The first duty of the Directors is to affift and ftrengthen the Miffions already established. This is founded in a juft view of the real interefts of the caufe we have undertaken, and in the foundest principles of difcretion. The peculiar mode in which our Millions are conducted, and the qualifications we require in the inftruments we employ, proceed upon the conviction that an important alliance fubfifts between the principles of civilization and thofe of Chriftianity: if this is not well founded, then the plans we have adopted are unwife, our inftruments ill chofen, and our expectations fallacious; but univerfal obfervation and experience decide, that they have a beneficial relation to cach other, apparently founded in the order of Providence, and in the conftitution of our nature. The civilization of the untutored Heathen, fo expedient to bring them into a pofition favourable for evangelical inftruction, requires the united exertions of various individuals, with diverfified talents, and the exem-, plification of the influence of focial inftitutions. It is by thefe means that the manners and habits of improved fociety are gradually fuperinduced; the elementary principles of ufeful knowledge are communicated to the minds of a number of youth of both fexes; a plan of innocent and beneficial employment inftituted; the habits of application and improvement impreffed; and a gradual and folid procefs towards the maturity of wisdom and of goodnefs in the underftanding and the heart may be expected, by the divine bleffing, to be produced abundantly in fucceeding generations. Thus has the Society wifely decided, that it is an important part of our duty to give folidity and eftablishment to our former attempts, and caufe the Miffions already planted to take a deeper root. Our next object is to form new Miffions; and the application of difcreet and judicious principles fhould regulate our measures in this part of our duty alfo. It is well known that a number of populous iflands, in which there is the probability of an entrance, are profufely fcattered throughout the Southern Ocean, and that our most extended efforts are very inadequate to fo enlarged a field What, therefore, fhould be the rule of felection, where the advantages appear equal as to population, means of fubfiftence, and perfonal fecurity? Not, certainly, the extreme distance from each other which renders their intercourfe impoffible; but rather, the principle of connection which, while it admits of a scope for exertion, far greater than our inftruments can fupply, allows alfo the poffibility, by means of navigation within their power, to obtain an occafional affociation, for the purposes of counfel, of affiftance, of comfort, and of retreat: advantages which may prove of inestimable importance. You will therefore be apprized of the utility of ftrengthening, at the fame time that you are extending, your operations on every fide. There is another principle of regulation, which we now think it fuitable to fuggeft. You will perceive that it is our wifh, that the Millions already formed fhould be reinforced, fo as that all of them may confift of families, and of fingle brethren; the former exhibiting the model of a little fociety under useful regulations, and of a Chriftian Church with its beneficial difcipline; the latter for the purpose of itinerating, and, with the zeal of Evangelifts, fpreading abroad the welcome tidings of redemption: yet with respect to the fettlement of new Miffions our recommendation is, that they confift of fingle Brethren only; as it would be evidently improper, in our prefent circumftances, to place women and children in fituations where their fecurity and accommodation have not been previously, in a great degree, afcertained. The rifque, and inconvenience of new Miffions fall therefore properly on our fingle Brethren, who must prepare the way for the introduction of families, which it will doubtlefs be the defire of the Society hereafter to fend out; as the means of our communication with thefe iflands, will diminish in expence as our establishments there are enlarged and confolidated. We fuggeft alfo, that no fettlement of married perfons fhould confift of a lefs number than three families; as in the event of the death of a marrried Brother, the widow would be placed in a very diftreffing fituation if she had not the confolation of a female friend at hand; but in a fettlement of three families, there is a very confiderable fecurity against a circumftance fo afflicting. The perfonal fecurity of the females is an article of fuch importance, that we cannot too forcibly inculcate upon you a conftant attention to it, when you are confidering the propriety of eftablishing families at the islands hereafter mentioned, and pointed out to you as ftations where, in our opinion, they may be advantageoufly placed; and it is our decifive direction that none may be left in any fituation where, in the opinion of the Miffionaries already fettled, there would be any probability of their being liable to perfonal moleftation. Rather than incur a rifque of this nature it would be far more defireable to take all the familes to Otaheite, and place them there, provided the conduct of the natives . natives towards thofe females, who will then have been fo long among them, thould have been fuch as to fatisfy you of the propriety of this meafure. That this will be the cafe we have ftrong encouragement to hope. But if we should unexpectedly be difappointed in this perfuafion, you must be governed by your difcretion; obferving, however, this general direction, that no confideration can justify your leav ing females in any fituation where you have reafon to be apprehenfive on this head. Having thus ftated the expofition of the principles on which we believe it to be our duty to act, we now advance to the fpecific plan which we recommend as the refult of thefe confiderations. The Friendly Iflands, containing in their aggregate fuch an immenfe population, are entitled to a confiderable proportion of our attention; efpecially as the conduct of the natives appears to be lefs diffipated than at the Society Iflands, and their intellectual character more vigorous-they appreciate European improvements alfo more highly, and feem therefore in a flate more acceffible to inftruction. We conceive, on thefe grounds. that Tongataboo fhould form as confiderable a Miffionary flation as Otaheite, and that it may be advifcable to fettle there four of our families and fix of our unmarried Brethren. This, however, thould be determined by the information you receive from the friends already there, whofe judgnient of the difpofition of the Chiefs and natives in regard to this object, of the prospect of usefulness, and especially of the probable fecurity of our females, muft from their long refidence be entitled to niuch more regard than any opinions we are capable of forming here. Prefuming therefore that this meafure may be deemed advifeable, there are two other iflands, forming a part of this very numerous group, that appear to us eligible for the purpofe of Miffionary exertions-One of them is l'avanand the other, one of the Navigator's Iflands :--the former fituated about the midway, and diftant from each about 200 miles. A communication between Tongataboo and the more diftant of thefe has been afcertained, by means of the Pandora's firft and fecond vifit, in one of which a Tongataboo Chief was feen at Oteeway or Chatham Ifland, and in the other at Ototuclah, both of them confiderable iflands in the group called Navigator's. Captain Edwards defcribes the natives as honourable in their dealings and inoffensive in their manners. If, however, our friends continue to enjoy the protection and countenance of the Chiefs, and can rely on on their reprefentation, a more fatisfactory conclufion may be derived from the information they will be able to obtain, than from the tranfient vifit of Captain Edwards; admitting then that you should be induced to attempt the introduction of Miffions into thefe places, we are inclined to recommend that two fingle Brethren be fixed in Vavao, and four in one of the Navigator's Iflands; befides a Brother at each place taken from the former fettlers at Tongataboo. We need not ftate the neceffity of our prefent friends being accompanied by thofe who underftand the language, nor can we queftion the willingnets of our Brethren, who are devoted to the interefts of our Saviour's kingdom among the heathen, to lend their affiftance in the formation of thofe new Miffions -to which they are particularly exhorted by an addrefs from the Direction which you will deliver to them. It will, moreover, be expedient that befides the two Brethren from Tongataboo you fhould be accompanied alfo by one of the Chiefs, whofe influence may fecure your introduction. We hope that you will find the Chiefs fo prepoffeffed in our favour, and to fenfible of the benevolence of our motives, and the ufefulness of our refidence among them, that they will folicit the advantage, rather than require much importunity from us;-indeed a reluctant confent on the part of a Chief, thould have upon your minds the force of a negative, where there is fo great a probability that your vifit would be welcomed in far more iflands than we can poffibly fupply. Your attention will probably be next directed to one of the Fegee lands, between which and Tongataboo there is moft likely a frequent intercourfe; and our brethren will therefore be competent to form a folid opinion of the eligibility of an attempt in that quarter. If this fhould be accomplished, there would be a very extended field of action, with the advantage of occafional intercourie, and co-operation. The Fegee Iflands have likewife this recommendation, that they form a connecting link with other immenfe and populous iflands to the north-weft ;-the inhabitants are of two diftin&t races, one probably from the fame origin as the Friendly Iflanders, and the other of a darker hue, aud fuppofed to fpeak the fame language as the people of the New Hebrides, the Solomon Ifles, and Caledonia. A mithion, therefore, eftablifhed in the Fegee Iflands is the natural means of facilitating our introduction into thofe. On this occafion alfo, as before, we muft take with us a friendly Chief, and one of our brethren from Tongataboo; the lat - ter, ter, with two of our present single friends may be fufficient for our first attempt. In the preceding directions we have affumed, that the Miffionaries intended for Vavao, the Navigators' and Fegee Iflands, are to be conveyed there in the Duff: it is probable however that, on confultation with the brethren at Tongataboo, it may appear more expedient for you to proceed immediately to the Marquefas than to detain the flip, and the reft of the Miffionaries by this circuitous courfe. In this cafe you will not only leave at Tongataboo the families and fingle brethren intended to remain there, but also the eight individuals defigned for the islands abovementioned; and it is probable that, by means of the friendly interference of the Chiefs, it will be very practicable to eftablith our brethren in thefe different ftations during your abfence; but fhould this expectation be difappointed, they will have acquired a confiderable acquaintance with the language and the manners of the natives, and thus be prepared to enter with increafed advantage into the duties of their refpective fettlements on your return. If, Having adjusted thefe important concerns with as much expedition as is fuitable, you will next direct your course to the iflands of the Marquefas, where we hope you will meet with the folitary and intrepid Brother Crook, in fafety and health; from him you will acquire ample information concerning the natives, and be enabled to decide as to the scale on which it may be prudent to make a fettlement among them; if his reprefentation fhould prove fufficiently encouraging, it may be advifable to leave in one of the islands, three families, with two or three fingle brethren. however, you fhould not meet with Crook, either on account of his being removed from thence (which is not very probable) or on account of his being called to his reward in a higher ftate of existence, we would by no means recommend you to leave any of our married friends there, except he has left fuch information in writing as fatisfies you of the propriety of the meafure. You will, however, exercife your difcretion, in conjunction with the Committee, whether to leave any fingle brethren, what number, and on which of the iilands. It is doubtlefs known to you, that the group confifts of ten or more, and that Chriftina, where brother Crook was left, is far inferior in fize to Tievenen's and Sir Harry Martin's: the latter is fuppofed to be ten times greater; being alfo very populous and fertile, and having fine bays for thipping. From |