ence of the whole of the missionary society
here could have saved her life. They exerted
themselves greatly, and preserved her; and
she had proved a faithful and valuable servant.
Before finally quitting the subject of slavery,
I must give an account of some white men I
saw in this state of degradation, and who belonged
to a chief who visited us some weeks
since. In the beginning of 1827, the government
of New South Wales hired the brig
“ Wellington ” to convey a number of prisoners
to Norfolk Island, most of whom were
felons of the worst description: the greater
part were under sentence of banishment for
life. These desperadoes amounted to seventy-
four ; by far too many for the size of the brig,
as those whose duty it was to guard them, and
the crew of the vessel, were too few to keep
them under subjection. When within a few
days’ sail of their destination, they rose on
the guard, and, after a desperate struggle,
made themselves masters of the vessel, which
was a very fine one, and was well provided
with arms and stores of every kind, amounting
to a sufficiency to carry them to any part
of the world they chose. But the machinations
of the wicked rarely prosper, and this was
another proof of the truth of the observation ;
for, after a stormy and violent debate among
themselves, they at length determined to run
for the Bay of Islands, and if any vessel more
eligible was there, they were to take possession
of her, and leave the “ Wellington” behind,
she having no register. It is but justice
to them to state, that they behaved with humanity
to their captives, and no lives were
lost: they appointed officers amongst themselves,
and, with the assistance of the deposed
captain, made this port. On their arrival
here, they found two English whalers, the
“ Sisters,” Captain Duke, and the “ Harriet.”
The commanders, as is usual on these occasions,
went immediately on board the new
comer. Captain Duke well knew the vessel,
having seen her at Sydney; but, of course,
had no idea of what had happened. The
pirates received them with great civility, and
deceived them with a false description of their
voyage, — of being bound to a southern port
with prisoners; and the two captains, not