270 BIRTHS, DEATHS, AND MARRIAGES. 
The circumstances attending the rescue of the 
whaler, which have been related by Admiral 
Moresby, serve to throw additional light on the 
generous and disinterested character of the 
islanders. " The discontented men of an Ameri- 
can whaler, which had quitted the island the 
preceding day, were observed returning. They 
had, with an inch-and-a-half auger, bored eight 
holes. The ship was near sinking before it 
was discovered. On the captain's making his 
distress known, the islanders sent their whole 
force, and in twenty -four hours cleared the ship 
so that the holes could be plugged. They asked 
no reward, nor did they get any beyond the 
captain's thanks that I know of. For all they 
mentioned to me was, c The captain thanked us 
very much.'' ' 
The following returns of births, deaths, mar- 
riages, and some other particulars, from the 
year 1839 to the year 1853, inclusive, have been 
drawn partly from the authentic statements in 
the Register of the Island, and partly from a 
report made by Captain Worth, of the Calypso, 
Sept. 27, 1848 : 
" 1837. Births, 7; death, 1. 
" 1838. Births, 5 ; death, 1. 
" 1839. Births, 6; death,!: 106 inhabitants; 
53 males, 53 females : 52 scholars attend the 
public school. 
" 1840. Births, 2; death, 0: 108 inhabitants: 
53 males, 55 females : 51 scholars attend school, 
58 the Sunday-school. 
" 1841. Births, 7; deaths, 3; marriages, 0: 
