262 Voyage of the Novara. 



the little colony consisted of 46 individuals, 38 of whom had 

 been born thus far from all civilization. Nevertheless the 

 little community were living contented and happy in all 

 the simplicity of a patriarchal family, and in the cultivation 

 of the cardinal virtues of Christian morality, inculcated by 

 the now venerable AYill. Adams, such as thankfulness to the 

 Creator of all things, patience, gentleness, and neighbourly 

 love. 



The very singular origin of this exemplary race repeatedly 

 attracted j^assing ships to this little-known island, and this 

 intercourse did not fail to exercise a pernicious eifect ujDon 

 the spiritual-mindedness of the islanders, the more so that 

 there were among these numbers of desperate adventurers, 

 who did all in their power to mislead this simple-minded 

 race. 



When Caj^tain Beechy, in 1825, approached the island in 

 his ship Blossom, he perceived a small boat standing off 

 towards him under full sail. On board were Adams himself 

 and several of his pupils. They requested permission to 

 come on board, and hardly waiting for an answer, the little 

 active lads had clambered up and stood on the quarter-deck. 

 Adams had lost his youthful agility, and for a moment seemed 

 to hesitate. The sight of a man-of-war, it may well be con- 

 ceived, made a deep impression ujjon him. It called up too 

 many mournful recollections, and when he beheld the can- 

 non and all the " circumstance of war," with which in his 

 youth he had been familiar, he could no longer restrain him- 



