the ferocity of the "native race," produced on so extended a scale this feeling of "loyalty" to the crown of England, and "tranquillised" those roving masses who, for centuries, had been going about, like the legions of Satan, "seeking whom they might devour?"

These, we are told, are the legitimate results of science and industry, emanating from colonization. When it becomes necessary, we are prepared to show, that, but for the labours of Marsden's lay-settlers, and those of Leigh, Stack, Turner, Hobbs, and their successors, the country could not have been colonized when it was. Unless the colonists had arrived in greater numbers than Britain at any time supplied, the natives would have baked them in their ovens, and eaten them at a meal. Others, equally anxious to exclude Christianity from all claim to these lofty achievements, have ascribed them to the establishment of British authority, sustained by the British bayonet. When these reasons have been assigned to the Christian chiefs for the general "tranquillity" referred to in His Excellency's communication, they have indignantly denied their relevancy. They have said, in their own simple yet forcible mode of expression, "Do not think that New-Zealand is quiet and in peace because we feared the muskets and the soldiers. No; we did not fear them, only the word of God. It was this we feared. It was this that chained New-Zealand hands, and bound them fast that they could not fight. By the word of God NewZealand is in peace." The truth of this must be obvious to any one at all acquainted with the relative strength and position of the two races. "The group of colonies," says Sir George Grey, "comprised in the New-Zealand islands, are composed at present in what may be termed nine principal European settlements, besides smaller dependencies of these. Their total European population may be stated at 26,000 souls. These settlements are scattered over a distance of nine hundred miles of latitude; they are separated from each other by wide intervals; and communication, even for persons on horseback,

exists only between three of them. Their inhabitants have never been trained to the use of arms, and are so scattered that it would be found impossible to afford efficient protection. The wide intervals between these European colonies are occupied by a native race, estimated to consist of 120,000 souls, a very large proportion of whom are males capable of bearing arms. These natives are generally armed with rifles, or double-barrelled guns; they are addicted to war; have repeatedly, in encounters with our troops, been reported by our own officers to be equal to any European troops; are such good tacticians, that we have never yet succeeded in bringing them to a decisive battle. In fact, they are better equipped for warfare in this country than our own troops; and from the position they occupy between all the settlements, they can choose their own point of attack, and might even so mislead the most wary government as to their intended operations, as to render it extremely difficult to tell at what point they meant to strike a blow. They can move their forces with rapidity and secrecy; whilst, from the general absence of roads, the impassable nature of the country, and the utter want of supplies, it is impossible to move a European force more than a few miles into the interior from any settlement. In any thing like a national war, there can be little doubt that almost every village would pour forth its chiefs and its population. The centre of the northern island is occupied by a mountain range, the highest point of which is ten thousand feet above the level of the sea, and is covered with perpetual snow, having as one of its peaks a volcano of boiling water. The subsidiary mountain-ridges or spurs, thrown off from the main range, are, for the most part, where roads have not been constructed across them, impassable even for horses so that no overland communication, except for foot-passengers, can be considered as yet existing between several principal settlements. The European settlements are situated chiefly in the plains, whilst the Maori population inhabit the central mountain-range, or are scattered

along the fertile banks of the rivers, or occupy the coastline which intervenes between the several European settlements."

This is by far the most candid and important document ever published in this country on the relative strength and actual state of parties in New-Zealand. Had the natives, at any period, broken out in one simultaneous insurrectionary movement, what would have been the consequences? And have there been no moments of embittered hostility? no conflicting interests? no national jealousies? no seasons of intense excitement? There have! What, then, gave cohesion to these heterogeneous materials, and afterwards consolidated the union? We say, frankly, the permeating influence of the word of God, and the missionary. Let the institutions of Christianity be vigorously sustained, and they will issue in the blending of the two races, the European and the Maori, until, in the feeling they entertain towards each other, they become as one people, strong for defensive purposes, if necessary; strong to repel unjust aggression, such as Tahiti has experienced; and strong for all benevolent and Christian enterprises. This state of society is fast setting in. Each European settlement has attracted to its vicinity, or contains mixed up with its white inhabitants, a considerable Maori population. In these cases both races already form one harmonious community, connected together by commercial and agricultural pursuits: they profess the same faith, resort to the same courts of justice, stand mutually and indifferently to each other in the relation of landlord and tenant, and are insensibly forming one people.

6. But "what is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord." What are these vast commercial and social advantages, compared with the spiritual and eternal benefits resulting from the labours of Leigh and his successors? We can only afford space for figures. Independently of those who have died in the Lord from year to year, the present number of communicants is 4,422; children in the day-schools, 3,500; in the sabbath-schools, above

7,000; 11,000 persons attend the public ministry on the Lord's day. This extended field is occupied by only twenty missionaries and their assistants. Alas, what a disparity between the number of agents and the momentous task assigned to them! We ask the friends of the Wesleyan missions, Do you intend your agents to penetrate and influence the entire mass of society in NewZealand? to subvert the "customs" of ages? to create a national sense of responsibility? to excite feelings, anxieties, and conduct becoming the Christian, in the various relations of life, and to promote habits of Christian zeal and liberality for the glory of Christ? Then we tell you frankly, that you must double their number!

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CHAPTER XVII.

MR. LEIGH returns to England-Is Supernumerary at Liverpool→ Resumes the Itinerancy-Letter from the Author of the Life of Captain Cook, F.R.S.-"The Missionary and the Mariner" -Mr. Leigh's Marriage-The Failure of his Health-He retires to Reading-Continues to labour with untiring Zeal-Is seized with Congestion of the Brain while addressing a public Meeting-His last Illness-Death and Funeral-Some of the most distinguishing Excellences of his Character-His Qualifications as a Missionary-His unaffected Piety-Moral Rectitude -Punctuality-And catholic Spirit-CONCLUSION.

HAVING established missions in New South Wales and New-Zealand, and remained eighteen years in connexion with those missions, Mr. Leigh returned to England in 1831. He had been the subject of affliction for some time before he left the colony, and suffered much from mental depression, occasioned by the death of Mrs. Leigh. Being incapacitated for public duty, he spent the following year, as a supernumerary, in Liverpool. This season of relaxation proved so far beneficial, that, at the Conference of 1833, he felt able to resume the itinerancy, and received an appointment to Gravesend. The year was fully occupied with the ordinary duties of the ministerial and pastoral offices, with frequent excursions into other circuits, to awaken a more general interest in behalf of the missions, and to increase the intensity of their missionary zeal.

In November, 1834, he received the following interesting note, from the Rev. G. Young, A.M., author of the "Life and Voyages of Captain James Cook, F.R.S.:” “I received from a friend some beautiful verses, composed by him on occasion of hearing you relate an interesting anecdote of your having seen the name Cook,' inscribed on a rock in New-Zealand, while you were there as a missionary. As I mean to notice this incident, and insert

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