ADMIRAL BEECHEY'S ACCOUNT. 135 
from another, or oat of the general stock, 
to be repaid when circumstances were more 
favourable.* 
The name of John Adams is so closely 
identified with Pitcairn's Island, and so much 
of the present happy state of the people is 
owing, under the Divine blessing, to him, that 
it is difficult to say too much on this part of the 
subject. The description given by the late Ad- 
miral Beechey of Adams, as well as of the young 
islanders, who came out in a boat to the Blossom, 
when off the island in December, 1825, is so 
graphic, that it must be quoted in the excellent 
author's own words : — 
" They sprang up the side, and shook every 
officer by the hand, with undisguised feelings 
of gratification. The activity of the young 
men outstripped that of old Adams, who was, 
consequently, almost the last to greet us. He 
was unusually strong and active for his age, 
notwithstanding the inconvenience of consider- 
able corpulency. He was dressed in a sailor's 
shirt and trowsers, and a low-crowned hat, 
which he instinctively held in his hand until 
desired to put it on. He still retained his 
sailor's gait, doffing his hat, and smoothing 
down his bald forehead, whenever he was ad- 
dressed by the officers. It was the first time 
he had been on board a ship of war since the 
mutiny, and hi3 mind naturally reverted to 
scenes which could not fail to produce a tempo- 
rary embariassment, heightened, perhaps, by 
the familial ity with which he found himself 
* See Quarterly R>;vtew, vol. iil p. 378, &c. 
