LETTER FROM THE ISLANDERS. 171 
The following letter, signed by seven of the 
islanders, including the magistrate and the two 
councillors, will speak for itself. It is an answer 
to a communication received from the Rev. J. 
Moody, chaplain of H.M.S. Thalia, and since 
chaplain at the Falkland Islands : 
" Pitcairn's Island, South. Pacified) cean, 
"July 20th, 1847. 
" REVEREND SIR, We received, on the 26th 
of February last, by H. B. M. S. Spy, your ac- 
ceptable present and truly valuable letter, which, 
so far from giving offence, is highly appreciated, 
and has been deposited in the archives of the 
island, to be referred to at public meetings and 
other suitable occasions. We extremely regret 
the circumstances which frustrated your in- 
tended visit, for we should be in the highest 
degree delighted to have made your acquaint- 
ance, received your advice, and, we trust, in 
some measure, your approbation ; for we can 
assure you the report of our splitting into 
parties, &c. is incorrect. A few years since, 
a partially deranged impostor, named Joshua 
Hill, alias Lord Hill, came here, and made 
much disturbance ; but he was removed by 
order of the British Government. Respecting 
the letter of which you saw a copy in the Oahu 
paper, so far from expressing the sentiments of 
the community, not more than three persons 
were acquainted with its contents. The rest 
of us were ignorant of its existence till we saw 
it published in the above-mentioned paper. 
That part of it reflecting on our respected and 
