218 LETTER TO THE ADMIRAL 
PITCAIRN'S ISLAND, January 13^, 1853. 
" DEAR AND HONOURED FATHER, 
" We, the inhabitants of Pitcairn's Island, 
filled with a sense of gratitude for the many 
favours which we have experienced at your 
hands, have made bold to address you in the 
language of children. We feel in ourselves 
that if kindness and protection from a parent 
deserves the respect and obedience of his chil- 
dren, we certainly owe the same to you, for the 
many many favours which we have received 
from you ever since your arrival in this ocean. 
Your former favours to us are not forgotten, 
and especially your kind visit to us in August 
last. The presents which we then received from 
you and your officers, and good ship's company, 
and those again by the Cockatrice lately, have 
filled us with the deepest gratitude ; and will, we 
doubt not, be remembered in Pitcairn's Island 
when we ourselves are no more. 
" Situated as we are, so far away from the 
rest of mankind, and lying so far out of your 
course, we esteem it the greatest kindness in- 
deed that you should deign to pay us a visit as 
you did ; and we sincerely hope, that through 
the mercy and kindness of * Him who alone 
can govern the unruly wills and affections of 
sinful men,' we may ever continue to conduct 
ourselves in such a manner as to merit- ihe 
esteem and approbation of yourself and all our 
numerous friends. 
" In the name of the Community, we beg 
you to accept our most sincere and hearty thanks 
for all your kindness to us. We feel that words 
