POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
549 
even the children of the Missionaries should be able to 
carry on, to a greater degree of perfection, that work 
which their parents were privileged to commence. 
I am aware that the expense attending a measure 
of this kind will probably prevent its adoption in 
those Institutions by whom the first Missionaries are 
sent out; but this does not render the measure less 
desirable or important in its immediate or more remote 
and permanent influence upon the nations converted 
from idolatry. The same difficulties occur with regard 
to the promotion of civilization, and the culture of the 
mechanic arts, among the barbarous nations. The pri¬ 
mary design of all Missionary contributions is the com¬ 
munication of Christianity to the heathen; and it is to be 
regretted that the smallest portion of the pecuniary 
means furnished by Christian liberality for this purpose, 
should be appropriated to any other purpose than the 
direct promulgation of the gospel. It has been already 
stated, that a sort of Civilization Society, an institution 
for the purpose of promoting intellectual culture, scien¬ 
tific pursuits, agricultural and mechanical arts, and ad¬ 
vancing all that we understand by civilization, among 
the barbarous and unenlightened nations of the earth, 
would be highly advantageous. The agents of such an 
institution would merit the sanction and support, not 
only of every Christian, but of every friend to improve¬ 
ment, virtue, and humanity. They might remain dis¬ 
tinct, and yet co-operate harmoniously with the Chris¬ 
tian Missionary; the one directing his attention to pre¬ 
sent circumstances, the other principally to the future 
destinies of those to whom they were sent. 
As it is, however, the Missionary Societies, in reference 
to unenlightened nations, where any measure of success 
