TO CAPTAIN FINCH.

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the views of the different writers upon the subjects of learning and religion. Some hundred of these, I should think, were committed to me by the writers, after being subjected to the inspection of the various foreigners present. Among these were some, who take little interest in the advances of every kind making by the people, and who affect to believe, and who say, that no good has ever been accomplished by the mission, and that the people have no capacity for knowledge. To such, the gratification exhibited by our party at the attainments manifest, and the encomiums past by them, both on the teachers and the pupils, were any thing but agreeable: a fact which they could not disguise. The attention of a principal officer was attracted by the readiness, and apparent understanding, with which a large class repeated, what he was told was the multiplication table; and expressed his surprise and pleasure to one of these gentlemen seated beside him; to which he replied, with a look expressive of great contempt “All parrot-like, sir, all parrot-like—they know nothing about what they are saying!" Almost immediately after, a young man brought a slate with a large and complex sum in addition upon it, presenting it to the officer to know whether it was correct. It was found to be perfectly so: and turning to Mr., he said with a laugh-"A parrot possibly might learn to repeat the multiplication table, Mr.

-, but it would require a wise bird to add such a series of columns together, without a mistake!" Understanding that the females would leave the chapel in procession, Captain Finch and myself

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IMPOSING ASPECT

walked out before them, and took a stand in the upper veranda of the palace built by Karaimoku— commanding a fine view of the whole strect from the chapel to the house, where they were to be set down. The children of Kekuanaoa came first; but, unaccustomed to this ancient mode of conveyance, the moment their couch of state became elevated on the shoulders of its bearers, and moved forward with its compliment of feathered staffs and train, the young nobles began screaming so loudly, that their attendants were obliged to receive them to their arms from their lofty seats, and allow the pageant to pass on unoccupied. Next came the queens, and last, the princess, preceded by the king and suit on foot, and escorted by a file of the royal guards on either side, to keep open a passage sufficiently wide for her throne and its bearers, amidst the immense throng of gayly dressed thousands around.

The scene thus presented in a single coup d'œil was highly exciting. This bearing of some favorite. of a nation upon the heads of the people has always been associated in my mind with a state of highwrought enthusiasm-an enthusiasm springing from a just admiration and a sincere love for the object calling it into action-and the sympathetic influence of which seizes irresistibly on the heart, even of an uninterested spectator. I could not free myself froin an influence of the kind on this occasion-nor was it necessary; for she who was thus borne aloft, surrounded by all the glory of her rank and the gaze of ten thousand eyes, was the joy of the people and the delight of the whole nation. And while I gazed in

OF A NATIVE PROCESSION.

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admiration on the animated and youthful favorite passing triumphantly along, beneath a canopy of magnificent kahilès nodding with grace and stateliness in the breeze-as cheer after cheer from the wide-spread and admiring multitude greeted her on her way-I thought, and remarked, that the pageant, though destitute of the gilding of equipage and caparison of horse found in other countries, equalled, if it did not surpass, in its effect upon the eye and upon the heart, the most gorgeous and princely train I ever witnessed.

At the close of the quarterly examination, a fortnight ago, Mrs. Bingham entertained Captain Finch and officers, with the king, and regent, and members of the mission, at tea; and we at this time met the same company, with the addition of a greater number of the chiefs, at the cottage of Mrs. Ruggles and Mrs. Clark. On the former occasion, the captain, with the king on one side and the regent on the other, through the interpretation of Mr. Bingham, had new evidences afforded him of their intelligence and affability; and on the present, a demonstration was given that a whole circle of their compeers are no strangers to the etiquette of a tea-drinking.

SOME of the incidents of the last forty-eight hours have been among the most interesting, dear H that I have ever witnessed here.

On Saturday evening I attended a meeting for religious conversation and prayer. It was held in a large school-house, near the residences of the principal chiefs, and was composed of persons of every rank and condition among the people. There were circumstances in the mere approach to the spot suf ficient to impart seriousness and solemnity to the mind ever accustomed to higher thoughts than those of which the things of this world are worthy. Numbers from various quarters, wrapped in their large mantles, were still silently and slowly assembling-seemingly with hearts prepared, by the gray of the evening and musings on the object bringing them together, for meditations of eternity and the sincere worship of their God.

No light prattle or giddy laugh, no unbecoming levity in look or manner, betrayed the careless mind or a spirit little concerned in the services before it; but all appeared to be cherishing thoughts and affections suited to a place of seriousness and prayer.

AN ALBINO AND A BLIND MAN.

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On entering the lowly door and humble but spacious apartment, the light of a few tin lamps, at long intervals against the posts supporting the roof, fell dimly on the countenances and figures of at least a thousand of these sable tribes, all waiting in profound silence the arrival of a teacher in the things of eternity. We took our seats at a small table near a door, in the midst of them, and waited ourselves till those yet entering should find places. Among the number of these was an Albino, though a pure native, and another a blind man, of fine countenance and noble figure, with deep seriousness marked on his features, as, by the guidance of a friend whose hand he held, he was led near the table, and became seated on the mats at our feet.

There was in this incident that which at once brought into exercise those better feelings we all delight to exercise at such hours and in such a place; and my thoughts were, as I gazed with deep interest on this afflicted islander-seeking in the darkness of the night by the kindness of another, that light, which though invisible to the natural eye, is emphatically the "light of the world," and the "light of life"——— "happy, happy art thou, though bind, if seeking light from the great Physician! happy, though afflicted, if, conscious of a darkness of soul as well as of body, thy earnest cry is, 'Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me !"

After a hymn and prayer, and a few remarks suited to, the occasion, any one who felt desirous of asking a question, or of expressing a sentiment upon the subjects for which the meeting was instituted, was requested VOL. II.

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