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POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
It is impossible to conceive the satisfaction of mind 
which this opinion has inspired in those who had been 
guilty of the destruction of their offspring, though they 
were still sensible that the final condition of the mur¬ 
dered infants did not affect the criminal nature of the 
unnatural deed. 
In reference to this point, they would often ask whether 
they should in heaven know those they had been ac¬ 
quainted with on earth, and especially if there they 
should recognize the children they had destroyed. In 
reply, they were informed, that from all that was said 
on the heavenly state in the Scriptures, there was reason 
to believe that friends on earth would know each other 
there, and that it was probable Christian mothers would 
meet their children. 
These were not mere speculative inquiries, the parties 
had a deep personal interest in them; and Mrs. Ellis has 
been greatly affected in witnessing the emotions with 
which these discussions have been carried on. I can 
readily suppose it altogether impossible to conceive of 
the rapturous expectation with which a Christian mother, 
childless and desolate from her own cruelties, would bv 
faith anticipate meeting in the happy world of spirits 
the children she had murdered in her days of ignorance 
on earth, and joining with them to celebrate the praises 
of Him by whom they had been snatched from the world 
of sinners ere they had felt its bitter contamination, and 
she had been brought to share redemption from its 
curse. 
This opinion was not given simply to afford alleviation 
to the distressed feelings of such unhappy parents, but 
because it did not seem opposed, but rather favoured, by 
the word of God, agreeable to the benevolent character 
