POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
545 
public duties of his station; hence he experiences a 
constant and painful struggle between the dictates of 
parental affection and the claims of pastoral care. To 
relieve, as far as possible, from this embarrassment, the 
South Sea Academy was established by the deputation 
from the Society, and the Missionaries in the islands, in 
the month of March, 1824. 
In compliance with the earnest recommendation of the 
deputation, and the solicitation of his brethren, Mr. 
Orsmond removed from Borabora, to take charge of the 
institution, and has continued to preside over it, to the 
satisfaction of the parents, and the benefit of the pupils. 
The first annual meeting was held in March, 1825; the 
children had not only been taught to read the Scriptures, 
and to commit the most approved catechisms to memory, 
but had also been instructed in writing, grammar, 
history, and the arts and sciences. During the examina¬ 
tion, portions of scripture were read and recited, copy¬ 
books examined, problems in geometry worked, and parts 
of catechisms on geography, astronomy, and chronology, 
repeated. The whole of the proceedings gave satisfac¬ 
tion to all present, and left an impression on each mind, 
that great attention must have been paid by Mr. and 
Mrs. Orsmond to the scholars, during the short period 
they had been in the school. Subsequent examinations 
have been equally satisfactory. 
The institution is under the management of a com¬ 
mittee, and its primary design was to furnish a suitable, 
and, so far as circumstances would admit, a liberal 
education to the children of the Missionaries, such an 
education as is calculated to prepare them to fill useful 
situations in future life.^’ Native children of piety and 
talent have access to its advantages, and it is designed 
n. 4 A 
