the packet to Mr. Whiting - as directed. I send you also a letter written by Thomas Hopoo to the aged
Swiss Baron Campagne.
Yours in haste,
H. Bingham.
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Boston.
By the Paragon
Received N ov. 13, 1822.
�58
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Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 162
Oahu, Oct. 1 2 , 1822.
Very Dear Sir:
We have just received by the Ship Parthian, Capt. Brewster,
a letter and a few pamphlets from the Board s e n t by M .L. Cham
berlain - Intending to write you more at length by the Spermo
which sails tomorrow, - We send you by the Hamilton a few
brief notices of this mission We have just struck off 2000 copies of the Spelling Book a second edition - the first 500 being all taken up - We
intend to add at least 8 pages more soon I have begun to preach in the language & since I commenced
immediately after M. Ellis left, have preached 3 times a week
to congregations of 100 to 400 natives.
Capt. C . and family - not very well, now at Atooi - or Tauwai
as we now spell it . He is looking for an opening in ??? for
him to return to America.
Br. W. is about ready to be examined for License to preach & has made good advance in the language.
The mission in general is comfortable.
We feel it necessary to ask for a quantity of Brass Rules and
furniture for the press -,also 300 lower case Roman k's, small
pica - and 300 Do Pica - 40 Reams printing paper of the same
size as that on which the spelling book is printed, or if it
could be as well procured, about an inch wider would accommo
date better as it would give a better margin - It should be
well secured in boxes to prevent its being damaged. A quantity
of thin pasteboard for covers to the spelling books, also
cartrage paper, marble paper, & sheep skins for the same purpose or for backs, and Pack thread, - bookbinder's tools, also may
be wanted though Mr. Ellis expects to bring his. A quantity of
Ruled paper of a good quality the size of our copied journals
& for the same purpose - A box of common Handsaws to procure
supplies - Slates, pencils, inkstands, quills, writing paper,
letter paper, penknives, lead pencils, &c for our rising school.
These are the things we deem necessary to be mentioned, pre
suming you will be glad to hear from us even the language of
importunity We have talked of buying the hull of the Ship Wellington, prin
cipally for her plank and beams which are good - for the purpose
of building a printing office, and a house. She is offered to us
for $600 in bills on the Board. - Whether we buy her or not we
shall need all the lumber you can conveniently send us I am dear sir in great haste, yours
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Boston. Mass.
Affectionately,
Received April 9 1823
H. Bingham
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Page 163
Dear Sir:
It occurs to me that possibly Brother Evarts might catch
a moment to read this letter, or Mr s . E. or my Brother Amos B.
if he should be in Boston.
I therefore enclose it - Please
forward it With much esteem for you & yours,
H . Bingham
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.,
Missionary Rooms,
N o. 69 Market St.,
Boston, Mass.
Received April 9, 1823*
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Page 164
Oahu, Nov. 18th, 1822.
Dear Brother:
It is more than a year since the date of your interesting
letter which we received in July last, b y the favor of
Capt. Nash of the Ship Houqua. We should have answered
it before this, but various avocations & duties of a more
pressing nature have prevented. We shall always find it a
pleasure to communicate with our friends when time can be
spared for the purpose.
It gives us pleasure to know that your future labors under
God will be directed by the American Board. Should the
providence of God lead you to these islands we shall hail
your arrival with joy, & welcome you to these shores as a
brother & fellow laborer in this whitening harvest field.
There is room here & sufficient work for 50 or even a 100
missionaries. We have repeated calls from Tauwai & Hawaii
to furnish the chiefs & people with books & teachers. B r .
Loomis has lately visited Hawaii & established a school at
Kairua, consisting of about 4 0 . The chief of that place,
Kalua, or John Adams as he is sometimes called, takes the
charge of the school with the assistance of a native from
the Society Isles. The governour is anxious to obtain some
one better qualified to teach him & his people. Thomas Hopu
is now on a visit to that school. The governor is one of the
high chiefs of the nation & can speak the English language
with a good degree of correctness.
We have printed 2,500 copies of the Hawaiian Spelling-book,
containing 16 pages, & we hope to add 8 pages more very soon.
About 500 of these books are now in the hands of the natives,
& many of our pupils have gleaned all the knowledge it con
tains & call on us for more. Our hands are full, & we have
much to encourage us in our work, even in this land of darkness
where the god of this world has ruled for ages with undisturbed
dominion. But we trust the number of his subjects are lessening
in this as well as in other lands.
We expect before many months shall have elapsed, that the R e v .
M r . Ellis, one of the missionaries in the Society Isles will
come to our assistance, as well as a company from our own beloved
land. We hope that some of the sons of Andover may be among
the number. We feel grateful too that the L ockhart Society of
that institution have remembered u s . We have not as yet opened a
school for the purpose of teaching the art of music; but we shall
consider a musical library very valuable to u s .
We always find much that is refreshing to our souls - much that
is encouraging in the histories of our brethren, who are now
laboring in different & in distant heathen lands.
We are taught
by these same accounts, that the missionary life is a life of
trials & of conflict as well as of successful efforts & of final
triumph over the powers of darkness.
W
e
a
r
e
f
r
e
q
u
e
n
t
l
ya
pr
i
s
e
d
�61.
too of the uncertainty of human life. Some of our brethren
have been called to their rest, by which we are admonished to
gird up the loins of our mind - to do with our might what our
hands find to do while the day lasts, for the night cometh in
which no man can work.
While God is taking one & another
from the field of action, those that remain must be the more
vigilant & active. - Others must go to fill the places made
vacant, & we are happy to find that the favored Institution
at A . still furnishes her number of the heathen world.
Into whatever field the providence of God shall lead you, Dear
Brother, may the great L ord of missions go with you to guide,
strength, support & comfort you, & to render your labors success
ful in leading wandering souls to Jesus - Our prayers shall
ascend before the throne of heavenly mercy in your behalf.
Tell B r . Burnap that we shall exceeding rejoice should he be
among the favored number who shall plant the standard of the cross
on the shores of Mexico, & most gladly will we respond to the
voic e which shall hail us in the language of Spanish AmericaTell him too that the Mountains of Hawaii will echo the sound
of the gospel trumpet, which may reach them from those distant
shores. — With an affectionate remembrance to friends & to all
the missionary brethren whom you may see, we are your brethren &
fellow laborers in the service of Christ among the heathen.
A. Thurston
H. Bingham
TO: Mr. Rufus Anderson,
Andover,
To the care of Esq. Evarts,
Missionary Rooms,
Boston.
By Ship Balaena, Capt. Goodwill, Nantucket.
Received April 25, 1823.
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Page 166
Oahu, Dec. 28, 1822.
Very Dear Sir:
The Ship Sparton has this moment left the harbour, her declared
intention was to sail tomorrow & we intended to send letters
by her - I must however barely give you a few brief notices of
the mission.
We wrote a month since by the Balaena, - since
that, Capt. C. has returned with his family from Tauwai - Mr.
W hitney has built him a stone house at Waimea, & Mr. R uggles at
Hanapepe. The church has been repaired & enlarged here, & we
have commenced building a printing office of stone, and a
dwelling house at this place of the same materials - Hopu super
intends a good school at Kairua - The business of instruction
proceeds as usual.
All the family enjoy comfortable health.
The refreshing communications by the R over have just been r e
ceived - We shall write you today by the Brig Quill Capt. lewis We expect to greet our fellow laborers in about 3 months.
The king, Kamamalu, & Pitt send their aroha to the Board.
In great haste, but with cordial salutations,
Yours,
H. Bingham.
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Boston.
By Capt. Swain, Ship Spartan
Received Nov. 18, 1823.
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Page 157
Oahu, March 15, 1823.
To Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Dear Sir:
We send you in c l o s e d , b ills on L ondon to the amount of / 65:14"0
given by Mr. Ellis, for goods which we procured here for him,
& we have drawn on you to the same amount in our bills payable
to Capt. Chandler or order, from whom we obtained the goods. Capt. Chamberlain will perhaps take the bills with your indorse
ment — You will if you please place them to our credit - &
by the first opportunity signify to us whether you will allow
us to accommodate Mr. E. in the same manner hereafter should
there seem to be occasion for it.
Yours truly, and affectionately
H . Bingham
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Treas. A.B.C.F .M.
Missionary Rooms,
Boston, U.S.A.
Received Aug. 21, 1823.
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Page 168
Oahu, March 20, 1823.
Very Dear Brother:
W ith aching heart and weary limbs I take my pen again just
to assure you of my unabated esteem & very affectionate
personal regard for you, & of my desire to transmit to you
a few pages of my private journal, were it possibly con
sistent with other pressing duties to prepare them for y o u . I should be happy to write you more frequently as a brother,
& to write also to your good friend R ev. S.E. Dwight, & many
others whom I love, & would be happy to gratify with a. line,
but my labors for the heathen are too much for my poor frame
long to sustain - M y eyes are considerably impaired as my
writing is done chiefly in the night, when I am fatigued.
I inclose to you a letter to Brother Fisk in which I would
also speak to you freely of my own feelings, if you should
find leisure to r e a d .
M r s . B . joins me in cordial salutations to yourself & M r s . E .My love to the Professors at Andover when you see them & your
associates of the Pru. Com.
Yours in the Lord,
H. Bingham*
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Esq. ,
Missionary Rooms,
Boston.
Received Aug. 21, 182 3.
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Page 168
Oahu, Sandwich Islands,
Ma r ch 19, 1823.
Rev. & Dear Sir:
As a token of affectionate remembrance of you, I take the
liberty to send you unsealed a letter from us to brother King who wrote us as he was about to cross the Atlantic - and with
whose present place of residence we have reason to suppose
you may be better acquainted than we are.
Presuming that you
& Mrs. M. might be gratified to peruse it as intelligence from
a far country I very cheerfully give you the opportunity, &
must request you to have the goodness to forward it to M r . K .
should he not be with you; - Should he be with you he would
doubtless be gratified with the first sight.
With best wishes for your prosperity,
affectionately
I am in haste, but very
Yours,
H. Bingham.
To:
Pres. L.S.Moore, D .D.
Amherst, Ma s s . U.S.A.
By the Brig Pearl
Received Oct. 22, 1823.
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Page 170
Lahaina, Maui, Aug. 30, 1823.
Very Dear Sir:
I wrote you on the 8th i n s . by a Ship bound to Calcuta,
informing you of my coming to this place, and of the state
of this station & of the mission in general, of its general
prosperity, & also of a particular instance of embarrassment
here and of sorrow in the whole band in consequence of the
departure of one of our number from the paths of truth &
purity.
I can again assure you that we have occasion to r e
joice in the continued smiles of providence, & in the general
prosperity of the mission in the various stations & depart
ments of labor, - and we still have hope in the case of
Kamohoula, though our sorrows do not cease. Since I wrote
he has continued to wander & rebel, has "lost his bible”
as he says, & his hope, & given over the contest with tempta
tion & sin for a season. - By the same vessel that conveyed
my letter for you to Oahu, he went thither secretly, & we
knew nothing of his design to leave this place till & went in
pursuit of him about this settlement, & to my great surprise
was told that he had gone to Honoruru. - While there, he shunned
the society of the missionaries, called at the mission house
but once; attended public service once and then at a late hour;
then returned secretly to this place, & before we could have
an interview with him, fled as covertly to a distant part of
this Island.
I wrote to him, kindly expostulating with him,
inviting and urging him to return to us without delay, which
it appears he received kindly.
The remainder of this letter printed 20 Missionary Herald, 111,
April 1824.
To:
Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Missionary Rooms,
Boston, U.S.A.
From: H. Bingham
Capt. Starbuck, per Hero
Received Feb. 17, 1824.
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Page 171
Oahu, Oct. 27, 1823.
Very Dear S i r :
Though my sentiments on many points of general interest
relative to the affairs of the mission are very fully &
decidedly expressed in the joint letter of the mission which
you will probably receive with this, yet I cannot well
satisfy myself without giving you some further hints on
some points which could not now be so properly embodied in
our joint letter, nor without expressing some of my own
private views to you both as my official counsellor & as
a private friend. M y first remarks are with respect to our communications,
now ready to be sent, and such as are preparing to be sent
as soon as they can be finished by so much care, attention
and labor as we can bestow upon them for two or three months
to come. Our journal is six weeks behind as you see - The unsettled
state of the mission, the plans considered, half adopted
& reconsidered, &c during this period is a reason why it is
not brought up to the present date. The last six weeks has
been much occupied in attempting to locate the brethren to
their satisfaction & making prudential and domestic arrange
ments. The next pages of journal will be filled with like
matter. The narrative of the tour of Hawaii, the report of the e x
ploring deputation, about 20 interesting drawings including
a large crater of a volcano now in action, with an appendix
on the mythology history, manners & customs of the nation will form a volume, which will probably be published both in
America & England. Should its execution meet the approbation
of our Patrons. - All the documents & minutes of that town
are by vote of the body committed to M r . Ellis & myself joint
ly to prepare such a narrative, for o u r patrons.
Brother Stewart is now engaged in copying the drawings taken
by Mr. Ellis - so that the American copy may in that respect
be as complete as the English.
It has been hinted that
M r . Joulin of Hew Haven would engrave gratuitously and draw
ings from us of Sandwich Island scenery. - Should you conclude
to publish the narative as a volume, you may perhaps avail
yourself of that offer to good advantage.
You will not forget that I am now speaking to a personal friend. In view of what I have just hinted, we have endeavored not to
anticipate too much in our journal & joint letter, but to give so
much as may satisfy for the present, or till the full account
can be forwarded, which may be some months. In like manner we
�68.
passed over the. interesting baptism, death & burial of the
king' s mother Ke-o-pu-o-la-ni And many facts & circumstances
connected with her character & the history of the Lahaina Station
which will be embodied in a memoir, designed to be sent to you
as a Tract for the New England Tract Society, - or to be disposed
of At your pleasure. M r . Richards has the principal charge of
compiling that little memoir which will be accompanied by a
likeness - Some time may elapse before these two may meet the
public eye should they be published at all - as also the last
six weeks of journal which indeed may never see the light. Our
letter designed as an introduction or temporary substitute for
the three, designed also as a kind of commemoration of the
fourth aniversary of our embarkation, and as full and condensed
a view of the state, prospects, principles, wants, plans,
expenditures, & c of the mission as we could well give in one
letter - and as we may not for a year or two to come be able
so collectively to write you again - I hope you will find room
in the pages of the Herald to insert entire (except the post
scripts) if it should meet your approbation - I feel warranted
to say again, that Brothers Richards, Whitney & Ruggles would
gladly subscribe to every sentiment & every statement that the
letter contains On the subject of expenses, M r . Chamberlain ( in whom as an
accountant for us I believe you have sent your best) and M r .
Loomis also have with my full approbation written at large
both to yourself & the Treasurer - Their letters will accompany
this. Our memorandum for type &c we have made out with great care,
for paper also - We presume both will be answered in due season.
As M r . Chamberlain says "we have opened our mouths wide” but we
have done it with the confident expectation that they will be
filled - You will not complain if we should hereafter open them
still wider in asking for stationary & every sort of material
for making books for the people, or for facilitating their
progress in learning. - We sent by Capt. Meek to Canton who
obtained 100 quires of letter paper, about 30 of which is half
the ordinary size, the whole for five Dollars - i .e. 1 Doll. a
rea m . Capt. Comerford who touched here two years ago in the Alex
ander - sent us from Canton by Capt. Meek 30 quires of better
paper & 15 of foolscap as a present of which these sheets are
specimens - Much of which we expect to use in printing should not
the 40 Reams applied for sometime since arrive immediately. One
ream of good Italian foolscap we have bought at five Doll. which
will give an edition of about 800 copies of the hymns, should we
use it for that purpose. Our Spelling Book must soon be reprinted,
or the work of instruction must be impeded - The want of slates
and pencils for the last six months has been a great embarrassment We were extremely disappointed that the reinforcement brought
none - We sent to Canton for them, but w e are again disappointed The people are constantly calling for slates - & we are obliged to
tell them we have none - They seek them on board ships and get
here and there one. Capt. Meek brought from Canton about 50 We have distributed heretofore about fourteen d o z . slates - Now I
have not one for my own private use - But what is 200 slates as a
supply for a nation, where every man, woman & child over 6 years should be furnished with one - Had we slates & books sufficient the number -of native teachers increases so fast - that I should
�69.
not be surprized if in three years from this time there should b e
20,000 natives who should have begun to read and write. But there
may be, nay must be a far less number unless the means are supplied.
There can be no harm in expecting great results if we take suitable
measures to secure or produce them.
The merchants may after a
few years supply the people with stationery, but we cannot wait
for their slow movements; now, now, is the time.
Should you send a
large shipment of slates & pencils & like articles, and sucessive
shipments, please give us your advice whether we should give them
to our pupils or sell them at a price; & books, also, which we
print, for the people.
Should a Merchant now offer a cargo of
stationary the chiefs would perhaps purchase at a price that the
common people could not give - & should the people be very anxious
to buy, the chiefs would be likely to monopolize, buy up the cargo,
& then put on such a price in the retail as would prevent the
circulation or make it extremely slow.
True this must eventually
regulate itself, but we want a hand in it now.
When the Tahitian Missionaries printed an edition of one of the
gospels they divided the edition among the chiefs to be distributed
to their people.
They were glad of the opportunity, & distributed
as they thought best, for instance to a favorite little child that
could not read, three or four copies, to some persons too old and
blind to read, one or two copies - by which means many who could
read & greatly wanted a copy were denied - The missionaries felt
the evil & resolved never to commit themselves again in like
manner. - Similar evils must be expected & guarded against as well
as possible by u s . - It is possible then that if the body of the
common people are to depend entirely on the merchants for stationary,
or on their chiefs, it will be long before they will be generally
supplied even if there should be a desire to learn generally preva
lent.
But if we have it in our power to establish native schools
in every district of the Islands and furnish every school with
elementary books and stationary, either gratuitously, or at first
cost, or a reasonable advance, I think it might give more certainty,
and energy to our operations, - Suppose then that one fifth of
the whole population shall in a few years be furnished each with a
book & slate, with ability to use them, - What an engine our
press becomes, for urging on the improvement of the nation? Do
Sir give us stationary, as well as bread. We cannot live without it.
There is now one more point relative to our communications, & that
is on the subject of types - We have asked for a new fount of Pica
No. 1 - It is the opinion of Mr. E. and ourselves that that is the
best for the first impressions of the scriptures for this people the memorandum is made out for 24 pages We brought with us two founts one of small Pica - which we now use
for a Spelling Book.
It is a good fount, but rather too small - both
as to the size and quantity of type even for our present purpose,
and would by no means answer for an edition of the scriptures. The other fount is Brevier, but worn out in America a n d useless and indeed was never suitable for elementary books for untutored
readers - I thought these remarks needful, lest you might apprehend
that two founts now in our possession were a tolerable supply for our
‘infant establishment - It is indeed an infant establishment, designed
to raise an infant nation whose kings, princes & nobles are
children, and who therefore want the best of types, & every other
means of instruction & improvement. -
�70
It is for us respectfully to make known our wants & wishes, & then
leave our parents, guardians and patrons to decide as to their
ability or the expediency of granting a full supply of every want
and the gratification of every w i s h . On these points it is proper
that I should now be silent. - But if your patience with me is
not quite exhausted, allow me to add a "few more last words" on
my second topic of proposed remarks, that is laborers & locations, In attempting to plant two stations on the Island of Hawaii and
maintaining the three already planted, we have felt a considerable
difficulty from three causes, the want of more m e n , the want of
better men - & the danger of exposing some of the females so
widely scattered to be left without medical aid in the approaching
hour of sorrow. - Two more men like Messrs. Ellis, Richards,
Stewart, Bishop.& Thurston would have enabled us very comfortably
to occupy five stations. - Had M r . Ely & Mr. Goodrich been com
petent to lead a station or to form the half of a station we should
in that case felt very little embarrassment at present - When we
tried for a while to rest our hopes on them as such, we expected
to go on easily, with our plan broad as it was, but after 6 months
acquaintance we find ourselves disappointed.
Still they stand
as high doubtless in the estimation of the mission, as they did in
the estimation of the Board when they were accepted or sent forth,
to say nothing of the deficiency of their wishes to take & fill
the high & important sphere of a Missionary's wif e . The brethren
tried two months to have M r . E. hold himself in readiness to go
to Hawaii, but when after 3 months & a half he was elected by
ballot for that Island, he declined, complained that the brethren
did not respect his feelings, & expressed a wish that the brethren
might know what they were about, & that the vote might be re
considered - This was accordingly done - M r . Ruggles and his wife
then offered themselves to go with an ordained minister to Waikea
in Hido ( or Ohido,or as in Eng. Oheedo or Heedo) to assist in
planting & maintaining that station till more help might be e x
pected - This was accepted with the expectation that M r . Bishop
would accompany him. M r . B. was appointed of course, to the mutual
satisfaction of the two and also of their wives - Mr. E. was not
satisfied entirely to go to Tauwai without M r . R . - However M r .
Goodrich then by a vote of the mission was assigned to Kairua
to aid M r . Thurston one year, when his location and that of Mr. T .
was to be reconsidered - M r . T. & his wife refused to accept of
such aid as incompetent and undesirable. - But the vote was
allowed to stand a few days in hope of a compliance & the Brothers
wrote a joint address to M r . T . endeavoring to encourage him to
go forward in what appeared to be the best plan.
But twas in vain.
In a full meeting I deliberately offered myself to go with M r . G.
to Kairua for a year.
But this was decidedly objected to by the
body on the ground that the duties of this station demanded
indispensably my attention - Nothing could be done therefore but
to decline Brother Ruggles' offer & Mr. Bishop's location was
reconsidered - Mr. Ruggles again offered to go to Waikea with
Mr. G. provided I would labor there 3 months in the first year.
In this Mrs. B . was forward to volunteer & I consented to hold
myself in readiness for that service though M r s . B. might expect
to be confined there.
It was found that by this time M r . Ely
was resolved not to go to Tauwai till after the confinement of
M r s . E . which would be little less than a year from their arrival,
because she would be so far from a physician. - The claim of
Tauwai therefore demanded Mr. Bishop's aid - and it was
�71
unanimously agreed that he should proceed to Tauwai, & M r . Ely
to K a i m a for a season - To this Mr. E. & Dr . B. & in fact all
without exception agreed and appeared to be satisfied - But in
these days Mr. E. expressed dissatisfaction in the plan, and
tho' Mr. T. was at first quite satisfied with the arrangement as
it would allow 5 stations to be occupied without delay - and allow
the physician to proceed from Lahaina to K a irua & thence to
Waiakea - yet so little aid could in reality be relied on from
M r . E . for the present year that Mr. T . was quite willing to go
alone three months to Kairu a and then expect Mr. Bishop's aid Just a fortnight elapsed after the la st arrangements had been
made when a very favorable opportunity occurred for a passage to
Kairua & Mr. T. embraced it - M r . Stewart and myself asked M r . E.
"to state to us fully his plans & wishes” & he modestly refered
us to the Dr. to answer for him, meaning so far as his reasons
for not accompanying M r . T. were concerned. — It so happens
that no measure taken b y the body respecting M r . E.'s location
has met his approbation.
Mr. Bishop is waiting an opportunity to
go to Tauwai - M r s . B. being just recovered from confinement.
Mr.E. is undisposed of & unordained. - Perhaps his fault is want
of ordination.
He has from his arrival, and even before, urged
the subject of his own ordination with an earnestness & importu
nity which would well become an obviously more worthy motive But that subject seems now to be dropped by common consent, &
will not probably be acted upon by the mission, or by the ordained
missionaries as a body till Mr. E . is well harnessed in his work
& well proved.
M r . E. preaches a good sermon we admit - but we cannot deny that
he appears too crooked or unpliable, or unsubstantial in some respects to receive at present the highest trust committed to a
missionary - We are waiting to see him take ordination ground,
then we shall think it our duty to give him the right hand of the
fellowship of the churches - & more especially if you should dis
tinctly recommend it. - We shall pursue a similar course with
M r . G. & M r . W. both of whom in that respect appear patient &
humble. - At least this is my present view of the subject. I may have said too much, or in an unsuitable manner. But I
cannot withold from you many things important in their connection
with the direction & success of the mission though improper for
the public eye - To the trustworthy Secretary of the Board my pen
has committed many things which I have studiously concealed from
the Dearest Brother I have on earth - To none in America but the
officers of the Board would I speak of family trials and personal
irregularities unless they were publicly recognised here by the
church or the mission as a matter of discipline.
It is proper perhaps now to add that Kamohoula of whom I have
twice written you from Lahaina - has been called before the church,
confessed to them his crimes, been kindly admonished, and ex
postulated with, promised to make a public confession, and attach
himself to the family again - But he has omitted to make a
public confession - & has now been absent about three weeks with
out giving the slightest account of himself - We hoped he was
penitent, but our dependence on his aid is very small.
Kupurii
(Cooperee) has also disappointed our confidence. But Stephen
�72.
Pupuhi & Richard Karaioulu appear yet to stand firm and our
confidence is unshaken - Betsey Stockton appears to be faithful
and useful.
My spirit is greatly refreshed and strengthened by brothers
Richards & Stewart - and Bishop and their three excellent wives,
happily matched & thoroughly furnished - M r . C. is equally
qualified to fill his post and equally amiable & faithful. Am very happy to have him at my side in attending to the miscellany
of this station. - M r . Ellis is a man of the right stamp - I am
happy to labor with him. M r . L. is rising in activity and
energy - & will fill his place we l l . M r . Thurston holds on his
way - Mr. Whitney n ow preaching three times a week and superintend
ing 80 pupils - is evidently rising in activity & efficiency Mr.
Ruggles is indefatigable and never has appeared more able
or willing than now to subserve the best interests of the mission The Dr., tho' his wife is the more amiable,is diligen t ,attentive,
& active in his profession, & will doubtless prove himself a
valuable member of the community, though he needs more patience
& less fretfulness. Indeed his services are quite indispensable& the principal difficulty lies in applying them when they are
most needed.
Should not some preacher or preachers come out
acquainted well with the art of healing, another physician w ill
be needed.
Mr. R. & M r . S . value very much the slight acquaintance which they
have with it, - And I am sure the slight attention that I have
been compelled to bestow upon it since I came here - had it been
given under a proper instruction, would have been in my estimation
of very great importance.
The Sandwich Islands in the view of our friends at such a
distance dwindle to a point - but in our view as well as that of
the people, they possess considerable extent - & when the mission
family is scattered through an extent of 250 miles - with such
doubtful & unfrequent means of communication, how often the
aid of a Physician may be wanted when it cannot possibly be
enjoyed if all the medical skill is seated in one man or two.
M r . Richards has named a student of Theology at Andover acquainted
with medicine & fired with the missionary spirit - perhaps he
can come without delay — I should not be surprized but gratified
to see a cousin of mine now at Andover, Luther Bingham, come out
in another reinforcement, and R e v . Ralph Cashman if the l a t e
discipline of himself & wife our sister has prepared them for
this work.
But it has been my principle to ask no man to come to this field as it is impossible to know their views - & my invitation might
have some undue influence - The Lord will provide. I have no
doubt that he will bring forward men when they shall be wanted by
the Board, & the great difficulty will be rather in rejecting than
accepting, when selecting proper recruits. By proper, I mean the
best that can be found.
Jonah & Paul were both appointed by the Lord to go and preach to
the heathen - The One was ready to prefer his own reputation to
the salvation of a great city - The other counted not his life dear
unto him that he might testify the grace of God & that Christ's
8
�73.
glory might be promoted - The former was a complainer at his
post, exceedingly fretful & angry at disapointment - & actually
set a higher value on his gourd than on the growth of divine
knowledge & the fruits of righteousness in a great nation The other cheerfully suffered the loss of all things and counted
them but dross for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ
Jesus the Lord - How clearly evident it is that Paul was the
best missionary.
We do not ask for any better than he.
Should
any more holy,active, faithful or devoted than he be sent, the
rest of us might turn Jonah's if we are not such now. You see
how large a letter I have written unto you with my own hand hope I have not made you sorry by its prolixity - Beg the nantle
of charity to be thrown over all.
M r s . B. joins me in very cordial salutations to yourself and
M r s . Evarts - To your associates of the Prudential Committee
whom I should be happy to address individually, have the goodness
to tender my affectionate regards With increasing confidence, esteem and love, I am Dear Sir, very
respectfully
Yours
H. Bingham
P.S.
Dear S i r :
In a hasty & very imperfect picture of the mission family, these
familiar faces were left out, Hopu, Honorii & Sandwich - Hopu &
his wife have for many months lived at Kairua & are expected to
assist M r . T. & his wife.
Thomas has once or twice, we are
grieved to say, been guilty of intoxication, but still appears to
love the work of the mission, and promises to be useful.
Honorii
appears to be unaltered, & we believe exerts a good influence - he
is now attendant on Kamamalu the queen.
Sandwich has given the
brethren at Tauwai some trouble, but has done better the last
season, has taught a school patronized by the Governess of the
Island. - All that need to appear in the group I have with rude
hand presented. - I have set down nought in malice, nor attempted
to extenuate, or dissemble, or mislead.
Feel sorry to trouble
you Dear Sir with our little affairs, while the weighty concerns
of the Board fill your mind & hands, & the wants of the world
claim your daily attention - I can sympathize with you, t h o ' in
my little sphere.
H.B.
To: Jeremiah Evarts, E s q .
Cor. Sec. A.B.C.F.M.
Missionary Rooms,
Boston, U.S.A.
By Capt. Birch, Ship Stanton
Received April 27, 1824.
�74
9
Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 175
Oahu, Nov. 8, 1823 .
Love to you M r . Evarts:
This is my communication to you.
I am thankful to you for your
kindness towards us in sending hither the teachers of learning
and of the word of Jesus Christ, the means by which we here
are to be enlightened. Very great is the goodness of them to
instruct us in the
(hole in paper) way that reaches up to
heaven (hole) plan exceedingly good.
N ot all the people of
Oahu here are learning the good written word of salvation.
Hereafter perhaps will arrive the happy time that all the pe o
ple of all these dark islands will learn the word of Jesus Christ.
Very great affection to you.
Keariiahonui
Son of Taumuarii
N ov. 10, P.S.
Dear Sir:
The above is the spontaneous production of a pleasant young
chief from Tauwai, whom we have regarded & designated as a
kin sman of Taumurii. He here styles himself his son - Taumuarii
allows the relationship, of course we cannot dispute it. - He
was taken away from Tapule (Tapoole) by Kaahumanu and brought
hither by her, we hardly know in what capacity. - He is in our
estimation very interesting, and apparently as amiable as King
Taumuarii.
He appears in this letter, as he does in his
intercourse with us. At his request I subjoin a translation &
forward it to you, with kind salutations.
H. Bingham
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.,
Boston, U.S.A.
By Capt. Coffin, Ship Ganges
Received April 6, 1824.
�75.
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Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 176
Honoruru, Sandwich Islands,
N o v 21, 1823.
Very Dear Sir:
The occasion on which I
singular, interesting &
the king Tamehameha 2nd
countries, particularly
America.
write you at this time is new &
important, it is the departure of
with a few attendants to visit foreign
Great Britain & the United States of
He has sometime cherished a desire to see those countries of
which he has from his childhood been accustomed to hear many
interesting things, but which from the scanty means allowed
him, he must have very imperfect & inadequate conceptions. To
gain information, poli t i c a l & commercial, to gratify curiosity,
to achieve by the tour something great in his own estimation,
& eventually to increase his wealth & power are doubtless the
principal objects that come within the scope of his present
designs, & were he to be attended by a competent guide & in
terpreter much doubtless might be gained by the tour for his
own good, for the benefit of the nation, for the direct aid of
the mission, & the advancement of the cause of civilization &
Christianity in these Islands - & we would fain hope that an
additional impulse might be given to the cause of missions both
in Europe & America by the visit of this young R uler who has
but lately cast away the Idols of his fathers & of former gener
ations & kindly patronized the teachers of Christianity now
laboring quietly & successfully in four principal islands in
his dominions. He desires to have an interview with the king
& court of England, to obtain some advice, & perhaps assistance,
to enable him the better to govern his own people & to maintain
a better regulated intercourse with foreigners w ho visit or reside
in his islands.
Capt. Starbuck of the L'Aigle, South Sea Whaler, well known to
the friends of the mission, proposes to take the king to England
& has taken on board his baggage & $ 25,000 specie to bear his
expenses & purchase such articles as may strike his fancy for his
own use or for distribution among his favorites on his return,
though from the circumstances under which he goes, it would not
be strange or unthought of by his chiefs if he should return
without money or goods, & in no small degree involved in debt.
The principal chiefs at his summons have been assembled at Lahaina
& are now at this place to deliberate on his departure, to make
arrangements for the administration of government during his
absence, to settle the succession in case of his decease, & to
express their united views as to the business to be transacted
by the king in his tour.
When the design of the king to embark in the L'Aigle for England
was made known I was early & strongly impressed with the im
portance of his being accompanied by one of us, to watch over him
�76.
on his passage & during his visit to introduce him to such
company & such scenes as would be likely to be useful to him
& to guard him against the opposite, to aid his inquiries, to
communicate to him important information on any subject that
might come under his notice, & especially to act as interpre
ter for him in the transaction of any important business between
him & foreign governments or individuals, & to communicate mor e
over to Missionary Societies & others, such information r e
specting the state of the islands as might be eagerly sought
Wherever the king may go, & to obtain also many facilities for
the more rapid & successful prosecution of the Missionary work
here.
Deeply impressed with this subject I mate known my views
to Brother Ellis & was happy to find, that he without any knowledge
of what was passing in my mind had taken the same view of the
subject.
The same day we had a request from Kaahumanu, Karaimoku
& Boke to attend the deliberations of the king
chiefs on the
subject of the king’s proposed tour, and Boke expressed an earnest
desire that a native teacher might be furnished by the Mission to
pray with them, teach them & act as an interpreter.
Two days after,
on the 11th inst. M r . Ellis & myself went in the L 'Aigle for
Lahaina to assist in the deliberations, to make arrangements for
accompanying the king, or if that should be denied, to write letters
by the king to our patrons both in England & America.
We arrived
there in the short period of 23 hours, & soon laid the subject
before Karaimoku & Boke, who approved of our views. At evening
after singing a hymn, & conducting evening prayers at the king's
we held a communication for half a n hour with the king b y means of
the Slate & pencil. We first proposed that in case he should goto
f o r e i g n countries, one of us should accompany him as a teacher &
interpreter.
This he replied readily was agreeable to his thoughts
& wishes.
We then signified our wish that M r . E . should be the
one to go.
Here it may be proper to notice another set of facts
or chain of providences independent of these but leading in the
same direction. M r s . Ellis has for a considerable time been labor
ing under the distressing influence of disease which in the
opinion of D r . Williams & D r . Blatchely & others, renders it
desirable for her to visit her native land with a view to a change
of climate & to more able medical aid than can be obtained here.
M r . E . desires also to place his four children under the care &
instruction of their friends in England. He thinks it important
also to consult with his patrons on the subject of their carrying
on in conjunction with the American Board missionary operations in
these islands.
These considerations, together with the fact that the king sails
directly to England, with a conductor whose views in taking the
king & his company to London, it is believed are entirely secular
& sinister, render it doubly important that M r . E . should go.
To the suggestion of our choice in the case, the king replied, "that
is with you; as I am going to Britain it is well for M r . E . to
go; but were I going direct to America I should then wish M r . B.
to go".
The morning of the following day we continued our intercourse
with the king on the subject of the tour, recommended to his a t
tention such things as we thought needful, obtained his full
consent for M r s . E . & the children to go with him.
He freely
offered to pay Mr. E's
E s passage, & K araimoku offered to pay the
�77.
passage of his family & directed M r . E. to apply to Capt. S .
to learn what accommodations he could afford them. W hat then,
you are ready to ask was the reply of our once obliging Ship
Master?
It first he said he had not room, & declined at once. M r . E.
unwilling to take his final answer, left him & requested Dr. W.
to converse with him. Dr. W. who had before recommended M r s . E's
visit to England on her own account now very kindly proposed
to the Captain to give up his own state room for the accommodation
of M r . E . & family. This did not avail. The question was re
ferred back to the king, who said there was no want of room as the
ship was large & there were but 8 of his party to go . The follow
ing morning the king & chiefs being assembled called in Capt. S .
to finish their engagement with him respecting the passage, wishing
to stipulate for themselves & for M r . Ellis & asked what compensa
tion he should ask for conveying the king & his suit to England he replied that he should ask nothing; but he should expect some
facilities to be granted to the ships of his owners in recruiting
at the islands - he had also suggested that his owners might
charge something for the passage when they should arrive. The king
then requested that the Capt. would take M r . E . He declined. Then
the king & Karaimoku urged him & offered to pay in dollars what
he might ask for himself & family - He still refused to_ listen
saying ’he did not want money’ - 'he was not authorized to take
passengers for money', in short, it was impossible, & 'it was no
use to talk about it'. - The king & chiefs as well as ourselves
were much disappointed & grieved at this opposition - and the
more, as the Capt. had given encouragement to Boke the evening b e
fore that he would take M r . E . All seemed exceedingly desirous
that he should go - & none the less for the apparent opposition.
Karaimoku said at once this is in consequence of the foreigners
at Oahu, several of whom had just arrived & it is known that a
majority of the traders here would of course, & actually do oppose
the plan of Mr. E's going with the king & exert their influence with
Capt. S. to hinder it - Some of the chiefs said ironically "We
should be too much enlightened if M r . E. should accompany the king "
Boke whose hopes had been uncommonly high (for him) said T,I feel
just like being sick at M r . E ’s staying here." - M r . Marin (Manini)
the Spaniard said it would be more credit to the nation for the
king to fit out two of his own vessels & go by the way of Port
Jacks on independent of Whale Ships - Capt. Adams & Capt. Sumner,
E n g l i s h commanders of native vessels, recommended the king's going
in the Cleopatra's Barge. This the government seemed half r e
solved to do rather than leave M r . E . behind.
As Capt. S . was re
tiring from Court I came to him & asked if I might speak with him At which he very readily lent me his ear.
The subject of my r e
marks in a half an hour's brisk conversation may be sufficiently
expressed in one period.
I do not wish to interfere at all in the business in question,
it is with you to say whether you can take Mr. E. at the king's
request or not - but as I understand you propose to take the
king for his good & the benefit of the nation, I beg leave to
ask if he would not be more likely to secure the proposed advantages
of th e tour, b y taking with him a competent interpreter who could
make known the wishes of the king to the English Government &
�78.
their views to him; who could correctly translate any written
communications between him & them or others & give satisfactory
information respecting the state of the island, than he would to
go unattended by such an interpreter on whom he could depend?
The amount of his answer was, "The king will want for nothing in
England - I expect to he able myself to speak his language when
I reach home - Capt. Jack can make me understand in English
whatever he wishes - besides I mean to take an old resident with
me, well acquainted with the language - All I want of an inter
preter is one that shall say what I tell him - I do not want
M r . E . to go - I cannot take him. I am willing to give up my whole
time to wait on the king in England & even to entertain him at my
own expense” .
Thus our discourse ended, for I could not say to him, we fear the
king will not only miss the advantages which are desired, but b e
led into many temptations without restraint, will be kept as
much as possible from the house of God & the Society of the pious
& devoted children of God who would seek the salvation of his
soul & the conversion of his people - that instead of increasing
his honor - his wealth or power, he might have his money swindled
from him at the bar room or the gaming table, his character low
as it is, disgraced by scenes of riot & debauchery, & get such
unfavorable impressions as to the purity & piety of civilized
countries as greatly to retard rather than facilitate the progress
of civilization & Christianity here.
The king & chiefs however resolved still to urge the Captain to
take Mr. E . & if he should eventually refuse, they would try to
send the Cleopatra's Barge. Thus the matter stood till Sunday
noon, when the king after attending the morning service was in
vited on board the foreign vessels laying at Lahaina, & the after
noon was spent in drinking & firing - & the evening exhibited the
disgusting spectacle of white & red men tempting & tempted under
the levelling influence of the inviting, inebriating bowl.
Three
full days the king continued in that state unfit for business. On
Tuesday agreeably to former arrangements, he & his attending
chiefs, M r . Ellis & myself, and a considerable number of other
persons embarked together on board six different vessels, the
L'Aigle, the Princess Mary Capt. Clark of London, the Cleopatra's
Barge, the Waverly & two schooners & came down in 10 hours to
this port. Kaahumanu had come down a little before.
Gov. Adams
also to prepare provisions for the voyage of the king, which are
now going rapidly on board the L'Aigle, which is expected to sail
in a day or two.
All the brethren at this place & at Lahaina are decidedly in favor
of Mr. E's accompanying the king but the inflexible opposition to
it obliges us to give it up & wait to see the Lord bring good
out of apparent evil.
The king takes with him the Queen Kamehamaru (generally called in
our communications Kamamalu) for whom M r s . B. & Mrs. Ruggles have
just finished two rich & elegant dresses of damask silk and
figured satin, crimson, yellow, pink & black, that her apparel may
be in some sense suitable to her state & her rank when she shall
appear among strangers.
Gov. Bok e & his wife Tweene (or as we
now spell it Twini) accompany the king - The other attendants
selected are Ca pt . Jack & Manuia# two native commanders ofnative
M ah-noo-e-ah
the last half of the word resembles the sound of the
�79
v e s s e l s who speak a little English - Kuanaoa# , the king's weigher
of Sandal wood & James Young, son of M r . John Young, who also
speaks some English. To say nothing of the last individual,
the company is well chosen, & it is greatly to be regretted that
the king & his suit cannot he accompanied by M r . E. the want of
whose important aid can in no way, to human view, be supplied.
We still hope Divine Providence will open the way for M r . E. to
meet the king in England & to accompany him in his visit to the
United States should he go there.
How I should rejoice personally to introduce our royal pupil to
you, my Dear Sir, & your associates, to those Associations of Good
men who take a lively interest in his welfare & that of his nation.
How I should be delighted after a visit in Boston, to conduct him
& his interesting company through Hartford, Cornwall Hew Haven,
New York, Philadelphia to Washington, up the Hudson & the Western
Canal to the Great Lakes & the falls of Niagara which he has a
special desire to see - introducing him to as many of the good
& great in our beloved country, & making him as fully acquainted
with her manners, her character & privileges, her civil, religious,
literary & charitable institutions, as the period of six months
would allow.
But this I cannot expect. And should the king arrive
in America without an interpreter & guide, you Sir, will doubtless
do what is in your power to make his visit profitable & interesting
to himself & to the Christian public, to us & to the nation which
he rules.
Capt. Chamberlain with one of his sons might render important
aid should they be ready to assist you as interpreters, or some one
of the Sandwich Island boys in Cornwall.
The king as you are aware has mercantile acquaintances in Boston
& its vicinity who would doubtless be forward in their attentions
to his Majesty, & who would doubtless be glad to direct him in a
way to promote their own & not his advantage & having some a c
quaintance with his language & habits, would be able to entertain
& influence him & his attendants in no small degree.
Added to this, the liberal sentiments of so large a portion of
professed Christians in Boston, I should fear, joined with the in
fluence of the worldly spirit in the Church of England, would lead
the king to believe what Capt. S. tells him is true, that our
inculcating morning & evening prayer in families, & attending the
Wednesday evening lecture is over & above what the Bible requires,
& what Christians generally practice, & that Sunday is the only
day for attending the public duties of religion.
Boston with all
its institutions & its most efficient & indefatigable friends of
Missions is not the first place which I should select for the
conversion of this young heathen Ruler.
Yet God may have chosen that as his very birthplace, & may now be
pouring down his Spirit there with some reference to so signal &
desirable an event as the conversion of a king.
Or he may be
#Koo-ah-nah-o-ah,
- The nao resembles in sound n o w .
�80.
listening to the prayers of the pious in Boston & other
parts of our country with the kind design of showing them, even
in the flesh, the work of divine grace on the heart of the chief
Ruler of the Sandwich Islands.
To convince the king that you seek his best good as a friend,
to make him (hole in paper) that you are as deeply interested
in his welfare as you really are, would be an incalculable benefit
to him, & doubtless greatly aid the cause of missions here &
elsewhere. But you need not any hints of advice from me on those
points o n which I am accustomed to expect them from you - For I
am well assured that if the king should come within the reach of
your personal influence as he has been within ours, you would
labor with more wisdom, zeal & faithfulness to guard him from every
evil, withold or withdraw him from every snare, to urge on his
improvement & lead him to the Savior of Sinners, the King of kings
& lord of lords. Should he find his way thither, to your kind
care & Christian attentions I desire to commend him & to the
watchful Providence of God & the Word of his Grace.
�9
Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Honoruru,
Jan. 12, 1824.
Dear Sir:
To this duplicate of a letter which I forwarded by the
L'Aigle by way of London, I a m now able to add some im
portant particulars connected with the subject of the
above.
On the 27th of N ov. last the necessary preparations
being completed, the king and his attendants took an
affectionate leave of his people, and embarked on board the
L ' A i g l e and sailed for England. - The people thronged the
beach as he entered the boat - & their loud weeping mingled
with the waring of cannon at his departure - His principal
chiefs (politely) accompanied him on board and took a re
spectful and affectionate leave of him and his attendants.
M r . Ellis failed of the opportunity of accompanying him
& has found no opportunity to follow him - Capt. S. however
took John Rives a Frenchman - heretofore an interpreter for
the king - but lately much out of favor. The desire for instruction & the prayers of our work has , we
believe, been increased among the people since his departure.
With very affectionate salutations to you and your associates,
& with the hope that the friends of the mission in other lands
will make a happy use of the king's interesting tour, I remain
most truly yours,
H. Bingham
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Cor. Sec. A.B.C .F.M.
Boston, U.S.A.
Received July 13, 1824
�82.
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P re v i o u s to Sept. 1824
V
Page 179
Oahu,
Jan. 1, 1824.
Very Dear S i r :
Another year dawns upon us in peace. It will doubtless
contribute to your happiness to learn that we are blessed
with so much health, & comfort, strength and courage, means
and opportunities for usefulness as to hail the new year
with joy to bless God with thankful hearts for crowing the
pas t with prosperity & cheering the future with hope, &
thus to pursue our course with alacrity and rejoicing.
I send you b y the Paragon the first 12 pages of an edition
of Hawaiia Hymns prepared jointly by Brother Ellis & myself,
for the use & benefit of the nation especially for the
public worship of " Jehovah” (the acknowledged God of this
nation) "the great God of heaven & earth" - The work will
contain about 60 pages, & we intend to print 2000 copies Our stock of paper is rather short - Hope to be supplied soon.
Applications are daily made by numbers of the natives, for
copies of the Spelling Book of which we wish to print a new
edition as soon as we receive the paper sent for nearly two
years since, - Nearly 2500 copies have been distributed Many of the people who beg for books we are obliged to deny About 70 have applied during the last three days, & we have
given out about 2 copies to each 5 persons. One young man
asked me for a book yesterday, & I inquired of him who his
teacher was - He replied ”M y desire to learn, my ear, to hear,
my eye to see, my hands to handle, for, from the sole of my
foot; to the crown of my head I love the"palapala".
Another said, "all the people would learn if they could get
books/" Many have applied for the hymns long before the first
sheet could be printed Some of the chiefs and others are beginning successfully to
acquire the art of arithmetic The book, pen & pencil are rapidly superceding cards and other
amusements of the people.
Tipling shops are shut, & drunkenness discountenanced by the
highest chiefs, & labor and sport on the sabbath prohibited to
some extent.
Kraimoku & John Adams are among the foremost patrons of our
cause. Taumuarii & Kaahumanu are particularly favorable.
At the
four principal islands the work goes on without interruption.
M r . Thurston is now established again at K airua where under the
special patronage of Gov. Adams a large & convenient house for
p u b l i c worship has lately been opened.
While writing this letter we hear a favorable account both of that
�83.
station and the station at Lahaina also - Brother W . has lately
visited both those stations & this also & returned to Tauwai
with increasing courage, willing to maintain that post alone.
till the Board can send him aid, which we would fain hope, will
be soon.
B r . Ellis who is indefatigable, will if he remains here, be en
gaged with (hole in paper) all the public duties of this station,
(hole) in preparing books for the people - We hope ere long
to commence jointly the translation of one of the books of
sacred Scripture. But should M r . Ellis return to England on account of the feeble
state of his w i f e ’s health, to be absent a year or two, this
work will devolve on me during that period, - But in that case
so much of the miscellaneous, & secular concerns of the station
will be entrusted to M r . C. , Dr . B. & Mr. L . that I shall hope to
go on with courage & cheerfulness. I have never yet had a
desponding moment on missionary ground, tho' I do not forget
the heartsinking that I felt for a little season in view of the
work about the time of my appointment by the Pru. Com. to take
this untried field - But He who I humbly believe strengthened me
then, I trust will continue to s t r e n g t h e n
e feeble.
h
t
And he who
has hitherto smiled on our undertaking I trust will continue to
bless our efforts to prepare & diffuse instruction for the
spiritual and eternal good of such as are ready to perish in the
Isles of the sea. To Him alone be all the glory.
Of the secular and pecuniary concerns of the mission, M r . Chamber
lain will give a full account. - I w rote you sometime since by
Ship L'Aigle a long letter respecting the visit of Kihoriho to
England and America - That letter which accompanied him will
probably reach you earlier than this - The duplicate I shall send
soon.
With very affectionate salutations, I am truly, Yours
H. Bingham
To:
Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Cor. Sec. A.B.C.F .M.
Boston, U.S.A.
Received Aug. 27, 1824.
By favor of J.C. Jones, Jr. E s q .
�84.
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Previous to Sept. 1824.
V
Page 196
Extracts from letters from M r s . Bingham to her sister.
My dear friends:
Recollecting the kind interest
which you manifested for my
dear sister Bingham, when with you last fall, previous to her
leaving her country, and also your feelings towards all missions,
I take the liberty to send you a few extracts from her letters
received Jan. 25.
"N ov. 8th. M y Dear Sisters:
All joy on board - a vessel in sight bound to America, not a
letter written by one of us.
I must say in one short moment,
what my friends long to know hitherto the good hand of our God,
has attended us.
O the sound is bound to Europe, now it is
all over. But they have taken down the trumpet to speak with
her, so I will keep on.My health, dear sisters, is excellent perhaps never better, suffered a few days from sea-sickness.
M y poor husband is kept low yet by continued sea-sickness and it
is my privilege to wait upon him all that a rocking vessel will
allow.
Our passage thus far, the Capt. tells us, has been u n
commonly rough - but no disaster.
I long to tell you all about
it - have been writing in my journal today, wish it had been a
letter.
We have got into latitude 38 - about two thousand miles
away. You want to know a word of the state of feeling.
Peace,
Dear Sisters, peace & tranquility.
Verily God is good to me.
O
to praise him! Love to dear friends, and the friends of missions.
How I do want to thank some, many individuals, for their Christian
kindness to me. A bundle reached me, in Boston containing bed
quilt, fine sheets, pillow covers, very good. I studied awhile
and concluded from the mark, it was, M r s . - if so, thank her most
sincerely - the Lord reward h e r . - Well, it is over - bound to
Europe. I'll keep it I believe, fill it up, and have it ready for
the next.
Disappointment! in how many shapes they arrive, happy
not to have the mind discomposed by them. N ov . 12th - The cry again on deck is a vessel in sight. With my
pen in my hand, I w ill run and see if my letters can go n o w . The
sea is so very high.
I fear not, even though its course be to
America.
Our passage thus far has been extremely rough. Mr. B.
has not yet recovered from sickness, my own health remains good a great blessing, but it is a great trial to be watching him with
anxiety, and have it out of my power, to help him to many, little
comforts such as your closets contain - think of it when you go to
them sometimes.
Yet after all we are dealt kindly with Nov. 15th - A word to time my dear sisters.
Our heavenly Conductor
is trying us with contrary winds, roughness of sea, & many in
conveniences attendant thereon.
We have made but little progress,
these seven or eight days, while we have been tossed about upon
the agitated waters till most every head is drooping. M r . R uggles
is quite sick, many others cannot be called w e l l . My Dear husband
still remains like one stupified, while myself, through the same
goodness which afflicts them,would feel tolerably happy, could I
�85
as often as one step out of six, feel the floor in reeling around
to do a little for th e m . - "We have many comforts in this little
floating prison. Capt. Blanchard is much of a gentleman, the officers are civil, - disposed to accommodate - our mission
family is a valuable one, much assisted, and much comforted, by
the native youths who make us water-gruel-, with many such things,
speaking as occasion demands a word of comfort.
Thomas Hopoo,
in particular - often has he a word to direct our thoughts beyond
our little bark. He is a precious youth.
I expect a good little
season, when I see him, at our little door to take a seat with
us upon the trunks. Capt. Chamberlain promises to be a valuable
acquisition to our mission family. We already lean upon him,
very much, - it is a great undertaking to transport his young
family across this mighty deep.
Nov. 18th - Find this morning peaceful times upon the waters contrary winds have ceased, but it is a calm which wafts us on
but
little faster: - our progress is very little.
We have a
heavenly Pilot, he will bring us into port in due time. May
our hearts be prepared, to have it that port, the entrance into
which is through the gates of death.
Brig Thaddeus - Nov. 27th.
I have one long letter, to my dear sisters by me, but so desirable
is it often times to be a writing to them, that I am induced
to begin another.I have much writing to my friends, but this does
not let me talk to my sisters. Tho' far away I am with you in
mind perhaps as much as tho' I were in Hartford. There is not an
improvement I make in my little six feet room, with its t e n
trunks, there is not a pleasant hour in reading, but I want you
all to know it and be thankful for me . If there be a cloud I
want the melancholy hour to pass away unknown.
But with grateful
notice of His hand who gives me my mercies, would I assure you,
that, no gloom or despondency approaches, and tho' often melan cholly
will at some moments pervade the mind, at the recollection of the
scene of the "days of other years", no more to be found in my
path, yet soon,and it scatters and leaves a clear sky, brightened
by ???? of scenes which, tho' dark to the eye of sense, shall yet
shine in Eternity. So is my heart cheered, my sisters, that I have
not yet found one unhappy moment, not one, in which I could have
wished to have trod back the steps of the three last months, tho'
then I might have buried the whole in dark oblivion.
And this,
not because I have not yet commenced a life of privation, as you
will admit in reading the otherletters. A desire that you should
know as much of my situation as possible, makes me half resolved
to transcribe for you my journal. Still I think it not b e s t . If
permitted to behold the cliffs of Owyhee, to hear the jargon, of
the natives- to come into the presence of the great Tamahama &
something may be found to be transcribed. On casting my eye over
what has been written, I find a long course of contrary winds, with
seasickness, to be the most prominent features from day to day
as it respects outward things. Occasional momentary depressions,
from having my best friend in a state of such debility. It is with
much comfort, I would that it were gratitude, also, that I can tell
you he is fast recovering his health & strength. But for more
than thirty long days there was need,rather than looking for support,to stand a pillar myself.
None except Mr/ Ruggles have been
so severely tried - as M r . B. - none perhaps so little affected
as myself - often feel languor and debility, but not as much as
�86.
oftentimes in former periods. I think this is the fortieth day,
Dec. 1st, of our voyage. Each member of the family now is able
to attend morning and evening prayers, and be at table. Our
table seems to grow more inviting, as our stomachs become more
reconciled to the manner of preparing food. We fair wellc onsidering the impossibility of having many things you deem
indispensable on land. Sometimes cannot help feeling in the
morning that a cup of coffee, and at night a piece of rye bread
at Sister’s table would relish - most of all do I want a dish of
bread & milk. Now M r . Conant' s ,tin measures, and key rings,
going to unlock the water. M r . B . takes our little bottle and
goes for our share, -when it is brought down, I have a safe little
corner for it in my locker (trunk). Since he has b e e n able to
take a hammer I have had a shelf put up, on which b y putting a
basket and bundle, I can keep our tin basin and cup with our
two spoons. I think I looked at it with more pleasure as I was
setting them up, than I would in common circumstances, at a
closet filled with cut glass and plate. So true is\it that a
"man’s life consists not in the abundance he possesseth".
The
subject of this page will not rank with great ones - but I know
my sisters want to hear little things even if not related in a
manner which would warrant a transport across the Atlantic.
Dec. 2nd - We feel it to be thanksgiving day - hope we feel that
God calls upon us for thankful hearts. Precious truth!
that the
same God gives us comforts here upon the great waters, as in our
native land the same is present to hear our thanksgiving as is
with our beloved friends. While we have rejoiced to think of them
as keeping a day of praise to their glorious benefactor, - we have
felt that surely they would not have more abundant cause for
humble gratitude, and have endeavored in a humble way & manner to
have our petition & praises ascend with the (hole in paper)
obligations, whatever theirs may be, call for praises more than
we can give. (hole) together from different parts of our country
under circumstances the most interesting, with desires we trust
to the same great object, strengthened in the trying hour of sepa
ration from those we hold dear, brought safely onward o'er this
mighty Ocean with hearts exulting in the hopes of delivering our
solemn message to the wretched heathen - well may we say "Bless
the Lord, O our souls, and all that is within us, bless his holy
name". You cannot know respecting the inward, yet I doubt not
you would like to know the outward observance of day. About 12 we
assembled in the cabin (the sea b e i n g too rough to admit of being
on deck) accompanied by Capt. B . and one or two of the mutes,
when we sung, brother Whitney then led in prayer, after which
M r . B . read the Govn. proclamation, which was foun d to be on board
yesterday, speaking from each paragraph, as well as noticing
our individual mercies. Brother T hur s t o n prayed, then concluded
with an anthem. About three the bell rung for dinner - it was
served up in order (there is always much order at our meals )
roast pork and sen-pie.
Things were removed, then crackers and
cheese. Capt. B . bringing forward some wine, drinking a
pleasant thanksgiving to American friends.
Dec. 15th. A sail near, believe we shall send home now.
0 the
thought is pleasant. M r . Bingham sends love. Adieu - Dear
Sisters. What can I say but live near to God, pray for Sybil
that she may indeed, farewell, farewell." (Mingling such detached
�sentances together, I fear there will be no connection, but
the letters were so long it was necessary to abridge them, and
perhaps I ought to ask pardon for troubling you with so much
as has been already written.
Yours respectfully,
Sophia M osely
Love to the children,
hope they have not forgotten m e .
Hadley, Feb. 19, 1820.
To :
Jeremiah Evarts,
Boston, Mass.
Esq.,
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Dear M r . Evarts:
As I have not time by this opportunity to write you , I will
give you the perusal of the letter to Jerusalem, which you
will please to forward as soon as possible.
We are all w e l l .
I wish you to notice what I have said with respect to additional
teachers as though said to the P r u . Com. - with salutations to
them.
In Haste , yours
H . Bingham.
Au g . 17, 1820.
Dear Sir:
Some alterations in the plans of Capt . Gyzelaar, bearer of these
communications, have given us an opportunity to make additions
to this packet, & which we should have done had our present
circumstances admitted*
M r . B - broke the seal with an intention of writing you, but was
u n e x p e ctedly called away, and Capt. G . calls to tell us the
Clarion sails within an hour. I am unwilling to close it without
the latest date, & I feel that the satisfaction to yourself &
many others would not be small, to hear what in the greatest
haste may be said in one line, t he kind providence of our Heavenly
gather still attends us. His kind care is over all his creatures
but we have cause, from day to day, to sing of his peculiar mercy.
O , that we may render praise, love & cheerful obedience such as
become those to whom much is given!
We hope to have another conveyance for letters in the course of
two weeks by the brig Ann Capt. Wale, Boston. If you see Capt. G .
many particulars might be obtained in relation to us which may
not otherwise be communicated.
He has been attentive to u s .
With respect Sir, yours affectionately
S . M . Bingham
Woahoo, Sept.26, 1820.
To: Jeremiah Evarts, E s q .
Boston, M a s s . U.S.A.
Received June 2 , 1821.
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Owahoo, Sandwich Islands,
May 4, 1821.
R e v . and Dear Sir :
By favor of Capt. Lewis, Ship Arab which is to leave these
Islands in a few days for America, we are again indulged
the privilege of writing you from this heathen land. Since our last communications to you, Dr/ Holman has been
excommunicated from this church & his wife suspended from
its privileges. The particulars respecting their lamentable
departure from the path of duty & rectitude we send you by this
conveyance, & which you will find in a separate communication of
one hundred & fifteen folio pages, & we presume your patience
will be put to the trial as ours has bee n . Throughout this
distressing & painful business, we have greatly felt the need
of your counsels, your sympathies & your prayers. We would have
given much for one hour of consultation with you & your reverend
associates. But far removed from all counsel & aid from our
brethren in the ministry & from the American churches, we have
endeavored strictly to adhere to the instructions of the Pru.
Committee, & we have also aimed to follow the directions given
us in the sure word of prophecy - still we may have erred, though
the path of duty has seemed to us to be plain.
The Dr. & his
wife will probably return to their native shores next fall in a
whale-ship bound to Nantucket. We are now in this land of dark
ness & strangers, destitute of a physician.
We trust, however,
that after having heard from us, the Board will send one or two
beloved Lukes, who will be able greatly to strengthen, comfort &
aid us in our great & responsible work.
Since the dismission of
Dr. H . no discordant feelings or conduct have been experienced
among our little number that remain.
We could never with so much
assurance & with so much emphasis say, we are all of one heart &
one soul as at the present hour.
In all our disappointments,
difficulties & trials we have had light & comfort from on high.
No one of our present number, we believe, feels tired of the
toils & self denials of the missionary work; but all are willing
to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ.
The health of the family generally has been good, & when we read
of the sickness, trials & deaths of some of your missionaries in
the East & in the West, we would say, our trials are small. - The
voice of promise & thanksgiving well becomes us - The Lord has
been good
We at length succeeded in obtaining permission of the government
to set up our house.
In putting up the frame we found that it was
s o m e what injured by being exposed to the sun so long. We were
unable to put it under cover.
Besides nearly half of the small
timbers are wanting - many of the enclosing boards are missing some of which were used by Capt. B. to our knowledge during the
voyage. W hen the family were landed at this place, Capt. B . wished
us t o let him have the use of some of the timber of our house
�90.
for a temporary (hole in paper) about building his schooner,
saying that he would engage it should not be injured & promising
also to bring us timber & boards from the coast, when he returned.
On these conditions we gave him liberty to take what
he wished.
The timber on being returned was much injured, some broken - some
cut & some split & c . But no thanks for the use of it - no ex
planation & no timber or boards from the coast. Some of the small
timber & boards have probably been stolen by the natives since
they were landed. Besides, we conclude, that no boards were sent
for the roof of the building, at least none have been landed for
that purpose.
Consequently we find ourselves greatly deficient as
to materials for the house. We have purchased of Capt. Sutor
1000 feet of boards, though these will not be half the quantity
which we shall need to supply the deficiency. Whether we shall
be able to obtain any more is altogether uncertain at present.
The waste timber which was sent out in the. Tartar will supply the
place of a part of that which is missing. Some of the enclosing
boards we have already put on to the house, & we could soon finish
it as it was designed to be done if we had materials. We have
dug a cellar, the whole bigness of the frame & built its walls of
mud & straw, which we think will answer a pretty good purpose.
We should have preferred stone if we could have procured them.
Our prospects of usefulness among this people we think are be
coming more encouraging. Truth is producing a silent influence
on the minds of some. The Station at Kirooah has been left since
our last joint letter, the King & principal chiefs having removed
to this island. He will probably reside here for some years.
The heads of government appear to continue friendly to us - Our
schools continue much the same as when we wrote you last, & the
progress of the pupils is truly encouraging.
We cannot give the
pleasing intelligence of souls converted to Cod; but there is a
seriousness on the minds of some. B r . & Sister B . with John Honoree left us about a fortnight since
to visit the station at A t o oi, for the purpose of strengthening
the hands & encouraging the hearts of our brethren there, & of
consulting with them & with the king of that island respecting
making a visit to the Society Isles. The King Tamoree has gener
ously given us the use of a vessel which he has lately bought
& C a p t . Sutor has kindly offered to furnish officers & seamen
for that purpose. We did hope that B r . B . would have returned
before the sailing of the Arab, that we might be able to state
something more definite respecting such a visit. A v oyage to those
islands appears highly desirable, as we should be able to obtain
copies of all their elementary books, & much important counsel
& information, which would tend greatly to facilitate the progress
of our work in attem p t ing to bring the uncouth language of the
Sandwich Isles to some form. As the case stands, it is probable
that some one or more of the brethren will take a voyage to those
islands.
George Sandwich arrived in the paragon on the 20th of April, in
good health. He appears well & we hope he will do well & be a
faithful assistant.
Honoree & Thomas continue to do well, the
latter has done much for the good of the mission. - The heart of
the King, we are told, is in the hand of the Lord, & we are not
without hope that Shehoheho will sometime exchange his rum bottle
for his bible. We cannot too deeply feel the importance of pray
�91
ing without ceasing for his conversion & reformation.
The
people tell us, "when the king becomes good, we will be good,
but if he does bad, then we shall do bad likewise” . We wish all
our patrons & friends to feel this subject & to lift up the
supplicating voice for the King & for all the people of these
islands.
With christian salutations we remain your servants in the
m i s s i o n a r y field.
A. Thurston
P. S.
Since writing the above Capt. Chamberlain has purchased 1000 feet
of boards of Capt. Brown, and we can probably have more if we
should need, so that we shall be able to go on with our house.
D r . Holman is now at this island.
The medicines belonging to
the mission were mostly in his possession.
We sent him a note
requesting him to deliver the medicines, books, instruments &c
belonging to the mission into our hands. The medicines, or a
part of them we have received - He says all, except what he has
sent to Atooi - The books & instruments are still in his possession,
& whether he will give them up is uncertain.
A.T.
To: Rev. Samuel Worcester, D .D.
Cor. Sec. of the A.B.C.F .M.
Salem, M a s s .
By the Ship Arab, Capt. Lewis
Received May 11, 1822.
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Owahoo, April 4, 1821.
Dear Sir:
We have received a very pleasant, & to us interesting visit
from the King today.
He was very much pleased with our house
which we have just put up & which is partly enclosed. We had
much difficulty in obtaining p ermission to put it up, indeed
untill a short time since we had almost given up the hope that
we should gain the consent of government for this object. But
we have at length obtained our request, & the king seems to be
more friendly than before.
There are more ways than one of doing good.
Every method
should be used to gain access to the hearts of the heathen; that
is, every lawful method, & every means employed to raise, them
from their degradation; & we wish to give those dwellers in the
midst of the seas every possible evidence, that the good people
of America are combined in laboring for their good- that they
would wish to see them wise, respectable & happy - wish to see
them live & speak & act like men, like immortals who must stand
before God in the day when the secrets of all hearts shall be
revealed.
Unless we can gain the affections of this people, there is but
little hope of doing them good by instruction.
We wish to
awaken the attention of this people to the order & happiness of
civilized life - We wish to open every avenue to the heart; that
the rays of light & truth may enter in to sanctify & refine the
affections, & if this can be. done in any lawful way it is doubt
less expedient to do it.
If by bestowing a considerable favor
upon the king we could better gain access to his heart with the
truths of the gospel, might it not be proper, nay desirable to
bestow it? If this mission should offer to the King the present of a good
house, do you suppose, Sir, that such an article could be obtained
in America? Would not such a present do honor to the cause of
missions?
We would not wish to tax the treasury of the Board to
the amount of such a building, but could not subscription paper
be circulated for the purpose, & let every man put down what he
can best furnish toward building a house for the King of these
islands, or suppose the subject was proposed to an individual,
is it not probable that such an one might be found, who would
procure & send to the Sandwich Islands, materials for building a
three story house in the American style? We think this might be
done without much difficulty. We have proposed the subject to the King.
He is much pleased with
the idea of having a house like the good people of America, & we
have promised to write our patrons & friends on this subject.
We believe the proposition will not pass altogether unheeded.
If
the building should be framed before it is sent (hole in paper)
it will be proper to have (hole) for a large hall in the second
�or third loft for the purpose of holding religious meetings.
Many advantages might result to the mission b y furnishing this
palace for the K ing.
If such a house should be sent it will
furnish a purport for more missionaries to these islands. But we leave the subject for your better judgment to decide
upon - You will have the kindness to direct a line to us
on this subject. With christian salutations,
I a m yours
A. Thurston.
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Treas. A.B.C.F.M.
Boston.
By the Ship Arab, Capt. Lewis
Received May 11, 1822.
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Woahoo, Sandwich Islands,
Jan. 31, 1822.
From among American communications I have at length found the
precious names of B — d & AP. Much as I have loved & cherished
the memory of so dear a sister, yet the intelligence of your
devotement to the missionary cause brought with it an interest,
a sympathy, & a sacred nearness, such as I have not before felt.
0 my dear, dear Miss - P. -would that I could welcome you to
these whitened fields & introduce you to these interesting heathen.
Would that I could again feel the embrace of those loved arms,
again enjoy the long solitary wa l k . M y heart thrills at the
thought that it may yet be so. Yet I dare not dwell on the
pleasing anticipationIn entering, as a fellow laborer, the
vineyard of our Lord, he may assign you a station separated from
L . - by one half the world’s circumference. Be it so then, but
wherever you go my heart will accompany y o u . May Jesus strengthen
& support, by an arm which is omnipotent, and b y promises which
are sure. Should the eastern continent be your home, your
thoughts will sometimes stretch across lands & seas, & light on
some little specks of earth which rise in the vast Pacific.With
a tender feeling and fervent prayer you will look around to find
the dwelling place of L — . But whose? Her life is that of a pil
grimThis is the 3rd Island on which my tent has been spread.
And my remaining stay here is probably short. In extending our
efforts for the benefit of this people, myself & better friends
expect to bid adieu to all the comforts of this establishment
to yonder consecrated church & on some distant shore commence a
new scene of operations. At quiet homes in our much loved native
land, missionary trials & difficulties & hardships & privations &
d a n g e r s and sacrifices may be talked over & anticipated, yet none
can know but those who have passed through them.
There are, two ,
peculiar pleasures, joys & hopes to refresh & animate the weary
pilgrim.
What delightful seasons have I enjoyed in presenting ideas
& truths to the dark minds of these untutored natives. Of the w h ole
little circle to command the attention of all as one to see the look
of intelligence, of wonder, of gratitude & love has made me ready
to exclaim, I am compensated, this is a labour which brings with it
its own reward. Five children & youths are now under my special
care; two boys & three girls. I cannot tell you how much I love
the little learning circle, how much they every day contribute to
make me happy.
Of these is Lelia, the special friend of our beloved
Hopoo. Piously disposed, with a warm heart, ever open to receive
instruction, I am never more happy than when with a smile I am daily
welcomed to her little cottage. The youngest boy, of six years old,
has his daily lessons in the English & Owhyhian spellings, the
English language & the testament, and the rapid improvement he is
making is surpassed by few American pupils of a correspondent a g e .
The other children of equal promise have lately been received.
At this station we number forty scholars.
At Atooi between twenty
& t h i rty.
The printing press is now in operation and this
language hitherto unlettered has been reduced to form & is now
issuing from the press.A small Owhyhian spelling book will soon be
completed.
Fast as impressions are given to paper, the scholars
�95.
seize their l a n g u a g e with much avidity & delight. The king
and all the chiefs view with increasing interest the objects
of the mission, - the dawn of science.
And though they are not
yet disposed to attend to the worship & service of Jehovah, yet
they acknowledge his name & laws to be good.
This much they
do (and 0 that Christians would avail themselves of the oppor
tunity) they grant the liberty yea more, express hearty desires
that their subjects may be immediately instructed. And nothing
now seems wanting but to have missionaries & money to have
churches everywhere erected & schools established. In the
privilege of becoming co-workers together with God, in bringing
salvation to this long lost, neglected people, we rejoice &
through much tribulation & many trials, desire to become harnessed
to our work & be found faithful even unto death. -
M y dear Sister - I know not where this letter will find you.
If among B.-d friends give them my love and assure them of the
high place they still hold in the best affections of my heart.
Perhaps you will receive it on heathen ground.
If so, to you
I w o u l d say, Rise superior to all the trials of this short
pilgrimage, keep your eye fixed on Jesus, on heaven & on the
infinite value of those immortal souls for which you labour.
In my imagination the image of my dear friend is present before
me. I embrace her with an over flowing tide of affection.
She
reciprocates & says while L . pleads for A. - A. will intercede
for
----N —
Copy of a letter from M r s . Thurston
to Miss Parker
R e c e i v e d Nov. 15, 1822.
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letters of Mrs. Thurston.
The letters, which the relatives of M r s . Thurston have recent
ly received, were obligingly communicated to us . They contain
- many interesting facts. The last date is Oct. 16th.
In a letter of Aug. 31st Mrs. T. says, that residing without
any other white female on the island does not increase her
anxiety; that her time is pleasantly spent; that two heathen
toys in the family are of great use to her; that Henry, the
younger of the two, 12 years old, is a dear child, loves to
learn his book, & is very bright & promising; that he will
come & sit on a mat by her side, & say, "Mrs. Thurston, talk
about Jehovah; - talk about Obookiah;" and if, at any time,
he sees a tear stealing down her check, he tenderly inquires,
Aloha mokooah? that is "Is it love to your father?"; that the
young prince & little Daniel Chamberlain read together, in words
of three syllables, & lessons of easy reading; that two young
men in Mr. T.'s school read daily in the Bible; that an officer
of a vessel, which touched there, attended M r . T ’s preaching,
not having been at public worship before for 15 years; that a
great council had been held, at which it was determined to re
move the seat of government to Woahoo, in which event M r . T.
would accompany the king; that there were apprehensions of civil
war; that Kehoreho is very friendly to M r . T . ; that Thomas is
employed in teaching a chief somewhat advanced in years, to
whom learning comes very hard, & who will sometimes break off
& exclaim, " Great God of heaven, enlighten my understanding there is too much dark"; that the missionaries had experienced
many civilities from sea-captains; & that the king, though he
had suffered his own ardor in learning to abate, was very
desirous to have the young prince learn. Kehoreho is unhappily
much addicted to intoxication.
He appears to have an excellent
disposition; but his habits do not promise well.
The captains, who had v i sited the N .W. coast, declared, that the
natives of that coast, when informed of the mission to the
Sandwich Islands, expressed an earnest desire, that teachers
should come & instruct them also. They said they would give
teachers the best they had, that is, fish to eat; and, if
they were supposed to be too savage, the teachers ought at least
to come upon the coast, & talk with them.
�97.
9
Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 202
Extract from M r s . Thurston's
Journal.
Sept. 21, 1821. - A week since, while I was instructing
the children, a native intoxicated with liquor came in.
I
soon found my situation perilous.
After vigorous exertions
I w a s obliged to quit the house & door y a r d . Where shall
I go?
Whither fly for safety? M r . T . was in his school at
the king's.
It was a quarter of a mile distant, & the way
lined with men.
T hey m a y offer indignities; but there is
no alternative.- F ear added wings to my speed; & I was soon
without the reach of the destroyer. He pursued me but a few
steps; threw after me one or two clubs, & went his way.
I
returned to the house, my heart filled with sorrow, & my
flesh with trembling.
The young prince now r a n & told Thomas,
who communicated the a l a r m to M r . T . In 15 minutes the house
was f il led . M r . T . came, followed b y his whole school, &
their numerous train of attendants. They found me bathed in
te ar s. The queens were v e r y sympathizing.
With moistened
eyes they would tenderly embrace me, join noses, & say,
"N ooe nooe aloha", that is I love you m u c h . In a short time
after the man r e t u r n e d . Formerly his standing among this people
was very high; he was worshipped as a G o d . At his presence
all
fell prostrate.
But n ow his conduct drew from M r . T. a
c o m m a n d to retreat from the door-yard.
This he refused; when,
with the assistance of a c a n e , M r . T. quickly left him in the
highway.
From an apprehension of danger, two of the scholars
have since slept beneath our roof, w it h the weapon of death
b e n e a t h their pillow.
I have ever considered it imprudent to
go abroad unattended; but now I find that a protector is
necessary to make even home a safe a s y l u m .
Sept . 2 3 . Heard this evening, that there was a prospect of
an immediate civil w a r . In that event, this place will be the
seat of slaughter & d e a t h . What trials we may be called to e x
perience, wha t scenes to witness, if situated alone here amid
its dire calamities, I know n o t . I do not feel a l a r m e d . God
will be our refuge & strength, a very present help in every
time of n e e d .
�9
Previous to Sept. 1824
Woahoo,
V
Page 203
one of the Sandwich Islands,
July 2 0 , 1820.
Rev. & Dear Sirs:
Knowing that the interests of this consecrated mission lie
near your heart, and that one in your high station should be
made acquainted with all its movements, and important concerns,
I shall give you an account of my late visit to Owhyhee. Soon
after our return from Atooi, it was thought best by the Brethren
that some of our number should visit that place for our mutual
counsel and advice.
I was appointed and accordingly left Woahoo
on the 2nd of July, and after a passage of five days, arrived
at Kirooah, found the Brethren and Sisters in good health, enjoy
ing the common bounties of providence, and many things to en
courage & strengthen our hearts in this great and arduous work.
Brother Thurston has a small school consisting of the King, two
of his wives, his brother, a young lad of about 8 years, & two
young men acting as stewards in the king's family.
Doct. Holman
has three under his instruction; one of the principal chiefs, the son of a white man residing on the Island, and a favorite
native youth. Their schools are thus limited, because the king
is desirous to learn first himself and his subjects follow.
He
is now forward of the rest, having learned the Alphabet previous
to our arrival; he begins to read inteligably in the new Testament
four of the others, his two wives and t he two young men, begin
to read in the plainest reading lessons
in Webster's Spellingbook; & t h e little boy spells words of four syllables. Brother T.
has succeeded in gaining the confidence and a f f e c t i o n of his
scholars, and his prospects of usefulness are daily increasing.
Thomas Hopoo has likewise become much in favor with the Royal
family, and promises much service both to his countrymen & the
church of Christ.
He engages in the work with all that earnest
simplicity and zeal, which has long actuated his pious heart.
Like Paul in the midst of the Athenians, he cries aloud against
the prevailing wickedness, nor do the threats or sneers of the
ungodly cause him to desist from what he esteems his duty and
his privilege.
The K ing has given Thomas a considerable tract
of land, on which he has built him a house near to his own.
His
Father and Mother live in this house which T. considers as his
home, though he spends most of his time with the k i n g ’s family,
and usually eats at his table. - Brother Thurston previous to
the Sabbath on which I was there, has preached in his own house;
on that Sabbath a request was sent from the scholars that he
should preach in the schoolroom. At the appointed hour we went
and found them waiting.
In prayer, all except the King kneeled
with much apparent devotion.
The text was chosen from Judges 3-20
"I have a messege from God unto thee".
The preacher spake slow
that Thomas might the better interpret.
I have rarely witnessed
a more attentive audience; all appeared eager to catch the word
of life as it fell from the speaker's lips. To us the service
was as interesting as it was novel to them, & our hearts were
ready to say, "What hath God wrought"? A few months since, this
�99.
place was the very seat of Moloch's empire, and these the
worshippers o f "Akaouk".
A native residing in the k i n g ’s
family, who was formerly a priest of Idolatry and a man of
influence, says that before our arrival he
knew no God, but
he has now found one, whose name is Jehovah, and whose pro
tection and blessing he daily seeks in his closet. We have
no special evidence, however, that he is "born of the Spirit" .
The duty of praying to God, our beloved Hopoo often sets
before them, nor does he content himself with this. Every
evening the scholars meet by themselves, when he explains the
Scriptures and prays with them in their own language. His
a t t e n t i o n is not confined merely to those of ra n k . Circles of
the lower class daily meet with him at his own house, and bow
the knee to the christian’s God. This devotedness and upright
conduct has subjected T. to much ridicule and hatred. "Most
of my countrymen" says he, "are violently opposed to Christianity;
but my hope is in God. I trust and believe he will soon teach
them better". --- But what shall I say of William. Alas, my Dear
sirs, it is otherwise with him. His mild & courteous behavior
at first brought him much in favor with the King, and the prin
cipal men, & for a short time, he engaged in teaching them; but
soon begun to feel that such employment was degrading to one
of his standing. He left it, and with others of his countrymen,
gave way to temptations and indulges himself in intemperance
and Sabbath breaking.
The two first days after my arrival, I
endeavored to find him, and converse with him.
On the third
day I succeeded, when he frankly told me that the two preceding
days he had been intoxicated, as he had been several times before,
& offered as an excuse the request of the King and others that he
should drink with them.
Brother Thurston and myself warned him
of his danger, and earnestly requested him to repent; and after
reading to him that part of your public address which was directed
particularly to the native youths, committed him to our covenant
God.
He promised reformation, but as yet we have seen no fruits
of repentance. He came with me to this Island. Brother C . and,
myself have since conversed with him again. He now says he was
driven to intemperance by depression of Spirits, caused by a
difficulty he had had with Doct. Holman, when the Doct. he said,
complained to the King, and requested he should send him away.
We told him we could consider such excuses in no other light than
a pretext for indulging in this gross wickedness - that they could
never excuse him in the sight of God or the Church, and again
urged him to repent - and in order to wipe off so fowl a blot from
the Christian name maintained that a public confession should
accompany his repentance. This he declined, and on this ground
he now stands. As there is little prospect of amendment, we shall
probably soon be driven to the painful task of cutting him off
from the church.
Would to God I could here bring my heart-rending
story to a close; but in order to vindicate the characters of those
I consider innocent, and for your own needful acquaintance with
facts, I must proceed.
Luke the Beloved physician, is on the eve
of departure from the Miss
i o n . Without the advice and counsel
of one of his brethren, he has agreed to leave Kinooah and remove
to Mowee, an Island about thirty miles from Owhyhee. At the time
I was there, he was waiting for a vessel to convey him thither,
& probably before this he has taken residence at that Isle. His
reasons for going under such circumstances are these, 1st - he
complains of ill-treatment and ingratitude on the part of the
�100
Mission family, particularly of those who were appointed to
watch over it. 2nd - The difficulties and privations which
must necessarily attend those at K inooah.
3rd - The declining
health of M r s . H. - A few of these complaints I shall give you
in his own words. "Brother Bingham” says he, "from my earliest
acquaintance with him, has never treated me with respect as a
gentleman or a Christian Brother.
In his manners he is cold and
distant.
He has never once conversed with me on religion,
in a kind and affectionate way.
Since my residence here he has
sent me no good wishes, no friendly salutation.
He thinks the
Physician's skill is a mere trifle acquired with but little study
or labor.
He is a young man, has had but little experience or
knowledge of the world, and being placed at the head of a Mission
is much elated".
This last sentence was spoken in a sarcastic
manner, which implied contempt.
He adds, "I can never, no never,
s u b m i t to his direction".
In answer to these charges I told him
that our connection for several months past had been so intimate,
that had Mr. Bingham used him thus unfriendly and unchristian,
I must have known something of it, but on the contrary I had never
seen in him a disposition to wound the feelings of any of the
family, or to treat them otherwise than one who was evidently
desirous to promote their temporal, spiritual and external happi
ness; - that I had found no difficulty in finding access to him,
but perfect freedom - and I believed that the ill-treatment of
which he complained was nothing more than jealousy existing in
his own breast, - that I had often heard him (Br. B . ) speak of the
difficulty and labor of acquiring the medical science. & that
his suspicions were altogether groundless.
Brother Thurston told
me in the Doct. 's presence that in the two letters he had re
ceived from Brother Bingham there were Christian salutations for
him and M r s . H . , and that he had read it to them; and if it was
necessary, he would do it again. Many other complaints of this
nature were charged upon M r . Bingham, and similar ones on M r . Thurs
ton. - In all my connection with Brother & Sister T . I have never
known them to use Doct. or M r s . H . harshly, impolitely, or u n
christian; & scarcely if ever, have I met with brighter examples
of c hristian meekness and forbearance. The difficulties and pri
vations attendant on that station, he says are these: Own water
has to be brought five miles on men's shoulders. We have no garden
here nor any prospect of one, no sauce except turnips & potatoes,
and but little fresh provisions. M r . & M r s . T. are no society for
us, & we wish to live alone.
With respect to Mrs. Holman's
health, the Doct. says it is declining fast. She says it is better
than when she left America, and has repeatedly mentioned it in her
letters. She told me she had traveled on foot four miles up the
clifts of Kirooah, and returned the same day; without injury to
her health. - But we believe the greatest reason has not yet
been given you. More than once on the voyage, did he publicly
expose his intention of acquiring property at these Islands, and
afterward returning to America.
The mission family are not alone
in receiving his censures. The Board of Commissioners fall under
his lash. I asked him the question, "Doct. Holman, do you mean
to obey the instructions of the Board?” "I do not", was the
reply, "any further than I consider them just". "Why did you
solemnly engage to do it"?
"I did not".
I then quoted the passage,
"If these things be not so, stop where you are" &c. "You know very
well" says he "the state we were in, at that time.
The Board
were muchto
blame in giving us these instructions at such a place
�101
and in such a manner". "Do you expect the patronage of the
Board?"
"I hope to have it". I argued with him, till I found
that my reasoning could avail nothing. I then warned him, by
the tears and prayers of the thousands of our patrons, the
happiness and prosperity of this little church, & the glory of
God, to stop where he was and reflect on the measures he was
taking.
He asked me what I should do, respecting making for him,
a division of articles belonging to the Mission. I told him I
did not know the minds of the body on that subject; but as an
individual, I could not consent that such a division should be
made - I considered his removal, "insubordination to rightful
direction", which of course would forbid i t . He said t he M edical
Library & Stores were in his possession, - he considered them
his own, and should not give them up, except by force of arms.
What I have written I trust will be sufficient for the objects
mentioned.
Think not, M y Dear Sir, that I mention these things,
needlessly to expose the follies of any of my Brethren.
As to
any private feelings against Doct. or M r s . H . - I have none; &
to any other than yourself, my pen shall forever drop in silence
on this subject. - Otherwise than the cases mentioned, I believe
there is the most perfect harmony existing in the family We have
an everlasting affection for one another, and the souls of the
Heathen. Though we have trials within, God has wonderfully
prospered our way and made us to rejoice.
As the situation of this nation is vastly different from what we
had anticipated, and the call for instructors much greater, it
is thought best that we should separate, and "set up our banner"
in different Isles.
Brother Ruggles and myself are stationed at Atooi, to which
place we shall sail in a few days. In view of the responsibility
which rests on a missionary station - the arduous work of
evangelizing the Heathen - the necessary privation of pastoral
and Fraternal counsel - and of my own weakness, I am ready, like
one of more grace to cry out, "who is sufficient for these
things"Will not the church in America send us at least one
faithful minister of the new Testament, to break to us the bread
of life - to edify, strengthen and quicken us, in this land of
darkness, and the shadows of death.
Hoping that you will improve the earliest opportunity to send us
your admonitions & counsels, I remain, Dear Sirs,
Yours in Filial affection,
Samuel Whitney.
Atooi, A u g . 1, 1820.
It is with pleasure I can state to you, that we are now safely
and pleasantly settled at our appointed station. We arrived at
this Island on the morning of the 25 of July, were met at the
offing immediately after the ship came to anchor by the King
and Queen with their retinue, and received with every mark of
parental affection,
nooe, nooe miti (we love you much) r e
sponded from a hundred tongues. We were conducted to a house
which had been previously prepared, & where everything necessary
�102.
for our comfort was provided. George tells us his Father &
Mother have "been much engaged for three weeks past, in learning
to write. You will see what improvement they have made, by a
specimen of three letters ; one written by the King and directed
to yourself, the two others were written by the Queen, one to
M r s . Sarah Wel l s, Winsor, Conn. , the others to Mrs. Wm. Partridge,
Pittsfield, Ma s s . , the two last mentioned will be sent unsealed.
We wish you to make what use of them you think proper, and send
them to the persons named.
The work is entirely their own.
They first dictated what they wished to send, which was written,
and then copied in their own hand, by imitation.
The king's
youngest son has likewise made considerable improvement; he has
written to the R ev. M r . Dagget, Instructor of the F .M .School. Our
friend George, treats us with much attention and politeness. - We
eat at his table, & he appears anxious to render us all the
assistance in his power.
He usually attends family prayer with
us, & is evidently (hole in paper) skeptical than formerly.
On Sabbath, we (hole) public worship, read a sermon written by
the Rev. Daniel Clark, Southbury, Conn. "The Church Safe". The
King and Queen with their servants attended, and appeared much
pleased.
After the services were over the king says to us, "I
like your way of worship very much; my old way is poopookah, (good
for nothing).
I will come every Sabbath, and by & by we will
build a large church, and be like good people in America.
At
present, we have great encouragement to hope and pray for the
blessing of God to attend our labors.
The people have turned from
the worship of Idols - Kings have become our Fathers and Queens
our nursing Mothers. Our hands are strengthened and our hearts
made joyful. But we rejoice with trembling.
There is much need
for us to be humble, & walk softly before our God.
The materials
of which the Lord's house is to be built, are rough, and will
require the sledge, the saw and the hammer. - This people are
naturally fickle minded, and we know not how soon the current of
feeling may be changed.
The clouds which are now out of sight
may gather in our horizon, and the storm of persecution extinguish
these rising hopes. Yet he who said "Lo I am with you" is our
helper, and we will not fear.
Yours,
S.W.
To Samuel Worcester, D.D .
Salem, Ma s s .
Received March 21, 1821.
By the Levant, Capt. Cary.
�103
9
Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 204
Wymai Village, Atooi, Au g . 2, 1820.
My dear Sir:
Before the Levant left Woahoo, Brother Bingham made out a
list of articles wanted in the Mission family, and requested
me to copy and send it to you, with such additions as Brother W.
and myself should see needful after we arrived at this place.
I now transmit to you the list though I believe we have made
no enlargement:
Letter Paper
Printing do
India Rubber
2 or 3 boxes water colors & brushes
Tooth, clothes and shoe brushes
Pocket Combs
Candle sticks and lamps
1 doz. Umbrellas
Saddles & bridles for men & women
Quills
Bureaus and Trunks
Black Morocco Leather
Thin shoes for Men
Black ball for shoes
Slates & Pencils
Nails & hinges for doors & chests
1 doz. Bedsteads made for curtains
Tin ware, common & Japan
Mathematical Instruments
Enfield's Philosophy & other
new Publications
Spelling Books
Spinning Wheels, large & small
Tea Kettles
Cooking Stoves
Brass & Iron Kettles
A large supply of soap
Candles & oil for Lamps
Tinder Boxes
Shaving soap
Hand & Horse Carts &
Harness
Window glass
A crate for crockery
Looking glasses
Molasses & Flour
Pearlash & ginger
Alspice & Pepper
Coffee Mills & Sieves
Nurse Lamps
Cinnamon & Nutmegs
Brooms
Shovels & Tongs
Andirons
Spades & Shovels
Saws, large & small
Of many of the above articles we thought a supply was put up,
but none could be found when our things were set on shore. We
have to give after the rate of 50 dollars per barrel for soap and
that which is hardly fit for use. We found ourselves very
deficient in cooking utensils, though we cannot but think there
was a supply brought. At this station we have not one article
of the kind but are entirely dependent of the King, who says we
shall never want for anything while he lives. He requests me to
mention to you that he very much wants a good Minister, Physician,
House & Ship Carpenter, Cabinet & Powder maker to come and live
with him, says he will support as many good people as will come
to his Island.
Samuel R uggles.
We are all in health, pleasantly situated and happy in our work.
We can contentedly sit down to o u r great business on these
ido latrous shores, and willingly, yes, delightfully spend our
days, and consume our strength, in endeavoring to lead the u n
tutored pagans from nature up to nature's God in pointing out to
�104.
them a way which leads from this thorny desart to the celestial
Paradise. But alas, our weakness & ignorance.
We are but feeble
instruments, and know not how to a c t . God has placed us in a
wide & open field, which is already white to the harvest, a field
which requires many laborers, but we are poor & weak, without a
leader and without a Counsellor. But we will not be dismayed.
The God o f Israel is our Shepherd & our strength.
Our cause is
H i s , he will project it, and will not forsake his servants.
Confiding in his promises, and leaning on his Almighty arm for a
guidance & support, we will venture on our way, hold up to the
heathen the Ensign of Peace and Salvation, and invite them to
the Lamb of G od which taketh away the sin of the world. George
treats us with the affection of a brother, and his parents with
every mark of parental kindness. The King is now building us a
convenient house 40 feet by 22, thatched with grass & lined with
bulrushes; and this morning he has commenced building a very
large house intended for a Meeting & School
house. This is to
stand near the ki n g ’s, and enclosed with a wall 10 feet in
height to prevent the danger of fire. (hole in paper) see t h e
literal fulfilment of the prophecy, that kings shall become nursing
fathers & queens nursing mothers.
We shall soon see a Temple
erected on this pagan Isle (and on the very ground too, where a
short time since stood a celebrated M o r a i , ) dedicated to the
worship of the living Go d . But we have no Minister to enter it,
and proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ, and break the
bread of life, the perishing multitude around.
We look to the American churches for help, we really need help.
May we not hope in the course of a year or two at least, to w e l
come a little Bark in this port, freighted with Christian sol
diers, who have bid farewell to soft indulgence, and come over
to the help of the Lord, prepared to bear with firmness & un
wearied patience all the trials and difficulties of a missionary
life. I enclose in this ,a short letter written by Tapoolee, Queen of
Atooi, to M r s . R ’s mother. I wish you to seal it and send it on.
She has written only three weeks. She dictated what she wished
to write, and then imitated a copy. I have directed my packages
of letters to your care, wish you to enclose them in the mail.
I also direst to your care a box of little curiosities to be
sent to my brother, Eli Ruggles, Brookfield, Conn. I wish,
however, that you will keep the box until you hear from my
brother, and know of a safe conveyance.
You can open the box if
you please; in it is a black wooden God, a present from George
to M r . Daggett. Another white one I send to my brother.
Brother W., myself with our dear wives ,send love to all our friends.
Yours in haste,
Samuel Ruggles.
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Boston, Mass. U .S .A .
Forward by the Levant, Capt. Carey.
Received March 21, 1821.
�105.
9
Previous to Sept. 1824
Atooi,
V
Page 205.
one of the Sandwich Islands,
Oct. 14, 1820.
Revd. & Dear Sir:
Since our last communications we have experienced the continued
blessings of God.
Our hands have been strengthened and our
hearts encouraged. Though we cannot speak of sinners con
verted,yet our mercies are such as deserve to be recorded with
gratitude,and perpetually engraven on our hearts. On the 1st of
Sept. we removed to our new house which the natives have gener
ously built. It stands on a very cool and pleasant spot,
about
rods from the residence of the King, and near by the sea.
It is built in the native stile by seeing posts into the ground,
which are covered with small sticks and thac hed with straw.
It
is 50 feet by 22, has two rooms, with a space of 8 feet between
them.
There is a portico in front, the whole length of the
house.
This we use for our school room and meetinghouse where
we have public worship every Sabbath. W e opened our school on
the 6 of Sep. consisting of 25 children and 15 adults. The King
and Queen and several of the principal chiefs are of the
number. They have a room by themselves at the King's house.
Though they are not so regular as we could wish, yet they have
made considerable proficiency.
The children are very regular
and obedent, and we are perfectly satisfied with their ability.
Two or three instances when they have learned the alphabet
the first day I n a word the a r e a r e lovely youth. We often look
on them as Obadiah's i n miniture.
We expect an addition of ten or fifteen soon, which will be as
many as we shall be able to instruct for the present.
Beside the few hours spent in school each day, most of our time
is employed in learning the language. We feel that this is im
portant as our usefullness, in a great measure must be limited
in proportion to our abilities of conversing with the natives.
We have no good Interpreter. The person we employ for this pur
pose speaks but a little English and is averse to speaking on
religion.
W e have paid some attention to gardening & find that most of
American seeds grow well. The King, our Father (as he calls him
self) is very attentive to our wants, so that we have out little
labor and no expense in our domestic concerns. We would gladly
enlarge and give you a more particular account, but the vessel
which is to convey this dose not come at anchor, and we are now
detaining it. We need help, and in behalf of the Heathen and
in the name of our ascended Redeemer, we pray you to send a
faithful minister of Jesus, one who shall take us by the hand and
bear a part of our awful responsibilities. The murky wings of
Superstition and Ignorance still hover over this benighted region.
�The forms of Idolatry are indeed abolished, but its effects
are legible on every b r o w . All the Springs
of moral action are
poisoned and a mighty effort must be made before they stand on
a level with the civilized nations of the Gentiles.
We hope soon to write you more particulars,
Yours
Samuel Whitney
Samuel Ruggles
To: Samuel Worcester, D .D .
Salem, Mass. U .S .A .
Received June 16, 1821.
By the Ann, Capt. Hale
�107.
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Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 206
Wymaah, Atooi, Nov. 19, 1820.
To: Jeremiah Evarts, E s q . ,
Boston, U.S.A.
By the Volunteer, Capt. Bennett.
From
Samuel Ruggles & Samuel Whitney
Received June 1, 1821.
This letter printed 17 Missionary Herald, 217, July 1821.
�9
Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 207
Atooi, one of the Sandwich Islands
Feb.
?
To: Rev. Samuel Worcester, D .D .
Salem, Mass. U .S.A .
From Samuel Ruggles & Samuel Whitney
By the Arab
Received May 11, 1822.
This letter printed 18 Missionary Herald,
189, June 1822
�109.
9
Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 20 8 .
Sandwich Islands, Atooi,
Dec. 28, 1821.
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.,
Treas. of the A.B.C.F.M.
Boston, Mass. U.S.A.
From Samuel Whitney & Samuel Ruggles
Received Aug. 26, 1822.
letter of introduction for Capt. Charles Preble, printed
18 Missionary Herald, 321, Oct. 1822.
�110.
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Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 209
Atooi, Feb. 4, 1822.
Dear Sir:
The enclosed journal was written for m y own family friends
without the expectation of sending it to you.
But as it is
desirable you should be made more particularly acquainted with
our situation and prospects than heretofore, I could not
justify myself in with-holding it from the P.C., you may expect
a continued journal as opportunities of sending shall occur.The letter directed to the Revd. W m . F . Vaill is to be sent to
the Superintendent of the Ossage Mission. You will do me a
favor by finishing the superscription and sending it by mail or
otherwise.
Please direct the journal, after you have read it to Eli Smith,
Theolog. Sem. Andover. If there is no student there of that
name, I wish it to be directed to the same person at Hartford, Conn.
We intended to send you a joint letter by this ship but she sails
so soon we have not time. No material alteration in our situation
since we last wrote you. Brother R. is more comfortable in
health at present. Should w e receive no supplies, we shall soon
want cloth or clothing for our own use, as our old stock is nearly
exhausted, and we have not the means of procuring them. Our
school at present consists of from fifteen to twenty.
We feel
anxious to extend our labors to other districts, but such is the
state of government, that we are at loss to know our duty.
In sending pamphlets, periodical works, & c ., it is desirable that
we should have two copies, as one station must necessarily wait
some time for the other in case of hut one copy. We are waiting
the arrival of more helpers, & feel confident our partners will
send them, as soon as providence shall open the door.
With sentiments of respect, I remain yours
S . Whitney.
To Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.,
Boston, M a s s . U .S .A .
Received N o v
8, 1822.
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Page 210.
Journal from Jan. 1, 1822.
Jan. 1st. After neglecting my journal for several months
and learning the pleasure which some of my friends anticipate
from its continuance, I am resolved to write, though my
production may never give them the happiness they expect. This day reminds me of the speedy flight of time.
The labors
and events of another year are closed. In the Book of God
every deed is recorded. Amazing, alarming thought!
Where hath
been my stupid heart? What have I done for the poor Heathen?
Many of them have gone the year past to the judgment seat.
What
bearing will my connection with them have in the Eternal world?
Awake my soul, let me not have to reflect at the commencement
of another year that I have done so little for Christ.
But
Oh I may never see another New Year's day.
It behooves me to
put forth all my strength in the good work.
Jan. 2. Last night two vessels left here for Woahoo. Governor
Cox (native name Kahakune) who has had charge of the Island in
Tamoree's absence sailed in one of them. Tamoree's sister is
now Governess.
This is one of the coldest mornings this season.
Thermometer, which hangs in my study, stands at 67 . Perhaps there
is no country where the mercury has a less range than here,
seldom rising above 70 or falling below 60.
3rd. Attended a counsel of Chiefs. They agreed to send part of
of their number into the mountains to cut sandle wood and to
furnish men enough to guard at this place, to be stationed at the
fort. These measures of defence are taken for a protection against
a lawless noble in the absence of Tamoree.
5th.
Just been refreshed with what we call an American dish, c o n
sisting of salt beef, mutton, cabbage, potatoes, string beans,
cucumbers, horseraddish, warm bread and butter and apple pie.
This may appear like a strange compound, indeed it is for the
Sandwich Islands, but all of it the produce of the Island except
bread and pie.
We have not been destitute of dryed apples, and
those which are pretty good, since we left America, sent us by
the grand mothers and sisters of New England. We have not had a
constant supply of flour and whe a t . We have it not the best.
To crown the feast we could all sit down in health whilst we con
versed on the pleasures of a land of religion, peace and plenty,
anticipating the time when these uncultivated fields will yield the
fruits of civilized life, and these untutored natives will rise
from their brutish degradation to a level with the freedmen of the
Land.
6th.
Sabbath.
Held meeting as usu a l . Read Doct. Porter's
dedication sermon, except the Lord build the house, they labor in
vain that build it.
Had but two hearers except our school and
family. A t little, little do they know, who go up to the great
congregations of Israel, the feelings of two solitary missionaries
who meet Sabbath after Sabbath, year after year, to read, and
sing, and pray, with their families alone. Could all the Christians
in America feel the emotions of one such sabbath, I believe
�112.
we should soon have help.
8th. A high wind from the southward shook our straw cottage
so much as to excite some alarm. A few such gales would leave
us without a dwelling, as it is now somewhat racked. Could
we have a framed house it would save us many anxious hours.
Fires so frequently occur, spread and consume with such rapidity,
that I never retire to rest without concern for our building,
property, and even our lives. A few nights since, the house of
our friend, Capt. Marsters, was set on five by an incendiary.
It was not without much difficulty several persons escaped the
flames.
The loss of property is estimated at 2500 dollars. Enjoyed a pleasant season this eve at monthly concert, concluded
b y singing a hymn called Owhyhee by J. Richards, much delighted
with the piece except the last verse but one, in which the author
has failed both in sentiment and measure. 9th. M ercury stands at 62, the coldest morn I have ever witnessed
at Atooi.
In my e v e . walk met one of the Pagan priests, interrogated
him respecting his old religion.
He said it was all foolishness.
He related a story respecting his escape from death. At the time
a great chief died, said he, I and another priest were accused of
praying him to death. The present Queen Ta poola sent men to kill
me, but I escaped and found reffuge with Tamoree's sister. She
was good and saved my life. I asked him if he ever thought he
could pray anyone to death. "No" said he, "but the people think
so, it is false".
"Do you know", said I, "who made these heavens
and the sun and moon and land and water?” He replied "God".
"Who
is God and where does he live?"
"I do n ’t know", said h e . I then
told him of Jehovah the creator of the heavens and the Earth. He
not well understanding, asked if it was the lightning.
I replied,
"Jehovah is a Spirit, he made the lightning and everything else,
he made you and knows all that you do".
He smiling said, "I
d o n ’t know” , and pleasantly bade me good night.
10th. Mercury at 60. This eve our little boys came in considerably
agitated.
They said a man had been murdered at Wirooah, the eastern
district of the Island, several weeks ago, and hid i n the grass,
and the body was lately discovered. Rehoreho some time since
gave orders that the man who killed another, should eat the corpse;
if he could not be detected, all the people in the district should
eat it. There is little reason to believe this shocking mandate
will be executed. 13th. Sabbath. Though but one at meeting beside our family, it
has been to me a joyful day, foretaste I trust of an eternal Sabbath.
Sermon from Job 23-34, 0 that I knew where I might find him that
I might come even to his seat. I would order my cause before him
and fill my mouth with arguments.
17th. Last night we were disturbed by a quarrel between George
Tamoree and a white man living with him. It appears that George
had given the man a little of rum the day before on which he had
become intoxicated, and in the eve fell to beating his wife (a
native). George interfeared in behalf of the woman, and succeeded
in protecting her by turning the blows on himself & severely
bruising the man.
Topia, one of the head chiefs, with about twenty
men were called who soon put a n end to the affair. A guard of two
�113.
or three men were stationed at every valuable house to prevent
the enraged howne (white man) from setting fire to them.
This
morn. I called on George, found him sober and apparently in
good state to receive a n admonition.
The painful duty I performed
with unusual freedom. He thanked me and said I should never
hear of such conduct again. I have since heard that he has
taken a solemn oath, that he will drink no more spirits, or sup
port any more sailors. Alas I fear the poor man is lost. Were
he not the subject of so many prayers, his case would be hopeless
indeed.
18th. For several days past we have had a strong south wind
which has blown the salt sprays from the lea, so as to kill nearly
everything of the vegitable kind in the yard front of our house.
Some castor oil trees and a butiful grape vine growing up by the
side of my window for a shade, like Jonah’s gourd, are wilted and
dying.
Sabbath 20th. Severe pain in my head most of the day. Though
sometimes afflicted with this disease, I have it less frequent
than when in America. At present I attribute it to night watchings
with our little Maria, who is sick with what we suppose to be the
thrush*
We have fears that her disease will prove fatal. We have
medicine enough but no one to administer it. It is exceeding pain
ful, but we hope not to murmur at the dispensations of a kind
providence.
23rd. With grateful hearts we perceive symptoms of returning
health in our dear ba b e . Thus we are laid under new and everlast
ing obligations to our great Physician.
28th. A chief of high birth arrived from Woahoo. He says he got
drunk and run away.
The first compliment paid him b y these chiefs
was several bottles of rum. I saw him this morn. and asked him
to call and see u s . In broken English he replied "me no drunk, me
come” meaning, "when I get sober I will call." This would seem to
imply shame, he is however far from it. Poor m a n ! Rehoreho he
says has been drunk twenty five days past. Oh when will the rulers
of this land cease from their wickedness.
29th. Pleasant visit from the farmers on my land, - in number about
twenty. They usually come once in two or three weeks with fire
wood, which they bring on their shoulders seven miles.
In America
we should think this a heavy tax; they however do it cheerfully,
and appear to feel it a privilege to visit u s . Our lands supply us
with tarro, sweet potatoes, yams, bannanas, sugar cane, and some
hogs, goats, fowls; and fresh fish kept in ponds. Beside I have on
my farm a beautiful young horse, given by the K ing, - he will do to
ride in a year.
31st. Last e v e . the firing of cannon announced the approach of His
Majesty Rehoreho.
He arrived about 8 in the evening, having left
Woahoo secretly in the night. He appeared in quite a fawning mood,
but said, "My belly is nui loa drunk".
I have rarely witnessed such
an object of compassion, a noble countenance & bright intellect,
disfigured and drowned by a long unbroaken paroxism of intoxication.
N ow is he alone. A band of from fifty to a hundred, usually
�114
accompany him in much the same plight, who esteem themselves
the first in the nation!
Considering that our success depends
so much on the influence of the rulers, it is appalling to our
hearts to see them thus debased and wretched. - But in this as
in every dispensation of his providence, God will appear
infinitely holy and benevolent.
Arrived Capt.Celes (Schooner Eagle) & with him Capt. Marsters
who brou ght us some letters lately come from America by the
Robroy and a few copies of our first elementary work printed
at Woahoo.
Capt. M. has been absent from this Island about a
month.
To him we are indebted for many valuable presents, which
we estimate worth two hundred dollars to us.
End Feb.
Last night Rehoreho left here for Woahoo.
W e are in
need of rulers, but do not regret his departure, for all is
confusion while he stays.
4th. Capt. Brown (Ship Paragon) is now in the offing, and sails
directly to America.
have only time to close our letters
and bid our friends adieu for the present.
S . W.
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Page 212
Atooi, Sandwich Islands, Feb. 4,
Dear Sir:
The bearer of this, Capt. Marsters, has lived on this Island
for several months past, has been intimate with our family,
and will be able to give you much information respecting us.
We are happy to acknowledge him as a friend and benefactor,
for his kindness he deserves our unfeigned thanks.
By him we
send letters to you and our friends, and some articles of
curiosity.
A s ever, we remain yours sincerely,
Samuel Whitney
Samuel Ruggles
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Treas. of the A.B.C .F.M.
Boston, Mass.
U.S.A.
Received Jan. 10, 1823.
1822
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Page 213
(Tauwai) Atooi, S.I., A u g . 12, 1822.
Very Dear Sir:
N o opportunity of communicating with you has occurred since
Feb. last. I have now the happiness to assure you of our
prosperity.
The candle of the Lord still shines upon our
tabernacle, so that with joyful hearts we can say, ’’the
lives have fallen to us in pleasant plans” .
Free in a good measure from the peculiar cares and anxieties
necessarily attendant on our Brethren at the windward station,
we are permitted quietly and pleasantly to proceed in our work.
We have too, the high s a t i s facti o n to believe, that could you
and our Christian friends and p a t r o n s , look into our establish
ment you would conclude with us that our two years labor, has
not been in vain in the Land.
Our School, about thirty in
number, is daily becoming interesting. Some of the older scholars
are able, in their leisure hours to teach the younger, and
likewise others out of the school. Thus our little leaven has
begun to ferment and we hope at no very distant period to assure
you that the good word of God is known in every cottage of this
benighted Island.
Brother Ruggles is now absent on a visit to the leward Island
Onihau. His health though feeble, is better than it was last
season.
Taumuarii is expected from the windward daily, he has
been absent nearly a year. We have not heard from our brethren
for several weeks.
They have doubtless communications for you
in the Hoqua.
The ship does not anchor and in haste I must close begging
the continuance of your prayers.
Yours &c.
Samuel Whitney
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Treas. A.B.C.F.M.
Boston, M a s s .
Received May 14, 1823.
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Page 214
Tauwai, N ov. 11, 1822.
Very Dear Sir:
Another opportunity affords us fresh pleasure in communicating
with our dear patrons. The present state of things with us,
we think is much more interesting than at any former period.
On the 14th of Aug. Taumuarii and his new wife K a ahumanu, with
several of the windward chiefs, came to this Island. We were
happily surprised to see them all anxious to learn to read, and
as everything passes for good which is practised b y the chiefs,
the desire to learn quickly spread through the common people in
every direction.
For several days our house was thronged with
natives, pleading for books.
We were unable to gratify but
a small part of them.
Since, we have received a supply, and
there are now probably not less than three hundred, who attend
more or less to learning.
Several of our former scholars have
become teachers. Auna and his wife, natives of the Society
Isles, of whom you have doubtless heard, are valuable helpers.
Their knowledge of the language gives them an access to the
hearts of the people, which in a measure, is yet denyed us.
Several of the principal chiefs have prayers morning and evening
at their houses, emplore a blessing and give thanks at their
meals, and attend public worship in their own language every
Sabbath and Wednesday. Though we have no good reason to believe
any of them are experimentaly acquainted with religion, it
affords us much encouragement to see so good a beginning, while
we look forward to a bright Day. Considering our frequent exposure to fires in straw houses, and
the need we have of more comfortable dwellings for ourselves
and our expected helpers, with the advice of our Brethren at the
windward, we have commenced building two stone houses, one at
this place (Waimea) the other at Hanapepe, six miles east.
Brother Chamberlain and family have been with us a few weeks past
and will continue here awhile longer.
His health is feeble but
rather improving, he is able to be about and to labour moderately.
Hoping God may continue to smile on your efforts to spread the
Gospel of his Son, we remain, Dear Sir, yours affectionately
S. Whitney
S. Ruggl es
D . Chamberlain
P.S .
We hope the committee will find an opportunity to send us a
quantity of boards as we have a pressing need of same and none can
be purchased here.
Likewise some Scal-leather.
S.W.
S.R. D.C.
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Boston, Ma s s . U .S .A .
Politeness of Capt. Bursley, Ship Tartan
Received May 12, 1823.
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Page 215
Waimea,
Tauwai, Sand. Isl.
Jan. 4, 1824.
Very Dear Sir:
Several months have now elapsed, since I gave you an account
of our situation and prospects. During this time, we have
experienced much that is calculated to refresh & invigorate
our hearts, and to excite in us renewed zeal and devotedness
to our work. The communications we have received from our
b eloved patrons and friends, the deep interest they take in
our personal welfare, and the objects of our labor, the many
facilities they have sent us, and above all the continued
smiles of our Heavenly Father, are blessings which demand our
unfeigned thanks and liveliest gratitude. The Chiefs at their
own expense have built us a very convenient house for public
worship, in which I have preached regularly twice every Sabbath
for eight months past, and occasionally on other days, in the
vernacular tongue. Our meetings are generally well attended,
and many of the people are desirous to become acquainted with
the Gospel.
Under our immediate inspection we have two flourish- ing schools of about one hundred & twenty scholars.
There are
other schools on different parts of the Island. Many more are
anxious to learn, but for want of books and teachers they must
be denied the privilege. Orders have lately been given out for
all the people without exception, on this and the neighbouring
Island, Nihau, to observe the Sabbath as holy, time devoted to
the service of the Lord Jehovah, strictly forbiding any play or
work, or even the kindling of a fire on that sacred day.
Intoxication is prohibited, and infanticide, which heretofore has
been practiced to no inconsiderable degree, is now punishable
with death!
By the communications from the other stations, you will learn that my beloved associate, Ruggles, has been called to
remove from this Island to Hawaii.
Brother Bishop, who has been
here for several weeks on a visit, is soon to return to his
station at Kairua. Thus instead of our number being increased,
it is diminished, and excepting occasional visits from the Brethren,
I and my family must remain alone at this post, till additional
helpers can be sent u s . I trust the Board will not hesitate to send
out immediately, an efficient, devoted minister of the Gospel.
I
believe there are many such, anxious to join us; and I am sure they
would meet with a hearty welcome. It may seem necessary to correct
a paragraph in one of our letters, published in the Miss. H . - for
June, 1822. It was there stated that children might he educated in
our family without any expense except for clothing. It will be
recollected that at the time this letter was dictated, we had the
immediate patronage of Taumuarii. He had committed a number of
children to our care, saying, "educate them as you do children in
America.
I will provide them with food, and see that they (hole in
paper) leave you” . While he remained with us, he was as good as
his word.
We did not expect his removal, and even if we had, there
was reason to believe the patronage would be continued.
This,
however, has not been the case, and we have been obliged to dismiss
�119
most of our children. Some of them are still with us and bid fair
for usefulness. In future the same sum will be necessary to
educate children in our family as at the other stations of the
Board. If you can send me a Bible with Scott's references, cir
culars on Butterworth's conc ordence, they will be of incalculable
service to me, likewise the young preacher's manual, Buck's
Theological Dictionary & Lamprieres Biographical Do, would be
gratefully received.
I remain, Dear Sir, yours
S. Whitney
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Boston, M a s s . U .S .A.
Ship Paragon, Capt. Cole
Received A u g . 27, 1824.
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Page 216
Wahoo- Hannarurah,
October 6, 1820.
Honored and Dear Sir:
If I do not mistake, you requested that some of the M. family
would write to you with regard to the provisions which were
put up for our voyage, and inform you of the best mode of
packing the different kinds - and give you such other informa
tion as we might obtain from experience, what kinds of pro
visions would be preferable should you be called to fit out
another mission for a distant part of the world. I think I should recommend a good supply of rice & mollasses
& less beef & pork than is usually put up - The rice should be
free from weavels & put in casks that are perfectly tight There was 27 bbls. of beef & pork put on board for the use of
the mission & only 15 used on the voyage - we have some beef yet
that is good - The hams relished very well.
They ought to be
put up dry & in tight casks - Our codfish were good - but we
lost some owing to not having a good place to pack them - Our
mackerel were good, we lamented that they were so soon gone we should have been glad to have exchanged some of our beef &
pork for more - The salmon kept well - We had a good supply of
sea bread - the family were generally fond of it - Sea bread
will keep good a number of years if it be put in tight sweet
casks - rum casks are preferable because the weavels will not
live in them - some sea bread would be acceptable anytime here Our flour kept well & it is an excellent article to carry to sea Our I. meal kept good until nearly the last of the voyage - we
used almost all of it made into water gruel & ate it for supper
in the room of tea - The cyder & porter kept good - some of the
cyder was kept until within a few weeks & was excellent - The
barrel of molasses which was supposed to have been put on board
could not be found - it was thought that it might have been left
at the cooper's as it was sent there to be coopered - The barrel
of oil is not yet found - we hope Capt. B. will leave it when
he returns from the coast - Our cheese was good and kept as well
as could be expected - we lost a small part of i t owing to its
being not well dried - I took considerable pains to keep it from
spoiling, but we had no convenient place to keep it - we brought
some to the Islands which was good - It is essential that cheese
should be well dried to carry on a long voyage - If it be well
dried it may be packed up in barrels with something dry between
them & they will come to these islands without damage - we had
some put in barrels that kept equally as well as those in tin,
or better - We lost a considerable part of our eggs - those in
salt were tolerable - such as were put in lime water were almost all
lost - they spoiled soon - those in rice were bad tho' not so
bad as those in the lime water.
Our butter kept very well - butter
put up in kegs to carry a long voyage ought to be put into larger
casks and have the casks filled with brine - In putting up
potatoes care ought to be taken to have them perfectly dry - the
same of onions - The potatoes belonging to the Mission were eaten
first - the Capt. kept some in hogsheads belonging to the Brig
�121
until we doubled the Cape, but for some reason or other they
were all spoiled. - I think the potatoes or onions might be
kept three or four months at sea if they were well put up Were I a g o i n g another such voyage I should think it best not
to lay out so much money for live stock & corn to keep them
on, but would choose to have it laid out more for rice-flour, & c .
We lost some of our hogs, I believe three, and the rest did not
do very well as they could have no convenient place on deck or
at least they were too much crowded & wet a great part of the
t i m e - I should prefer dunghill fowls to ducks to carry to sea Beans & peas are both good & profitable provisions to carry to
sea as they will keep without trouble and are wholesome food.
As to seeds for the field or garden we can obtain almost all
sorts that are necessary at any time here - I should have brought
out grass seeds of different kinds had I not been informed by
Capt. Jennings that they would be useless - as he had the im
pression that all were here now that were necessary - We should
be glad of a small quantity of different kinds of grass seed in
order to make the experiment whether they would be an improvement
or not - Such as red & white clover - herds grass - red top and
common English grass seed - I was also informed that flax was
found here but I have found none - we wish you to send a little
seed - Wheat & oats are raised here - but in v ery small quantitiesIf convenient we should be glad to have you send us some wheat rye-barley - oats - buckwheat & some broom corn seed - a little
hemp seed - a small quantity of each will be sufficient - we have
not been favoured with an opportunity to sow our seed that we brought
or at least we have sown none at this place. We hope, however,
soon to have a field inclosed, as the most favoured season for
sowing & planting is the month of October - You may perhaps wonder
that I have done nothing yet at farming, but I assure you it has
not been omitted on account of inclination.
I shall take the
earliest opportunity to attend to it that circumstances will allow
of - We think it would be expedient to send out another set of
boilers for our stove as we have to use them constantly & they will
be likely to wear out after a while - James Wilson - New York Patent - is on the front of our stove - we think it would be well
to have one at each station on these islands as they would save
much wood in cooking - wood is extremely dear here. I should say
12 dol. per cord. It is brought about four miles on men's shoulders Some hollow iron ware would be necessary - perhaps some six pailful
pots - common pots for family use - spiders & teakettles - If they
should not all be wanted in the M. family they would be good prop
erty to dispose of for such articles as should be needed - Soap is
dear here & hard to obtain on the account of ashes being scarce &
very poor. If we had ashes we could make our own soap - but
what ashes we make are scarce worth saving - I should suppose it
would be good economy to send some potash - if we could have some
we might make our soap here - Some Pearlash would be acceptable a few brooms also, as we have not found yet a substitute for them The Chiefs appear to wish to purchase carpenter tools - such as
saws, chisels, adds, broad axes, planes, & c . I think it would be
well to have a few to sell them for such articles as are wanted,
as it would have a tendency to introduce the arts among them by
showing them the use of tools.
A few tin tonels would be acceptable
as we have none - we are also without coffee mill or mortar at
either of the stations, except those mortars which the Doct. has - I
�122.
have the impression that there was a coffee mill put up for
the mission & many other articles which were not sent on shore
here - However I do not know as it will be worth while to say
anything about them - I hope when Ca p t . B . returns from the
coasts some of them will come to light - we will wait with
patience & see - A s to articles of trade - I suppose 50 dol.
laid out in cheap callico would be worth as much as a hundred
dollars here to trade with the natives for necessaries - but what
they most want is blue india cotton for what they call pows &
marrows - It goes here among the whites by the name of Dungree As to cloathing for children, natives, I should recommend for
boys, something of a dark colour for shirts - and dark coloured
cloaths generally for the children - we wish to have those in our
family look decent - but it is too much work to keep them looking
decent with white cloaths -And I should think it would be com
mendable for missionaries who may come out here in future to choose
plain cloathing such as becometh the followers of the meek & lowly
Jesus - here is work enough to do without spending much time in
doing up superfluous cloathing, washing & c . Whi l e writing this
letter my mind has been so much occupied with other subjects (that
I have been scarcely fit to write) particularly our trials with
Doct. Holman & his wife - M r . Bingham & myself have been today to
talk & admonish him for some improper conduct of his - but I
must forbear, I have not time to give you much idea of the trials'
which this church has gone through on account of the Doct.'s con
duct & that of his wife - Probably they will return to America
the first opportunity - indeed they have declared this is their
intention. They will probably sail for Atooi tomorrow with
Capt. Hale.
Notwithstanding we have some trials & still the Lord seems to
smile on us in a remarkable manner & although Tenoe has become an
apostate & a stumbling block in the way of the heathen, yet the
Lord can do all with Thomas & Horore that Christians hoped they
all would do - and should more leave this little branch of Zion
still we will not despond - God is able to fill up those breaches
with those who shall adorn the Christian n a m e . - I am dear Sir
your obedient & humble Servant,
Daniel Chamberlain
P .S.
M r s . Bingham expects to be confined soon & also M r s . Whitney.
Although I have mentioned some circumstances that are trials to
us, still we have reason for thankfullness for the degree of
harmony and love which prevails in our little family - we hope &
trust that no jaring discord will ever be heard here - M r s . C .
sends her love t o M r s . Evarts & wishes to be rembered to all en
quiring friends - She says she has not regretted for a moment her
undertaking since she left America - We need your prayers and the
prayers of all who love Zion that we may have wisdom & fortitude
equal to our day - And may the Lord of the harvest rise up, quali
fy & send out to these islands of the sea many faithful labourers for this field is already white to the harvest - I see nothing
to hinder a hundred missionaries going to work here provided a
little jealousy was done away - which I trust will soon be the case.
Window glass will be wanted provided the remainder of the house is
sent, as we had only a part of a box sent on shore - there was a
�box left on board the Brig, perhaps it belonged to the Brig We had ought to have had several bbls. (say s i x ) more of beef &
pork put on shore - The Capt. said he set a shore all he could
find with our mark - W e suppose the meat got out on the voyage I hint at some of these things as a caution in future.
We found no letter paper that was allowed to be ours - One
thermoneter was not to be found which needs to be replaced Two or three cases of mathematical instruments are needed as
none were found that were allowed to belong to the mission.
Printing paper & wrapping we think we shall need - our printing
paper, some of it was damaged on the voyage - Common jack-knives
are wanted by the natives - they are as good as half a dollar
here to buy provisions with - common coarse files - fishhooks common case knives are wanted, as they begin to use them some to
eat with - carving knives we want a few, as we have had the
misfortune to have ours stolen -
I believe Brother Whitney intended to write to you from Atooi
for such articles we then thought we needed - but fearing that he
might forget or his letter be miscarried, I write for such articles
as I now think of that we may need - sewing thread - cotton &
linen is needed, as the natives are learning to sew.
The Governor
has this minute sent for some - the chiefs often call for it Capt. Hale has this day given us a large log suitable to saw into
boards which he brought from the coasts.
This reminds one of a
pit saw.
I had the impression that we had one put up as I spoke
about one.
I brought a hand saw from home & put it on board, but
I believe it belonged to the Brig when we arrived here.
To: Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
Boston, Mass.
U.S.A.
Received June 7, 1821.
�124
9
Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 217
Atooi, Nov. 10, 1820.
Honored & Dear Sir:
I arrived at this place yesterday morning in the Birg Thaddeus
after a passage of about eighteen hours - Capt. Blanchard
politely offered any of us a passage who might wish to come to
Atooi, and as he intended to tarry only a few days, M r . Bingham
thought it would be well for myself & Dexter to visit this place We left Woahoo about 3 o'clock in the afternoon & expected to
arrive in sight of this island about daylight - but having a
fresh trade wind, we were up with the island before day. - It
being foggy & dark, we were near the shore before the island was
discovered.
All hands were called, and we passed the danger
without harm. - I found the brothers & sisters in good health. M r s . Whitney was confined about three weeks ago - she has now
regained her health, her child which is a daughter is a healthy
promising child. - Mrs. Bingham was put to bed the morning before
I left Woaho - was remarkably comfortable - her child weighed
8 3/4 lbs. - a fine daughter - I never saw parents appear to be
more thankfull - I left them while their hearts were overflowing
with gratitude to him who is the author of all our mercies King Tamore and his wife are on a visit at a distant part of the
island - expect they will return in a day or two.
They have been
gone about four weeks.
11 Sabbath - Attended religious exercises in Brother W. & R's houseread a sermon - prayed & sung some of the songs of Zion tho' in
a strange land - The king &c. returned this afternoon to this
place. The brethren & sisters were glad to see them again as they
are very attentive to all their wants & appear to take delight in
bestowing favours upon them.
I went with them to the king's house
to bid them aloah - they appeared glad to see us all & said they
would call & see us tomorrow - The king & queen have made presents
of their former favourite gods to brother W . & R. - you will prob
ably be favoured wit h an opportunity of seeing them as they intend
to send them to America the first convenient opportunity - they
are sights indeed - They have cast away these idols & appear to
be waiting for the law of Christ.
1 2 - I have been today with Brother W. L M r . Conant (trading master
of the Brig Thaddeus) to see a tract of land which the king has
given to Mr. Whitney - It is situated about two miles from their
houses in a beautiful valey - a great part of the land is covered
with fine tarrow patches, potatoes, cane, bannanas, watermellons,
&c.
There are (I think about 1 8 families on the land which are
considered as belonging to the estate - They bring tarrow potatoes
& c. when the brethren request - indeed they bring wood - make fences
or anything they request of them.
The king & queen called in to
see us this afternnon with a number of their attendants. They
appeared very friendly - Gave the brethren another man & his wife
to wait on t h e m - Brother W. read a letter to the king which
Mr. Bingham sent him and a kanackah by the name of Jack who went
�125.
a voyage with Vancouver, interpreted it to him - Dexter repeated
to them some passages of scripture in Owhyhe - such as the first
verse of Gennises - Jesus Christ died for our sins - &c. & c . to
which they listened with attention.
1 2 - I have been with brother Ruggles today to see an estate which
one of the chiefs have given him - It is situated in a fine valey
about six miles from this place - called Hannapapa - I should
guess it contained 250 acres - one half of it is under tolerable
cultivation - there are about 30 families on the land which belong
to the estate - They consider themselves bound to bring any produce
from the land at any time the brethren call for it - and to c u l t i
vate the land according to their direction - The brethren here
hope to be able to support from their land without any labour of
their own - their own families and from 50 to 100 orphan children.
There is much need of more teachers here - at least one preacher
of the gospel & there is nothing to hinder (at present) a large
number of schoolmasters going immediately to teaching these poor
benighted children.
13 - The brethren & sisters here have been in want of a convenient
place to cook - they wished for an oven and as there happened to
be bricks enough left on board the thaddeus to build one we got
them ashore & with a little hatchet for a trowel I undertook to
build one - The king generously sent a number of his men to assist
me in bringing large stones for the foundation - to make mortar
& c. & I succeeded in building a very good oven.
1 4 - I have been busy today in building a fireplace for cooking
by side of the oven that I built yesterday - have got things much
more convenient for cooking than they were before - The king has
been on board the Thaddeus today - he has thoughts of buying her Set our new oven today & baked some bread made of sweet potatoes
and flour - also baked some apple pies - these made us think of
home.
15. Boca the governor of Woahoo sent one of his trusty men to
this island in the Thaddeus as was supposed on some special business It is said today that Boca sent a request to Tamore to come &
assist him in taking Woahoo from King R ehoreho - Tamore has given
orders for his schooner to sail for Woahoo this night - what the ob
ject is, is all conjecture.
18 - The king & queen are remarkable kind to the brothers & sisters
here - They appear to be glad to have them come to them with their
wants - M r . R. in conversation with the king today observed that he
intended to send to America for a trunk - The king said - no - me
give you trunk if you want- one - and immediately sent for one & gave
M r . R. It is a very nice one - worth ten dollars. The queen at the
same time gave M r s . H . a hansome present of muslins - George- by his
imprudent conduct has entirely lost the confidence of his father Instead of being a blessing to his countrymen - he has become a
stumbling block to them - he continues to be intemperate & seems to
have no desire to instruct the heathen.
19 - At the usual time for public worship to begin we sent Benter
to inform the king - He came immediately with the queen and his
attendants - they appeared to give good attention - After the ser
vices were ended they came into the house & spent sometime in f r
i e n d ly
conversation.
�126
21 - Capt. Blanchard has waited some days for Capt. Bennet
who is to be the bearer of our letters to America - Hisship
has this minute come in sight - Capt. Blanchard will probably
sail for Woahoo today - We shall a l l be in haste - I have
just taken up this scrawl & was at a loss what to do about
sending it - but as I have no time to copy it off, & as I know
to whom I am writing - I send it as it i s .
To Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.,
Boston, Mass. U .S .A .
To the care of Capt. Bennet
Received June 1, 1821.
�(These letters were typed from original
manuscript by Anorah C . Sullivan, from
December 6th to December 10th, inclusive.
�127.
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Previous to Sept. 1824.
V
Page 218
Atooi, November 14, 1820.
Rev.
& Dear
Sir:
It is with diffidence that I take my pen to address you , as
I sensibly feel my inability, especially as to letter writing.
But as a father overlooks imperfections in his child - so
I trust you will cover mine with a mantle of charity.
I left Woaho for this place last week on Thursday. A s Capt.
Blanchard was coming here on business to tarry only a few days,
and as he offered a passage to any of the family who should
wish to visit Atooi - it was thought best for me to come &
spend a few days with our brothers & sisters here. Dexter also
came with m e . M rs. Bingham was put to bed the morning before
we left Woahoo - she was remarkable comfortable - her child is
a daughter. Mrs. Whitney w a s confined about four weeks ago,
her child is well & she has regained her health. As to the
prospects of the mission at Owhyhe & Woahoo - with such cir
cumstances as are worthy of relating, M r . Bingham will undoubted
ly inform you. The prospects of the brethren here are truly
flattering & call for the united praise & thanksgiving of all
who love Zion. As I intend to write some particulars of the
situation of the brethren here to Esqr. Evarts & as it is likely
the brethren will write you, I shall omit particulars now.
On
the whole, this little mission family have abundant reason for
blessing & praise to Him who has the hearts of all men in his
hands, for protecting and defending them in the midst of dangers
& among the heathen. I would gladly call on you to rejoice with
us & hide from you the dark side of things, did not a sense of
duty seem to require that I should touch a mournful string - I
mean the conduct of the Doct . & his wife & the troubles this
little church have met with on their account. Brother Whitney
informs me he has w rote you with respect to some particulars of
his conduct & to the proceedings of the brethren with him. As
the Doct. appears to be extremely prejudiced against M r . Bingham &
Thurston & their wives & finally the whole church & as he is now
writing to you a vindication of his character or conduct and will
probably censure some of the brethren hard who I think are inno
cent , you will excuse me if I should give you some hints of his
treatment to the mission, which will satisfy your mind for the
present as to the steps they have taken with him. You will, I
trust at some future time have the whole subject laid before you
in a candid & impartial manner - should this be the case, you will
I trust justify this church in what they have done relating to
the Doct. & his wife.
And now I am at a loss where to begin - it is indeed a mournful
string to touch - but I will be as short as the nature of the case
will admit We had not been long on board the Th a d d e u s before the feelings
of the brothers & sisters were tried with what they thought very
unbecoming in the conduct of the Doct. & his wife - They were at a
�128.
loss what to do - to begin so soon to admonish a brother & sister
was trying - to let it pass and say nothing when the eyes of
many who were watching for their halting was on them was evident
ly wrong - Accordingly some friendly hints were given them as
to the impropriety of their conduct - they were told that the
eyes of the world were on them, that it become us all to be
watchful of our walk & conversation. The brethren laboured with
them between hope & fear. They found much fault with the cooking,
so much that the steward was out of patience with the m . And
when the steward was dismissed on account of bad conduct - Thomas
& Honore took his place - the Doct . & his wife still continued
their complaints & wished to be waited on so much that Thomas &
Honore requested to be dismissed from their work. After we had
been at sea some time - some of the family being unwell, wished
for a little wine - what we had in the cask was stored where it
could not be got at then - I told them that there was some sent
on board in bottles - that the Doct. had it in his keeping - a p
plication was made to him for some - be appeared loth to spare it and said Esqr. Evarts told him to keep it to use in case of sick
ness - he was told that a number were then unwell and were then in
want of it - that we hoped before long to get at what we had in the
cask & then he might have more, and as it was known that a number
of bottles of it was already gone, it was the opinion of the
brethren that the sick ought to have some while they so much needed
i t . The Doct. was requested under these circumstances to give some
to those who wanted - he accordingly did so - but soon charged
the brethren with taking it from him wrongfully.
This I believe
he makes one of his principal charges against the brethren - It
was thought proper to adopt some rules for the regulation of the
missies family while on board - accordingly we did with the united
voice of all except the Doct. - The Doct. & his wife often disregard
ed & broke the rules & when asked why they did so he would reply
he did not agree to them & declared he would not observe them, that
he would do as he pleased. He appeared to entertain a high notion
as to his profession & standing, pretending it was above those
who were ordained to. preach the gospel & c . His conduct was such
toward brother Loomis that the church thought proper to call him to
an account - it was settled with some difficulty - But I shall
tire your patience if I write particulars - I will be as short as
the nature of the case will allow.
I will pass on until the latter part of the voyage & shall omit
some things that were trying, for the sake of brevity - As we a p
proached the islands it was thought proper to establish some rules
for the regulation of our affairs after landing - founded wholly
on the instructions of the Board - The brethren were united except
the Doct . as to the plan adopted for family government - and though
it perfectly accorded with the instructions of the Board, he still
opposed them and pretended he did not understand the instruction -that
the Board did wrong to require such things of us - that they were
too strict & that he would not be bound by them - Much pains was
taken with him to show him the necessity of our acting in concert,
and according to our solemn engagements - but with little success.
It appeared that he intended to be independent. However we at
length arrived at the islands - we were permitted to land - and it
was thought a favourable circumstance that it was the Doct's lot
to be settled with M r . Thurston & his wife, as he appeared to have
less prejudice against them than any of the M . family, & also it
appeared to be the Doct -'s desire to stay at Kiaruah - We bid them
�129.
farewell with the hope that they would now live in peace with
Mr. T. & his wife, who were peacemakers indeed - But the Doct .
his wife soon manifested that spirit of discord which was
so apparent in them while on board - O how were the hearts of
dear Mr. T . & his wife wrung with anguish at the reproches of
a brother & sister of whom they fondly hoped better things sparing not to let the discords of the family be known to others
who were out of the family and who would make no good use of
that knowledge - I shall pass along with mentioning one or two
circumstances as specimens of their treatment to Mr. T . & his wife.
Capt. Starbuck, an English whaler, called to see them & made them
a present of about a dozen bottles of wine &c. The Doct. immediately took it all into his possessions - When Mr. T. had
occasion to use some of it he politely enquired of the Doct . for
some - the Doct . told him he would make a present of some to him
&c intimating that he should deal it to him (Mr.T. ) as he thought
proper - (The wine was sent to them jointly as one family) - Mrs.
Holman in conversation with Mrs. T. signified that she intended
to return to America - that she intended to act openly & not be
a hypocrlte - that it was pride & selfishness and the desire of
a great name that influenced every one of the mission family to
come out here - and boasted that she would be more open hearted
and tell the truth - These are but hints or specimens of their
talk & conduct - it would require a volume to write down the
particulars - and the recital would be enough to make angels weep As brother Whitney has written you some of the particulars re
specting his leaving Kirooah & given you some account of the pains
that the church took to dissuade him from so rash & unwarrantable
a step, I shall pass over them & only say that notwithstanding all
that could be said, he & his wife left the station assigned them
& went to another island. He continues still to trifle with the
feelings of his brethren & to set at naught their councils &
friendly admonitions. After he had spent some time on Mowe he was
sent for by Capt. Dean to come & visit him at Woahoo. We pro
cured him & his wife good lodging & bid him welcome to our table
& for the most part of the time they ate with us. Mr. Bingham,
like one who watches for souls as they that must give an account.
after some days spoke with the Doct. respecting what had passed
& wished him to give reasons for what he had said & done. The
subject was introduced in a solemn & proper manner. But the Doct.
was soon in a passion & treated M r . Bingham shamefully - pouring
contempt on the mission family by hard speeches & false accusa
tions - declaring that they had used him worse than the heathen
&c. & c. M r . B. laboured with him at proper times while he re
mained with us - spent nights in tears & prayers on their account
while they seemed determined to pursue their course notwithstanding
all that could be said or done. Their language both at Kiaruah
& Woahoo towards the M. family has manifestly been such as the
Apostle calls r ailing - When M r. B . has occasion at any time to
ask for medicine tho' requested in the most friendly manner, the
Doct . would cast reflections & often treated M r . B. in the most
disrespectful manner - I advised M r . B . to communicate with the
Doct . in writing - accordingly he did when he wished for medicine,
&c. I am glad on M r . B's account that he did so, as the Doct .
has made gross statements to the brethren here respecting that
matter - Indeed I think I can say in truth that neither the Doct .
or his wife appear to have a strict regard for truth - I wish not
to censure them wrongfully, but I think this will abundantly
appear when the whole truth shall be known - I believe this is
&
�130.
the opinion of the brothers & sisters generally concerning them.
The Doct . & his wife often disagree in their statement as to the
reasons why they left Kiaruah - sometimes the Doct. states things
as the princ ipal reason which his wife seems wholly ignorant of again she states things as matters of complaint against M r . T. &
his wife which the Doct. appears to be ignorant of - & perhaps the
next day they will both deny them. The fact is, I believe & I
have good reason for my belief - that it was their intention to come
here & stay a few years & accumulate some property & then return I am led to this belief from what they often said on the voyage He appeared to be disappointed because he had not a stated salary it was too evident that money & ease were uppermost in their minds.
But I forbear - I should not have wrote this hasty letter had he
not said he himself was going to write you on this subject and I
was sensible M r . B . would omit writing concerning this now - I
hope you will forbear blaming M r . B . & M r . T . untill you can have
the matter laid before you in its true colour.
Dear Sir, pray for
us in our troubles - I would not have you believe that we sit down
in despondency beoause we have some trouble. No we do not.
In haste, yours
Daniel Chamberlain
To Samuel Worcester, D .D .
Salem, Mass.
U .S.A .
�131.
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Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 219
Sandwich Islands, Woahoo,
No v 17, 1821.
Dear Sir:
As M r . Bingham has much writing to do he has requested me to
write you a list of such articles as we probably shall need
to carry on our work to advantage. We have hesitated some
as to the expediency of sending out goods, for us to buy such
artioles of food &c. as we need here, not knowing but that it
might give offence to the traders - we think however there is
not much danger on that account as we have conversed with
some of them on the subject, and they advised us to send Could such articles be sent free of expense as we need (and
probably they can be) they would be much better for us than
money, as many kinds of goods are worth double here to what
they cost in America - Common axes are worth two dollars Blue Dungree, pieces of 18 yds . are worth 5 or 6 dol. Blankets
1 1/2 yd . square $3.50 - Two inch chisels 60 to 75 cts. Jack knives 50 to 75 cts.
I will send a list of such articles as are saleable here &
you can send such as you please of them.
Low priced blankets - Low priced blue woolen cloth - Blue
Dungree - Cotton thread, various colors, coarse - Two inch
framing chisels - A few hinges for doors - Axes - Jack knives cizore - common combs, a few - Large filesWe sent you a list of articles wanted some time since I believe
by Capt. Bennet, but have forgotten what they were particularlyperhaps we now send again for the same things - boards & plank
will probably bear a high price here-at present they are sold
for fifty dol. per thousand cash. - there is no chance to get
logs on this island to saw & we shall probably be often wanting
some. Perhaps it would be well to send some if an opportunity
should present where they could be sent without much expense.
As there is much shipping now calling here for fresh provision,
It is of course high & will be at present. We think it would be
well to send some beef & flour & some butter & cheese if our
friends will give it. We much need potash to make soap as our
ashes will not make good soap. Common soap is fifty (hole in
paper) - we shall need a little pearlash.
In a letter to my brother Samuel sent by Capt. Allen, I gave some
hints respecting the conduct of some characters who reside or
call here - tho' the half was not told - perhaps it would have
been better to have said nothing at present - I have wrote my
brother to keep the letter to himself. Hope no evil will arise
from it. I hope I shall bear in mind your caution in future when
I write. With sentiments of respect, I remain yours & c .
To Jeremiah
E s q .
Daniel Chamberlain
Evarts, Esq. Boston, Mass.
By Ship Globe Capt. Gardiner - received May 11, 1822.
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Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 220
Mission House, Oahu, June 27, 1822.
Copy of a
)
resolution in )
favor of the
)
return of Capt.)
Chamberlain . )
With humble submission to the will of the Sovereign Dis
poser of all events, and with grateful remebrance of His many
and great mercies to this Mission in its origin, progress and
present state, and of His kind dealings with all the individual
members, as to their lives, persons and characters, we cannot
but v iew it as a calamity that any branch of the Mission should
be removed even by the direct leadings of the same Providential
hand t hat conducted us hither; still we desire to express our
thanks to God and to the Christian public, for bestowing on the
Mission so valuable helpers, and to Brother & Sister Chamberlain
in particular for the persevering and laborious efforts they
have been enabled to make for the promotion of the interests of
this Mission; but.
In consideration of the decline of the health of Capt.
Chamberlain; the obstacles in the nature of the government of
this country, and in the state of society, which oppose the
accomplishment of his intended object; the extreme difficulty
of providing suitably for the education, employment and settle
ment of his children without returning with them to their native
country, and consideration of the kind and deliberate advice of
the English Missionary Deputation, the Rev. D . Tyerman, & Geo.
Bennet, Esq.
Resolved,
that we deem it expedient that Capt. Chamberlain
should be allowed full liberty, and every reasonable facility
to return with his family to America; and, should Providence
open the way for their safe and comfortable return, that we
consider it as his duty to improve it to return to his patrons
and friends.
H* Bingham.
A. Thurston,
S. Whitney,
E. Loomis.
Sandwich Islands.
Joint Lette r ,
Ship AMERICA
1823
For: I. Evarts Co r . S e c ' y A . B . C . F . M .
(Capt. Daniel Chamberlain.)
�133.
221.
The kanackers have brought the stones from 20 to 80 rods on
their shoulders.
I have often labored beyond my strength as
Brother Whitney was anxious that I should finish it and as I
expected to return to Woahoo before November.
(It is now un
certain when I shall return. )
The house when finished will be a good one, I think
nearly as good as the one at Woahoo, but will not cost perhaps
more than $250., besides what we shall do to it ourselves.
I
shall not be ashamed to have foreigners examine it when finished.
The King and Chief have been to see it, and kanckers from all
parts of the Island. (M iti harle. good house, and nueroah accumi,
oi. very learned you are ) have b een a thousand times sounded in
my ears.
It will be a house that will probably last many years
without repairs and be safe from fire. I am calculating to go to
Hannapapa tomorrow with Brother Whitney to work on his house. His
house stands on a delightful spot and is situated in as fruitful
a valley as I have seen on the Island.
It is very expensive
procuring boards out here.
At this place we have to go 7 or 8
miles back into the mountains to find timber, then saw boards by
hand an d bring them on men's shoulders.
The Brethern here feel
rather unpleasantly that they should formerly haverepresented
things in such glowing colors; particularly respecting the pro
duction of their lands and the probable expense of victualing
children 2 1 2 .- Their lands are a great help to them, but not
so much as they formerly expected. Hands are so continually
shifting from one to another here that but little calculation or
dependence can be placed upon it.
For instance a man from Amer
ica a few years ago bought a piece of land of the King or one of
his chiefs by his consent (near where Mr. Whitney's house stands)
and paid a good price in money for it, but a part of it has been
taken away, and the produce on the rest taken away.
I have written in haste and perhaps not intelligibly, forgive
errors and mistakes while I subscribe myself,
Yours, etc- ,
J. Evarts, Esq.,
Secretary.
D. CHAMBERLAIN
JEREMIAH EVARTS, Esq.,
Boston, Mass—
By the Ship
"Tartar”
Capt. Bursley
�134.
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Previous to Sept. 1824,
V
Page 221.
Atooi, Nov 'r 11th, 1822.
Honored and Dear Sir:
It is probable that before you
receive our communication from this Island (Which we send by
the Tartar) you will receive letter from our brethern at
Woahoo, by way of Cape Horn in a whale ship— They have
doubtless communicated to you all the interesting facts re
lating to the success of the Mission at these Islands, and
their prospects.
You have doubtless been made acquainted with the state
of my health until I left Woahoo for this place— of my ex
pectations to return with my family to America.
I have
often felt that this information might trouble you and cause
you some anxiety with your other weight of cares.
I know
not how to express to you my feelings in view of returning.
Sometimes I fear it will discourage others, who otherwise
would go out and do good work among the heathen.
Yes and
a thousand thoughts of similar kind— still I trust it was the
desire of my heart to spend my days for Christ in laboring for
the heathen— but if Providence shuts the door, I hope I shall
say from the heart "the will of the Lord be done".
I conclude
Messrs. Tyerman & Bennett wrote you at considerable length res
pecting the difficulty of educating children in these Islands;
or rather the trials our Missionaries have met with at the
society islands.
This consideration, together with my ill
health, induced them to advise me with my family to return to
America.
The brethern at Woahoo have written you their reasons
for ordering me to return, which I hope and trust will be satis
factory to you.
But as my health at present seems to be gaining
and the brethern here much need my help untill their houses are
made comfortable to live in, I may not return at present.
Mrs. C .'s health was low when we left Woahoo; she was worn
down with hard work and a weight of cares— her health is now
much better.
Brother Whitney is building him a stone house
about half a mile up the river in this village on a beautiful
flat about six rods from the river.
The place is surrounded
with beautiful shades of tootooc trees, which renders it pleasant.
The house is 26 by 36 feet, with a back part 12 by 15 for cooking
and washing.
There is a cellar under it, except the back part.
The stones of the cellar wall are all laid in clay mortar.
I never saw but few cellars in America that exceeded it.
It is t
the only cellar on the Island, except the one that Brother B. is
digging at his house in Hannapapa .
The walls of the house are
about 20 inches thick, laid in clay mortar, mixed with a kind of
grass, which makes it very strong.
I have superintended the
work, and placed almost all the stones myself, but as I am feeble
I have had help to hand me stones and mortar.
�135.
9
Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 222
Tamore--Kahumanu— Con— Kiknaver— and a number of smaller
chiefs sailed from this place about ten days ago to see a small
Island about 70 miles to the west of this, where are plenty of
sea elephants, fowls and we understand they have returned Orichow—
George Sandwich is with them— we hope George does some good, a l
though he needs some one to watch over him— you need not expect
that those natives will endure which have been educated in America,
unless they are rooted and grounded in the faith.
But theLord
is able to hold them up.
Brother R 's health is much as usual,
rather poor, I am troubled with a trembling in my heart, or pal
pitation of the heart, and weakness in my legs and hips.
I have
a strong desire to wait untill more helpers come— I long to see
them comfortably settled and engaged in their work— Should any of
them bring children, I shall pity them.
I have written in great haste, and must stop.
D. C.
J. E. Esq
Mr. Daniel Chamberlain.
November 18, 1823.
Edgartown, W/ November 14,
For Ship 52,
Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.,
B O S T O N .
Mass., U. S. A.
By Ship SPARTAN
Capt. Swain .
�136.
9
Previous to Sept. 1824.
V
Page 224.
Boston, August 27, 1823.
To Jeremiah Evarts, Esq. ,
Corresponding Sec'y of the A . B . C . F . M .
Sir:As the feeble state of my health renders it probable that
I can no longer labour in the service of the Board with advan
tage to them; I would submit to their consideration whether it
will not be expedient to dismiss me from their service.
If
this should accord with their views, it will with mine.
At
the same time, I shall rejoice to lend any aid in my power to
promote the cause in which I have been labouring under their in
struction.
Yours affectionately,
D. CHAMBERLAIN.
J. Evarts, Esq.,
)
Cor. Sec 'y
)
A . B. C. F. M . )
Mr. Daniel Chamberlain,
Aug. 29, 1823.
J. EVARTS, Esq.,
Cor. Sec 'y of the
A . B . C. F . M.
�9
Previous to Sept
1824.
V
Page 225.
Oahu, August 9, 1822.
Dear Sir:I embrace the opportunity of sending by Capt. De Koven,
who sails to-morrow, a few remarks on the subject of procuring
supplies for the Mission to these Islands.
It is now nearly
six months, since, by the particular request of Capt. Chamberlain,
and a noteof the brethern, I took upon me the important and
responsible office of Steward for the Mission family.
For the
last four months there has been in our family, including our
little ones and the natives, from forty to fifty persons.
To
provide suitably for all these, it has been found necessary to be
at considerable expense; and, probably at a much greater expense
than those would be apt to imagine who are unacquainted with the
high price of provisions and other articles which it has been
found necessary to purchase for the use of the Mission at this
place.
For Pork we have given $26. per barrel— for Beef, $20 .
per barrel. Flour $15., Bread, $10. per cwt. Rice, $10. per cwt.
Molasses, $ 1 . per gallon (very poor quality).
A common hand
saw, $7. a common lamp, $1 files $6. per dozen. Jack-knives,
$5. per dozen, axes, $2. each , axe-helves, 50 cents each (in
ferior quality).
Nankens, $2. per piece (blue); dungarees,
blue, $5. per piece; dungarees, I am informed, may be bought in
Calcutta for $1.50 per piece. Soap, which we have been obliged
to purchase considerably, not being able to make any until re
cently for want of potash,
¢ per pound.
Other articles which
are brought here for sale are proportionately dear.
50
For potatoes and taro we give $3. per barrel
Hogs are
very scarce and cannot be easily procured.
By orders from the
government they, as wellas fowls are sold for cash only
From the statements which have been madeyou, you will see
that our supplies if procured of foreign trades here must be at
great disadvantage.
In addition to the high price of provisions
& c, at this place they require an advance of from 25 to 30% , if
paid for by giving bills on the Treasurer.
Most of what we have
purchased of foreign trades have been paid for in this way, we not
having cash on hand.
The natives pretty universally prefer cash on hand; to any
article of trade.
This is not to be wondered at, considering
the high price of foreign goods.
Dungaree, the best article for trade at these Islands, is
torn into pieces of three yards in length.
These are called
paus, and are valued at $1. each.
A piece of Dungaree will make fi
five paus.
It is usually of sufficient width to make three maros
each of which is valued at 33-1/3¢
.
A piece of blue Nankin will
�make three maros. each of which is valued at $1.
Jack-knives
when retailed are at 50¢ each, common scissors at 25 or 30¢ each.
We have sometimes been enabled to purchase Beef, bread, & c of
whalers, at a low price.
Still, as our procuring supplies of these
articles from them is very precarious, I think it would be best to
have most of our provisions of this kind provided in Boston, if
they can send it to these Islands, even by paying freight.
In
general, I think it would be a great saving of expense to have our
provisions and articles of trade purchased for us in Boston.
The scarcity of timber at this place indeed is extremely
difficult to procure suitable fences for enclosing our houses & c.
Our fence consists simply of small sticks, six or eight feet in
length, stuck in the ground, and lashed by withes to other sticks
laid xxxxxxxxx.
For two fathoms of this, we have given a fathom
and a half of Nankin, valued here at $1.
This kind of fence
will not last two years.
Besides the high charges for building
fences, it often requires considerable time and exertion to find
men who are willing to undertake the work; and while it is building.
it is necessary for someone to oversee the men.
If boards suitable
for a picket fence, with posts, can be procured in Boston, at a m
moderate price, and sent to us, we think it would be a great saving
of trouble and expense.
A considerable quantity of boards are
also wanted here for other purposes.
We have recently borrowed $200. in cash, for which we have
given a bill on the Treasurer for $240.
To prevent embarassment
in our affairs, it is desirable that we should have on hand a
supply of cash as well as articles of trade.
It is difficult,
if not impossible to get a house built, without paying at least
half cash.
The same may be said in regard to getting other jobs
of work done.
In this will be endorsed a list of articles which
we desire to have sent us .
The large reinforcement which we are
expecting here will doubtless greatly increase the expenditures of
the Mission; and the length of time which it takes to send to
America and get a return, renders it the more necessary that a
large quantity of supplies should be sent.
In great haste, I am, Dear Sir,
Yours,
Elisha Loomis.
Articles for the Mission family:
Beef,
Codfish,
) Slates and pencils, large quantity,
pork.
Blank Books,
)Cotton cloths of various kinds,
Bread,
(various sizes)
)Knives & Forks, 6 dozen.
Flour,
Shoes for Men,
)Axes, axehelves,
Molasses,
Women and Children,) Articles for trade:
Stoves,Flat Irons, 2 doz.
)
Blue Dungaree,
Boards,B l a c k s m i t h ' s bellows,)
Blue & Yellow Hankins,
Clapboards or shingles,)
Calicoes, coarse, find
Writing Paper, and some Iron
)
Lamps, 4 dozen, JackWafers,
Files, (L arge kind)
s
�139
226.
Mr. Elisha Loomis,
February 20, 1823.
Respecting Supplies.
Ship
AMERICA.
Jeremiah Evarts,
Treas. & Cor. Sec 'y A . B. C. F . M . ,
Missionary Rooms,
No. 69 Market Street,
BO
ST O N
_____________________________________ U.S.A.
�9
Previous to Sept. 1824
V
Page 228.
Oahu, October 14, 1823.
Very Dear Sir:For various reasons I have not hitherto been
able to give you a statement of the expenses of the Sandwich
Island Mission, during the time I had the charge of its pecun
iary concerns: and the account which I now propose to give, must be
very imperfect, owing to causes which I shall presently mention . At
the time I was appointed to take charge of the accounts of the
Mission, I had little or no knowledge of this business; and I was
not able to learn any thing from my predecessor, Capt. C., he having
made use of but one book, in which was merely charges the daily
expence, not even noticing what was received from the Board, from
foreigners, or from the various natives.
I saw the necessity of
keeping some more regular account, but the method I took was only
a small improvement.
I had one book in which was noticed the pro
ceeds received--In another was noticed the pu rc hases and trades— And
in another was noticed what was charged, whatever articles were
taken from the Depository for purchasing our daily supplies, &c.
Of
such articles as cooking utensils, crockery, mechanical tools, &c.
and indeed whatever was used or consumed in the family, excepting
articles of trade. I had not been given particular charge. No in
ventory was ever taken of them, and they were used in the family as
occasion required without any account being rendered.
This I ever
considered as an evil, but it was an evil which I could not remedy,
and for which I was not accountable.
I would, however, mention
that the family in general were cautious about using any articles
unless they were imperiously demanded.
We endeavored to anticipate the wants of the Brethern stationed
at Tauwai, and they in their visits to us (three or four times in
the course of the year) examined what we had and took such things as
they thought desirable.
It was my intention to have sent by Capt. C. an account of our
expenses, but my time was then so completely occupied with other
duties as to render it impracticable.
I had been teaching a
school in Honorusu, previous to the purchase of the ship RUBY,
but as the breaking of that ship devolved upon me, it became neces
sary to suspend that employment.
I had, besides this, to attend to
the building of a large stone cook house, a large stone fence around
our yard, and various other matters, exclusive of the daily purchasig
of supplies for our table, so that I had no time or opportunity to
make out the account.
My time was not much the less occupied after
the arrival of the new Missionaries, and in consequence the account
has not till now been prepared.
I have been particular in men
tioning the causes of delay, because I am aware that the account
ought to have before been rendered.
It may have appeared surprising to you that the expenses of the
last year exceeded in such a high degree those of the two years
proceeding.
�Among the various causes which occasioned this may be mentioned
the following: 1 . The enlargement of the Mission Family at
Honorusu; 2 . The increase in the price of provisions; 3 . The
building of a stone Printing Office, a stone cookhouse, three
thatched dwelling houses, and 170 fathoms of stone wall; 4 . The
purchase of the ship "Ruby” , and expense of b eaking her up; 5 . The
outfit and passage of Captain Chamberlain and family to America.
In regard to the first of these, v i z . the enlargement of the
Mission Family, it may be mentioned that throughout the year it was c
considerably large for four or fiv e months it exceeded forty persons
and for some time it amounted to fifty.
The increase in the price
of provisions was very great.
During most of the two preceeding
years potatoes and taro were sold for $ 1 . a barrel.
Toward the
close of the year 1821 the price was raised to $2.
But during the
last year we were under the necessity of giving $ 3 . a barrel, except
ing a very short period, when we were able to get them for $1.25 a b
barrel.
The price of hogs, fowls, & c . was raised at least one thirdBut for want of cash to purchase fresh meat, we found it necessary
to use salt meat generally, which we could procure of the traders and
pay for by giving bills on the A .B.
Meat procured in this way
usually cost us from 25 to 30 dollars a barrel.
The actual expense of this Mission during the two first years
of its extablishment was much greater than would appear from the
bills drawn on the Treasurer during that time.
We brought us from
America 500 dollars in cash and a considerable quantity of clothing
& c. which served for our support.
Besides this, there was expended
in our family more than 500 dollars collected on the Orphan School
Fund.
The expense of making our first establishment was not great.
Our two principal houses at this place were built by government, and
for many months ourtable was almost wholly supplied by the liberality
of natives and foreigners.
The station at Kaisua (Ka i r u a ) cost
nothing.
At Taurvae almost the whole expense of the first estab
lishment was defrayed by the government.
During the two first years
also, presents, to a considerable amount were received both from
foreigners and natives; but as no account was taken of them, their
value cannot be ascertained.
�9
Previous to Sept. 1824.
228
V
Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of the S.I.M.
from March 15, 1822, to April 27, 1823
Articles received form the American Board,
689.33
Amount of Bills drawn on the
"
"
5011.50
Donations received at Hanoruru.
1440.22
Total, .....$7141.05
Of this there has been expended on account of
Tauwai,
Cost of vegetables for the station at
$1194.30
241.66
Honoruru,
Honoruru,
Bread, Flour, Rice and Indian Meal,
"
"
Meat, fresh and salt,
"
Molasses,
"
Sugar,
R um, Gin, Brandy and Wine,
Vinegar,
"
Lamp Oil,
"
"
Soap,
Firewood,
"
Coal,
"
Labor,
"
Travelling Expenses,
"
Contingencies,
"
Fencing,
"
Printing Office,
"
Dwelling Houses,
"
Cook-house,
"
Ship Ruby,
"
Breaking up of said ship,
Actual expense of above atricles
"
before charged,
"
Capt. C h a m b e r l a i n
Expended on account of Mr. Ellis,
for which secured a bill on L.M.S.
"
Total expenses which have been
charged,----
388.37
4 8 4 .00
173.50
7 9 .40
83.53
2 1 .00
118 .25
80.23
132.03
29.37
4 5 .40
2 5 .99
3 3 4 .29
1 87.00
8 3 .09
3 6 .70
124.00
4 0 5 .00
9 9 .83
150.46 (x)
521.61
291.70
$61 30 .
73
Which deducted fromthe amount secured,
leaves— 1010.32
Balance,-------------------- — $1010.32/
(x )
The following statement w ill explain this charge:
For the articles of bread, flour, rice, Indian meal, vegetables, meat, molasses, sugar, spirits, vinegar, oil,soap,
firewood, fencing,
u ses, labor ?oal contingencies and
o
h
�143
228.
there was paid out $752.30 in cash, which had been
borrowed at 20% .
This 20% , not having been reckoned with, a c
count of the above articles, when added, makes the above
charge of $150.46.
�144.
9
Previous to Sept. 1824.
V
Page 22 9 .
From the proceeding statement it appears that there remaine
on the 27th of April, 1823, the sum of $1010.32, over and
above what was expended.
But no inventory was taken at that
time, and the quantity of provisions, furniture, articles of
trade, &c. procured during the year, and which then remained on
hand, is unknown.
A great proportion of the present from Mr.
Oliphant of Canton, was then, and is still, on hand.
It was
the custom in our family to divide the presents received, and I
had no opportunity of taking an account of what each individual
received.
Whether those articles thus divided have been e x
pended b y the individuals who received them, or whether they
still remain on hand, is unknown to me, except in some partic
ular instances as in that of the donation of Mr. Oliphant.
It is proper to mention here that all donations received
at this place were reckoned at their supposed value he r e .
Thus
bread was reckoned at $10. per cwt., flour, $1 5 . per b b l . , Beef,
$20 and Pork, $26. per bbl , Soap, 50 ¢ per lb.
We did not
actually pay out for these articles the sums annexed, but what
we secured from the Board, what we purchased and what we secured
in donations, estimated at their value here, amounted to the sums
specified in the general account.
How much was received in the way of donations at Tauwai is
unknown, no account of them having been rendered.
I have previously written to you recommending that cash and
provisions and other articles of support should be sent out from
America.
As Mr. Chamberlain will doubtless write to you on this
subject, I will not again resume it.
I will merely say that could
this plan be carried into effec t , nearly one half the expense of the
Mission could be saved.
I cannot conclude this without expressing my satisfaction and
joy at the appointment of Mr. Chamberlain in America as a General
Agent and superintendent of secular concerns for this Mission.
Such a person has been very much needed here from the commencement
of the Mission.
His duties will be extremely arduous, and trying,
but I have the fullest confidence in his ability to discharge them.
His aimable and Christian department has already endeared him to
us.
I doubt not he will be able to render essential aid to the
cause of Christ in these Islands.
Commending you. Dear Sir, unto God, and praying that you may
long be continued a blessing unto us and unto the heathen, I sub
scribe myself,
Yours, in the bonds of the Gospel,
ELISHA LOOMIS.
Jeremiah Evarts
Cor. Sec'y A.B.C.F.M.
�145.
229.
Mr. Elisha Loomis,
April 27, 1824.
Acknowledged, Oct. 22.
Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.,
Cor. Sec'y of the A.B.C .F.M.,
B O S T O N ,
(Seal)
U.S.A.
�9
Previous to Sept. 1824.
7
Pa ge 230
OAHU, Sandwich Islands,
Wednesday,December 31, 1823.
Dear Sir:I am sorry to inform you that the Types which you
forwarded to us by the Octavia, are of no service, they being of
a size much larger than those which we had here before .
The
fount of types which we have here is what is called "Small Pica” ,
and it was for "Small Pica" Accents (Accented vowels) that we
wrote.
The accented vowells were received by the Octavia, but
they are of the size called Pica, and, of course, much too large
to be used with Small Pica.
In consequence of this mistake, we
are under the necessity of printing our books without any characters
to denote the different sounds of the vowells, a proper distinction
of which is very desirable.
We have written long since for a quantity of Small Pica, k's,
Roman, lower case.
Probably they are now on their way to these
Islands.
If they should prove to be too large or too small, it
would be a very great disappointment to us, as the number of k's
belonging to this fount is quite insufficient.
At present we are
unable to set up in type at one time more than 9 pages of the size
of our Spelling-book.
It is desirable that we should have a
sufficient number to set up at least 18 pages, at one time.
If the k's (400 in number) for which we wrote , have already
been procured and forwarded, which is most likely, I would advise
that the same number of k's of the size of the enclosed specimen be
procured and forwarded, unless it can be certainly known that those
previously sent were of the same size.
To prevent any mistake, I herewith enclose a specimen of the
Small Pica, which we have here, as we have recently written for a
fount of Pica.
I also enclose a specimen of the Pica Accents,
which we received by the Octavia.
If the fount of Pica w hich may
be procured for us should be of the size of the enclosed specimen, it
would not be necessary to have attached to it any accented vowells.
as those already here will be sufficient.
With the fount of Pica, these should be a suitable quantity of
'two line Pica', as these will be needed at the commencement of
Chapters, in the Gospels which we propose to print.
I would
also request that there should be sent a small quantity of 'two
line Brevier'.
We hope soon to receive a considerable quantity of paper,
for which we wrote to you long since.
I think we then m e n
tioned 40 reams, on account of the Spelling-book.But 40 reams
�147.
9 Previous to Sept. 1824.
V
230 (cont’d)
would make only 12,800 copies, and we have a population of 200,000
souls!
The state of the Islands at the present time is very
interesting.
The whole mass of the people seem to he anxiously
looking to us for books and for instruction.
It is the desire of
the chiefs that all classes of people should learn.
It is said
that the King and Boke, before they left these Islands for England,
gave orders to this effect, and now our house is daily thronged
with natives asking for books.
Nor is it merely scientific in
struction which is desired by the people.
Many of those who have
been taught in our schools, now attend family prayers daily at their
houses.
On the Sabbath the Meeting-House is generally crowded.
In
order has been recently published for the observance of the Sabbath.
Even the kindling of fires on this day is forbidden.
Probably near 2,000 of the natives are now able to read, and a c
considerable number write, so as to hold correspondence one with
another.
A few have commenced thestudy of arithmetic.
Suc h is
the desire which the natives have for instruction and such the
facility with which they learn that it would seem the whole popu
lation would become able to read if they had books put in their
hands, without any further efforts on our part.
Great numbers of those who were first instructed have gone to
different parts of the Islands and are now employed in teaching
others.
In one place there was found 16 or 18 persons able to
read, all of whom had learned from one Spelling-Book.
It is unto us, under Sod, that this people must look for
instruction, and on us, under God, are they in some measure
dependant.
How great our responsibility!
A nation to be
enlightened
But our help is in Go d .
He can accomplish the
greatest purposes, by means of the feeblest instruments.
I bless
God that He has seen fit to employ me and that I am enabled to bear
some humble part in this great work of extending the bounds of Hie
Kingdom.
It has been a matter of regret to me that I have been able to
employ so little of my time in teaching.
The year preceeding the
arrival of the reinforcement, my time was almost wholly occupied n
in the concerns of the family.
M r . Chamberlain on his arrival was
not able immediately to take charge of the concerns, for want of
some acquaintance with the language, and character of the people.
I have been employed a considerable part of the time since his
arrival in breaking up the ship Ruby.
For the last two or three
months I have been employed in covering the Printing Officer &
work of no small labour, as we had to saw our boards and split
our shingles.
The Printing-Office is now pretty well finished.
I am now engaged in printing an edition of Hymns, in the language,
After all, I feel that much of my time has been misspent. It is
now gone forever.
The year has nowclosed.
Perhaps I shall not
live to see the close of another.
It is a solemn reflection.
But
whether I live or die, may the Almighty put underneath me His
everlasting Arms.--My health for the last year has been considerably
injured by hard labour in the summer of 1822. It is now better.
The health of Mr. L. was also poor; but she is now better.
She iss
u
g
n
k
t
d
i
e
b
,
a
0
2
r
5
1
f
l
o
h
c
�Page 230 (concluded)
She joins with me in cordial salutations to y o u .
I am. Dear Sir,
Yours,
ELISHA
LOOMIS-
(Signed)
Mr. Elisha Loom is,
July 12th, 1824.
Ans'd Oct. 22, 1824.
( 12)
(
(
(
(
PROVIDENCE
July
12
1 8 2 4.
)
)
)
)
Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.,
Cor. Sec 'y of the A .B.C.F.M.,
B O S T O N ,
Massachusetts.
Per Ship
"SUPERIOR."
�9
Previous to Sept. 1824.
V
Page 231.
(1)
To the Prudential Committee of the
Board for Foreign Missions.
Honored Sirs: —
I am now about to lay before
you a subject which is not less greivous to my heart than I know
it must be to yours.
But situated as I am upon these far dis
tant shores (heathen), where "darkness hovers over the land, and
gross darkness covers the people, remote from the loved dwellings
of the Lion, where the glory of Jehovah rests with cheering and
vivifying radiance from those temples and altars of the living
God; where I once enjoyed a sweet communion with my brethern in
all that ordinances of Christ's House; and from that Christian
Soc iety, and circle of dear and intimate friends, with whom I once
participated in all those heavenly blessings which are calculated
to elevate the affections, inform the judgment and purify the
heart. — I feel it a duty I owe myself, my dear wife and the
cause in which I am professedly engaged, to submit the subject
before me to your candid examination and final discussion.
Con
fiding in your impartial judgment and unprejudiced minds, I humbly
trust you have the cause of humanity at heart, however you may
see fit to answer me, or any of m y proceedings
For a more perfect understanding of the subject I will
simply detail the account of the circumstances of our first
landing, a nd the manner I have prosicuted my business, since I
took up my residence upon these shores.
We arrived in sight of Crohyhu on the morning of April 30th,
at a place called Ko-hah-lah.
Twenty or thirty miles from Toa h ’e-ah-a, where lives one of the greatest Chiefs of the Nation,
named Kri-m'o-koo, or Sir William Pitt —
On our arrival at the
place of anchorage, Capt. B. thought best to send xx on shore, to
obtain information relative to the political situation of the
Islands, wheneon we were informed that Kinglani-a hani-a-hah
had been dead some months; that shortly after a c ivil w as broke
out which terminated in the destruction of their Tarboa Moria's and
Kiwl 's — and that Ke '-ho-ri-ho - the adopted son of the O lo King,
reigned in his stead.
The next day, May 1st, a boat with several gentlemen was sent
off to To-ah'e ah'-e to obtain direction from the Great Chief
Kri-mo-koo'- and others, would visit us on board, the next da y .
They came according to promise; and the subject of the Mission
was laid before them.
They assured us they were pleased, but also
assured us they could not give their consent to have us land until the
had seen the King, and called a counsel of the Chiefs.
That they
would accompany us to the place where the King about 40 miles distant
�150.
Page 231
(2)
called Ki-ah-hoo'-ah- on the S . W. part of the Island, where
we arrived the next morning.
'The Mission subject was laid
before the King, upon which a Council was called and the
subject taken into consideration. Several days spent in
soliciting permission to proceed to Oah'-hoo (or Wah-hoo) as
it was thought to be by far the most favorable place to commence
a station.
The King replied that there were too many of us;
that he
had been told the Americans were a bad people— that he was
fearful our motives were not such as we pretended, but that we
had come for the purpose of taking the Islands from them, &c/
Our solicitations were renewed, and, after using our utmost
endeavors to convince him that our object was purely to do
good.
Informing them that there was a Physician in our number
w ho could heal their diseases; the King observed that the Physician
was very good, and he should like to have him stay; but that he
did not care about the rest; that he should like a ship-carpenter
to build vessels for him, but pullah-pullah- i .e . , To learn to
read would do him no good, it would not make him righ (rich)
However, as he was desirous to have the Physician stay with him,
he would give his consent to have us all land at Ki-ah-voo-ah,
where we might stay three moons on trial; and if at the end of
that time he did not approve of us, we must leave the Islands.
On consideration the Mission Family thought that the
situation of Kiah-voo'-ah rendered it highly improper for all
of us to take up our residence upon this Island,as there was no
fresh water within the distance of 5 or 6 miles, and that, upon
the Mountain, which could be obtained only by being brought upon
men's shoulders in calabashes.—
The country around Kiah-voo-ah
for several miles back into the country is made up of scraggy
rocks of burnt Lava— with little or no vegetation— except now and
then a hill of potatoes--where a spot of earth can be found -on a
or a tobacco plant.
Consequently we renewed our entreaties that a part, if not
all of us might go to Aahhoo— To which after a long consultation
but expressing much anxiety--they consentedThe next considera
tion was who of the family would be willing to stay.
My own
destiny was fixt by the choice of the King, who said that the
Physician must stay, and one Teacher— Accordingly a meeting of
the Brethern was called, and the question proposed, which one of
the Brethern would go on shore, and take up with me their abode
upon these barren rocks.
Ho one felt disposed to volunteer; all the Ladies were very
averse to stopping at this place, all wished to go on to Aah-hoo.
C
Contrary to the wishes and entreaties of M rs. H.
I agreed to
comply with the request of the Kin g .
Knowing it to be for the
good of the Mission, at least for the present, butI told her at
the same time (and I believed it to be perfectly understood b y the
Brethern) that if upon trial she should not feel contented, with
the King's consent I would go with her to Aah-hoo, or any other
place as he should direct. /
It was the general opinion that
one of the Preachers should accompany us, butthey were both equally
�151.
Page 2 3 1
(3)
bent on going to Aah-hoo, so it was finally agreed to ballot.
Mr. Thurston was taken, and he with our companions were set on
shore on the morning of the same da y ; and conducted to a small
hut about 14 feet square, which had been previously occupied
b y the natives, where we for the first time made our pillows
upon heathen shores.
the King
Soon after our landing, I was called upon b y ((. ((((((((
to render medical aid to one of his xxx wives, and a number of
his attendants and servants, with all of whom, b y the blessing
of God, I had very good success; although some of them were danger
ously ill.
The native Physicians were much opposed to my practice,
telling my patients that I should kill them, and it is to be sus
pected that had I not been successful in my first setting out,
the consequences might have proved unhappy for me.
The native
Physicians are extremely superstitious, and they know little or
nothing of how to distinguish one disease from another; but
generally administer the same medicine in all disorders— and if
the person to whom they give medicine dies, they suppose him to
have been prayed to death b y some enemy.
Indeed this people
do not believe in a natural death, but that they are prayed to
death, killed by Ah'-hoo'-ah-ena (evil spirit) or some unforseen
casualty.
Page 232.
(5)
The medicine they give seems to be more for the purpose of
driving Ah-hoo-ah- out of the person, than of healing the disease,
which are composed principally of cathartics, and those of the
most drastic kind.
I have known several instances of death from
their operation.
The cathartic offset frequently continues for
several days, and often times terminates in inflammation and death.
I soon had as much practice in my profession as I could well
attend to— and not only was obliged to act as Physician, but as
nurse.
The King and Chiefs presented me with hogs, tarroa, sweet
potatoes, & c. which served for a great part of the provisions of
the family.
I continued in this manner for several weeks, grow
ing apparently in favor of the Chiefs and by degrees obtaining the
confidence of all.
But at the same time, as I was well aware,
there were men who conducted themselves friendly towards me and
my brethern, before our faces, while in reality they were our
greatest enemies; using their utmost endeavors to disaffect the
minds of the Chiefs towards us,--telling them that the Mission
had been sent out as spies under the American Government, who
were calculating soon to take the IslandsThat the Physician
had brought American Medicine for the purpose of poisoning the
natives, and many other such like arguments, which had no smell
influence over the minds of this ignorant people.
Becoming more and more acquainted with their manners and
customs, I soon began to feel that my situation as Physician, was
far more dangerous than I had apprehended.
My interpreter, Mr.
Young, son of the well known Mr. John Young, had the goodness to
inform me of m y danger, assuring me that if any of the high Chiefs
should die under my care, they would throw the blame on me, which
would most certainly endanger my life.
Wherefore
�152.
232.
(6)
I, therefore, saw that it was very necessary for me to b e cautions
in the administering of medicine.
By the helping of God, however,
I have thus far been highly favored, having lost hut three patients.
Three natives and one white m a n . Two of them died at Ki-ah-voo-ha of
the hillious colic, and the other of Hemiphiigia.
The former was a
Captain of the K i n g ’s Guards. He was the attendant of the Old
Queen; the other was a child at Mowa of a consumption; 4th, a white
man at Oahoo of inflammation of the bowels. All of them except the
first had been sick for some time previous to m y visiting them.
I
would, however, further observe that the first of them was a partic
ular friend of the King.
I was solicited to attend him by the King,
who went with me to his house.
I informed the King that his friend
was in eminent danger, and told him I was fearful that I could
not help him, and, therefore, would rather not do anything for
him, as I might be blamed if he died in my hands.
The King
however, was very earnest that I should attempt to do something
for him, assuring me that whatever the consequences might be, I
should not be censured.
Accordingly I proceeded to make use of
every means in my power to rescue him from the grave, but
medicine had no effect; he died within a few xxxx hours after he
was taken sick.
The King and Chiefs appeared to be satisfied
that I had done all that I could.
He was burried under arms in
the American Mission manner.
In his coffin was put a calibash of
poa, a roasted pig and several bottles of wine and rum, together
with mats and tapper.
While at Ki-ah-voo-ah M r s .H . was very unwell part of the time,
indeed she declined in her health so fast that I was apprehensive
she would soon fall into the phthisis pulmonatis, if she did not
soon obtain help from source.
The heat of the c limate, which is very
oppressive at Kiahvooah, more so than at any of the other Islands,
seemed to affect her much.
Her mind was much affected from sources, all of which I shall
not attempt to enumerate.
The many inconveniences and privations
which she was obliged to suffer were not inconsiderable.
Water
was for the most part of the time very scarc e/
The King thought
it was too great a burden (burthen) to find us as much as we
needed; so that it was with difficulty some part of the time that
we could get enough to drink, and for cooking.
And the little we
did obtain was often so filthy as to be unfit for use.
Mrs. H.
frequently desired me to remove to Aah-hoo, or some other place
where she might get such things as would make her more comfortable,
and if possible recover her health.
I told her that to remove without
the consent of the King would not be expedient; but with his consent
her request should be granted.
I accordingly asked permission from the King, and his Counsellor
Krimahoo, to remove to Oah-hoo, stating my reasons & c .
After con
sulting a few hours on the subject, they told me they were satisfied
with my reasons for wishing to remove, but they were not willing h
that I should go to O-ah-hoo, saying that all the white people liked
O -ah-hoo better than any other place, and if I went there I would
never come back.
But that xx they would build me a house at the Loahinah, a distant district in the South station, the southwestern
part of the Island of M o wer.
�153.
Page 232.
(7 )
Observing that that would be half way between the two stations,
and then I could visit either, as duty called.
Their true
reason, however, I was told and am well convinced, was quite
differentThey were not yet convinced that the reports
respecting the Americans were false, or of my intentions to
poison them— and fearing that it would be in my power to do
more hurt at O -ah-hoo than at the Lahinah, they pitched upon the
latter, telling me that I should have everything I wanted for
my comfort which the Island afforded, until the King should move
to O-ah-hoo, which he intended doing in the course of 4 or 5 more
moons; he should then wish me to go with him.
I then again rrequested the opinion of Brother Thurston on the subject, which I
had done previous to my conference with the King and Chiefs--but
he appeared indifferent, and gave me no satisfactory answer.
I also wrote to the brethern at O-ah-hoo respecting my removal,
and my reasons for so doing, expecting their united and cordial
consent, (exclusive of one individual whose voice I know in most
cases to be the voice of a l l . ).
To my proceeding, but knowing
that an old pryu still existed towards me, I did not expect his
ready compliance, although I hoped for his compassion towards my
dear wife.
A few days passed, and Brother Whitney came up with
remonstrances to my removal, saying that I ought not to regard
Mrs. Holman's health so much as to remove to any place even for
& short time, that it was distrusting Providence, & c . & c. , and
further it was suspected I had some secret motive which I had not
yet made known to them— but if I went anywhere, it was my duty
to go to O-ah-hoo.
I told him, and this was the advice o f my
interpreters, Thomas Noo-poo and William Young, that if I should
go to O-ah-hoo, without or against the will of the King, it
would expose the Mission to imment danger.
I reassured them of
the purity of my motive; I felt that my own situation as Physician
was delicate, and that of Mrs Holman more s o .
She plead that if
she might leave this place, she would be willing to live awhile
without any society, provided she could have water and a few fresh
p r o v i o n s , other salutary reasons she could give, but for the sake
of the cause of Christ she thought it not proper to make them known.
I felt that the path of duty was made plain, notwithstanding
the obstacles which presented, and to neglect it would be "denying
the faith "
We, therefore, set out on the 30th, and arrived at the Lahinah
on the 31st of July, where we found everything prepared for our
receition.
The kindness and attention which were manifested to M r s .
Holman by the natives, but more especially (particularly) by the
family of a white man, by the name of Butler, had no small tendency
to revive her almost despondent m i n d .
Her fruits, as well as the
fresh sea breeze had a happy effect on her health.
We had lived here four weeks when I was called to visit a
Captain Dean, who had just arrived at O-ah-hoo from Manilla, dan
gerously sick, and who was at the trouble of obtaining permission
from the Government for me to visit him.
We arrived at O-ah-hoo
�154.
Page 233.
(9)
about the last of August, where we were treated by our Brethern
of the Mission with manifest indifference, so that it was noticed
by strangers.
We were in consequence invited to board with Capt/
Dean and his xxxx partner, who lived in a respectable style— and
for Mrs. Holman's sake I accepted the invitation as I knew she
would be better accommodated there than elsewhere.
The reasons for their coldness was afterwards explained to me by
?rs. B . who told me she had sent me a letter previous to my arrival
which would inform me of my suspension from the privileges of the
Church, with many charges, of which I had been as ignorant, as I
now plead myself innocent.
Together with threats, of taking from
my hands the Medicine, books, instruments & c ., which were intrusted
to my care.
I told him I should not willingly give them up, until
such time as I as authorized by the Board.
As I felt responsible
in a great measure for the health of the family.
Knowing that I
could not be useful without them.
Such, Honored Sirs, is my present unhappy circumstance.
Grieved and woun ded to the heart, I cannot
neglec t to e m
brace this opportunity of letting you know my situation, while I
crave your candid advice and direction what to d o .
I cannot but feel conscious of doing myduty in that the prin
cipal cause of which I am thus neglected, and, I feel, abused.
In all my conduct I feel that I have studied the welfare
of the Mission.
It has been, and now is, my heart's desire and
earnest prayer to do what I could for the happiness of the family
and the good of the heathen.
I feel that the treatment I have received from my brethern
(I would not say from all, for dare they speak their real sen
timents, there must be a contradiction) is without a just cause
o r foundation, except it be from prejudice or jealousy.
I kno w , there has been a prejudice in the minds of some,
subsisting towards me ever since the 3rd or 4th week after our embbarkation, the cause of which, to do justice to do justice to M r s .
Holman's feelings, (as it is in her behalf, the more than my own
that I now plead) I cannot fail to mention.
In conversation
with M r . B . one morning, he asked her if she did not know that it
was suspected by the family that she was taking to herself property
which was c onsecra ted to the Mission, property to which she had no
individual rights.
She replied in the negative, and requested an
explanation.
He told her that it was thought that the oranges and
lemons which she had made so liberal a use of, were some that had been
put up by some friend for the use of the whole family.
She assured
him in tears (x) that they were a box her brother purchased and put
up for her, together with several other articles, raisins, pepper
mints, & c.
(x) This part of the conversation was overheard by a third
person who happened to be in the cabin, who, to use his own words,
told me "he staid till he had heard enough” and left the cabin/
�155.
Page 233.
(11)
The day previous to our departure, he then told her it would b e
happy for her if she could prove it; that it was truly unfor
tunate for her that the family could not help their suspicions, & c .
The feelings of a delicate female who had partially recovered
from a bed of sea-sickness, weak and nervous— can better be i m
agined than described, on receiving such confirmation.
But to
aggravate the case still more, on asking him if she had not been
liberal enough with them, telling him she had distributed more
than 3/4 of them to the sisters and family.
To which he replied
that the very circumstances of her distributing them as freely s erserved to strengthen the finger of suspicion.
It was not till the
next day that she opened her mind and revealed the subject of the
conversation to me, altho she went immediately to her brother
Samuel, who appeared not less agitated than herself, and who
advised her to say nothing about it, but to write home the first
opportunity to her brother, who is a respectable (reputable)
merchant in Brookfield, Conn. and get his statement of the fact
that he purchased them, &c .
At another time on hearing a com
plaint that sugar was consumed very fast, she replied that having dr
drunk neither tea nor coffee, she presumed she had not used 1/4
of a pound since coming on board.
X To which Mr. B. replied:
"Stop! and recollect where you got the sugar you ate apon your
lemons so plentifully" — She told him it was some that her brother
S. gave her, which he put up for his own consumption on the
passage .
He told her that it was fortunate for her that she had
her brother S. present to prove it, for it was strongly supposed
that that too belonged to t he Mission, as well as the lemons.
I need not tell you that I entered into this subject with the
deepest interest.
The keenest, heartfelt emotions were excited
between us, as well as our brother.
We felt that the fatal —
blow to our happiness was struck, if such sentiments of jealousy
were to exist between brethern of our family, of our Church, and
communion.
Is this thought I putting on that " charity which
thinketh no evil".
Indeed I felt this subject to be too im
portant to be unnoticed, or treated with indifference.
I gave
my mind fairly and feelingly to the brethern.
I felt that some
redress ought to be made t o Mrs. H . whose feelings were wounded in
the tenderest point.
At which M r . B . replied for a l l ,- "We can
not help our suspicions, but it is M r s . Homan's misfortune."
This, Dear Sirs, I I conceive to be the commencement of
difficulties, and trials, which on our part I know not how to have b
been avoided, and which I believe to be the foundation of pre
judices againstmewhich I fear will not easily be eradicated.
From this time, and from these circumstances the mind of Mrs/
?. began to be depressed.
Feeling that if such suspicions ex
isted in the minds of the family, towards her, she could never
enjoy that happy interchange of interest, sentiment and sympathy
of soul which ought to subsist between them, of the same communion
and which she fondly anticipated would be the case when she un
ited with this little family.
�156.
Page 233.
(12)
from that time she has continued to express the desire
one day to return home to the bosom of friends.
Her health
has been declining, and her spirits desponding ever since, and
should she continue in this frame of mind, with no more prospect
of relief, I shall feel it m y absolute duty to return with her;—
though at present I feel for my own part no disposition to
relinquish my important trust, notwithstanding my peculiarly
unpromising circumstances,--but far from it.
I feel to commit the case into the hands of those who
can endure all things for the best good of His creatures, and
the furtherance of His glorious Kingdom
Page 23 4 .
(13)
When I look around me and behold the many thousands of
perishing mortals, destitute of the Word of God, ignorant of
a Saviour, and groping in pagan darkness, and murkiest super
stition, my soul is pained within me, and I am ready to exclaim:
"How long, O Lord, how long, before these poor souls shall
burst the bonds which they have been so long bound with by the
God of this world, and brought into the glorious liberty of the
children of God."
For our consolation the Scriptures assure us, and the signs
of the times demonstrate, that the period cannot be far distant
when, not only this, but all Nations shall come to a knowledge
of this truth, as it is in CHRIST JESUS.
The inhabitants of these Islands cab truly be said to be
waiting for the love of Christ
The recent and sudden abolition
of human sacrifices and idol worship; the destruction of images,
altars and temples, plainly evince the truth.
I write from Ah-too-i, where I was called about 5 weeks
since to administer to the families of Brothers Ruggles and
Whitney medical a id.
Since my arrival M r s . Whitney has been
presented with a find, healthy daughter.
Mrs. R. expects to be
confined in a few weeks; after which I shall return to Lahiuneah,
where I purpose staying until I receive other calls.
Mr S. Holman's health is evidently better since our arrival
at Ah-too-i, than it has been long before our landing.
I think
of having her with her brother, hoping it will be for her good.
She wishes to be remembered affectionately to you all, while
I remain, Dear Sirs,
Your Obedient & Humble Servant,
THOMAS HOLMAN.
Ah-too-i,
Nov. 21, 1820.
�157
(14)
P.S.-- After hearing the foregoing statement of facts, the
Honorable Board will, I flatter myself, take the earliest op
portunity of giving me their minds ; together with su ch advice
as they shall think proper.
If I have in any of m y proceed
ings forfeited my trust to the Articles put into my hands by
the American Board, I fully relinquish them.
Should I be thought worthy to be continued in the service,
I may expect a support.
I would take this opportunity to inform you that I stand in
immediate need of some articles of clothing, particularly shoes,
summer pantaloons, vests, coats, & c.
This clothing is all that
I need at present.
M r s . Holman would be glad of a piece of
linen diaper, and a piece of curtain calico with one or two
chests or trunks.
I should likewise be glad of a Microscope and the Eclectic
Respiratory,--ad. at Philadelphia or the New England Medical
Journal.
I will just inform you that our hearts have been cheered
by the reception of letters from America, this morning, and by
the Cleopatra's Barge, Capt. Smith.
Capt. Bennet will be the bearer of these sheets— he sails
this evening.
In haste,
Your Unworthy Servant,
THOS. HOLMAN.
�"Do not Copy"
Pages 255
to
283, inclusive.
(Instructions on slips of paper
inserted b y Professor Ballou. )
Anorah C. Sullivan.
�158.
9
Previous to Sept. 1824.
Page 284
V
Rev. William Richards,
Feb. 19 , 1824.
Lahina, Island of Mauii,
August 30th, 1823.
Mr. Evarts,
A messenger from Oahu informed us this morning
that the EERO will sail in a day or two for America ,
A
boat returns to Honoruru in a few hours.
The notice is too sh
short to prepare our Journal.
I neglect my parents and all my
private friends to perform the duty which I ooe (owe) to you
and the Prudential Committee.
( Balance of letter printed in
20 Missionary Herald 110
See April- 1824.
)
N .B . - The following paragraph is omitted in the Herald:
It may appear strange that the Chiefs, who are such strong
friends to us do not support us entirely.
I can give a reason
which must be satisfactory even to a stranger.
The Chiefs
themselves live in thatched houses— few of them wear clothing,
except on the Sabbath, and the principal living is fish & poi.
We come to live with them and they build us houses like Their
own; they give us land sufficient to supply us with poi and they
make us presents of as many fresh fish as we need; besides these th
things, they sometimes send us a pig, a goat, or a few potatoes,
a few bananas, a melon and the like.
But an American can easily see that these things do not
support u s .
Shall we have no bread— no meat but once or
twice a month, no flour, no clothes to wear but tappa, no beef
but mats, no houses but gross, no floors but the earth, no
windows, but open holes through the houses, no medicine when we are
sick, and none of the
other comforts which we have e n
joyed in our native land?
I do not enumerate these things because
we do not enjoy them, for many of the things mentioned we have in
our possession, but they are expensive and these are the things
which are not provided by the Chiefs, who are our friends. Enough,
I think, is already said to account for all the expense we make
the churches.
Your distant fellow laborer,
Wm. Richards
�Thomas Holman,
June 1, 1821.
B y the Volunteer Capt. Bennett.
Reverend S. Worcester, D. D.,
S A L E M ,
Massachusetts.
�160.
9 Previous to Sept. 1824.
V
Page 285.
Lahaiua, Island of Maii, Sandwich Ids.,
December - 1820.
To
Samuel Waite, Esquire,
Much honored and very dear Friend,—
One of the first duties
I appointed to myself after my embarkation from America, was to
write a long letter to you, not only to express my respect and
sincere affection, but also to make a full and deliberate state
ment concerning my pecuniary relations to the Board.
From a
great variety of causes it has, however, been unavoidably de
layed till the present time, though two or three ships have sailed
from the Islands for America since my arrival.
I have at times felt great uneasiness least for a want of
such an explanation, which I am persuaded will clear me from
every charge of disingeniousness towards the Committee, I may
have suffered somewhat in the eyes of those, who, above all
men living, I wish to be perfectly free, not only from any
belief, but from every suspicionof conduct, which, even as a
man, much more as a C hristian & Missionary, I should blush to own.
The first thing to be explained, is the non-execution of the
deed for a lot of land in Jersey, valued at $1200— the considera
tion (condition) on which $1000 were advanced to m e .
For reasons which existed in the circumstances of the case,
&
w h i c h are perfectly satisfactory because they arose from an
almost absolute necessity involved in it, I never received the
actual proposition, nor had the direct management of my property,
though of age three or four years before leaving America.
I
never knew the amount of it, because it could not be ascertained
any further than that it fully warranted the necessary expendi
tures attending the best means of education that our country
afforded.
My adopted Mother & guardian, Mrs. Wilson, being the
Executrix of the whole estate belonging to the family, had all
the property under her control.
My income, in cash, was not
sufficient for the last few years to meet the expenses of all
the advantages she wished me to enjoy; and she chose to advance
what was deficient, rather than debar me from them, knowing that
there was a large estate of landed property from which she could
receive remuneration.
When I left America, these advances, with the interest on
them, had amounted to $4000.
This would not have interfered with
the conveyance of the specified lot to the Board (for I had
property in the same state more than sufficient to liquidate the
claim) had it not been for an unforseen (unexpected) embarrassment
of the funds of M r s . Wilson, of which I knew nothing until within
�161.
Page 285.
a month of our departure for the Islands.
Till then I had
fully expected to execute the deed the moment I arrived in Boston.
But with the information, I ascertained that unless the $4000.
could be raised immediately from my landed property, that not
only Mrs. Wilson, but her whole family would probably be involved
in absolute ruin.
The sum could not be raised without in
cluding the lot I designed for the Board, because it was the most
saleable(and for that very reason the part I had fixed on to put into
the possession of the Society) part of my estate.
My obligations
to Mrs. Wilson’s family were so immense, that I could not, in
conscience, nor in heart, thwart a plan the execution of which was
of the least importance to herself and family.
There was no time
to communicate with the Committee, to tain permission to substitute
another security.
I, therefore, under the circumstances, felt it
m y duty to commit that lot to the disposal of my mother, and
determine on making an assignment of all my possessions which
remained after the satisfaction of the claim, to the Board, with
which I delt the Committee would be satisfied; as such an assign
ment would unquestionably more than cover the advance received
from them.
This is all that I hace to say in justification of the
failure of producing the deed.
I could not have done otherwise
without becoming a monster of ingratitude to ton who had qualified
me without reward for becoming in any degree useful to myself &
to my fellow beings.
In the judgment of the world, at least,
it would be chagrin enough for her to see all her fondest hopes from
me blackened by engaging in the Missionary Cause, without adding
to it any direct loss which I could have prevented.
The history of the assignment may be made more concise.
I
ascertained from Mr. Sandford, our family lawyer in New York,
what kind of investment would be necessary to secure the absolute
right to my property to the Society, and then gave him directions
to draw it up.
It was not finished until 9 o'clock the night
before I went to New Haven.
The writing he prepared was that
which I have had handed to the Secretary.
I saw at once that it
was not at all what I had ordered, and what he knew I desired to ex-ecute.
I knew the reason he was in the interest of my family, &
was aware that they would disapprove my intention, & had vigilantly
guarded against the fulfillment of i t .
It was too late to have
it altered in N.Y., and I was compelled to start the next morning
at day break for the Coast.
I could do nothing more than execute
that which was before m e .
I expected to make any alteration you
might dictate at New Haven, but there was not time there, even for
me to make an explanation of the case.
I have not yet heard a syll
lable concerning my property in its present condition, but trust it
will be so arranged that the Committee will not have to regret that
they ever took me & mine under their patronage.
In the course of a few days, at farthest, Mr. Richards & my
self will have an official report of our residence at Lahauia up to
the 5th of December prepared; & will transmit it by the Paragon,
Champion or Octavia, all of which ships sail in the course of a
fortnight.
The journal of the first three months would have been
�162.
Page 28 5 .
sent on the October mail ship, but at that time I was quite
unwell, & felt xxcapable of doing nothing but copying a set
of drawings taken by M r . E llis during his tours on Hawaii, and
which will be forwarded to the Missionary rooms a s soon as the
accompanying documents can be prepared.
Mrs. Stewart & myself
both feel a strong affection for M r . F ay, & would desire to be
particularlyremembered to him— also on my part to Mr. Hubbard,
who has much of my friendship & love, and to Mr. Anderson,
Mrs .W
.
joins me in affectionate salutations to yourself
& Mrs. Evarts.
If you have any recollection of so small a matter as the
ultimate choice you made of a berth on board the Thames for
Dr . Blatc hley, for whom you acted by proxy, whether you put
his name on the curtains of the upper or middle berth, or which
of the two you designed for him, by communicating it to me, you
will confer a favor upon him.
He is under the impression that he is ------ enough to take
posession of the berth you designed for him, because I found it was
better than that I had chosen for xxx myself.
If I mistake not,
the middle berth, with your approbation, was allotted to me, for
the better accommodation of Betsey Stockton.
Yours as ever,
Chas. Sam'l Stewart.
R e v . Chas. S. Stewart,
July 12, 1824.
Acknowledged ,
December 30, 1824.
Ship 12.
(Providence, R. I . )
(
July 12.
)
JEREMIAH EVARTS, Esquire,
Mission Rooms,
Market Street,
BO S T O N , U.S.A.
Per Ship
)
"CHAMPION".)
�9
Previous to Sept.
1824.
V
Page 286.
Ship Thames, Long Island, Nov. 2 0 t h
M y dear sir:I received a letter this morning from the Rev. Mr.
Pond of Ward (Me) the contents of which while they filled me with
surprise, excited also the wishto communicate to you a statement
of facts, which the jurry at New Haven prevented me attending t o .
Mr. Pond writes (Nov. 17th) "I received a letter yesterday
from Josiah Prentiss, Esq. of Charlestown(Charlton, Me.) i n
forming me that a report was current there, and flying every
where that you called for refreshment at Spurr's Tavern, Charlton,
last week, and at your departure purloined the Landlord's whip,
and also took money from the drawer.
He states that there is great
rejoicing in the enemy's camp, and than an article is preparing
for publication on the subject in one of the infidel papers.
Now to y o u . Dear Sir, I feel disposed to submit a simple
statement of facts, in order that it may be in your power to
obviate any difficulties that may possibly arise from this cir
cumstance.
I feel perfectly unmoved by the story, because I feel
no guilt.
I shall then
take no great pains to contradict
the report any further than briefly to answer M r . Pond's letter.
The facts are these:
On our way from Worcester we mistook the
Hartford Road, and turned off to the left towards Oxford.
At the
latter place, night overtook us and we put up.
Early in the
morning we went on our way & stopped to breakfast at Charlton
Our things were all carried into the breakfast room, except the
whip, which b y mistake was in another roo m .
After breakfast
being in a hurry to get along as we were late, and with a burden
on my mind, arising from the affecting scenes from which we had
recently torn ourselves, we got hastily into the chaise. Find
ing that my whip was left behind, I sprang out of the chaise and
ran into the room where we breakfasted, and took a whip which
stood by the table where our things had been; and taking it for
granted it was mind, I never so much as examined it, whether it
was so or n o t .
And it was not until I had proceeded ten or
fifteen miles that I discovered my mistake.
I regretted it
exceedingly, but the Tavern being off the public road I could not
send it back.
I, therefore, concluded that the safest way was to
get it priced and send back the money.
At night we put up at the R e v . Mr. Nash's, Tolland.
About
9 o'clock two m en came in and inquired for me.
One of them, I
soon learned, was the Landlord where I breakfasted, & the other
was a Sher/iff.
We succeeded in allaying their anger, by fully
satisfying them as we supposed that I had no intention to steal
the wh i p .
I settled with them by paying the expense of their
journey, and then keeping them over night, and next morning we
parted apparently on friendly terms.
Here I supposed the matter
would rest.
But it seems the enemy is determined to make a
�164.
Page 286.
nefarious use of it, bu adding to it, what I know nothing about,
the story of pillaging their drawer.
The landlord has the
appearance of a gentleman, and if he is such, he will doubtless
refute every such charge.
But I have done with this irksome
business , & shall trouble m y thoughts no more about it.
Other
and more important concerns claim my attentions.
The Missionaries are all well and in excellent spirits.
They are a lovely assemblage & we anticipate a pleasant voyage.
Pray for us that the God of Missions may go with us.
Mrs. B.
wishes to be remembered.
Yours affectionately,
A. BISHOP.
To
Jeremiah Evarts Esq.,
Cor. Sec 'y A.B.C.F .M.,
B O S T O N , Mass/
�165
Previous to Sept. 1824.
Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.,
Dear Sir:I think it altogether probablethat the
vessel which spoke the Thames at sea brought letters
from the Missionaries for you as well as for those who
received them in this city, and that they have been
forwarded to Boston.
Yet as it is possible there may
be some delay in your receiving the intelligence & as
our paper (the New York Observer) will not come out
till Saturday, I send a copy of the letters in season
for appearing in the Missionary Herald for July.
The
vessel that spoke the Thames left the letters at Sagg
Harbor, long Island, whence they came to this city by
mail.
Respt'y, dear Sir, Your obt . se r v t .
,
RICHARD
C.
MORSE*
from the Rev. Mr. Bishop.
Ship Thames, At Sea, Lat. 23 ° N .
Lon. 20 30' E . , Dec. 20, 1822.
I need not tell you, Madam, the pleasure I felt
at seeing you & your daughter at New Haven, or the
pain when I saw my friends standing on the beach as
the boat pushed off and I could do nothing but waive my
hand in token of a long farewell.
But why should I say
long?
I hope to meet them in a very few days on the
shores of eternity, where we shall all be beautified
with the righteousness of the Redeemer, and glorified
with his likeness.
It is this, and this only, that
bears me up under the reflection that salutations with
my Christian friends on earth arepast.
Were there no
hereafter, no heaven of happiness, to which it is to be
hoped, most of them are looking, my heart would sink
within m e .
But so much of a pilgrim have I become
that the distance of time which separates Eternity
from my view seems very short; and the thought of
meeting my friends there quite familiar.
�166
Page 287.
Muc h of the dread of Death, which I used to feel, is
taken away in the joyful hope of greeting on the peaceful shores of Eternity those whom I leave here on
earth, but from whose society I am precluded till
hereafter.
------- ---- ------Thus far our voyage has been prosperous.
For the
first two weeks the sea was boistrous, but most of
our time since has passed pleasantly.
We are now near
the Cape de Verd Islands, where we may touch, &
leave our letters.
Brother Stewart will give you in
detail the manner in which we apss our time.
I will
only say, that I am as happy as if on land.
Sabbath &
sanctuary privileges are enjoyed by us; and I never
attended a church with more satisfaction than I feel
when sitting on deck & hearing my brethern preach. It
is interesting also, to witness the apparent attention
paid by the sailors to the Word of God
They have
formed themselves into a Bible Class, & recite the
lessons in Rev. W . McDowell's Bible Questions.
What trials are yet before us, we are not anxious
to know.
Doubtless our faith must be proved by
affliction to fit us for our work.
Bur there are no
sufferings or sacrifices which we ought not to endure
for Him, who hath died for us.
With Christian salutations,
ARTEMAS
BISHOP.
�167.
From the Re v . Mr. Stewart
We are now within a short distance of the Cape de Verd
Islands, where we expect to touch, & may have opportunity to
send letters to America.
We had a very rough and boistrous time for the first
fortnight beyond anything the Captain ever experienced before.
It blew a continuous gale, & we had two tremendous storms, the
first, two days after we put to sea, and the last, the following week;
but though we witnessed scenes of terror enough to render solemn
any mind, we were (were) in no particular danger, nor much
alarmed.
Everything has been ordered for us by Providence in
loving kindness & tender mercy.
The ship & accommodations ever surpass our hopes, and the
Captain & officers treat us with all the affection of
a father and brothers.
The utmost unanimity & Love prevails in
the family.
Every arrangement is made to our minds,
& though it is only a month since we embarked, we are
as much at home as if we were on land.
The bell rings for us in the cabin to rise at
day-break.
We have prayers in the Cabin at sunrise.
The first table is served at 8 o'clock for the Captain,
1st Mate & 5 missionaries with their wiv es.
The
second immediately after for the 2d & 3 d mates, one of the
Missionaries & wife, in rotation, the servant girl, the
four natives & the steward.
From 9 to 12 we study— dine
at one— practice sacred music a short time— then stucy till
near night— supper at 6 & have prayers on deck at 1/2 past
7, at the ringing of the bell.
Page 288.
We retire to bed at about 10 .
On Tuesday & Saturday
evening we hear a lecture on the qualifications,duties &
difficulties of the Missionary office from Dr. Bogue's Compend.
On Friday Evening we have a conference, & a delightful one it is.
On Sunday at 10 o'clook A . M. we have prayer meeting in the cabin,
and
service on deck af 4 P. M. ; in the evening we repeat our
cate
c h i s m with the natives, and have a hymn & prayers with par
ticular reference to them.
Besides these exercises, we have
two Bible Classes, one in the steerage, & one in the forecastle,
comprising nearly the whole crew— these are subdivided into four
sections, which we hear separately before public worship.
The thoughts of our distant friends follow us probably with
sighing and sadness & many a gloomy hour, no doubt is spent in ipcturing our sufferings & sorrows. But we, thus far,
with the exception of the storms have know little but peace & joy.
We often think of our friends & feel tenfold the affection for them
we ever did--that affection fills our bosoms with indescribable
emotions— but there is not one regret mingled with them.
Pray for us and the crew— we pray much for you.
�168.
Page 288.
With Christian salutations,
Chs. Sa m . Stewart.
Postscript.
L at. 44° S. Lon. 60° W. Feb. 2, 1823.
All's Well !
�169.
M r . R . C. Morse,
)).____
Rev. A. Bishop,
Rev. C. S. Stewart.
June 25, 1823.
�17 0 .
Page 288.
C. S. Stewart
')
June 25, 1823 . (1823)
�171.
f 9
Previous to S e p t. 1824.
V
Page 289.
Honoruru, Oahu, October 15, 1823.
Rev. A. Bishop.
Nov. 27, 1824.
Respected & Very dear Sir:It is now almost a year since we parted,
perhaps for the last time at New Haven, and though you and
yours have often been remembered in my thoughts and my prayers;
yet nothing of importance has occurred, that seemed to call upon me
to pen a letter to you, until the present time.
And even now, I
have little to say in addition to any interesting facts that will
not be fully detailed in our public journals.
You may perhaps be
surprised to learn that most of our reinforcements, still remain
at Oahu, while there exists such a call for our labours in other
places.
But we have not been altogether idle since we arrived,
tho exempted in some measure from the toils peculiar to a Missionare life.
Could we have had the desires of our hearts, we
should have removed to our several stations long since.
But the
superior advantages that are here enjoyed in the acquisition of
the language with the aid of our elder Brethern, and a desire to
learn our families in a place of security during our absence on
Hawaii, rendered a removal inex pedient until the present time.
We a
are now all prepared to embrace the first conveyance that sha ll
offer, to depart to our several ports, and begin that work, so
long desired, and towards which we have looked with anxiety.
My
destination is at Kairua, along with Mr. Thurston.
I feel myself
peculiarly favored in being seated beside one who is so capable of
taking the superintendance of a station, & of affording me so
many helps in the acquisition of the language.
Bur as it is
thought expedient that I should previously make a visit to Tauai
for a few months, an exchange with M r . Ely has been agreed on.
By this arrangement, it is probable that I shall not be permanently
settled, under a year from the time of our arrival.
With regard to our late visit to & tour around the Island of
Hawaii, I have little to say in addition to what will be included in
our Report & Joint Journal.
To me it was a season of much benefit,
as a preparation to future usefulness, b y affording an opportunity
of obtaining information concerning the manners, customs and
character of this people, and becoming acquainted with the situa
tion of & best way of access to the most important fields of
Missionary labour on the Island.
There are some facts concerning the volcanic appearance of the
Island of Hawaii, that I do not recollect to have ever seen m e n
tioned in any publication.
A particular detail of this appearance
will be given in our notes of the tour that are to be attanched to
the Journal.
For this reason I will be brief.
Hawaii may be
literally called an Island of Volcanoes.
Perhaps there is no part o
of the world, not even Iceland excepted, where the marks of
Volcanic fires are so numerous & abundant, as on this Island.
Not
only are all the mountains full of craters (x ), but the plains also
are broken up in many places, by bursting out of subterranean fires
�172.
Page 289.
At least three fourths of the whole appears to have been at
different times overrun with lava. Teis is now lying in many
places to a great depth;(the shores are formed entirely of lava,)
Along the whole of the Western, S.Western & Eastern parts the
shores are formed entirely of lava, that have porred (poured) their
desolations down the sides of the mountains into the ooean, and
formed a perpendicular steep of rooks from 50 to 200 feet above its
level.
We could never have conceived of such immense quantities
of lava ever finding its way for so many miles from the place of
its eruption, had we not witnessed by actual observation the paths
it has made. In many palces this lava is so ancient as to be covered
with a deep soil, that produces in abundance all the various k inds of
vegetation that grows on the Island.
This is more particularly
observable on the sides of the mountains, where the daily showers
and the other operations of nature in developing the surface and
producing a vegetable mould.
But in all these plains where such
quantities of lava are found, there are no springs of fresh water,
or streams.
All the rains that fall descend immediately into
the earth to rise no more.
A sufficient quantity, however, for
the use of the inhabitants is caught in cases & hollows of rocks,
and from thence is carried in calabashes on men's shoulders to the
distance of several miles.
There is another // remarkable appearance which is not
peculiar to Hawaii, but belongs more or less to all the other
Islands: that is, the volcanic appearance of all the rocks and
stones.
They are all of a porous nature and of a dark colour, as
if they had been over fused.
This appearance was observed
along the high & bold shores of Hido & Hamakua, on the N .E. part
of the island, and where the past eruptions of lava had been
made.
From these circumstance , it has been conjectured that
all the Sandwich Islands, have been subjected to terrible
volcanoes & earthquakes.
Perhaps they are only the remains
of a great continent, that is now no mo r e .
But these are conjectures only. In our report mention was made of Kamakau, a Chief
of Kearake'hua,— As these is something in the character of this
man, that is peculiarly interesting, I feel desirous of giving you
a more particular account of him.
N ow after our arrival at Kaisua, we were informed that there
resided at K. a Chief who was in the practice of assembling his
people together every Sabbath Day, for the purpose of praying with
and exhorting his people to love Jehovah.
I felt desirous of
making him a visit, in company with Hopu, hoping that God would
bless his word to the comfort & edification of this man, who from
the report seemed to be another Corneling.
Early in the morning of Sabbath, June 29th, we set out, being
furnished with a canoe by the Gov. & men for this purpose.
The
distance is about 15 miles.
We arrived at 11 o'clock, and were
welcomed by Kamakau with many expressions of joy & gratitude.
After taking some refreshments, we repaired to his "Ranai", a
shed built for the purpose of holding religious worship.
�173.
Page 289.
We found about 100 persons of his own people assembled to hear
the word.
Our text was: "God so loved the world, that he gave
His only begotten Son, & c ."— (torn page)
I endeavored to show (show) in the most familiar w a y — the
sinful & lost conditionof men— the love of God to the world in
sending his son to dwell in the flesh and die for them— and
that they, and they only, who forsake their sins, and believe on
Him can have eternal life.
When I came to the latter part of
the discourse, the good man interrupted us & began / a harrangue
telling them to listen for their salvation depended upon attend
ing to thes e truths.
After service, he began again & spoke
about 10 minutes— with great earnestness and energy, while the
tear stood in his eyes.
The substance of what he said was "That
they had formerly cared for nothing but to eat, and drink and
sleep, and knew nothing about the great Salvation— That he had often
told them these same things, but they believed it n o t — and now they
had heard them confirmed by the Minister himself" .
Hen then
told us that after we were gone
he would assemble his people again,
and expect them (repeat to them) all that had been said by u s .He
asked many questions concerning the way of salvation, & the nature
of the heavenly rest— and appeared deeply interested in the answers
that were given.
Especially the idea, that Heaven is a holy place,
and that nothing sinful or unclean ever enters there, affected him
much.
As I walked down in front of his house, upon the beach,
I saw his idol, which he formerly worshipped, lying prostrate and
mutilated upon the rocks, and washed by the waves of the sea, as they
rolled to the shore.
It was a huge block of wood, rudely carved
into a hideous monster, and well calculated to infuse terror into
superstitious minds.
I asked him what he thought, when he worshipped
that block of wood?
He answered that "he worshipped it because he fe
feared he would destroy his cocoanutai". "But was you not afraid to
destroy it?”
"No, he never did me any good or hurt, and so I knew
he was no God, and flung him away/"
He was afterwards visited by Mr.
Thurston and Mr. Ellis, and appears to continue firm in his resolu
tion to serve the Lord.
He is very anxious to have missionaries
visit him, and has often expressed a desire to have them come and
settle at that place.
We hope we shall write more of him hereafterMrs. B. desires to be affectionately remembered to yourself
& family, to Mr. & M r s . Hill, and M r . Anderson.
She is just re
covering from a short but severe illness.
God has been generous
to me in again raising her to health, and I hope to future usefulness.
But he has sent His messenger of death, and taken to himself our
little daughter.
It was a lovely babe, but it never opened its
eyes upon the world.
The consolation we feel in this bereavment, arises from the belief that it is removed from a world of
trial, a vale of tears, to the abode of perfect bliss & glory.
In
this dispensation he has taught us to feel that whatever of bliss we
may enjoy on earth, is to be derived from Him at its source, &
given Mrs. B. is resigned and cheerful.
Pray often for us that we
may be found faithful in the day when all hearts shall be laid open,
and every man judged according to his works.
�174.
Page 289.
The Accounts of the Revival in Boston that reached us by the
Paragon gave u s much satisfaction, and joy.
May it not cease
till everything that opposeth shall be brought in subjugation to the
willing obedience of Christ.
This is a private letter and
dictated solely by the feelings of respect & Christian friendship.
With sentiments of high esteem, & cordial salutations to yourself
& family,— I remain, Dear Sir,-&c.,
Artemas
Bishop.
To
(Jeremiah Evarts. Esquire ).
Rev. Artemas Bishop,
April 27, 1824.
JEREMIAH EVARTS, Esquire.
Cor. Sec ’y of the A. B. C. F. M .,
B O S T O N
,
U.S. of America.
(Red S e a l )
�175.
9
Previous to Sept. 1824.
V
Page 290
Wai’mea,TAUWAI, January 7, 1824.
V ery dear Sir:-
(two inches)
By the Ship Paragon, Capt. Cole, now lying in the
roads, I hasten to inclose a letter to A. G. Poindexter, of whose
place of residence I am ignorant.
Should you not know his
address, he so kind as to direct it to the care of his mother,
Mrs. Williams of Brimfield.
The health of myself and Mrs. B. & that of the Mission
generally is continued, and we are enabled to pursue our work
with uninterrupted attention..
(This delightful climate is
peculiarly favorable to our health especially during the
winter months, tho we need some cold weather to brace the nerves
and invigorate the frame.
At this season of the year (mid
winter )the atmosphere bears the temperament of the early part
of September in New England, the days are pleasant and the
evenings moderately cool.
You will learn from the others, the particulars of our
encouraging prospects of usefulness. )
Perhaps at no time
since this Mission was commenced, were our hopes so raised as
at the present.
Our beloved predecessors have so far acquired
a knowledge of the languages as to convey distinctly & intelli
gently the glorious // truths of the Gospel to this ignorant,
degrafted & debauched people.
(The native is beginning to feel
the salutary influence and its rules are in a measure becoming
our patrons.
Churches are erecting in different places, and
pressing requests are made to us for labourer/which we are not
able to afford. )
One interesting instance of this kind I cannot forbear
mentioning.
Kapiolani, a Chief-woman of distinction, who
has for some time past resided at Oahu, and had become deeply
interested in behalf of the Missionaries, has lately removed
to her former residence at Kearakekua, or Hawaii.
She applied
for a Missionary to accompany her, and settle there, offering to
build him a house, & erect a church for the worship of Jehovah.
Mr. Ely, to whom she had taken a fancy, was mentioned.
But it
seemed that neither he or any other person could be spared, and
she departed in great disappointment.
At the dedication of the
new church at Kai/rua, a few weeks since, Kapiolani was present
and after the serv ices were over she said to M r . Thurston & M r .
Whitney, (who were present on a visit), in the most feeling
manner, "I have applied for a teacher and been refused, but I am
resolved to have a church built immediately, tho no preacher shall
be sent m e ." On Our M r . W.'s return to Oahu he related the inter
view to the Brethern, & Mr. E
l
y
offered to remove thither insteadof Tannai, as he previously arranged.
�176.
Page 290.
It appeared so desirable that the important field at
Kearakekua should be immediately occupied, that the Mission
consented.
M r . Ely is to live a Kaima, and in conjunction
with us, afford our continual aid to Kearakekua.
I shall probably spend a considerable part of the present
winter at the place, to aid Mr. Whitney in the duties of this
station, before I enter into more abundant labors of the extensive
field assigned me on Hawaii.
I trust and pray that Mr. W . may
not long be left alone, and it is the intention of the Mission
to lend him what aid can be spared from other stations, until more
laborers arrive from America.
The call is now for Ministers of
the Gospel, little encouragement if any, is given for Mechanics, es
pecially as there are so many foreigners seeking employment in the
different trades.
(One inch)
(Aided by the vocabularies and assistance of the Brethern, I
have been enabled to commence preaching to this people, in their
own language, and on the last Sabbath I delivered my sixth sermon
tho' it is with a stammering tongue that I speak. )
B ut my principal attention at present is turned to the super
intendence of a school, which together with the study of the lan
guage comprises (Occupies) my whole time.
At the close of my
visit at this place, I purpose to forward a short Journal to the
Committee.
That every blessing may attend you & yours, is, Dear Sir,
the prayer of your unworthy servant & fellow laborer
in the Lord's Vineyard,
Artemas Bishop.
Jerh. Evarts, Esquire,—
(x )
He arrived April 27th, eight months before.
�Jeremiah Evarts, Esquire,
Missionary Room s,
Boston,
U.S
of America.
Ship PARAGON,
Via
Canton.
(Wax Seal)
��9
Previous to Sept. 1824.
WAIMEA,
V
Page 291.
Jan'y 14th, 1824 —
Very dear Brother,—
I have only time to write a few words by the
Champion, which anchored to-day in the roads, and is to sail
this evening.
I had intended to have written more at full,
b ut the time forbids.
By the Paragon, Capt. Cole, w h . left
about a week since, we forwarded several letters to our American
Friends & had intended to have done the same by the Champion,
until we learned her hasty departure.
(We are still going
on prosperously in our work, "having obtained help of the L o r d .")
On the last Sabbath our congregation was enlarged to a great
(much greater) number than ever attended before, in consequence
of the observance of the day being enjoined by the King.
We
expect likewise that it will continue to increase for several
sucessive Sabbaths, and we find that the more they attend, the
more willing they are to continue the practice.
It is a
matter of gratitude to the Great Head of the Church--that we have
not first to labor in pulling down the temples of Superstition,
e're we can find materials to build up the temple of the Living
God.
In this respect we are privileged above our Brethern in
the Indies.
Here the work of destruction is prepared by the
Lord to our hands, and we have only to go forth and collect together
the scattered fragments, and mould & shape them into a new edifice,
on which it is our desire to inscribe "holiness to the Lord". But
tho we are thus favored, in another respect we labor t o a disadvantage.
The people here are entirely rude, with(out) any know
ledge of the arts, or sciences, without any standard of morals, with
out any mental culture, and without any conscience of right or wrong,
as their conduct is regarded by the Supreme Being.
Tell them that
such an art is sinful, and they will assent to it readily, but will
not seem in the least to know what is meant by a sin against God.
In fact the common people neither have (n)or desire to have any
opinion or will independent of their Chief's to whom they pay the
most implicit deference, and consider as incapable of a wrong action.
It is for this reason that we pay a particular attention to the
instruction of the Chiefs, that through them we may obtain access to
the people.
And if this course were not pursued, our labor would
be in vain, in attempting to arrest the attention of the common
people.
We shall expect an appeal to be made to the Christian public in
behalf of some additional helpers, as soon as the means can be pro
vided.
Ministers of the Gospel only are needed, reputable as to
their qualifications, devoted to their piety, and willing to go & I
labour any where-ever the voice of the Mission shall declare. I
would advise them, even were it in my power, to make no determination
�179*
Page 291
in their own minds of a particular station, till after they
shall arrive and learn the situation of things— no, not even
to select their companions in labour.
But by all means I
would advise them to come out married.
A Missionary ought not
to live here without a wife.
N or need ladies be fearful of
coming. They will find a healthful climate, many comforts, and
little hard labor, as the heaviest is done by natives, wh o desire
little other remuneration than their food.
A lady here need
never be at a loss for business.
Besides contributing to the
comfort respectability & usefulness of her husband, and super
intending her family concerns, she will find ample employment
in instructing the natives, especially the females, in reading,
writing and sewing.
To the influence of the female mission
aries, we are to look for example to the native females, who
tho not naturally inferior to the men, are far more degraded
b y vice of every sort.
It is painful to say— but it is liter
ally true, that a virtuous native female is scarcely to be found,
in these Islands.
To raise this degraded class of immortal
beings to respectability and usefulness is the part of our female
Missionaries.
Did time permit, I would say much more on this subject.
I
feel deeply interested in those who are to be our companions in
labour.
They must be prepared for self-denial, especially the
greatest of all self-denials, a willingness to submit their
opinions in every instance where they shall b???alled to do it,
to the voice of the Mission.
They shall be received with open
arms and welcomed to participate in our fellowship, and to share
in our toils, and if they profess the right spirit. God will give
them grace to be fount faithful and not to look back with regret
to the comforts & refreshments of civilization & Christianity which
they shall have left.
Please to write me as often as you have leisure.
With my own & the salutations of M r s . B . I subscribe myself
Your affec't. B r . in the Lord Jesus Christ,
A. BISHOP.
Mr. Rufus Anderson.
P.S. - My sincere regards to Mr Hill— I purpose to write him
soon--- I would take this occasion to recommend to your kind
attention and regard Mr. Shaw, who returns b y the Champion. As is
a member of De. Baldwin's Church, and has been to us a friend &
Brother, from whom we part with sincere regret. He was mate of the
Octavia under Capt. Blanchard, but was dismissed as near as we can
learn, on account of his religion.
A. B.
�Page 2 91.
Rev. Artemas Bishop.
July 12, 1824.
An c 'd October 21, 1824.
SH I P
12.
Mr. Rufus Anderson,
Missionary Rooms,
Boston, Massachusetts,
U.S. of America.
(Providence )
(R. I.
)
( JULY
)
(
12
)
(
1824
)
(Wax Seal)
�a
181
9
Previous to Sept. 1824.
V
page 292.
Long Island Sound, Nov. 20th, 1822.
My dear Sir:I have only time to make a hasty sketch of the
tools necessary for pump & block making.
Block makers chisels
of various kinds from 1/2 an inch up to 4 inches, & younger
g ouger form of broad axe, turning gouger & chirck, augur &
gimlets, gougers from 1/2 an inch up to 2-1/2 inches, cross-out
lignum vitae & hand saws, hatchet and broad axe, a chuck and set
of pump maker b i t s .
There for chip bucking, board adz, a long
and short jointer, & fore plain cross cut, & whip, some of it saws,
mawls (mauls) in short almost any tools that will be useful.
In great haste,
Yours, & c .,
JOSEPH
GOODRICH.
�181b
292.
M r . Joseph Goodrich,
N o v . 25, 1822.
Mr. Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.,
Corresponding Secretary, A.B.C.F.M.,
New Haven,
Connecticut.
(Wax S e a l )
�9
Previous to Sept. 1824.
V
Page 293.
Ship Thames, Nov. 20, 1822.
My Dear Sir:I had so had a headache last night that I did not go
on board, hut slept in the Packet which had the remaining part of
our baggage on board.
At five the Packet got under way, and in about
two hours we were along side the ship.
All our baggage is on board,
and I do
hear any complaint of any articles missing.
The trunk
belonging to Mr. Bishop, which was not recognized as being sent down
is found on board.
It was found this morning that the boys had
no matrasses, but b y the kindness of M r . Cross, two were obtained o
for them from the Packet.
These the Board will have to replace.
All the members of the Mission family are in good health and
excellent spiritsThe vessel will soon be under way, and will be
accompanied a short distance by the Packet, which brought off our
baggage.
And now permit me to express, my dear Sir, my thanks
to you for your numberless kind attentions to me.
I shall ever
cherish a most pleasing recollection of the season which I passed
at the Missionary RoomsMy intercourse with yourself & the other
honored members of the Prudential Committee has been greatly ser
viceable to me in an intellectual point of view.
As an unworthy
fellow laborer in a less important and less responsible Station, I
should be animated by a recollection of the zeal, fidelity and
devotedness of my much respected superiors.
I regret that it was not in my power to call upon Mr. Hubbard
before I left Boston.
Be kind enough to say to him that I shall
ever retain the most pleasing recollection of my acquaintance with
him— that feel myself under obligations to him for his various
offices of kindness & personal attention.
Remember me kindlyto
M r . Fay, to Mr. Hill, to M r . Anderson.
My respects to Mrs. Evarts
and remembrance to your children.
I am, Sir, very respectfully & affectionately your ob t . servant,
LEVI CHAMBERLAIN.
Jerh Evarts, Esq.
�Levi Chamberlain,
Nov. 20, 1822.
JEREMIAH
EVARTS, Esq.,
New
Haven,
Connecticut.
By Mr. Cross.
( Seal
( Blue
( Wax
�183.
9
Previous to Sept. 1824.
V
Page 294.
Ship Thames, Long Island Sound,
Nov. 20th, 1822.
My Dear Mr. Anderson,—
Yesterday afternoon the long expected em
barkation took place, in the presence of a very large number
of people, who had assembled to be spectators of a scene to them
entirely new, and to all to all the friends of Missions, in a
high degree interesting.
I have bid adieu, if not finally, yet for a long time to the
friends whom I love, the privileges of social religious intercourse
which I prize,-- and in a short time, if Providence should favor
us with a breeze, I shall leave out of sight the shores of that
land which gave me birth.
Ido not regret that I relinquished mercantile pursuits to be
engaged in the cause of Missions, nor do I as yet repent of any
one sacrifice, nor would I wish a single event, which has ever
taken place in the chain that has brought me to this place under
m y present circumstances, to be altered— nor do I as yet repent
of any one sacrifice that I have ever made for the Redeemer--I am, indeed deficient in capacity for a discharge, satisfactory
to myself, of the duties which will devolve upon m e .
Having been more than a year at the Missionary Rooms, it
will be expected b y my brethern that I posess, and that I bring
into exercise, not a little knowledge of Missionary operations.
But I did not improve under my advantages, the year that I had
the privilege of being employed at the Rooms, as I now wish I had.
I am not at all satisfied with my attainments, in knowledge &
experience of those things which are important for a Missionary.-I need more compassion for the heathen m ore zeal and faithfulness,
more perseverance & intrepidity.
I need what I can conceive might
be termed Christian heroism.— I hope you will pray for me, and for
all the members of the Missions family, that we may persevere in
the good cause in which we have embarked,— that none of us be
suffered to apostalize, and thus dishonor God, and bring reproach
on the Missionary cause.
Should any of us fall away, your heart
would be pained, as would also the heart of the dear man, with whom
you are assiciated, and of the other members of the Providential
Committee.—
It is growing late, and as the Pilot may be put on shore before
morning, I hasten to a close.
A ccept my thanks for your very
affectionate letter, handed to me just before parting.
I shall delight to retain in my recollection that period in
which I had the privilege of being associated with you in important
labours.
I feel myself under obligations for all your kind atten
tions to me personally, you will accept my thanks, andbe assured
�184.
Page 294.
that my prayers, if they can be of any avail, will ascend to the
Throne of the Redeemer, that the light of His countenance may
ever be upon your soul, and that you may be as useful as your
largest desire can crave.
I remain, very affectionately
Your brother in the bonds of
the Gospel,
LEVI
Mr. Rufus Anderson
CHAMBERLAIN.
�Levi Chamberlain,
Nov. 23, 1822.
12
Mr. Rufus Anderson,
Missionary Rooms,
Boston,
Ms.
Care of Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.,
New Haven, Ct.,
(By the politeness of Capt. Trowbridge.
(New Haven)
( Conn,
)
(November )
(
25
)
( 1822.
)
Opened by J.E
�186.
Page 295.
9
Previous to Sept. 1824.
V
Ship Thames, At Sea, Fe b ’y 2, 1823.
Dear Sir:At day break on Thursday morning, the 21st of November, 1822,
we had passed Montauk Point, and at half-past 8 we were departing. from
Block Island, bearing North. West. about 20 miles distant.
Having now
got out of smooth water, and being unac/ustomed to the sea, the motion
of the vessel produced sea-sickness on the greatest part of our number;
but with respect to most of us, its continuance was short.
Two days
after losing sight of land, we encountered a gale from the south-west
accompanied by squalls and rain with a very heavy sea.
On Thursday
of the next week we experienced another gale, from the north-east
which lasted till Friday afternoon.
During both of these gales the
Captain judged it prudent to lay the vessel to till the fury of the
storm was abated.—
On Thursday, December the 5th. We fell in with the ship Winslow,
Captain Clark, 13 days from New Bedford, bound to the Pacific ocean
on a whaling voyage.
Two days after speaking her, the wind being
light and the sea smooth, our Captain hoisted a signal to invite
Captain Clark on boa r d .
He accepted the invitation, and passed the
afternoon on board, the two ships in the mean time keeping on their
way, together*
At our instance Capt. Clark was invited, in case the weather
on the Sabbath would allow of it, to come on board and attend reli
gious services (worship).
This he very cheerfully consented to
do, and he also gave permission, upon our asking leave, for some
of our members (number) to go the next day to conduct religious
worship on board his ship.
Accordingly the next day weather being
remarkably favorable, Capt. Clark- Capt. Crosby, Mr. Stewart and
myself went on board the Winslow.
Mr. Stewart made an address to the ship's company, who were
collected together on the quarter deck, for the purpose.
They gave
respectful attention, and at the close of the exercises a number of
religious tracts were distributed among them.
On our return to the
Thames, Capt. Clark accompanied us, and tarried on board till after
tea, and was present at our religious worship.
He appeared highly
pleased, and politely offered his services, promising to write re s
pecting us to his owners, to be reported by them for the informa
tion of our friends, if an opportunity should present itself of
sending to America.
The meet/ ing together with the friendly in
tercourse between the two captains, and the opportunity thereby
furnished of extending religious instructions to the crew of a
ship and performing Missionary larbo on the wide ocean, has been to \
us a peculiarly gratifying circumstance; and it is rendered
�187.
Page 295.
especially interesting from the fact that Captain Clark had been
applied to previously to the contract with the owners of the
Thames, to carry out this Missionary family.
I hope the impression
on the mind of the captain and ship's company will be salutary, and
that religion and the cause of the Missions will be advanced by
this interview.
At the time this took place it was the Confident
expectation of all on board of the Thames, that we should touch at
one of the Cape Verd Islands, and thus be favored with an oppor
tunity of sending letters to the United States*
But when we had
got into the latitude of those islands, the weather was unfavorable
to our running down for them, and the wind very favorable for us to
proceed; therefore, it was thought best for us not to change our
course.
The foregoing I had prepared to be in readiness to send by
some ship or vessel which we might change to meet on our passage.
I intended to be more particular in stating particulars respecting
the passengers & stores, but as the conveyance of this is somewhat
uncertain, being by an English whaler, I briefly state that the
Mission family are all in health & spirits, and that they have all
enjoyed health with slight exceptions since the time of our e m
barkation, which is 72 days/
We were last evening in 47 fathoms
water on the Brazil Banks, in latitude 43 ° 4 ’? and longitude 58° 4 0 '
W.
Our provisions are good and abundant. Though the crowded
state of the vessel & the manner/ of their being stowed away has
prevented me from inspecting all the things put on board, & in fact
of finding everything contained on the memorandum of stores which
you put in my hands just before our sailing.—
Hitherto the Prov
idence of God has smiled upon u s .
Since we took the N .E. trade we
have had very little adverse weather, with the exception of a hard
gale attended with squalls and rain, off the mouth of the river La
Plate.
I hope the supplies of clothing & c . which were unavoidably left
at New Haven for want of room on the Thames have been shipped , or
will be before you receive this letter
With affectionate remembrance to M r . Hill, Mr. Anderson & the
Prudential Committee,
I am, in haste, very respectfully
Your obdt. servant,
LEVI
Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.,
B O S T O N .
CHAMBERLAIN.
�188.
Page 295.
P.S.
Is the Captain is not quite ready to send on board the
vessel which / is expected to take charge of this, I would add that
we have been treated with much kindness by the Captain, & with
respectful attention by all on board, since our embarkation.
We observe religious worship, in a public manner on the Sabbath, for
the benefit of the seamen.
We have also adopted a system of Bible
instruction for their spiritual benefit, and it has not been pursued
altogether without hope of success.
M r . Levi Chamberlain,
June 21, 1823.
S H I P
20-1/2
SAGHARNE
Jun
16
Jeremiah Everts, Esq.,
Cor. S e c ’y of the A. B. C . F . M . ,
Missionary Rooms,
Boston,
U.S. of America.
(Wax Seal )
I hope that with future supplies for the S. I. M. large supplies of
tracts will be sent out, as they promise to do much good by being
distributed to the crews of whalers & other vessels that frequently
visit the Islands.
The Bethel F lag presented by Mr. Jenks was,
I suspect, left at New Haven, with the articles which could not be
sent.
L. C.
�189
9
Previous to Sept. 1824.
V
Oahu,
Jereh
Page 296.
?
June 10th, 182 3 .
16 ?
Evarts, Esqr.
Boston, Ms.
Dear Sir, -
An opportunity of sending a letter
to America having this morning presented itself by the appearance
of a whaling ship bound home, off the harbour, I improve it to write
a hasty communication.
On the 28th ult. the Missionaries sent a large packet
of letters by the Arab to Canton.
But as the Arab is to proceed
no further than Canton, the letters may possibly wait a short time
there before an opportunity will present of their being forwarded
to America, & consequently may not arrive so soon asthis letter.
I will,therefore, not be amiss
just to advert to a few particulars
in those communications.
The joint letters of the reinforcement states
fully the kind dealings of the Lord with us while navigating the wide &
trackless waters of the Atlantic & Pacific , and the safety with which we
were conducted over the tempestuous region of Cape Horn.
While in the Gulf Stream we encountered a severe gale which
raged with violence about 1 2 hours, throwing the sea into dreadful
commotion, & rolling & tossing the ship in a manner very distressing
to the passengers.
Nothing of special interest occurred except falling
in, on December the 5th, with a whaling ship from New Bedford, 13 days
out, & remaining in company with her x till the Sabbath, & the con
ducting of religious worship on board, until the 24th day of Jan'y, when,
arriving off the mouth of the Rio de la Plata, we experienced a tre
mendous gale.
Onthe 8th day of Feb'y we passed in safety the rugged
rooks of Staten Land, and in the evening beganto experience the tempests
for which the region of Cape Horn is famous.
On the 2nd of March we
arrived off the western end of Terra del Fuego in the latitude of the
S t s of Magellan, & in long. 83° 17' W .; and in 52 days more the much
desired view of Hawaii burst upon our sight, calling forth our songs &
thanksgiving to Him who had conducted us in safety through so many
dangers.
ON Sabbath morning, April 28th, after having been under sail
158 days, the Thames was brought to anchor in the roads off Honoruru,and
several of the brothers went ashore, and had a joyful interview with the
Missionaries & a very pleasing one with the natives.
Since our arrival here nothing has transpired to damp our
spirits,or discourage us in prosecuting the work to which we have
devoted ourselves, & for which we separated from ourdear friends &
native land.
We could not have anticipated nor even desired a more
welcome rece/ption on the heathen shores than we have received
The
King appears to be the firm friend of the Missionaries, and the Chiefs
say they are glad that we are come — they promise to protect us, & give
�190.
Page296.
us strong proof of their friendship for us, and good will towards our
object.
We have had a number of interesting meetings relative to the
union of the re-enforcement with the elder branch of the Mission, & on
business relative to new plans of usefulness, strengthening old stations
& occupying new ones.
It was resolved to occupy as soon as practicable Lahaina or
Maui, and in pursuance of that -resolution Messrs. Richards & Stewart
embarked for Maui in the Haaheo on the 28th u l t . in company with
Makuahanaukama, the king's mother, & other chiefs & personages, attended
by Wm. Kamahoula (Kummooolah) as an interpreter.
The brethern have
obtained a very comfortable settlement, & r e c e i v e d many proofs of the
friendly disposition of the natives.
It was also resolved to e x p l o r e Hawaii before the location of
the station or stations to be occupied on that island, should be de
termined upon.
The members of the deputation are now waiting here for a
conveyance. —
—
—
Many things respecting the prosperity of this Mission have
been communicated in previous letters of the Missionaries, which may
be construed by some to imply the utter ruin (ruin) of Satan's Kingdom
in this Island— the wide spreading conquest of the Gospel & the triumph
of the Redeeming cause.
It is true the servants of God have taken the
field and erected the banner of the Prince of Righteousness, but the
hearts of these servants of satan have not been won to the love of
righteousness.
Little can be said confidentlyof the conversion of a
single individual amont all this people, though much may be said of the
attention of some to the means of Grace.
This field needs the dews of
Divine Grace; and until the influences of the Spirit are granted, though
advances to a certain degree may be made towards civilization, no
harvest of souls will be gathered into eternal life.
It is to be hoped
that the prayers of Christians for the Divine Influence upon this Mission
as well as their alms for its support may constantly come up as a me m
orial before God.
When I shall have more leisure for writing I intend to make
a statement of the pecuniary concerns of the Mission— its m eans means
of support— facilities for obtaining it from the natives & from vessels
that may touch at these islands either by purchase or donations,-and the best means of receiving support through the Board.
I subjoin a list of articles of which the Mission now, or very
soon will stand in need, & which will be for its relief to receive from
the Board as soon as practicable.
I am, dear Sir, very respectfully.
Your obedient Servant,
L EVI
CHAMBERLAIN.
�191.
Potash (for soap) 2 bbls. if expedient. (Soap here costs 50¢ per
lb.)
Lead pencils of a good quality, also quills; Gould’s penmanship,
if it can be obtained, for myself, which you will charge to me.
Slates
have been previously written for, but the demand for them is so great
that I venture to mention them again.
If we had a thousand they would
very soon be taken up.
Flat irons for the use of the families & for
trade —
several dozen would not be amiss.
Bedsteads, six; chairs, two dozen.
5 stoves like the one sent
by the H o uqua, James Patent N o. 3, with shovels & Tongs.
The stoves
occasion a great saving of wood, which is a very expensive article. One
will be needed at each station.
It will be well to send out a double
set of copper boilers, as the tin burn out very soon, and one set of the
copper will last as long as 4 sets of tin ones.
An assortment of tin
ware , souch as tin tumblers, say 5 dozen, baso ns, /
pans, pails, nurse
lamps, common lamps for use & trade with the natives, dippers, 6 large
water pots, coffee pots, skimmers, ladles, &c.
Tea pots, block tin
would probably be cheaper than tin or pewter.
A hand cart & Wheel barrow would be a very great convenience at most
of the stations, & a great saving of expense, since everything which x
we wish to transport from one place to another must be done by hand or
on the backs of the natives.
The two carts at Honoruru have probably
saved to the Mission more than a hundred dollars expenses.
If timber
could be procured for several axeltrees to a lan (x) cart it will be a
great convenience, as no suitable piece of wood can easily be procured,
at these islands.
It is very evident that stoves without boilers
are ov very little u s e .
The stove set up here will need a full set
before they can be sent out.
It is desirable that two sets like these
that accompany the
other stoves should
be forwarded by the
earliest opportunity
(Seal)
The Paragon has
not arrived, but
we are daily look
ing for her.
P.S. — Mr. Ellis the Missionary supported bythe
London Missionary Society & laboring in concert with the
brethern of this Mission, requests me to write for him
for two barrels of cider for the use of his f a m i l y
A kind similar
to that which was obtained at New Haven for the reenforcement would
suit, and no other would stand a voyage to these islands
You per
haps recollect of whom it was obtained; if not, Mr. Dunning who pro
cured it will remember, & should you write to him, would doubtless
very cheerfully procure a couple of barrels.
Mr. E llis will pay
the Missionaries here for whatever it may cost the Board, including
the liquor and the expense of procuring it, & sending it o n .
As the
vessel expected to take this communication is detained one day longer
than was at first apprehended, an opportunity i
s
a
f
o
r
d
e
f
s
n
d
i
g
duplicates of some of the communications sent
by way of Canton.
�192.
9
Previous to Sept. 1 8 2 4 .
V
Page 297.
Honoruru, Oahu, Sept. 1st, 1823.
Mr. Levi Chamberlain.
Respected & Very Dear Sir:Since thearrival of the re-enforcement frequent
opportunities have been afforded of transmitting letters to America,
every one of which I have improved by writing letters to the Mission
ary Rooms.
As the present conveyance is direct, & many of the others
were circuitous, this communication may possibly reach Boston before s
some of the letters forwarded at an earlier period.— therefore, I will
just state, that letters were forwarded by the way of Canton on the
28th of May—
These were the most important of any that have since been trans
mitted.
By this conveyance the public Journal of the Mission-& the
official letters of the re-enforcement were s e n t —
On the 17th of
June other communications & duplicates of letters previously sent,
by the Dawn, Capt. Gardiner returning to America by the way of Cape
Horn.— on the 9th of August by the way of Calcutta, to the care of
Edw. A . N ewton, E s q . — and on the 16th of August by Capt. Cooper
bound to the Coast of California.
Mr. Bingham has written by all
the above conveyances except the last.
Previous communications state the arrival of the Paragon in
6 months from Boston.— The articles which were shipped in her for
the Mission corresponded with the bill of lading & were landed in
good order.
On the 5th of August M r . Bingham sailed for Lahaina with
a view of rendering assistance to the brethern of that station;
Messrs. Richards & Stewart. The reason of their needing special
assistance has been stated by M r . Bingham in a letter from L ahaina.
Wm. Kamohoula, still keeps aloof from the Missionaries, and furnished
painful evidence of having fallen very low.
N o weapon formed against
this Mission has yet been allowed to prosper, & I trust never will,
the evil which he thought of doing, has returned upon his own head.-He has lost much of the influence which he would have had, if he
had continued faithful.
The king and many of the principal chiefs
are now at Maui, a favorable circumstance on account of M r . B.'s
being there, an opportunity thus being afforded him of preaching to
them the Gospel of Salvation, & of making known more fully and
extensively the objects of the brethern. (two inches)
Mr. B. ’s
return is daily expected— and his presence is now
needed at this station— there being no one here competent to preach
to the people. Aona the Tahitian convert conducted until recently
the native service, but he left here about a fortnight ago to attend
Kaahumanu & Taumuarii on their visit to M a u i .
Though Stephen
Pupuhi has been the only one to conduct religious worship for the
natives, there yet has been no falling off of numbers— the house being
usually full, or nearly s o .
It is pretty certain that the attendance
of the common people on Divine Service has not been owing to the
attendance of the chiefs.
When the principal chiefs were recently
absent the house of worship was not deserted, but on the contrary it
was full with the common people, who would hardly have ventured to
enter, had the chiefs been present, especially,
if the chiefs had
�193.
Page 297.
had taken their seats at the entrance of the house for the benefit
of the wind, as they usually do.
About a fortnight ago M r . & Mrs. Ruggles & their
dren arrived from Tauwai— They will remain here till
of the brethern who have gone to explore Hawaii,--and
important business then to come before the Mission is
two chilthe return
until the
attended to.
Mr. Ely will probably go with Mr. Ruggles on his return,
will be stationed with him at Hanapepe.
It is not yet determined
where I shall be fixed.— If it should be thought best to occupy
two stations on Hawaii, it may become necessary for the brethern
to attach me to one of them, if not permanently, for a season
till more laborers can come from America.
I hope, my dear sir, that ere this time the Lord, has in
great kindness to you, & to us, removed the indisposition, with
which youwas visited last winter,— and I hope, that in future
you will be sparing of your strength, that your life may be
preserved for the benefit of the numerous missionary stations,
which you have been instrumental in establishing, & who look to
you as to a father for counsel & support.
Please to remember me to Mrs. Anderson.
I
am, Dear Sir, very respectfully
Your obedient servant,
LEVI CHAMBERLAIN.
Jeremiah Evarts, Esquire,
B O S T O N .
P .S.— I add a memorandum of a few articles which are wanted for the
use of the Mission.
Glass is wanted very much, as we have none in
any of the houses at this station, except in the large wooden
building which is called the Mission House , ( A stone house w i l l
)
& in the pulpit windows of the meeting house. A stone house will
probably be built here, for which glass will be needed.
It is also
desirable that the windows of the printing office should be glased.
Glass is needed not only at this station, but at all the other
Stations.
But we will only
Edgartown N.B.
Feb'y 13.
SHIP
14-1/2
Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.,
Cor. Sec 'y A.B.C.F .M.,
Missionary Rooms,
Boston, U.S.A.
Per Capt. Starbuck
of the HERO.
make known our w a n t s , &
leave it with our patrons to afford a
supply or not as they think proper.
�194.
Page 2 9 7 .
Nails are also wanted, wrought & out of different sizes.
Shingle/ nails. —
Medicines, by D r . Blatchley as follows:
Adhesive plaster;
Red precipitate;
Liquorice hall;
Tartaric acid;
Nutmegs.
The enclosed receipt for a note lodged in the hands of an
Un cle of mine ought to have been left in Boston in your charge;
but the letter in which it was enclosed did not arrive in Boston
till after my embarkation.
�195.
Page 298.
M r . Levi Chamberlain.
Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.
BO S T O N.
April 27, 1824.
Honoruru, Oahu,
15th Oct ., 1823.
Respected & Very Dear Sir:In a former letter I stated to you that
it was my intention at some future time, to make a statement of
the pecuniary concerns of the Mission— its means of support,
facilities for obtaining it from the natives, & from vessels
touching at the Islands, either by purchase or donation— & the
best method of receiving support from the Board.
As Mr. Loomis intends writing to you & giving a view
of the expenses of the Mission previous to the time of the arriving
of the re-enforcement, I shall confine my statement to the expenses
since, and to the probable cost of the Sandwich Island Mission for
the current year.
As no inventory was taken of the articles on hand at the time of
of our arrival, nor of the supplies landed by the re-enforcement,
it is not easy to ascertain with critical exactness the sum which
the mission has expended, but. an estimate can be made which will
approximate to the true amount.
The provisions & other articles
brought out in the Thames exclusive of furniture , utensils & clo
thing, were worth, at this place, probably, $1,000.
Most of these
have been expended, & other purchases have been made both of articles
of provisions & for trade.
According to the best estimate which I can make, the expenses of
the mission from April the 28th to the 1st instant, including $400.
worth of articles reckoned at New York prices, amounts to $2,100.
To co
complete the year the Mission will probably expend for support & the
settlement of new stations, $4,100. more.
Already expended,
. . .
Necessary to be expended,
$2,100.
4.100.
$6,200.
From this amount may be deducted the following, v i z .
For aid expected from the natives
in building, labor & provisions,
$ 1 ,00 0 .
For donations from sea Captains &
othersfriendly to our objects,
600.
From other sources including aid of
every kind rendered at the Islands,
200.
$1.800.
The above estimate is made upon the probable ex
istence of certain circumstances and does not form a source
of income to be relied on.
�196.
Page 298.
There cannot, however, be a doubt but that valued
assistance will be rendered to the Mission by natives & others.
If the foregoing statement be correct, the expenditures of the
Sandwith Island Mission from May-1823 to May-1824 will amount to
$4 ,200., $4 ,000. only of which would need to be received from the
Board in case the specified aid shou ld actually be rendered.
In
estimating the value of donations presented at the islands, we have
respect not to their worth in America, but to their value here, their
worth to us, or the value attached to them by the donor.
We have it in our power frequently to purchase beef, pork, fish,
flour, rice & other supplies of the traders—
I say frequently, but
the opportunity for supplying ourselves with some of them are but occasion
a l , and the advance on the original cost with the addition of 20
or 25% for the draft swells a bill for a few supplies to a large
amount.
We are favored occasionally with opportunities of purchasing
supplies such as beef, pork, flour, bread, molasses & c . from ships
returning home from a successful cruise, but the provisions it must
be obvious, are not prime, & the state of the market having a
governing influence upon the price, the advantage gained to the Mission
is very little more than the 20 or 25% usually paid on the draft.
But we cannot always buy of ships for a draft, even when they have
articles to dispose of.
Sometimes the demand for provisions is so
great, that what a ship has to spare is immediately secured by those
who can pay cash.— at other times the Captains are under the necessity
of raising cash to defray some expense for repairs, & on that
account are unwilling to sell for a draft.
It is the case at the
present time.
The Mission is now indebted to various persons to the amount of
$2232 .83 for the discharge of whose accounts bills will be here
after drawn on the Board.
I have already drawn on the
account of which I have given in
have been received. of this sum
Mr. Ellis, for which he is still
Board to the amount of $1546.36, on
former letters, which doubtless
$120. were expended on account of
indebted to the Mission.
If the necessity were removed of our procuring at the Islands the
means of support, by receiving from America provisions, of various
kinds, articles of trade , furniture & utensils, & cash, the expense
of the Board for the support of the Mission would be diminished
nearly one-half, certainly one third.
I am aware that the difficulty
which the Board would experience in forwarding regularly from Boston
supplies adequate to our wants, would be very great: and the Board must
be aware, that the inconvenience--not to say suffering— to which the
stations will be exposed in case necessary supplies are not received in
due time, must also be great.
I do not know that any plan can be
adopted which will propose a full and complete remedy for all the evils
to which the Mission is liable— a plan which will materially lessen the
expenses of the Board, & at the same time secure to the Missioncomfort__
�197
Page 298.
able and seasonable supplies, but I do believe that a plan is
practicable which will provide against every inconvenience. One
had already been suggested to the board (Prudential Committee, )
and perhaps it has been matured and carried into effect.
The
plan to which I allude is that of establishing an Agency at Nantucket o
or N e w Bedford, for the Sandwic h Island Mission, the design of which
shall be, at all convenient seasons, in some of the numerous vessels
which are constantly sailing from those ports to the(Pacif i c )Pacific
in pursuit of whales.
Very many of the ships which cruise on the
coast of Japan touch at these islands twice a year for refreshments,
and almost all touch here on their way ou t .
Probably not one in ten proposing to stop passes by, & in case of
repairs, or of a vessel passing by on her way out, she usually calls in
the course of the year.
The captains of several whaling ships have
expressed themselves fully upon the subject, and state that there can b
be no serious objection to such a plan--that there are very few ships
which could not take out several tons without the least inconvenience-and they assured us that they should be happy to do it gratis.
The owners may possibly be of another opinion, & feel very
differently upon the subject,— doubtless there are instances of hostile
feeling on the part of some towards the objects of this Mission, but
I believe that there are many owners who would not object to an
Agent's putting on board their vessels supplies for this Mission free
of charges: and very few indeed, who would not be willing to take
articles on freight.
The valuable presents which several sea captains have made to
the Mission evince the state of their feelings toward us. If every
Captain is not a Weeks, we have abundant evidence that as a body they
are far from being unfriendly.
William Coffin, Esquire, President of the Union Insurance Co. at
Nantucket is very friendly to the Mission. He is part owner of
sev eral vessels, and a man of much influence.
Two captains with
whom I recently conversed did not hesitate to propose him as a most
suitable person for an Agent. Whether M r . Coffin would be as well
pleased with the nomination as the Mission would with his acceptance
of a service promising so much benefit tothe Sandwic h Island M i ssion
I would not centure the experiment. He might be willing to be one of
the three or four to constitute a committee for obtaining conveyances
for supplies; to whom an Agent might hace access--At least, he might
be written to on the subject, and his opinion obtained as to the
practicability of a plan similar to the one proposed,— or he might
be able to point out some suitable person for an Agent.
If a plan were to be carried into effect, the Mission might forward
to the Corresponding Secretary of the Board, or directly to the Agent
a list of the articles needed: and such supplies might be purchased for
us and our use as might be deemed expedient, & the first opportunity
embraced of sending them out .
By the same conveyance if none could b e
obtained from Boston, cash needful to carry on the internal operations of
the Mission might be forwarded.
it has been stated in previous letters
�198
Page 2 98.
that some cash is absolutly indespensable.—
I subjoin a list of provisions deemed sufficient for the support
of all the stations one year, together with an estimate of the probable
cost of them at this place compared with their worth in America.
I would remark that the articles in the following list cannot in
every instance be obtained here, & some of them but seldom & with
difficulty. 6
Articles
12 lbs.
Beef
at 20#
12
Pork
"
Flour
"
"
20
"
5
$ 240 .00
$8.
$25.
300.00
$16.
15.
300.00
6.50
130.00
270.00
4¢
120.00
45.00
4/50
22. 50
10.
100.00
3.25
32.50
5.
50.00
3.25
32.50
Bread, 8-10¢ av.9 ¢
3000 "
bbls Indian Meal
"
10 Cwt. Rice
10
Value in
America
Value at
the Islands
Quantity
"
l/2-bbls. Fish,
$
96.00
192.00
500 lbs. Butter
"
25¢
12 5.00
16 ¢
80.00
225
9¢
20.25
5
"
Lard
"
20 ¢
45.00
G.
Sugar
"
$ 20.
100.00
10 .
50.00
"
60 ¢
72.00
34 ¢
40.80
60 ¢
42.00
60 ¢
42.00
90 ¢
18.00
90 ¢
18.00
120 Gals. Molasses
"
70 Lbs. Souchong Tea,
20
150
"
"
Hyson
"
Coffee
"
45 ¢
67.50
27 ¢
40.50
Soap,(or Potash)
"
50 ¢
200.00
9¢
36.00
IT
80 ¢
120.00
80 ¢
120.00
If
1.75
35.00
75¢
400. "
150 gals Oil,
"
15.00
20
"
10
" Brandy,
"
3.00
30.00
1.20
12.00
30
"
"
3.00
9 0 .00
1.20
36.00
Rum,
Wine,
Add 20% , - - - - - -
$2249:50
_
449:90
$ 2699<40
$1136.05
�199.
Page 298.
In addition to the above a considerable amount in articles of
trade, such as Blue Gurrah, Blue Nankin, India calico, English
prints, factory cotton cloths, Jerk knives, files, scissors, wide
chissels, pocket combs., &c. would be necessary— besides furniture
occasionally, crockery & glass ware, table & kitchen furniture, cook
ing utensils,— writing & printing paper, types, s lates & various
articles of stationary/ (stationery).
We might well be said to open our mouths wide if the above
were a memorandum of articles // which we requested to be put up &
forwarded by the first ship.
Though the request is not made,
that all these articles should be sent by one conveyance, or even
at all, unless the Board should deem it expedient, yet the Com
mittee are assured that not an article has been enumerated in the
above memorandum which will not be needed more or less in the
course of the year.
Some persons might be surprised that Missionaries should use
spirits, or that they should introduce introduce so much tea & sugar
into the list of their annual receipts of necessities; but in this
enervating climate where no winter returns to brace up the relaxed
system, such articles are much needed, & almost indispensable.
m u c h larger quantity of spirits than has been mentioned would
be recommended by the physician.
I have included a large quantity
of oil in the list of articles.
The families are under the neces
sity of using a much larger quantity than they otherwise would in
consequence of the scarcity of fuel— and it is used more profusely
than would be the case if we had uniformly to purchase a full supply.
It is not always the case however that we are supplied from
the ships gratuitously— We sometimes purchase--when this is the case,
we usually pay the traders $ 1 . per gallon with the addition of 20%
— Add this is the reason that I included the oil in the fore
going estimate, and did not deduct the amount of the year's supply
when adding the 20% to the foot.
T here are several little articles which I did not enumerate
in the list, that would be
deemed desirable by the ladies
as comforts; viz. Allspice,
cinnamon, cloves, nutmegs, pepper, pearlash-Since looking over the list, it is thought desirable to in
crease the number of barrels of flour to 24, & to diminis h the
quantity of bread 500 lb.--to say -24 bbls. Flour,
2500 lbs.
Bread.
F rom various private communications, as well as from the public
journal, which will probably be sent by this conveyance, you will
gain a general view of the state of things in the Mission at the present
time.
With sincere desires & prayers for the continuance of
your life & health, I remain. Dear Sir,
Your humble servant,
LEVI CHAMBERLAIN.
�200.
Page 299.
P .S.—
Oct. 22nd.
Should provisions ever be sent from America for
this Mission, I would suggest the importance of their being put up with
special attention.
Indian Meal in tight barrels, not hhds. for. the convenience of
landing and transmitting from the depository to the different stations.
Molasses in barrels containing not over the usual quantity, less
than 30 gallons would be preferable.
Rice in barrels, rather than in bulky tierces; partly for con
venience, but specially to preserve it; from the insects which would
scarcely be done in a tierce.
Kegs of butter weighing from 20 to 30 lbs. put up in brine.
Let 3 or 4 kegs be put into a barrel & that be filled with a
strong pickle.
The butter thus put up will keep perfectly sweet.
Most whaling ships have their butter put up in this w a y .
Lard might be put up in the same way, if the Board should deem
it justifiable to incur the expense of it— otherwise it might be
sent in separate kegs.
Every barrel & every box which may be sent out full, will be
valuable & very useful to the Mission; after being emptied of
their original contents.
Jeremiah Evarts, Esq'r;
Cor. Sec 'y A . B. C . F . M . ,
Missionary R ooms,
BO S T O N
U .S. of America.
(Per Capt. Burch
of the Staunton. )
(Seal)
�9 Previous to Sept. 1824
V
201
Page 300.
Honoruru,
Oahu,
January 1, 1824.
Dear Sir:I have time by this conveyance only to write you a very
hasty letter.
I have written to Mr. Hill informing him of
several drafts recently drawn on the Treasurer, which will go
home by the Paragon.
I am under the necessity of drawing con
tinually on the funds of the Board. —
I regret this necessity,
particularly on account of the very high price of everything of
the nature of supplies, & the difference of exchange, which is a
very great charge.
I can assure you, that in the appropriation of
the funds which we feel ourselves justified in drawing for, there
is as much economy used as can consistently be done.
We are
unable at this time to procure fresh, provisions for anything but
cash, & we have at this station almost entirely denied ourselves
in this respect, & sussisted on salt food— perhaps to a greater
extent than we ought.
As it respects utensils & furniture, the
same reluctance to incurring expense has been manifested. —
Since the arrival of the re-enforcement, I have drawn
upon the Board for the amount of $4551.79
in the following bills:
1823
August 7,
14.
29,
Oc t ’r 24,
Nov'r
Dec 'r
3,
8,
9,
26,
31,
In favor of Messrs Alexander & Co .
at 60 days —
Do —
do — at 90 daysCapt. John R . Cooper, at 60 days,
"
Capt. Obed Starbuck,
" 30
"
IT
Capt. H . Hammatt,
30
"
Do —
do —
60 "
Capt. Arent S/ de Peyster30 "
James Hunnewell,
at 30 If
IT
Do
—
do —
60 "
"
W i l l i am G . Dana,
30 IT
"
Do — do — do
60 IT
IT
"
Thomas Crocker,
90
"
"
William G . Dana,
30
$544.80
544.80
384.00
192.76
373.70
373.70
2 4 0 .00
380.00
4 9 5 .44
350.00
350.00
222.59
100.00
$4 ,551.79
The Mission is indebted to M r . Wm. G. Dana about $500.00
more, for which debt I expect soon to draw on the Board.—
You will be informed of the embarkation of the King for
England which took place the 27th of November.
I would also state, that 12 pages of the new hymns have
been struck off, & that 36 more will be printed as speedily as
possible.
The people are impatient to get them into their hands.
It is also proposed to print, as soon as the hymns are out, another
edition of the Spelling Book, with additions & a tract.Mr. Whitney
from Tauwai has recently visited this station, but has returned.—
Things were going on well at Tauwai— There has been no conveyance for
the brethern designated for Waiakea.— They remain at this station
for the present. —
T he work of the Lord,It
r
u
s
tp
r
o
s
p
e
r
si
nt
h
eh
a
n
d
so
ft
h
e
Missionaries.
�202
Page 300.
As it respects myself, I have no time to attend to the
instruction of the people.
I must be contented to labor in sec
ular concerns, that others may have more time, & be more free from
cares.
In great haste,
I remain, Dear Sir,
Very affectionately
Yours Servant,
LEVI CHAMBERLAIN.
Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.,
B O S T O N ,
Ms.
U . S . America.
�203
Page 300.
Mr. L e v i Chamberlain.
Aug. 26, 1824.
Sandwich Island Missions.
Capt. Cone,
Acknowledged
Oct. 15, 1824.
JEREMIAH
EVARTS, Esquire,
Cor. Sec 'y A . B . C. F . M . ,
B O S T O N,
U . S. A.
By the Paragon.
(Seal)
�204
9
Previous to Sept. 1824
Page 301
V
Honoruru,
Oahu,
January 9, 1824.
Dear Sir,—
By the Paragon, which
you a very hasty letter.
As
may sail and possibly arrive as
shall give you the substance of
sailed on the 5th inst. , I wrote
the Champion, by which I send this,
soon or sooner than that vessel, I
what I then wrote.
In my letter to M r . Hill, both by the Paragon & b y this convey
ance, I have given notice of the drafts recently drawn on the Treas
urer, with a brief statement of the purchases & debts for which the
drafts were given.
I did not suppose it necessary to specify all
the particulars in the account of the individuals with whom the
Mission had contracted debts, but contented myself with giving a
general view.
I have been greatly disappointed in my expectations as to
what it will cost to support the Missions in these Islands.
Before
I left America I had received the impression that the first Mission
aries had been supported almost entirely by the people, & that other
Missionaries who might go out would be supported with comparatively
little expense to the Board.
I had not, it is true, thought much
upon the pecuniary concerns of the Mission— nor the numerous wants
of an extended Missionary establishment, or the resources // which
the advantageous prosecution of the work would demand.—
It must
be evident that to support eleven families— to furnish each with a
separate home--conveniences for eating at separate tables & cooking
& washing at separate fires, & only so much furniture as would be
absolutely necessary for the cooking & accommodation of each; —
to provide fuel, provisions, & the means of comfortable subsistence,
will during the term of / a year amount to, in the aggregate, no
small sum.
And the more so when it is taken into consideration
that all foreign commodities cost upon an average a hundred pr.ct .
more than they would cost in America.
Every article of furniture
& clothing is from a foreign source— also flour, rice, sugar,
molasses, beef, pork, bread & c . — timber & boards likewise, which are
seldom to be obtained.
The natives it is true have afforded much
aid which has been a saving to the mission, & they will doubtless
afford us much more— They have built several grass houses— To some
of the stations they have furnished a supply of potatoes & taro— also
a partial supply of hogs & goats— still the greatest part of the
expense for the support of the station has been drawn from the
general funds.
The most durable of the common thatched houses,
built by the natives, will last but a very few years, & none of this
kind will ever be regarded by any family as eligible for a permanent
residence, even as a temporary one only so long as circumstances
prevent the building o f a stone house, or the erection of some more
convenient & more permanent building than one covered with grass.—
As a reason for building permanent houses, it may be
stated, aside from the inc onvenience of living in a thatched one during
the rainy season, that the expense of keeping old ones in repair &
�205
Page 301.
og building new ones every three or four years, wou ld before many
years had elapsed exceed the cost of a stone house (building ).
There
are many difficulties in the way of erecting stone houses— some of
which are:
the difficulty of procuring materials, particularly
the wood parts;-obtaining men qualified to do t he work— finding suf
ficient time from Missionary labor to maintain a general superintend
ence over the work while it is going on;--The last, and not the least
important is— meeting the expense of it.
It is calculated, however, that a convenient dwelling
may be erected for each family at an average expense of $500. for
each.
The Mission has no intention, however, of incurring all
the expense of building immediately.— It will be several years
probably before any considerable number of the families will be
accommodated with desirable habitations.
If the friends of Missions
in America had known (knew) to the full extent how much the Mission
needs Boards, shingles, window sashes, glass, & c . , they would stren
uously exert themselves to forward such articles. —
I doubt not, if
there was a depository of some kind or other at Nantucket, that not a
few whaling captains might be found who would cheerfully bring out
a house frame, or boards, shingles or timber.
Since the arrival of the reinforcement (re-enforcement) I
have drawn upon the Treasurer for $5051:79, in the following bills:
via.
1823
, at 60 days, $544.80
August 7,
In favor of Messrs. Alexander & C o .
" 90 "
Do -- do
——do ——
544.80
""
"
"
"
384.00
Capt. John R. Cooper,
60 "
14,
" 30 "
"
"
" Capt. Obed Starbuck,
192:76
" 30
"
"
"
"
Chas. H. Hammatt,
373.70
O c t 'r 2 ?
" 60 "
"
"
"
Do --do — do
3 7 3 .70
Oct'r 24,
"
"
"
"Arent S . DePeyeter,
30 "
240.00
Nov'r 3,
" 30 "
" James Hunnewell,
"
380.00
Dec'r 8, "
"
"
" 60 "
"
Do — do
495.44
" 30 "
""
"
" W m . G. Dana,
350.00
9, "
" 60 "
"
D o — do —
3 5 0 .00
" 90 "
"
" Thomas Crocker,
222.59
26, "
"
" 30
" Wm. G. Dana,
"
100.00
31, "
1824Jan' y
9,
"
"
"
Do—
d o — do
"
90
"
500.00
$5051:79
I regret the necessity of drawing so frequently on the
Board— particularly on account of the very high pric e of everything
of the nature of supplies and the great difference of ex c hange.
I am sorry too that bills to so large an amount are going
home at the same time, liable to be presented for acceptance on the
same day.
It was a circumstance unavoidable—
We are under the
necessity of giving bills to the traders with whom we have con
tracted debts at the time, when it is most agreeable to them & most
convenient for them to transmit bills, which is usually when a ve
l
e
s
is returning in which they have an interest/
�206
Page 302.
The Mission is now nearly clear of debt, an d it is my
expectation that with about one thousand dollars more, we shall be
able to meet all the expenses of the year ending May 1st following.
A considerable part of the articles of trade purchased, & of
the cash borrowed is on hand still.
Twenty-two dollars and fifty cents
of the last bill in favor or W m . G . Dana/ I wish to be passed to my debit
in private account, that amount having been taken up by myself for a
trunk, & some articles of clothing, which I do not wish charged to the
Mission, unless the Treasurer prefers to do it.
I feel most sensibly the importance of economy in the e x
penditures of the Mission, and shall strive to introduce into our domes
tic regulations the principles inculcated by the condescending Redeemer,
"Gather up the fragments,— that nothing be lost” .
Prudence, I regard
as no unimportant ingredient in Missionary qualification,— nor less a
disposition to engage in any work either manual or mental which may be
necessary to advance the general interests of the Mission & the cause
of Christ in a heathen land.
I find it no small labor to discharge the duties of the
station which has been assigned me, & no ordinary task to give satis
faction to the different members of the Mission— to acquit my own
conscience, & to
meet the expectations of the honored patrons &
directors of Missionary operations in America.
N ever have I ex
perienced so great a burden of care— never felt myself so near sinking
under the load imposed upon me, as I have since the duty of superin
tending the Secular affairs of the Mission devolved upon me.
I
would not have it inferred by any expressions which I havemade, that
my brethern will be unreasonable in their requirements or expectations—
my concern arises from another quarter, and has its origin in the sense
I have of my own unfitness and incapacity.
Were it not for the convic tion that I fill the place evidently designed for me by Providence,
I should be very unhappy in my present circumstances— but I have the
satisfaction of knowing that I have asked counsel of the Lord, and
have had my service pointed out to me by His finger.
I am contented
& rejoice to be where the Lord would have me —
I shall probably find it less convenient to pass from one
Island to another and visit the different stations than it was sup
posed before I left America.
I shall probably be more confined to
this place than any other member of the Mission with the exception
of the printer.
You will have been informed of the settlement of Mr. Thurston
Thurston & family at Kairua, and the temporary removal of Mr. Bishop to
Tauwai—
The contemplated station at WaiakeaHas not yet been taken,
but there is a prospect that the Mission will charger a vessel in a
few days to convey Mr. Ruggles & Mr. Goodrich & their families thither.
The Doc tor, & perhaps some other member of the Mission will accompany the
d e t a c h m e n t to their station.
It is expected that Mr. Ely will go to K airua to be associa
ted with Messrs. Thurston & Bishop, instead of going to Tauwai.
Mr. Whitney will be under the necessity of laboring alone till a reenforcement arrives from America.
�|
207
Page 302.
You will also receive information by this & other con
veyances of the embarkation of Rihoriho (Rihoriho) for England,
;which took place on the 27th of November last.
With kind regards to M r s . Evarts,
I remain, Dear Sir,
Very affectionately,
Your humble servant,
LEVI
Jeremiah Evarts, E s q .,)
B O S T O N .
)
CHAMBERLAIN.
�208
Page
303
P. S. — An ox cart or such a cart as the teamsters use in Boston
for carrying burdens, i .e . an one horse cart— will be needed at
this station soon as one can be sent out.
A large and small
cart are almost indespensible.— A wheel-barrow was sent out in the
Paragon— if more could be sent out they would be very useful.
M r . Levi Chamberlain,
July 13, 1824.
Jeremiah Evarts, Esquire,
Cor. Sec'y A . B. C. F . M . ,
Missionary Rooms,
BOSTON,
U . S. of America.
Per the "CHAMPION" )
)—
Capt. Preeble.
)
(SEALED )
�9
Previous to Sept. 1824.
V
Page 30 3 .
Honoruru, Oahu, January 12, 1824.
My dear Brother Anderson,—
My time and attention have been so
completely occupied during the 5 last weeks, in company with
? r . Goodrich and his hired men, in breaking up an old vessel,
about a year ago purchased by the Mission for the sake of the
fire-wood and timber it would furnish,— in writing letters for
America forwarded by the Paragon, and writing letters and copy
ing the Journal to go by this conveyance, that I had been obliged
to give up the idea of writing to you by this conveyance though
I had previously been promising myself the pleasure of doing it.
But the vessel after getting under way was met by a head wind
before she had entirely cleared the harbor, & was obliged to put
back to wait a more favorable opportunity,— thus favoring me with
an opportunity of writing a few lines.
It has been a time of special labor with the Mission of late.
M r . Bingham & M r . (Ely) Ellis, exclusive of the labor of preaching
to the people three times a week, have been engaged in composing h
hymns for the use of the people & for the convenience of public
worship.
They have completed 42 which are to be published, some
of which are already struck off; others are in the press and
the printing of the remainder will proceed as fast as possible.—
After the hymns are out, a new edition of the Spelling Book with
additions will be printed/
After that, a tract, and a catechism.
The people are very eager to get books— children, youth &
adults of both sexes are constantly calling at the Mission House
for copies of the spelling book printed about a year ago, a few
of which are still on handThey come with very pleasant coun
tenances and are lealea r o a . i .e ., exceeding glad, when they
obtain them.
You would be greatly animated to see the willingness to
receive instruction which is exhibited by these Kawney Kawny
children of nature— and you would rejoice to labor among them
and spend your strength in efforts to promote their spiritual
good.
Your prayers I doubt not will daily ascend for the
blessing of God upon the efforts made by the Missionary band
established here for this purpose-their salvation— and the
prayers of thousands I doubt not are constantly presented by our
exalted interceeding High Priest above at the Eternal Throne for
their sanctification.
Though many thousands on the different Islands where
Missionary stations are established, begin to enjoy some of the
means of instructions, and to hear some of the alluring accents
of the Gospel which brings salvation; yet more than a hundred
thousand immortal beings professing souls of inestimable worth, are
standing on the brink of endless ruin, to whose anxious ear the
�210
Page 303.
Missionary cannot convey the friendly warning, nor proffer the
guiding hand.
With unspeakable anguish he sees one after another approach
the tremendous brink and tumble into the dark & horrible abyss
& sink in endless night.
It is a grief to me, that my time is so much taken up with the
secular concerns of the Mission, as to leave me very little for
the study of the language.
I hope, however, to (after our old
ship is broken up, and all the stations are settled, and I shall
have reduced my business to some system that I shall have more
time for study.
My business will be more trying, complicated & distracting
to the mind and to the heart than that of any other member of
the Mission.
Already I find my patience very much exercised-and I feel within me the existence of some hateful propensities
(properties )-paper is torn here—
which I once thought had been
crucified.
Pray for me, my dear brother; pray that I may have
have Grace sufficient for met and that I may neither faint nor
be discouraged.
I shall probably be confined much to this station--and shall
not find it as convenient as it was once thought to pass from
Island to Island to visit the different s t a t i o n s .
I feel as much as I could ever have expected to feel the
need of a comforter & friend.
A friend I hope I have who
sticketh closer than a brother, but I need one to remind me of
Him.
But I have no disposition to comp//in(complain)— I came
hither under my present circumstances in obedience to the voice
of Him who bid Abram forsake his country and kindred for a land
which he would afterwards show him.
I am satisfied with the
allotments of Providence— and I desire to acquiesce in all the
dealings of my Almighty Sovereign, & to say, "not my will, but
Thine, O Lord, be done !"
I remain,
Very affectionately yours,
LEVI CHAMBERLAIN-
Mr. Levi Chamberlain,
July 12, 1824.
SHIP
12
)
Providence
R. I.)
July 12, 1824)
Rufus Anderson,
Missionary Rooms,
B O S T O N ,
U.S. America*
Ford'd by the kindness of
Capt. Preeble, via the
Ship CHAMPION.
�211.
Page 303.
(Rufus Anderson. Esq'r.
P .S.— —
Cont'd. )
I take the liberty of adding the request that
you will minute down in the memorandum which is kept of
the wants of this Station, a log chain & a common draft
chain, to be sent out by an early opportunity.
Levi Chamberlain;
7/12/1824.
(Sealed)
�212.
Page 304
(Omitted-- by order Prof. Ballou.)
Page 305.
9 Previous to Sept. 1824 V
Honoruru, Oahu,
June 17th, 1823.
E sq'r Evarts,
Sir: —
Of the circumstances of our voyage and arrvial
I & reception here, you will be informed by our joint letter, which
I was written two or three weeks since by Mr. R.
You doubtless recollect some suggestions of mine, respecting
the remains of my property.
I then supposed I should direct it
to be disposed of by them; But I now inform you that I have since
on becoming more acquainted with the wants of Missionaries, and
the source and manner of supply, c ontramanded the orders.
I had
before given to my Agent, and directed him to pay the materials of
the property to a friend of mine in Connecticut, and it is to be
taken charge of by him, and disposed of as I shall hereafter
direct.
I have inclosed a copy of the track of the Thames that I took
on the passage— I have prepared the outlines of a map of Hawaii
for the deputation to take with them when they go to explore-itis
upon a much larger scale than any heretofore drawn.
I hope they
will be able to improve it, by filling up blanks and attuning
outlines, & c .
When we shall be able to get a correct map of all
the Islands, and of all their bearings we cannot tell; as I fear it
will not be practicable for a long time yet.
The improvements in the Moral state of the nation is by no
means adequate in degree to what many in America will imagine from
what has been written----------Domestic assistants, to assist our females in this debilita
ting climate are exceedingly necessary— they can nowhere more be
needed than here, and can be nowhere more useful & profitable for
the aid of suc h , that the strength of the Missionary may be main
tained (retained) & the vision of mindpossessed to engage in the v a r
ious ways of promoting the great object of the Mission; whereas if our
females are subjected to perform all the domestic labour themselves,
it will soon exhause their strength & disenable them for doing any
thing else;beside a part of the husband's time must be occupied in
assisting her in what it is impossible for her to execute herself.
It is in the sphere of a domestic alone that the coloured girl
with Mrs. Stewart's family can be useful in the present state of
things.
And this assistance of hers is claimed by M r . S. exclusively,
so that all our other females are left without that aid that alone
can enable them to engage in the more important concerns of the M
i
si
o
n
�213
Page 3 0 5 .
while in health; and without a nurse in sickness, while one of
their number is thus highly privileged with all this necessary aid—
This circumstance is not a little t hought of among the several
individuals of the family. - — —
Betsey Stockton might be
in some degree useful to others of the Mission by attending as a
Nurse in sickness, & this would accord with the agreement between
the parties and the Prudential Committee, which specifies that she
is first to serve the general demand of the Mission.
But this
demand Mr. S. declared shall not be complied with by sayingthat
he or Mrs. S. will go to attend the sick before they will suffer B.
to go: & no one here can suppose from appearances that they ever
design to attend as Nurse on their Brethern or Sisters.— So that
no assistance of this kind is expected from her.
Therefore, if aid of
this kind should be called for by others equally needing it, & equally
justified in their claim, it is hoped & trusted they will not be denied.
Female help from among the natives is out of the question;
none can be had— & none- no help from natives, man or boy, that can
be depended on.
Mrs. B. sends respects.
Yours respectfully,
? --
To Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.,
(Date Omitted.)
BLATCH LY.
�- -- Page 306.
(An outline map of South American continent
and Islands in the Pacific Ocean, with a
line drawing showing a certain voyage around
Cape Horn to the Hawaiian Islands, or Sandwich
Islands. )
Page 307.
Oahu, March 10th, 1623 (1823).
Dear Sir:-The designation of a Mission to the Sandwich Islands
by your very respectable Board, was an event which the Mission
aries in the South Sea Islands hailed with the sincerest joy.
We had often directed our view towards them, and the Marques/ess
with heartfelt commiseration for their miserable and degraded
condition, and the most anxious desire that the fetters of ig
norance & idolatry which the destroyer appeared to be fast rivetting
upon his c a p t i v e (sauls) souls, might be broken and the triumphs
of the cross extend thither in all the benignity of its Divine care e r
and confer upon the log (long) neglected tribes the blessings of
Christian liberty and peace.
An interview with the honoured servants of the great
Immanuel destined to form the advance guard of the forces to be
employed in the glorious warfare would have been a source of
unspeakable pleasure & satisfaction, had they made either the Geor
gian or Society Isles on their way to the fields where they would
instruct them full in all that it was useful or profitable for them
to know.
However, some time before we left Taumuarii, King of
Tanai & Kahumanu, together with several others made a direct application, by sending a messenger to request that AUNA and his wife
who had accompanied us, might be left to teach them to read and
write, & that I should return to the Society Islands, for my wife
& family, with whom I should remove back to them by the earliest
opportunity.
They advised us to inform them by the return of the
messenger whether we would accede to their request.
We consulted with
with our kind Missionary Brethern here as to the answer we should
return.
After very mature deliberation and prayer, they advised
us to accede to their / request, if agreeable to our own views,
assuring us they were convinced the common cause would be advanced
thereby.
The Deputation were of the same opinion, and I thought the
path of duty so clearly marked and by so many striking events in
Providence, that I agreed to accede to their wishes provided my
removal should meed the approbation of the Brethern of the station
to which I belonged.
The King, Mr. Pitt and the other chiefs also expected their
expressed their appreciation of our decision.
The Mission to the Marquesa ss was accordingly postponed,
and AUNA with his wife accompanied Taumuarii & Kaahumanu the next
day to Hawaii.
�#215*
Page 308.
On arriving again at the Society Islands, we acquainted
our Brethern with the apparent call which Providence had given us
to this extensive and inviting field, and after deliberating con
siderably on the subject, they were unanimous in opinion that it
was my duty to accept it, and united in affectionately recommend
ing me to the Grace of our Divine Master for comfort, support and
direction in again embarking for new and more distant fieldsWe arrived at the scene of our future exertions on the
5th of February last/
Mrs. Ellis and our four dear little ones
having enjoyed the invaluable helping of uninterupted health dur
ing our voyage.
Our dear Brothers & Sisters of the Missionary
family greeted our arrival in the most affectionate manner, and by
their kind attentions have laid us under the most lasting obliga
tions.
The King & Chiefs also heartily welcomed us to their
shored.
We have been happy in uniting most cordially with your
indefatig/able Missionaries here in bearing part of the burden
resting upon them, and sharing the toils & fatigues peculiar to the
Station we appear called unitedly to fill.
The only
interest I
desire to promote is the advancement of that Cause which we have
given ourselves up to support & extendIn the translation of the
Scriptures, Preaching the everlasting Gospel of the Son of God, get
ting and planting Christian Churches (gathering and planting)
under
the great Head of the Church; advancing the moral and intellectual
improvement of this interesting people, particularly in the estab
lishment of public schools, I shall always feel the greatest satis
faction in lending my feeble aid, and combine my every effort with
theirs to help forward so glorious a cause.
I fear, Dear Sir, I have (
d isplayed) trespassed too much
on your patience by so minute a detail of the circumstances which
in the first instance let to my introduction to this part of the
Missionary field; but I have been desirous to give you an explicit
account of the manner in which I have been conducted to these Is
lands by a way that I knew not, & to the station I am now called to
fill.
I must beg you to excuse my occasionally troubling you
with a letter & c . to London, when I may find it necessary to send by
way of America, and Perhaps
the Rev'd G. Burden may at once (the
paper is torn here) forward by your means communications from the
Society with which I have the honour to be connected. I regret e x
ceedingly that any additional trouble should be incurred on my
account, as I feel fully convinced that your numerous and important
concerns leave unoccupied any portion of your valuable time. Yet
the favor of a few lines by any convenient opportunity would be
very highly esteemed by,
Dear Sir,
Your obdt Servt in Christ,
Wm.
J e r h. Evarts, E s q r.,
B O S T O N .
)
Ellis.
�216
Page 308.
P. S. I am happy to present you by this opportunity with a couple
of copies of the Gospels by Matthew & John, in the Tahitian langu
age, together with a specimen of the Hymns used in the carious
congregations
in the Society Islands.
N one of the Hymns are origiinal compositions, and are employed constantly by many thousands of
worshippers.
I trust the period is not very remote when you will
receive similar portions of the Sacred Scriptures & c . from your
interesting Mission here/ .
W.E.
(Wm. Ellis)
Rev. Wm. Ellis,
A ug. 21, 1823.
Answered:
October 13, 1823.
JEREMIAH EVARTS/ , E squire,
Missionary Rooms,
B O S T O N,
U . S. America.
�217
Page 309.
Woahoo. One of the Sandwich Islands, August 9, 1822.
To the American Board of Commissions of F oreign Missions.
Beloved Brethern in Christ:
You have, we presume, been informed
that the London Missionary Society have deputed two of their number
to inquire into the state of their Mission
in the Islands of the
South Sea.
We show names that are subscribed to this Letter, have
the honour to belong
(to form) that deputation.— When we sailed
from England in May, we had just received information that the
Sandwich Islands had engaged your benevolent regard, and that you
had sent Missionaries to propagate the Gospel in that territorythat interesting portion of the Heathen world.
While this im
portant information filled our Hearts with joy, & excited in our
minds the most fervent prayers that success might attend the labour
of love, we were encouraged to indulge the most extensive hopes by
hearing that idolotry had already fallen in those Islands, & that
the great head of the Church had thus singularly prepared the way
for his rewards.— But though we felt the most lively interest in
the success of your enterprise, we then entertained the hopes, not
even the most remote, of visiting the Sandwich Islands, as such a
visit made no part of the duties connected with our deputation.
A
mysterious and unerring Providence has, however, conferred on us a
pleasure as great as it is unexpected, & placed us in circumstances
which render it our x duty to make you a communication which we are
happy to do from the very House of your Missionaries in the Island of
Woahoo.
When we landed here in the middle of April, we did not expect
to remain more than three weeks; but the same singular Providence
which so unexpectedly brought us here, has as unexpectedly detained
us till now.
The designs of Providence in bringing us here, are,
however, sufficiently unfolded to convince us of their wisdom and
b e n e f i c e n c e ; while our intention, we have every reason to hope, is
for the Glory of God. —
Before our deputation proceeds to the
immediate object of this letter, allow us, Dear Brethern, to con
gratulate you on your having been directed by the great head of the
church, to so valuable and pious a body of Missionaries as those are,
whom you have sent to these Islands
Their piety, their talents,
their prudence, justifies the confidence which you place (repose) in
them, & should cherish in your hearts the hope that their holy lives
will put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, and tend powerfully
to induce those who take knowledge of them to embrace that Gospel
which they are anxious to make known;— While their affectionate
hospitality & their kind & persevering endeavors to promote our
comfort, confer upon us a debt of gratitude which we can never repay.
They are indeed burning and shining lights in the midst of this
crooked and perverse Nation; and we are are confident that the time
is not remote when many shall rejoice in their light.— We have had
the pleasure of seeing all the Brethern, and all the sisters, e x
cepting one, Mrs. R uggles,
&
truly thankful
God thath
s
a
e
�#218
Page 309.
permitted us to form a freindship with his Stewards, in whom there
is so much to admire, to esteem and to love.
After having spent some months in the South Sea Islands,
& being at the time at the Missionary Station in the Island of
Huahine, one of the Society Islands, a vessel, whose Captain had in
charge a schooner which was a present
from the King of England
to the King of the Sandwich Islands, came unexpectedly into the
Harbour for refreshments.
We had long been anxious to introduce (introduce) the
Gospel into the Marquessian Islands, first bymeans of some pious n
natives in Tahiti, as introductory to the sending of some Mission
aries.
The Captain informed us that after delivering up his charge
at the Sandwich Islands, it was his intention to return by way of
the Marquessian Ilands, & should feel much pleasure inbringing us
and any persons we chose to take with us a free passage.
To reach
the Marquesas by way of the Sandwich Islands, was indeed by a cir
cuitous route, but the desire which we had to visit your Mission
there & the hope that the testimony which the Tahitians who might
accompany us would bear to the beneficial influence of Missionary
exertions in the South-Sea Islands, might be of essential service
in the Sandwich Islands, & not having any intention of being able
to reach the Marquessas by a way more favourable,— we were indeed to
believe that a wise Providence had provided the means of accomplishin g our wishes, & that it w a s our duty to embrace the oppor
tunity.
Mr. Ellis, one of our valuable missionaries stationed
at Huahine, agreed to accompany us, while the Church proceeded to
select & set apart two of its most suitable members with their
views to the work of the Gospelwith the Marquessian Islands.
Mr.
Ellis accompanied us to afford us his assistance in this important
undertaking, and had no other view b u t to return again in three or
four months to his field of Labour in the Huahine.
On reaching
Woahoo, your missionaries affectionately invited us // with Mr.Ellis
to take up our abode at their house, while the two chiefs with their
///// wives were invited to reside during the continuance at the House
of the King of Atooi, who was here at the time:This was in co n
sequence of the brother-in-law of the chief being in the service of
the King of Atooi.
Our arrival appeared to be most opportune.
Many false and injurious reports had been propagated here by some of
the foreigners, respecting the state of religion in the Society
Islands, in order to prejudice the minds of the King & Chiefs &
people of the Sandwich Islands against the Gospel & 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
here, to ascertain
�219
Page #309.
the real state of things there; but the foreigners, bu their
influence, had prevented the vessel from sailing.
At the time
of our arrival, the people were- laboring under the influence of
the prejudices which the foreigners had produced among them. But
our testimone to that wonderful work of God in the South Sea
Island, together with that of the people who accompanied us, appeared
to haveconfounded opposers, and confirmed the King, & chiefs & people
in the firm confidence that the prejudices which had been excited
were false & unfounded.
We had no idea that this important object
was to be answered by our voyage.
Truly God is wonderful in counsel
& mighty in executing.
Second Sheet #310.
One only of the Chiefs who accompanied us, with his wife,
arrived at the house of the King of Atooi.
But the King, with
Kaahumann , his wife, a woman of great influence in the Islands,
were so much pleased with the conduct of their visitors, that they
gave them a strong invitation to continue with them, & not to go
to the Marquesas.
(Thinking with this unexpected occurrence, &
perceiving that great benefits might arise to the cause of religion
in these Islands from the residence of persons so pious and ex
cellent as these are, and knowing that we could obtain others for
the Marquessan Mission at the Society Islands, we were induced to
consent to their remaining.—
Soon after this, a meeting of
several of the most important chiefs was convened by the King
& Queen of Atooi to deliberate on the propriety of inviting Mrs.
Ellis also to join your Missionaries, & to take up his residence
here, with his wife & family.
An invitation to that effect was
therefore given to him.
This also was not expected.
On
further inquiry we found that his remaining here met with the
decided approbation of the King Rihoriho also, & all the principal
chiefs, & what was still more in our estimation, that of your
Missionaries.—
After taking the matter into serious consideration,
and seeking direction from Him who alone/ can guide in the way
of Truth, we were induced to give our consent to Mr. E l l i s ' joining
your Mission; but still to remain // /// in connexion with the
London Missionary Society, & to be supported by it.— The fol
lowing considerations influenced our minds to come to this
decision.—
Your Missionaries were laboring under great difficulties,
in acquiring the language of this people;— difficulties which we
perceived would not be surmounted for a considerable period. Mr.
Ellis beingintimately a c q u a i n t e d with the Tahitian Language which
is radically the same as this.
�220.
Page #310.
We were oonvinced that he would render essential service to your
Missionaries in this particular; and thus accelerate the period
when they will be able to declare to them in their own tongue (in
these Islands) wonderful works of God, which is essential to their
extensive usefulness.
Our conjectures have been in a measure
realized already with regard to your Missionaries; while Mr. Ellis
has so much over come the points in which their languages differ from
each other, as to be able to preach fluently & intelligently in so
short a time in the Owhyheean Tonggue, which he has done for several
weeks. —
Another reason is,--the wide Field of usefulness which
was presented in these Islands now, in connexion with the most pleas
ing aspect which the state of the mind of the people affords.
These Islands are indeed apparently waiting for the Saviour's
L a w ; these fields are white to the harvest & the laborers are few.
Justice & Expedience seemed therefore to require that we shouldConsent to take a Missionary from the South-Sea Islands which are so well
supplied, & give him to these where so many thousands are waiting to be
taught, but alas; perishing for the lack of knowledge.
Also, there
appeared to us great suitableness in your Missionaries being joined by
one who had resided almost six years in those Islands where so glo
rious a work has been accomplished within that period, & in which he
had taken an important share.
His experience, his acquaintance with
the most useful plans of operation, his knowledge of the Tahitian
character, to which that of the Sandwich Islands bears a close analogy,
these considerations could not but have a great influence upon our
decisions.
Some foreigners, anxious to seize upon anything that
might tend to prejudice the N atives against your Missionaries, did not
fail to suggest to them that should they listento their instructions
they would incur the displeasure of the English.
By uniting an
English Missionary with yours, this objection will be removed;— and
indeed almost already our visit has produced the best effect in this
particular.— with the same design, these foreigners have spared no
pains to misrepresent the most infamous falsehoods;--but a Missionary
who has been no long resident there, & who is well acquainted with all
the circumstances of that great work, being upon the spot here, will
prevent all future attempts of a similar kin d .
But however weighty
these considerations, they would not have induced us to consent to
Mr. E l lis' leaving so useful, important & comfortable a situation which
he occupies at Huahine in union with Mr. Barff and joining yourMissionaries here, had not the finger of God most clearly indicated to
us the path of duty;
this is made so remarkably plain, that not a
shadow of a doubt can remain- in our minds that it is the will of God.
We may also add for your satisfaction that M r . Ellis possesses excellentmissionary talents, real piety, & 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, a useful proficiency in an
acquaintance with medicine, an ability to ingratiate himself with the
Natives, together with amiable & affectionate dispositions.
His
wife is like minded; she is also well acquainted with the Tahitian
language, this being very usefully employed in the situation which
she fills.
They are both most highly esteemed by their Brethern &
Sisters in the Society Islands to whom they are affectionately
united.
That which has rendered them so / extremely useful, &
which has procured them so large a share of esteem both among the
�Previous to Sept. 1824
V
221.
Page 3 10.
their brethern and the natives, in the Society Islands, will, no
doubt, not procure for them the same extreme satisfaction among
our beloved friends your worthy missionaries in the Sandwich
Idlands, & render them as useful there.-- M r . Ellis accompanies
us back / again to Huahine, & will return to the Sandwich Islands
as soon as possible,--but at the expense of the London Missionary
Society.
And while we entertain the confident hope that this will
meet your approbation, we doubt not that you will join us in fervent
prayer that this important step may be the means of strengthening
the hands of your Mission here, & promoting the glory of God in
the salvation of multitudes of immortal souls in these long neglected but interesting Islands.
Wm. Chamberlain, and his e steemed brethern and sisters,
have done us the honour to consult us on the subject of his situa
tion in connexion with this Mission:
Being upon the spot, & having
an opportunity of forming an opinion on the subject from an actual
knowledge of the state of these Islands, & the circumstances of the
Mission, we have felt it to be our duty, in compliance with their
united request, to give our views as to the path of duty.
Mr. &
Mrs. Chamberlain are truly estimable characters, & worthy of that good
opinion which you have formed of them, and the highest esteem & love
from the Church & from the world, & had their talents been required
here in the sphere in which you intended them to move, more suitable
3d sheet #311
(9)
persons, we are persuaded, couldnot have been found.
But there is
no scope for agricultural talents beyond what the natives themselves
possess. Of this we are fully convinced.
This being the fact, Mr.
C . can render no especial service to the Mission in the way in which
he was intended to promote its welfare.
This being obvious to us,
& taking into account the importance of an immediate attention to the
formation of the character of his children, & their being brought
up in an acquaintance with some business, not to be learnt here, with
a view to their future settlement in life, & considering also the
precarious state of Mr. Chamberlain' s health, & the affecting sit
uation in which Mrs. C . would be placed, were she to be left a widow
in these Islands with such a family, — we give it as our decided opinion
that it was Mr. C.'s duty to return back again to his native country
by the first suitable conveyance.
In this opinion we f eel assured you
would f u l l y concur were you in these Islands to witness the habits &
manners of the inhabitants, which cannot but have the most injurious
effect upon the principles & conduct of those whose characters are to
be formed under the influence of such scenes as daily present themselves in these Heathen Lands.
�222.
Page #311.
(11)
Having spend some time here & in t he Society Islands, &
taken a leisurely view of both your Mission here & that with
which we stand more immediately connected, it may not be un
suitable to offer to your attention our opinion respecting those
persons whom the Missionary Society should send to labour in
Heathen Countries, which are under similar circumstances. with
those Islands which we have visited.
We feel considerable
diffidence in offering our sentiments, lest they should be con
sidered either obtrusive on our part, or unsolicited on yours.
But considering your view as that with which we have the honour to
be most intimately connected, we have but one feeling toward both Mi
Institutions, & are anxiously concerned for their dual prosperity.
An apology, we feel, is necessary for offering you, Beloved
Brethern, an opinion which you have not / called for, but we find
this apology in that-solicitude which we feel for the success of the
Gospel, by whomsoever it may be advocated;— and should we err, we
rely on your affectionate candour to forgive.
(Begin)—
As the resources of our Societies are limited, economy in
the expenditure of our finances is of indespensible importance, &
hence the question arises, how shill we most effectively & the
most extensively promote the Redeemer’s cause withthe means which
are put into our hands?
Or, in other words, what description of
characters are likely to do the most good to the souls of men &
to be the most efficient instruments in promoting at once the in
terest of Religion and civilization.
Our opinion is made u p , — we think that they sould be those
only who profess such talents as qualify them for instructing the
Heathen in the knowledge of the gospel, & also promoting the
knowledge of the gospel; & an acquaintance with the Arts of Civi
lization; & these talents should meet in the same person.-- While
we think it highly desirable that some Missionaries should be sent
into remote parts of the Heathen World, as these parts are, we want
those who have received a liberal education, with a view to the
translating of the Scriptures; yet we do not think that this is
necessary to be professed by all who are intended to preach the
Gospel among the Heathen.
A competent knowledge of their own
language, some general acquaintance with the most popular sciences,
an ability to work at some mechanical business, & to instruct others,
with a talent to adapt his exertions to any & every necessity which /
may arise,— these qualifications in- c onnexion with genuine piety, a
heart glowing with zeal for the salvation of souls, an ability to
teach, a readiness to acquire a foreign language, the spirit of his
office, an intimate knowledge of human nature, and a prudent, patient
& persevering mind,— a young man of twenty, or one of two & twenty,
years of age, so qualified, will make a valuable Missionary in such
countries as these.
In some parts of the Heathen world, more mechanics & agri
culturists may be useful in promoting civilization; but to see, as we
�but to us as we have had an opportunity of making observation
actually upon Missionary ground, we are decidedly of the opinion
that such persons, however pious they may be, will only incur
great expense, without rendering any adequate services to the
cause of Religion.
Civilization is not being effected to any
great extent, we think, by any direct attempt at accomplishing it
b y mere seculars; but indirectly by the example & recommendation
of the teachers of religion.
A Missionary will do more towards
promoting civilization by a well cultivated gard e n ; a neat house,
with decent furniture; & with suitable & becoming clothing, one
who is able to instruct those aroundhim in how to make any a r
ticles of furniture & which may attract attention, than fifty
artisans who might be sent for the express purpose of teaching
the Heathen these arts.-- Nor let it be imagined that it lowers
a Missionary in their eyes to know that he is able to work at
any of the mechanical arts.
It has the opposite effect.
They are
not able to appreciate his knowledge of the Classics, or what is calld
learning; but they can appreciate the talents of a man who can build
a house or a boat better than they can.
By such means a Missionary
establishes in their views his superiority over them; this being done,
they will better listen to his religious instructions, with more
deference, & feel confidence in him as a Teacher.
Civilization has made, and is making rapid progress in
those Islands; but it has /// been effected by the influence of the
Missionaries who possess themselves a knowledge of the useful arts,
& have been able to teach them to others.
Could those be found who would sacrifice all future hopes
of enriching themselves by their professional talents, & who are able
to instruct their fellow creatures by conversation in the concerns of
Eternity; who have hearts glowing with lively zeal for the honour of
Christ, & dispositions to co-operate in making for meekness & humility
with the Missionaries, whose office it is more immediately to in
struct mankind in the truths of the Gospel, they might be useful on
Missionary ground, both to the Missionaries themselves, & to the
N atives.
But having pursued their studies with a view to the emolu
ments which their professions promise, & being generally men of
respectable connexions, & of a liberal education, there is great
danger of their taking more upon them in the direction of Missionary
affairs than those would approve whose work is fully spiritual.
The peace & prosperity of the Mission would be seriously
risked by such a union.
However, we strongly advise that all
Missionaries should pay some attention to medicine & surgery, pre
viously to their leaving their country;
�9
Previous to Sept. 1824.
V
224.
4th sheet Page 312.
(13)
This we think might he done while they are engaged in those
preparatory studies which are deemed more essentially nec e ssary.
A little attention paid to these subjects for a
year or two would be a sufficient intrrduction:— a few books,
and future experience would mature their knowledge.
If
medical men at the request of the Natives are sent out, we
think they should not be connected in any way with the Mission,
but be wholly dependent upon the support which may arise from
their professional labours.
We would make the same suggestion
with regard to mechanics and lay men of all descriptions.
If requested by the N atives, let them find their
support, then they will not but set a much higher value upon
their services and talents than if their instructions in their
respective lines were given gratis.—
We question the pr o
priety of even sending school-masters as such, unless they
possess talents for instructing their pupils in the things of
Religion.
Schools must, of course, be formed & superintended
b y the Mission; & when conducted on good principles promise
essential advantages to the cause of Christianity.
But we feel persuaded that if they are not under
the superintendece of Missionaries, little good will be done.
Native assistants should be employed as soon as they can be
obtained, but kept under the immediate direction of the
Missionaries.
We think it not advisable to take the Native
children into a school; & feel, clothe, & board them for the
sake of giving them instruction; except at the commencement of a
new Mission, & then such only should receive instruction as
promise to be of assistance to the Mission afterwards by being
monitors
or instructors in other schools.— To give instruction &
support to a few youths of fourteen or fifteen years of age with
t his view, may be of service to the cause of religion; but to
takeyoung children indiscriminately is to incur vast expense
without any adequate advantage to the Mission.
A n the children
& even adultsof the South Sea Islands have the advantages of
school instruction daily, yet their (there) is not one school
master; no expense is incurred to the funds of our Missionary
Soc iety, excepting paper for printing school books:— & nowhere can
education be more easily acquired, or the means of imparting it
more efficient.
(End)
Having spent some time in the South Sea Islands (and
we intend to pass another 12 months, at least, there) it may not
be unacceptable to you to receive our views of the state of
religion in those highly favored regions.
You, however, no
doubt, read the reports which have been made respecting the
state of religion and of that Mission. —
& be assuredthat is
far from those reports which have been made respecting the
state of that Mission.
�225.
Page 312.
& be assured that, so far from the reports being exaggerated,
much more might have been said respecting the state of that
Mission.
The work is indeed marvellous in our eyes, & ex
cites in our hearts the most lively gratitude to that God whose
Hand has been so r i g o r o u s l y displayed in it.— The inhabitants of
those Islands were much sunken into the lowest possible state of
moral degradation; but are now we hesitate not to say, / viewing
them as a body, the most universally & consistently Christian of
any people upon the face of the earth.—
The Sabbath is univer
sally regarded.— the individual is scarcely known who does not
attend public worship there three times on the Lord's Day, &
several times in the week.
The congregations are large, & are well
behaved as any congregation we ever saw in E n g l a n d . Numerous churehes are formed of pius (pious) persons; while multitudes more are
waiting admission.
Full three-fourths of the people can be said to read &
many write & cipher.
Industry is every where apparent, & civi
lization has already made considerable progress.
Towns are
rising up comprised of houses built according to the European
style, our furniture is imitated, while the people
aim at the
same modes of living & clothing.
Crimes are very few, peace &
happiness are everywhere apparent.
The marriage is now held
sacred, infanticide is wholly discontinued, & religion is the
great business of life, while secular affairs, though not ne g
lected, are held as secondary.
All their food wanted for the
Sabbath is cooked on the Saturday:-not a fire is lighted, not a
house is seen moving upon the water, nor are any visits paid on
the Lord's day.
Never did the Gospel obtain a more complete
& glorious triumph over ignorance, sensuality & superstition since
the world began.—
Let this change afford y o u , Beloved Brethern, encouragement
in all your labours of love, & all your exertions to evangelize the
Heathen world.
Your prospects in these Islands are indeed most
highly encouraging, & that you may soon have to rejoice in their
spiritual regeneration, & their conversion to Christ, is, Dear
Friends, and dear fellow-laborers,
(Part of the page has been cut our here)
N . B . It will afford us great happiness to be favored with a letter
fromyou.
It may be forearded the Secretary of the L .M .S., Mission
ary Rooms, Old Jewry, London, or should an opportunity occur, to us
at the Rev. Mr. Marsden's, Paramatta, New South Wales--where we
hope to be in about a year & a half from this time.
Sandwich Island Missions.
Rev. Daniel Tyerman, &
George Bennett, Esq.,
Deputation of the London Missionary Society,
F eb. 20, 1823.
�Sandwich Island M i ssions.
Rev. Daniel T y e r m a n &
George Bennet, E squire.
Deputation of the London
Missionary Society.
Feb. 20, 1823.
�227.
9
Previous to Sept. 1824.
V
Page 3 1 3 .
from the Sandwich Mission.
Extracts from the Journal of AUNA, during his voyage
t o Hawaii.
(Written in Tahitian, and
translated into English by Mr. E
i llis.)
Saturday, May 11, 1822.
About noon we were off Ranai — a boat went on shore
with Raanui, and party.
Our vessel sailed on towards Maui(Mowee)
During the \ afternoon I was occupied in teaching nine of those
who sailed with us to read in the little Spelling Book.
In
the evening off the district of Lahaina in Moui, where Taumuarii
Kaahumanu, and their attendants went on shore.
lord's Day, the 12th,— -About 11 o ’clock in the forenoon
we went on shore and were much pleased with the appearance of the
place.
We found Taumuarii and Kaahumanu, Teaumotu (bon) and a
great many Chiefs and people, collected together, who welcomed us
on shore.
I asked Taumatu to whom an adjoining stone house
belonged, and on his answering that it was his, proposed that we
should have worship there, to which he answered: "Yes, let us go
and pray there".
He and his wife Kekuaiaia accompanied us, as
did Raanui, Opiia and several others, till the house was full.
I
read a portion of the Tahitian Gospel by Matthew, and then en
gaged in prayer to Jehova to bless them with His salvation. After
service we went and set down under the large tou trees.Teaumotu,
his wife and many others collected around u s .
We taught their
letters in the Hawaiian Spelling Book we had received from the
Missionaries at Oahu.
Teaumotu appeared much pleased.
In the
afternoon we again went into the place where we held our worship in
the morning, and after reading in the scriptures I engaged in prayer
to Jehova(h).
Teaumotu and his wife were again present. In the
evening we held our family worship, and were joined by Teaumotu, his
wife, and several others. At night we slept under the large tow trees
that grew on the beach.
Monday, 13th.—
In the morning many of the people and some
of the chiefs joined us in our family worship.
When it was over
I was employed at least two hours in teaching them their letters &c.
The Chiefs of the land brought a present to Kaahumana, consisting of
great quantities of potatoes, poetaro, and of baked dogs .
I was
afterwards taken with a shivering, which was followed b y a fever, and
confined me to my bed through the day, and prevented having family
worship in the evening.
Tuesday, 14th.-- Towards the middle of the day I felt better-
walked out and looked over the district, which is well walesed. a n d
c ontains a good many houses, plenty of breadfruit trees and some
plantains and banannas.
The people brought a large present of f o o d
today to Taumuorii a n d Koahumanu.
�228.
Paga 313.
Wednesday, 15th.— We were not joined this morning by any of
the people in our family worship, though several of them sat and looke d
on.
The Chiefs and people of Morotai brought a present of food tody
to the King of Tauwai (Atooi) and Kaahumanu, consisting of 54 bundle
of native cloth, 42 live dogs, and 20 large calabashes of poe, a sort
of paste made of taro.
17th
Friday, 17t h — The people busy in distributing their food and
cloth.
Another large present consisting of 34 baked dogs and 28
calabashes of poe, with a proportion of cloth.
Wrote several
letters to friends in the Society Islands, and / forwarded them to M r .
E lli
s to take to Huahine.
In the afternoon we went on board and
proceeded to the windward side of Maui, to set sail from thence
for Hawaii.
Lord's Day, 18th.— Early in the morning we set sail for Hawaii.
Our vessel was very much crowded and many were sick, so that we could
not have public worship today.
Several joined us in our family
prayers.
Monday, 20th.— This day in the morning we landed at Hawaii in the
bay of Tamaihai, viewed here very early in the morning;
Thursday, 23rd.— This day a number of dancers arrived here very
early in the morning, and we have had nothing but playing on the c a l
abashes, and dancing all day long.
Some joined us in our family
worship, but not many.
They appeared too much taken up with the dan
cing, &c .
Lord's Day, 26th.— The captain of one of the ships having lost
his watch, applied to Kaahumanu, and it was found that it had been
stolen from the ship. Kaahumanu had one of her men put in irons on
-suspicion, for the man that was in charge, and sent all the rest to
search for it.
We had publick worship, but it was amidst much oonfusion, for the man that was in irons made a great noise and those
that were searching for the watch made almost as muc h . About noon it
was brought back, having been sold by the man who stole it to some
of the residents at the place.
The man who had been confined b y the
Captain was released, and the watch was returned to the Captain who
had lost it;
We set sail immediately afterwards and proceeded to
/ Tehara,
A chief woman of the name of R unia brought a present of
fish and sweet potatoes for Taumuarii and Kaahumanu.
anchor
Thursday, 28th.
About noon came to another of the large districts
of Hilo (Aheolo).
In the afternoon we went on shore at a place
called Muhukamanu, by the side of a very large and rapid stream of
wat e r.
The place appeared well covered with trees and there was a
great deal of taro under cultivation.
The houses, were thick, and
the people very many.
The large number of anao (mullet) for
Kaahumanu. We went into a little house belonging to R ehosiho and held
our family w o r s h i p - j o i n e d by a few of the people.
There was much
dancing and song, singing the hula till midnight.
�Thursday, 30th -- We remained at Peehanua and Vairutu.
The people were very glad to see u s.
One of the Chiefs of the land
here kindly gave me some plaintain-leaves, for which he had to swim
across the river, and afterwards assisted me in putting up a temporary
dwelling. I conversed with them as opportunity offered concerning
the salvation of their souls, and many of them said, what I told them
was very good, and that as soon as the King turned to the Religion of
Christ, they should he very glad to follow him.
Saturday, June 1st.--The chiefs were employed in putting
up a large temporary dwelling-house for their visitors.
I was
alone among them most of the day, telling them of the great things
God had done for the people of the Society Islands, in sending them
the Gospel, with which they seemed interested.
The Chiefs of the
land brought their present to Kaahumanu, of 18 hogs, 86 dogs, some
good fowls, some fish, and great quantities of p o e .
Lord's Day, June 2d.---In the morning some few attended our
family worship.
A chief belonging to Koahumanu came to me to cook the
some arrow-root after the Tahitian manner, which I did.
Afterwards
we had public worship in the house of Opiia, who, with her husband,
and attendants as well as several others, attended and appeared much
interested.
So much was the confusion with the companies of dancers
the playing of the hula, the singing, &c. and the people bringing
presents, that we could only have public worship once to-day.
In the
afternoon we went inland to a native retired place under some shady
trees, where we undisturbedly worshipped Jehova.
The dancing con
tinued until very late at night.
Monday, June 3 d .— The people of the land, this day brought
presents to Taumar ii and Hoahumanu, consisting of 12 baked dogs, 60
dogs, 590 pieces of native cloth, 35 large calabashes of pee (poe)
and two large canoes.
There was encouh hustle and confusion, and /
vast multitudes of people.
I endeavored to talk with any I could
find disengaged.
Tuesday, June 4 t h .---Kaahumanu having commanded some of her
people, the idol of Tamehameha, Taraipahoa, he was brought today with
9 others, smaller idols, and publicly burnt.
My host greatly re
joiced in seeing them committed to the flames. Tapo was another name
of the great idol of Tamehameha.— Kaahumanu gave us
8 pieces of
clo th.
Wednesday, June 12th.— Hlaving been at sea sometime, since
Sabbath Day, we came to anchor this afternoon off Tapua on the east
side of the Island.
The Chiefs brought presents of food and fish,
principally Abbocores, for Taumurii and Kaahumanu.
Lord's Day/, June 16th.— We arrived at Kaiarua, the
residence of Kuakini (John A d a m s ).
In the afternoon we went on
shore after we had had our public worship on board the ship.
Totela-e
/ a Tahitian, Kuakine, the governor, and several others joined us in
cur family worship inthe evening.
Wednesday, June 19th/----The chiefs brought a present to
day of 222 fish, 20 dogs, 20 pieces of cloth, and 3 calabashes of
poe.
There was afterwards a / hura, by the people of Kuakine.
Thirty-three men beat time on sticks.
�230
Page 313, - Page 314.
Twenty-six dancers, and five large drums.
I was employed in
making some Monai (scented oil) and conversing with the people
who collected around m e .
Thursday, June 20th.---Today the chiefs and people of
Tona brought presents to Taumarii, consisting of baked dogs, 400;
c loth,mats, and other kinds of property 4000.
The feasting con
tinued with great confusion this day.
There was a dance of 41, who
danced in four lines, behind whom sat 31 musicians beating the sticks
and behind them were 4 large drums.
The people all drank a g o o d
deal of intoxicating liquor, made of the juice of the sugar-cane.
They frequently brought us some and wished us to partake with them,
but we always refused, and told them we used formerly to be as fond
of it as they were, but now, we knew it to be a bad thing to drink
intoxicating liquors, and wished not to drink it.
We also endeavored
to dissuade them from drinking it, but invain.
Friday, June 21st.— -This day Kuakine,the governor, made
a present to his visitors, consisting of 622 dogs, a canoe, 58 cala
bashes of poi, and 3 feathered cloaks.
There was afterwards a
great dance, nearly the same as yesterday, and very much confusion.
L o r d ’s Day,June 23rd.-— A relation of Koahumanu joined us
this morning in our family worship, after which we had some pleasing
conversation with him.
The chiefs were all gone to sport in the
surf. At noon they returned.
We afterwards had public worship in one
of Kuahinie's houses.
I read a chapter in one of the gospels, an
engaged in prayer. Aore, Kuakini, and several others attended.
Kuakini and a considerable number also attended our family worship
in the evening, and spent a considerable time with us in conversa
tion.
Monday, June 24th.— — In the morning Micromeai, a man
belonging to Koahnmanu was sent aboard one of the vessels to fetch
8 of the idols that had been brought from the other side of the
Island, and were intended to be brought to Oahu, to the King.
The
reason they were sent for was, the man who had been left on beard
to take care of the goods was taken ill, in the night and brought
on shore.
The chiefs immediately said it was the spirits of the
idols that were going to kill him.
"Let us send for them and
burn them".
In the afternoon we returned with Teraipohoa, Tetorimetu
Paparahoamau, ?atuahia, Kaunamura, Maiora, and Akua-hanai, who were
all consumed in the fire, at which I greatly rejoiced.
Wednesday, June the 26th.
E arly this morning Kuakini's
men who had been sent for the gods, returned. The chief then
ordered his people to make a large fire, and then set to work him
self and with his people assisting him, burnt one hundred and two
idols.
I thought of which I had witnessed at Tahiti, and Moarea, wh
when the idols there were burnt, particularly the idols burnt at Papetiai, by Paitu, and with my heart praised Jehova, the true God, that
I had witnessed these people following our example.
Taumorii and
Koakumanu talked with me a good deal this day about our burning the
idols at Tahiti, a n d seeded that s
f day had burnt theirs, that they
p
,
m
u
c
l
/
o
n
r
w
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e
h
t
d
i
a
.
s
k
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�231.
Page 314—
(7 )
Thursday, June 27, 1822.— To-day all were busy in pre
paring for our departure; there was also a great dance to-day
by 38 men from a neighboring district.
Several of the people
attended our family worship both morning and evening.
Friday the 28th.— We all went aboard the boats, canoes
and vessels.
Teoua, the wife of Kuakini,
came off to take leave
of Aune-Vahini. She brought with her a small present of blue
cloth. We presented her with a perl fish-hook, as a token of
our affection, and she returned to the shore. We soon put to
sea and set sail for Maui.
Tuesday, July 2nd.— Having touched at several places on
Hawaii, we came to an anchor at Kahaine. We went on shore a
little while, and returned to the ship and set sail for Oahu, where
we arrived the next day.
Journal of AUNA,
April 2, 1823.
�9 Previous to Sept. 1824.
C O P Y
V
232.
314.
o f a letter from Mr. O liphant, an/ American gentleman at Canton,
to Mr. Bingham, Missionary at the Sandwich Islands, accompanied
by a donation for the Mission from the writer, estimated to he
about 300 dollars.
Canton,
January 21 , 1822.
Rev. Hiram Bingham,
Dear Sir: —
An opportunity (the ship Tartar, Capt. Bailey)
offerring for the Sandwich Islands, I mail (avail) myself, to avail
myself of it to send you some articles which I hope may be serviceable
to your society, and grateful, as a token of Christian remembrance &
affection.—
If they in any degree administer to your comfort or
convenience, the privilege of dispensing it, is one for which I can
not be sufficiently thankful.— Who that has tasted the Saviour 's love
but must wish to express it— and to whom shall be express it if
not to those who have renounced their homes, that they may labour for
the good of their fellow men, to bring them from the wretchedness &
depredation of their darkness, to that Saviour & the blessings of His
Grace. — May you/, Dear Sir, and your fellow labourers be strengthened
for, & thru, and blessed in your work.-- Separated for a while
from the same Happy Country from which you came out, and tarrying in
the midst of Heathenish darkness & superstition, I often think upon
y o u , labouring that the moral desert around you may bloom & blossom
as the Rose--I can see and sympathize in the pain and grief you e x
perience in beholding the strong hold of sin & Satan upon the Hearts
of the children of Men, and their deafness to His Voice, and deadness
in unbelief— for I see and feel it in all that is around me.
But I
cannot pay as you can for it is your privilege to labour and to see it
(I trust) removed— And May the same Spirit which inclined your Hearts
to engage in this work of love/, and so wonderfully prepared the way
for you— turn the Hearts of th Ruler of these people, that the light
of that Revelation which has caused his servants now to seek and make
ready for them, may shine upon them.---As yet it is Hoping against
Hope--Ruler & Ruled are set in opposition to that Beloved Redeemer, and
H is cause & Name.
But it cannot long be so.
He that hath begun the
great work will carry it on.
H is word
is ready and it shall have
course and be glorified.—
May your hearts be animated with pregnant
thoughts of an pr
a y e r s for CHINA;
How important may your labours be
in regard to it, perhaps more so than you thihk— for those for whom
you are more immediately engaged— For if the sound of Otahiite turn
ing from Dumb Mobs to serve the living God, was the means of casting
to the ground those of Owhyt--may we not hope that the same word shall
pass from island to island till the brightness of their light shall
illumine the Darkn ess of China's long continued night— Mysterious is
that Providence which has so long permitted her millions to be e x
cluded from communion with the Nations of the Earth.
But "First"
in his own imagination perhaps it is nicely (wisely) ordered that he
shall be "last" to belong
to that Kingdom which is indeed everlasting,
�233.
Page 314.
of whose increase and Peace there shall he no end.
"When Jesus
end not Tea, shallbe her choice plant, to sweeten and correctthe
b itter waters of her oppressed and benighted Rac e ."
I
have nothing new of an interesting nature to communic
for this quarter.
M y Pamphlets from America are not probably So late as
those you will receive by Direct opportunities.
Dr. Morrison
has left here with the English Company, there being at present
a misunderstanding between them and China.— It is doubtful how the
matter will terminate.
Reasoning like commercial men, for interest's rate we
think it may be settled.
But there is one who sitteth upon the
whirlwind, and directecth all storms, who sees not with our
shortsightedness— and when it is considered who has been
b y the instrumentality of the Company in the Eastern world, it is t
the Christian's privilege to view them with other than commercial
eyes.— This affair may or may not be settled for this time, but
in taking leave of Dr. Morrison I could not repress the thought
"perhaps this Servant's work is done. He has mastered the language
and translated and made ready the Bible, and now he can do no more.
I would not offer the oppressed Gospel by War; but its instrumen
tality one can doubt.— And when we see what is done by saving
Power and Dominion to this C o .--in India it must be the other eyes
than those of Faith looking for all things to work the good of
Zion which can view them merely as a company of traders in regard
to China, in their present attitude without interestDr. Mo r
rison wrote you before he left by an opportunity to S. America
(not then knowing of the present) and sent you some Pamphlets.
I forward the latest numbers of the Gleaner and could wish I had
something moreinteresting.— You have probably heard of the Mission
to the Orages( I enclose a letter from a member of the 2d fam
ily to her friend of Baltimore, and which has been sent me for
perusal.
How little did the writer of it think where it would
travel.
May the Spirit which breathes in it animate the Hearts of
all, and may it respect you and yours.
I bid you farewell —
Praying with the spiritual Brown that, as you have been called to
labour for our Common Lord, in the Isles of the Ocean, "You may
forever stand on the Rock of Ages, on the sure bottom of Divine
purposes, and promises; and that with you may the Ocean of Redeeming
Love, protect, wash, and fructify all your powers.
While you Inhabit Time, that almost Invincible Island
thrown up in the Ocean of Eternal Duration, Ma y Eternal things
be your Prospect, your Refreshment, your all in a l l "
(Signed)
O.
�L etter of Mr. Oliphant.
Canton. China.
April 2. 1823.
Mr. Hiram Bingham,
Missionary to the
SANDWICH ISLANDS.
�9
Previous to S e p t . 1824
V
315
234
Middletown, July 12, 1823
Dear Sir,
Your favor of the 30th June came duly to hand--In reply to your
inquiry respecting the Sandwich Islands Mission shall be pleased
to communicate such general facts as I had an opportunity of as
certaining in a residence there of 46 days) The mission family
are located as comfortably as could possibly be expected under
existing circumstances, they have undoubtedly many privations
and personal inconveniences to contend with but the pain aris
ing from such a situation is in a great measure obviated by the
very cheerful manner In which they submit to their-privations,
& it gives me great pleasure to hear testimony tothe unvaried
diligence and tact with which they pursue their arduous duties,
& I cannot omit this opportunity of expressing the very high
opinions I formed of Mrs. B i n
g hams character & of her capabil
ity to be useful to the Mission. I frequently visited her when
occupied in her school with the view of seeing what progress
was made by her pupils, & was much gratified in observing the
improvement made by the scholars, the happy manner in which she
conveyed her instruction & the consequent respect entertained
for her.
The inhabitants of these Islands appears to be a kind & inof
fensive people & better than could be expected considering
that they are without religion or the moral restraints of civil
ized life although many of the vices of that state have been
unhappily introduced among them & I think it a debt we owe
them to introduce the arts & moral restraints of civilization
& thereby secure to them the sovereignty of their territory
when it rises Into that importance which their situation &
location advantages will in time give them, & I am fully
persuaded that it can only be done through the medium of Chris
tianity & I do fully believe that this desirable object will
be accomplished(under God's helping) by the efforts mow making
for that purpose.
The work undoubtedly will require consider
able time although when I look at the present state of the
society I can as I am in(blot) to think it will not be as
long as would at first be supposed. I became well acquainted
with Mr.
?
& Mr.
?
also Mr. Ellis one of the
Missionaries from Tahiti the 2 former gentlemen sent out by
the London Mission Society are highly respectable and intelli
gent, & I consider that Mr. Ellis has been very serviceable
to the Mission . from these gentlemen I received a particular
&
highly interesting account of the state of those islands,
& I need only mention that the Institution of marriage is fully
established & rigidly observed . the crime of infanticide
now unknown . written laws established & promulgated through
the medium of the press which guarantee the security of per
sons & property & now none of these exist at present at the
Sandwich Islands, but I confidently believe that the period
is not very distant that will find them In possession of
those changes through the medium of Missionary exertions.
�I heard M r . Bingham make h is first prayer in the language of
the country . I was much gratified to perceive the impres sion
It made on his numerous audience of native s . M r . E lli
s preach
ed very often in the native language & apparently w ith happy
effect . he had i t contemplation to join th e mission with his
family . should he do so he w i l l be a great acq uisition to
them . his perfect knowledge of the language talents & happy
manner of preaching will be h i g hly use ful -- I have thus present
ed to you Sir a General view of the mission as it appeared to
me--it will & mus t be productive of the happiest effects in
spreading Go d 's word & benefiting our fellow men.
I am Sir with great respect Y our obt Servt
Henry S. DeKoven
To
T . Evarts Esq
Boston
(No back to this letter)
(End of first volume)
�
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Missionary Letters to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (A. B. C. F. M.)
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Missionary Letters to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (A. B. C. F. M.) - Volume 01 - 1819-1824
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1819, 1820, 1821, 1822, 1823, 1824