VISIT OF ADMIRAL MORESBY. 205 
cordially accepted. The lively account, which 
was supplied by Mr. Nobbs, of the reception of 
the gallant Admiral, will serve to place the reader 
in possession of many interesting 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 
approaching 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 
himself 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 
