194 VISIT OF ADMIEAL MORESBY. 
o'clock to come to a decision, and that lie would 
not retire till that period. 
" During their debate one of them came to 
inquire of the admiral, whether Mr. Holman 
would teach the public school. The admiral 
replied, ' Certainly.' On this the man went 
away ; and at eleven o'clock, as no answer had 
arrived, the admiral went to bed. About twelve 
o'clock word was brought, that the community 
had agreed to let their teacher go, which was 
duly reported next morning to the admiral, 
who remarked that they had done well in con- 
senting to Mr. Nobbs's departure, and that he 
would take upon himself the responsibility of 
the expenses incurred necessarily by Mr. Nobbs, 
although he had no doubt there were friends of 
the Pitcairn Islanders who would cheerfully 
unite with him ; and further, they would never 
lack friends so long as they continued to deserve 
them. 
" As the point was now decided, Mr. Nobbs 
was requested to hold himself in readiness for 
embarkation, the admiral generously undertaking 
to supply him with articles in which his scanty 
wardrobe was deficient. On seeing the necessity 
there was of an educated female to improve the 
domestic habits of the women generally, and 
hearing Mr. Nobbs remark that he would send 
one of his daughters to Valparaiso for improve- 
ment, that she might on her return instruct the 
others, but that he could not command funds for 
doing so, the admiral replied, ' Take your 
child with you, and I will put her to school 
while you are gone to England ; and when you 
