we have heretofore explained the causes why the British dislike the queen. Dissolute men from that nation, have been labouring to make the young king as dissolute as themselves. The queen, the chiefs, and the Missionaries, have thus far laboured successfully to prevent the fruition of their hopes, and hence the bitterness with which they are assailed.

The natives are represented by the aforesaid Captain Beechey, as being so in love with learning to read, so intent on their salvation, so fond of preaching and praying, that they work not at all. The Island, since the conversion of the people, has become nearly depopulated—“ the natives having grown so lazy, as to cook their food but once a week; in consequence of which, it becomes sour and unwholesome, and produces complaints of the stomach, which carry them off." This Captain Beechey must be a whaler, (and it is the most clement supposition we can make for him,) and fond of telling large stories-vulgarly called fish stories. The American public need not be told that these representations are totally false. The character of the natives of the Sandwich Islands is elevated in every respect, where it has been touched at all, by the labours of the Missionaries. It is freely admitted, that their efforts have a tendency, natural and desirable, to establish what in their native state was not practised there, some sense of justice and natural equality. Such, as that "the son should inherit his father's property, instead of its falling to the chief." Laws are established for prohibiting robbery, murder, drunkenness, theft, &c.; and is it pretended, that men rescued from these vices, and taught to read and write, and respect themselves, have retrogaded in the comforts and respectability of their lot? The Sandwich Islanders are naturally, and proverbially, indolent,-but Christianity has not made them so. On the other hand, it has greatly improved them.

It is a favourite point with the Review, to create a belief that the Missionaries are dangerous in a political view, and aim at controlling the government of the Island, through their

influence with the chiefs. It inserts a letter from Boki, whose legitimate notions, both as to morals and equity, have a strong European type, he having had some intimacy and conference with at least one of its crowned heads. This letter of Boki, if genuine, is so contradictory in itself, and so totally false, that it is impossible to give it the weight of a feather. Boki has never been supposed to be a Christian; and as for his morality, we have shown that it is of the most accommodating character. But our informant, who knows Boki well, does not hesitate to declare, that he never wrote the letter attributed to him. He says, that although many other natives write even better, yet Boki cannot write as well. He believes that the letter has been got up by the enemies of the Missionaries, and Boki, (if it was his signature,) induced by designing men to sign it, without knowing its contents or bearing. Boki, says our informant, is one of those good natured men, who endeavours to please the whites in every thing, and affects to coincide in opinions which he does not in reality entertain, for the sake of obliging his friends. This was the chief in the illness of the regent, who yielded, when female chiefs and subjects were firm, to the iniquitous, and shameful demands of the officers and crew of a certain United States vessel.

In conclusion, we say, the American Missionaries do not interfere at all in the civil and judicial concerns of the Islands; they have nothing to do with making or executing the laws. Their business is to instruct the natives. Happily, they have the confidence of the chiefs, most of whom have become genuine converts to Christianity, and their presence in the Islands is counted by them and the people, as a most signal blessing. Having overcome in a great measure, the appalling obstacles which met them at the commencement of their career, and planted the vineyard of the Gospel with distinguished success, they now find themselves beset by those who should be their friends, and assailed by hands which should

sooner wither, than molest a work so beautiful, so charming, so sacred.

From the Sag-Harbour Watchman, June 9.

The New-York Enquirer of the 29th ult. contains an article respecting the American Missionaries on the Sandwich Islands. Mr. Noah has made, in this article, according to the most authentic information which he can obtain, a very unfavourable and incorrect representation, both of the qualifications and conduct of the Missionaries, and the situation of the Islanders themselves. As the statement alluded to is calculated, in our opinion, to mislead the public mind, we shall present a few facts and observations, on the authority of Captain M. Sayre, of the ship Marcus, who has just arrived at this port from his second voyage to the Pacific Ocean. Captain Sayre, who is a gentleman of intelligence and observation, and whose veracity may be relied on, visited the Sandwich Islands on both his voyages; and on his last voyage, he spent several weeks on those Islands, and took great pains to ascertain the real character and conduct of the American Missionaries, from their friends as well as enemies; and he says that their conduct, instead of being, as the Enquirer states, "mischievous," and "excessively absurd and outrageous," has been, in his opinion, moderate, firm, dignified, mild, and christian; and that the censures which have been passed upon Mr. Bingham, either on those Islands, or in this country, have generally come from the enemies of religion, and ought to be viewed by the public as gross calumnies, originating almost exclusively from a spirit of hostility to the Missionary cause. And with regard to the natives being "required to attend church five times every day," and being "forced to spend all their time in preaching,

praying, and singing," nothing of the kind occurred during his stay on the Islands, neither could he learn that it had ever been done. There had, however, been some irregularities and inconsistencies in the meetings conducted by the natives, which had been spoken of as such, and corrected by the Missionaries, all which might very naturally be expected among an unenlightened people. The truth is, the little time which they are in the habit of devoting to religious duties, instead of interfering with their secular concerns, makes them more regular and diligent in their attention to business. Although it is stated that " provisions are so extremely scarce, that not long since the king sent to beg a little bread of the American Consul," yet we are assured by our informant, that ten ships can now obtain supplies on the Island of Oahu, where one could not, before the arrival of the Missionaries. That class of the community particularly devoted to books and instruction, were formerly an idle train, who followed the king from place to place, and spent their time in foolish plays and games. We are further informed by Captain Sayre, that the Missionaries, instead of attempting "to force the darkest and most dreary points of puritan discipline upon the simple-minded Islanders," instruct them in the simple, plain, practical truths and precepts of the Gospel; and their efforts, instead of "tending as fast as possible to lay waste the whole country, and plunge the inhabitants into civil war and blood-shed," have an influence directly the reverse. Captain Sayre had considerable conversation with Governor Adams of Owhyhee, an intelligent and observing man, who informed him that he had never been able to discover any thing in the Missionaries, and particularly in Mr. Bingham, at variance with their profession; and that their instruction was good and calculated to make them more happy and peaceable, and it had produced these effects, so far as they had been influenced by it, throughout the Islands. Governor Adams farther observed,

that the natives were not required to neglect their land, but were taught to be industrious-the Governor appeared to be decidedly in favour of the Missionaries, notwithstanding the influence of some American residents and an English Consul to draw off his attention.

As to Boki, we are informed, that since his return from England, where he derived little or no advantage in regard to religion and morality, he has been a very suspicious character till quite recently, he has done much for the Missionaries, but has now taken a different stand, declaring that the great men of England, such as King George and his prime minister, gamble and spend their time in play, &c. and that he may do the same with equal propriety; and that he does not wish to be subject to the moral instruction of the Missionaries. Those acquainted with the indefatigable pains taken by foreigners, who are hostile to the Missionary cause, to draw him away from good instruction, will not be surprised at the bold step which he has taken-his authority however is limited, and causes but little fear among the Missionaries. Captain Sayre informs us, that the chiefs generally are decidedly moral, friendly to the Missionaries, and many of them profess religion: and that this is the great cause of the opposition from foreigners-they are disturbed and restrained in their unlawful and licentious courses; and it is very natural to suppose that the restraints thus imposed upon their wicked indulgences by the light of civilization and Christianity, diffused among the natives by the Missionaries, would awaken the hostility of the unprincipled and profligate to the cause of religion, and occasion the Missionaries themselves to become the objects of their hatred and vituperation.