FIJI ISLANDS. 311 



Dr. Harvey's visit to the South Sea Islands, which in addition 

 to constant bodily exertion, brought vividly before him so much 

 matter for painful reflection, affected his health more than any 

 experience incurred during the two previous years of travel. 

 On reaching Sydney a presentiment of approaching illness hung 

 over him, and the following letter seems to have been written 

 under this feeling : — 



To Mrs. F r. 



Sydney, New South Wales, December 13th, 1855. 



My dearest L. 



I felt so strongly drawn towards you last night as I lay 

 awake unable to sleep, that I must write to you this morning. 

 I accidentally awoke about midnight, and my thoughts recurred 

 to the time of Christmas, now so near at hand, and of course I 

 could not help recalling that of 1831 and my dear mother, and 



1846 and dear S . Then came to mind a little verse which 



1 wrote when S ■ was taken, and wdiich I meant to have given 



to poor E at the time, but his grief was so violent that I 



was afraid to interfere, and so I never showed it to any one. I 

 shall now transcribe it for you from memory, and you may send it 

 to him if you think fit. 



Lsr Memory of Christmas, 1846. 



The night is past, and thousand bells are ringing 

 O'er all the earth this happy Christmas morn, 



And angel choirs are hallelujahs singing, 



For joy that Christ to save the world is born. 



He?' night is also past — to her new risen 

 A morning without clouds begins to shine : 



Her spirit, breaking from its earthly prison, 

 Now rests in perfect peace and love Divine. 



Then let us too our chastened hearts lift up, 

 In sweet communion with the blest above, 



To Him who drained for us life's bitter cup, 

 That He might fill it with Eedeeming love. 



I thought, as the old words came back to memory, that I could 

 realise something of that sweet communion, and I felt tranquil 



and happy. Then came across my mind dear H , as he lay 



" alone with God " in his tent that night. I asked myself what 



