MESSRS. BICKNELL AND TESSIER. 51 
tude around, felt indisposed from the exposure. 
This was followed by fever, which terminated his 
life fourteen days after the death of Mr. Tessier. 
Though his illness was short, his mind, towards 
the latter part of it, was tranquil, in reliance on 
that Saviour who alone can support in the pros¬ 
pect of dissolution. 
I have heard that he was the first individual who 
offered his services to the Missionary Society, and 
was among the first who landed from t*he Duff in 
1796. He remained in Tahiti till the civil war in 
1808 drove him and his companions from the 
islands, at which time he visited New South Wales 
and England. When Pomare invited the Mis¬ 
sionaries to return, he was the first to resume his 
station, which he never abandoned, till called by 
death from a field, on which he had bestowed 
upwards of twenty years of patient persevering 
toil, and from which, though long barren and 
fruitless, he had ultimately been honoured to reap 
the first-fruits of a glorious harvest. 
In 1818 he removed to the populous district of 
Papara, on the south-west side of Tahiti. This 
district had, prior to the last war, been the strong¬ 
hold of idolatry, and was the head-quarters of the 
pagan army; and the inhabitants, until the death 
of their chieftain in the memorable battle of 
Bunaau’ia, obstinately opposed the progress of 
Christianity. Here, under the favourable auspices 
of Tati, Mr. Bicknell commenced his labours ; and 
while Mr. Tessier daily instructed numbers in the 
school, Mr. Bicknell collected around him large 
and attentive congregations, baptized many, and 
gathered an interesting Christian church. 
His latest earthly concern regarded the sted fast¬ 
ness and welfare of his charge. On the last even- 
e 2 
