POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
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pressed his willingness that others should join them. 
The gratification he expressed on their landings however^ 
did not arise from any desire after religious instruction^ 
for in this interview he spoke of their engaging in war 
with him^ and probably rejoiced in their arrival only as a 
means of increasing the strength of his influence^ and 
the stability of his government. After remaining about 
three weeks at Tahiti^ and assisting the society in their 
regulations by his counsel^ and in the preparation of 
their houses by the carpenters of the ship^ Captain 
Wilson sailed from Matavai on the 31st of July. With 
him, Mr. Broomhall left Tahiti for China or India. He 
had been above five years on the island, having arrived 
in the Duff, in 17^. He was an intelligent, active 
young man, 24 years of age, had been highly serviceable 
to the Mission, and was respected by the natives until 
about twelve months prior to the arrival of the Royal 
Admiral, when he intimated his doubts as to the reality 
of Divine influence on the mind, and the immortality of 
the soul. His companions endeavoured to remove his 
scepticism; but failing in their efforts, he was separated 
from their communion, having on several occasions 
publicly declared his sentiments to be deistical. He 
then lived some time with a native female, as his wife, 
but was soon left by her | and, on the arrival of Captain 
Wilson, requested permission to leave the island in his 
ship. His departure from the island, under such cir¬ 
cumstances, although desirable on account of the in¬ 
fluence of his principles and conduct on the minds of 
the inhabitants, could not but be peculiarly distressing 
to those he left behind. They followed him with their 
compassionate regard and their prayers, and, after a num¬ 
ber of years, learned that he had been engaged in a vessel 
