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home to their feelings 5 but that some who have mothers maybe roused to such reflection , to such comparison of their own situation and character with those of others , as may be of no littie benefit to their affectious . "
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Art . VII . —Journal of P ^ oyages and Travels by the Rev- £ > . Tyerman and G . Sennet , Esq ., deputed from the London Missionary Society to visit their various Stations in the South * Sea Islands , China , India , SfC , between the Years 1821 and 1829 . Compiled from Original Documents , by James Montgomery . 2 Vols . 8 vo .
This publication has disappointed us , both as a book of travels , a ad as a report of missions . In the one point of view , it is less interesting , and in the other less complete and distinct , than we had anticipated . The first failure is probably owing to the want of the requisite qualifications in the travellers . They do not
seem to have beetl men of much acquiremeut , taste , or general observation , nor was it needful for the purposes of the London Missionary Society that they should be * Missionary inspection was their vocation , the thing whereto they were sent . But a full , true , and particular account of the results of that
inspection ; of the actual aud tangible effects produced ; of the dost of wealth and lives by which they have been produced ; and of the machinery now kept at work by an expenditure of forty thousand pounds per annum— -this we had reckoned upon . The detail of Missionary Statistics is probably reserved for the Cabinet of the Directory . Us production would , we suspect , startle some of the contributors , aud not greatly aid the getting-up of Excitement Meetings .
The best portion of these volumes is that which relates to the South-Sea Islands , But even this is in every respect inferior to what we have already had from their companion in that region , Mr . Ellis , in bis Polynesian Researches . An impartial account of the present state of society in Otaheite and its dependencies is much needed . The statements which
reach us from time to time are very conflicting . The Missionary Deputation saw every thing coleur de rose ; others tell a very different tale , and present a very modified view of the good which has been accomplished , and of the progress which is making . Great stress is laid by the Missionaries , as might be expect-
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ed * on acts of devotion and the uabbatical observance of the Lord ' s-day—we should rather say of the Saturday s for the first Missionaries , by a slip in their reckoning , canonized the wrong day , and not think' * ing it expedient to publish their blunder to the natives , they have upheld their own credit at the expense of what they deem a divine command . The most
interesting passage in these volumes , aud that which gives the most favourable impression of the mental and moral condition of the natives , is the following debate on the question whether murder should be punished by death or by banishraeut , by the Parliament of Otaheite This Parliament is composed of the chieftains , and of delegates from the several districts of the kingdom * They constitute but one House .
"On the question being proposed , Hitoti , the principal chief of Papeete stood up , and , bowing to the president and the persons around him , said , ' No doubt this is a good law , *—the proposed punishment was exile for life to a desolate island , — ' but a thought has been growing in my heart for several days , and when you have heard my little speech
you will understand what it is . The laws of England , from which country we have received so much good of every kind—must not they be good ? And do not the laws of England punish murderers by death ? Now , my thought is , that as England does so , it would be well for us to do so . That is my thought . ' Perfect silence followed }—and it may be
observed here that , during the whole eight days * meeting of this parliament , in no instance were two speakers on their legs at the same time ; there was not an angry word uttered by one against another ; nor did any assume the possession of more knowledge than the rest .
In fact , none controverted the opinion of a preceding speaker , or even remarked upon it , without some respectful commendations of what appeared praise-worthy in it , while , for reasons which he modestly but manfully assigned , he deemed another sentiment better . After
looking round to see whether aiiy body were already up before him , Utami , the principal chief of Buanaauia , rose and thus addressed the president : * The chief of Papeete has said well , that we have received a' great many good things from the kind Christian people of England . Indeed , what have we not received from Beretane ? Did they not send us ( area ) the gospel ?—But doea not Hitoti ' a speech go too far ? If we take the laws of England for our guide ,
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Critical Notices . —M&cellaneous . 539 *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1831, page 539, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2600/page/35/
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