detailed at some length, in order to give you a specimen of the influence exerted on the Islands by wicked foreigners, it may be proper to premise that it is by no means the only instance of the kind. The conduct of one officer of a vessel has been held up to public reprobation; and that of another, belonging to the United States' Navy, has been subjected to a legal investigation before the tribunal of his country.

The outrage of the riotous crew of the ship Daniel, occurred in the year 1825, at Lahaina. A little after sunset, October the fifth, two men called on Mr. Richards, and expressed a desire to converse with him alone. He readily followed them to the door. They immediately introduced the subject of the new law, prohibiting abandoned females from visiting ships, and said that the law was an improper one, and that he was the means of its being enacted. He utterly disclaimed all connexion with the passing of the law, except that publicly and privately he had inculcated on the chiefs and on the people, the principles of the Scriptures, among which was included the seventh commandment. They said, he could procure a repeal of the law, and received the reply that this could be done only by giving instructions contrary to the word of God, and that such a course would ill become a Christian missionary. Scarcely had

these men withdrawn when several others came, one of them calling at the window and seeking admittance. The door being opened, he entered the house, and immediately demanded the repeal of the law, at the same time threatening to destroy, not only his property and house, but also his life and the lives of all his family. Mr. Richards told him distinctly, that there was but one course for them to pursue; that they had left their country to devote their lives, whether longer or shorter, to the salvation of the Heathen; and that with the hope of being equally prepared for life or death, they should throw their breasts open to the murderer's knife, rather than retrace a single step they had taken. Mrs. Richards, who had been a listener thus far, then said to them, "I am feeble and have none to look to for protection but my husband and my God. I might hope that, in my helpless situation, I should have the compassion of all, who are from a Christian country. But if you are without compassion, or if it can be exerted only in the way you propose, then I wish you all to understand, that I am ready to share the fate of my husband, and will, by no means, consent to live upon the terms you offer." Where will you look for an instance of heroic virtue surpassing this! Nor was it without effect. Even the hard-hearted sailor relented and retired. But persecution

was not yet tired of its work. Repeated invasions from the seamen were afterwards repelled by the native guards surrounding the mission house. In this condition, Mr. Richards.addressed a letter to the Captain, informing him of the circumstances, and requesting his interference, but without success. There was even evidence that his men were encouraged and instigated by him; as was to be expected from his known personal character. On Friday, the seventh, a more violent attack was made upon the mission house, by a mob that had come from the ship for that purpose. They were furnished with knives and even pistols. The guards endeavoured to repel their assault; but after having narrowly escaped the thrusts of a knife drawn by the foremost of the mob, they were obliged to retreat. The life of Mr. Richards was now in imminent peril; but before the mob could force its way into the house, where he had stationed himself in the best posture of defence, the natives had assembled in sufficient numbers to protect him and his family against the rage of these civilized men! Through the whole of this frightful scene, and ever after, on similar occasions, the chiefs and people showed the tenderest attachment to their missionary. By their exertions his life was preserved; and, what is still more important, the foul purposes of the seamen were defeated

in every respect. Thus was a standard raised against a wicked practice, which had been so destructive to the prosperity of the Islands. It is proper to add, before closing my notice of the ship Daniel, that an account of the outrage was published in the United States, which so enraged the Captain, that, at a subsequent visit to the Islands, his crew attempted the life of the missionary, and put the chiefs to so much trouble, that they finally called a council for the investigation of the whole affair. The result of this council was highly propitious to the mission. It not only vindicated the course pursued by the missionaries, but also led to the promulgation of the first written laws, that had been made upon the Islands. As these laws were designed and fitted for the suppression of vice and the encouragement and promotion of morality, their enactment was a matter of great importance. So does God overrule the conduct of impious men, and cause even the wrath of his enemies to praise him!

Gladly would I refrain from the rehearsal of facts, that reflect so much disgrace upon civilized lands. But they are too important to pass wholly unnoticed. Though it will grieve you to hear of it, I must tell you of another method, to which corrupt foreigners have resorted to hinder the progress of missionary improvements. Those

devoted men, who have laboured, with astonishing self-denial, for the good of the Sandwich islanders, have had to encounter the opposition of those who have misrepresented their motives, and slandered their characters, both at home and abroad.

I have before told you of the unfavourable reports which were circulated, concerning the missionaries, in the early part of their mission, and which were dispersed by the providential visit of the English deputation. But though, in this instance, they were fully justified in the hearing of the natives, they were still annoyed with false accusations. Sometimes it was said, that they were illiterate men, and incapable of affording any useful instruction. Again it was insinuated, that they were intermeddling with commerce and other things, which did not belong to them. These rumours, it is true, gained little credit with the chiefs or the people, but they were eagerly caught and spread abroad by the enemies of the mission. Such currency did they obtain, that they became topics for conversation in the United States, and in Europe. At length they made their appearance in the public prints. Captains of vessels wrote and published letters; bookmakers took up the scandal, and reviewers followed in the train, until the excitement