192 VISIT OF ADMIRAL MORESBY. 
account, which has been supplied by Mr. Nobbs, 
of the reception of Admiral Moresby, will serve 
to place the reader in possession of many in- 
teresting facts connected with the present state 
of the island. 
" On the 7th of August, 1852 (at noon) a 
vessel was reported, which at sunset was strongly 
suspected of being a ship of war. The hours of 
the night passed tediously away, and before 
sunrise next morning several of our people were 
seated on the precipice in front of the town, 
anxiously waiting the report of a gun from the 
ship, which would give positive confirmation to 
the overnight suspicion of her being a ship of 
war ; nor were they kept long in suspense : 
the booming of a cannon electrified the town, 
and the whole community were thrown into a 
state of intense excitement, more especially as it 
was quickly observed that she wore an Admiral's 
flag! 
" Our boat repaired on board, and, after a 
short time, another from the ship was seen ap- 
proaching the shore. The teacher and some 
others went to the landing-place, and had the 
honour and pleasure of welcoming to Pitcairn 
Rear- Admiral Moresby, Commander-in-Chief 
the first officer of that rank that ever visited 
Pitcairn. The admiral received our greetings of 
welcome in a most urbane manner, and both him- 
self and his secretary, Mr. Fortescue Moresby, 
were pleased to express themselves much grati- 
fied with all they saw and heard. The admiral 
attended divine service, and was evidently sur- 
prised at the improvement the people had made 
