FILIAL AFFECTION. 127 
The following picture of filial affection, 
drawn by a careful and intelligent observer, 
is well worthy of insertion. Captain Beechey, 
anxious to visit the houses at Pitcairn, rather 
than pass another night at sea, determined to 
put off with some of his men in boats, and to 
accompany Adams and the islanders on shore. 
He says : " The difficulty of landing was 
more than repaid by the friendly reception we 
met with on the beach from Hannah Young, a 
very interesting young woman, the daughter 
of Adams. It appeared that John Buffett, 
who was a seafaring man, ascertained the 
ship was a man-of-war, and, not knowing 
exactly why, became so alarmed for the 
safety of Adams, that he either could not, or 
would not, answer any of the interrogations 
which were put to him. This mysterious 
silence set all the party in tears, as they 
feared he had discovered something adverse 
to their patriarch. At length his obduracy 
yielded to their entreaties; but before he 
explained the cause of his conduct, the boats 
were seen to put off from the ship, and 
Hannah immediately hurried to the beach to 
kiss the old man's cheek, which she did with 
