We can only further advert to the case of Paramatta, where a considerable chapel had been opened in the morning, and the foundation of a smaller one laid in the evening of the same day. The new chapel had been in progress eleven months, and was at last finished to the satisfaction of all parties. Many persons of distinction expressed their admiration of the chaste and elegant style of the building. It was agreed to open it on Thursday, September 19th. The friends assembled for prayer at five o'clock on the morning of that day; at eleven the Liturgy was read, and an edifying discourse delivered to a numerous audience, from, "Thy kingdom come," by the Rev. John M‘Kenny. Immediately after the morning service, the congregation proceeded to the site of the intended erection, which was distant about three quarters of a mile. It lay on the other side of the water, where there was a rapidly-increasing population, with no other place of worship but a Roman Catholic chapel. The allotment of land on which it was proposed to build, was presented to the Rev. Samuel Leigh, some years before, by Richard Rouse, Esq. The procession having arrived on the ground, the foundation-stone was laid by H. K. M'Arthur, Esq., a highly respectable member of the established church. The principal topic in his address was, "The church of England and Wesleyan Methodism, the grand barriers to the progress of Popery." A large concourse of people heartily responded to this sentiment. The Rev. Nathaniel Turner, who had just arrived in the colony, and several others, also addressed the people. The friends then separated, and in the enjoyment of social intercourse awaited the evening service. It was conducted by the Rev. Joseph Orton, who preached an admirable sermon, from Balaam's exclamation, How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob! and thy tabernacles, O Israel!" A most blessed influence pervaded the congregation, and many eyes were moistened with tears. The opening services were resumed on the following Sunday. The morning service was conducted

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by the Rev. Nathaniel Turner, who preached from Luke xv. 10: "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." His touching appeals to the conscience moved the audience, and affected many hearts. An excellent sermon was delivered in the evening by the Rev. James Watkin, to a full and an attentive congregation. After the public service, the members of this missionary church partook of the emblems of the Saviour's dying love. The expense of the building was £1,400; but such was the liberality of a comparatively poor people, that, within three months from the time of its being opened, the whole sum was raised and paid.

CHAPTER XIII.

INTERVIEW of the Missionaries with the Governor of New South Wales, on the State of Tonga-Affecting Narrative of the first Lieutenant of the Ship "Favourite "-The Rev. John Waterhouse returns from a Series of hazardous Voyages in the South Seas-An experimental Training-School established in Feejee -Tour through Van-Diemen's Land-Death of the Rev. John Waterhouse-Notes of the Rev. Joseph Orton-He dies at Sea -Prosperity of the colonial Churches-Arrival of the Rev. Walter Lawry-Swan-River Institution for the Improvement of the Natives-Rev. William B. Boyce assumes the Direction of the Mission-The Sphere of his Labour-First Missionary Visit to Goulbourn-State of Things in South Australia-The Lord Bishop examines the Children at the Native Institution -A touching Scene at the Death of a native Convert-Discovery of Gold by Mr. Hargraves-Its probable Influence on Commerce-Viewed in relation to Religion and MoralityEngland made the Recipient of this Wealth-The probable Reason-The Time when this Discovery was made-A special Call to the Protestant Churches of Great Britain-A Call to the Imperial Parliament to make some suitable Provision for the Natives-Sydney "Gazette"-The Question, Who should emigrate? answered-General Condition of the ColonyAdditional Labourers appointed-Scene at the Mines-Proposal to invest the Australian Churches with the Prerogatives of Self-Government-All colonial Missions should anticipate the same Result Deputation appointed to visit the Country, and make preliminary Arrangements-Wesleyan Census for 1852.

DURING the first six months of the year 1840, Tonga was in a state of political convulsion, arising from the malignant attacks of the Heathens upon the chiefs and natives who had renounced idolatry and embraced Christianity. Several unfriendly journals had, in their accounts of these painful occurrences, thrown a shade of suspicion over the characters of the missionaries, by insinuating that an imprudent interference on their part had led to fatal results. The chairman of the New South Wales district, being anxious to ascertain the facts of the case, sought an interview with the governor, in the hope of

being able to obtain such information as would enable him to vindicate his brethren in Tonga from the aspersions of their enemies. The governor received him and his colleague, the late Rev. Joseph Orton, with much cordiality, and frankly acceded to their request. His Excellency entered into a minute detail of the transactions that had occurred at Tonga, as far as they had been reported to the government. In the course of the conversation that ensued, several pointed questions were proposed to His Excellency respecting the deportment of the resident missionaries; in reply to which he was pleased to state, in the most unequivocal terms, that they were perfectly exonerated from all blame. It appeared that, in the midst of civil commotion among the natives, and when their persons, families, and property were in great danger from the attacks of the Heathen, the brethren applied for protection to the captain of the ship "Favourite," which happened to appear off the island at this awful crisis of affairs: but they had in nowise dictated to Captain Croker as to what measures he ought to adopt, but were anxious for conciliation. His Excellency conferred upon the brethren the favour of an introductory letter to the officers of the "Favourite," which had arrived in Port-Jackson, stating the nature of their business; and further evinced the interest he took in the matter, by ordering a government vessel to convey them on board. “We found the first lieutenant," they observe, “lying in a cot, suffering extremely from his wounds. He and the other officers received us with every mark of civility, freely entering upon a communication which, in all points, corroborated the representations which we had previously received from the governor, particularly in vindication of the conduct of our missionaries throughout the transaction; assuring us of their readiness, if necessary, to give their united testimony to that effect."

The statements received on this occasion, as to the measures adopted by Captain Croker, vary in some trifling respects from previous reports. When the "Favourite"

came off the island, the missionaries and their families were in jeopardy from the Heathen natives, and had fled from their habitations for security to a small fort belonging to the Christian natives. Under these circumstances, they were induced to inform Captain Croker of their dangerous situation, and to solicit his protection. Without delay, the captain directed a number of volunteers from his ship to proceed with him on shore, carrying with them three carronades, besides their small arms, and ammunition. The fortress, where the Heathen forces had principally assembled, was about four miles inland, and was represented by the officers of the "Favourite" to be a well-constructed fortification, almost impregnable, formed by the butts of cocoa-nut trees, placed perpendicularly to the height of upwards of twenty feet, the wall being several feet in thickness; above this was a kind of network of cane or bamboo, to render the fortification more difficult to scale; round the outside of this barricade was a deep trench, about forty feet wide, with water in it; at certain distances there were loop-holes made, to afford them the facility of firing upon invaders. The only entrance was barricaded by cocoa-nut trees placed horizontally, with a carronade just within, pointing through an aperture made for the purpose; the whole presenting the appearance of having been constructed and superintended by persons well skilled in the science of military engineering: which there is too good reason to suspect, from the fact of there being, at least, two Europeans who evidently took a very active part in the business: one is said to have been an armourer, and has resided on the island for many years, being well known as "Jemmy the Devil!"

By the orders of the captain, the carronades were brought within one hundred and six yards of the fortification, quite within the range of the enemies' musketry. Having taken this position, a native female, bearing a flag of truce, was sent to the fortress, conveying Captain Croker's wish that they would surrender, and come to