like manner in this case. The committee replied, that such a practice as this would establish, in the persons of the South Sea Islanders, a slavery like unto that, under which Africa bad so long groaned, but which had been so righteously abo lished by the British nation; they added, that they hoped the honour of British merchants would preserve the character of their country from attaching to it a foul blot in the South Seas, in the place of that which had been so lately wiped off. However, on this point Mr. was inflexible; he refused to pay a farthing on the score of claim, saying, that if the question of wages were given up, and the man were left to his generosity, he would make hin. a present. The committee replied, they had taken Tomma's case in band on principle; that they considered it as a very important case, because if merchants and captains could fill their ships with the natives of the South Seas, and obtain their cargo without paying the men a just recompence for their labour, it would prove such a stimulus to avarice, that distress would be brought upon hundreds of those unsuspecting people; they were, therefore, determined to support his case, in order that in future, if any similar demur should be made, a precedent might be quoted. Mr. then adverted to the Missionary Society, stating that they were quite satisfied that Tomma should return without wages, and wondered that any other persons should interfere. The committee replied, that it was because the directors had abandoned the case, that they had taken it up, and that they should consult with gentlemen capable of giving the best opinions, and, if necessary, act upon them. On this the conference terminated. Mr. declared,

that he would spend 500 pounds rather than allow the claim to be established; the committee stating that they were impelled to proceed.

"The interview with Mr. having thus terminated, the committee consulted together on the most proper steps to be pursued; when it was resolved to apply, on Tomma's behalf, to the Society for Foreigners in Distress. A statement of the case was presented to one of the directors of that useful institution, who laid it before a meeting of the directors. These gentlemen instantly entered into the merits of the case, and appointed a committee of three to take such measures as they might see proper. The treasurer of the society had a conference with one of Tapeoe's committee, and requested him to inform Mr. Granville Sharp of the particulars. The moment this venerable and persevering defender of the rights

of the oppressed was made acquainted with the case, he ad, vised that an action should be brought in the name of Tomma for recovery of wages, giving it as his firm opinion, that it would carry costs and damages; but as he knew Mr.

he offered, in the first instance, to wait upon him, in company with one of the directors of the Society for Foreigners in Distress. In the conversation which took place, Mr. Sharp stated the law on the subject, proved that the agents were the true representatives of the owners, and that a proof of services rendered would entitle to the customary wages.

"After this, an overture was made to the committee, to refer the question to some gentleman as a common friend: to this the committee replied, that they considered the question too important to be left to the decision of one person, because the award would go to affect similar cases in future. The committee recommended a reference to arbitrators, one to be nominated by Mr. the other by the friends of Tomma, and that in case of any disagreement between those two, that they should refer the point in dispute to a third. After a few preliminaries, this plan was agreed to; and on the part of Mr. - , George Hibbert, Esq. of Mincing Lane, was appointed, and on the part of Tomma, George Harrison, Esq. of Wandsworth. Bonds of arbitration were then executed by both parties, to abide by the award of the arbitrators, under penalty of 2001. The arbitrators, with the most patient attention, entered into the whole particulars of the case; they examined the captain and Tomma, and also requested the attendance, and the information of several respectable gentlemen engaged in the South Sea trade; the investigation of the case occupied two sittings, when they inquired of the committee what was the nature of their demand; who replied, that they only requested that Tomma should receive, as wages for his services on board the Santa Anna, during her voyage and fishery, a sum equal to the lowest sum paid by Mr. to any other sailor who had performed like service. To this Mr. stated, that according to the rate mentioned by the committee, one man had received the sum of 31l. 18s. 9d. The arbitrators then asked the committee if that sum were satisfactory; they re plied, it was perfectly so; it was not the amount of the sum that they contended for, but only, that whatever should be paid, might be considered as the wages due to Tomma. On this, the arbitrators consulted for a short time, and then

returned the arbitration bonds to the respective parties, with their award, that 317. 18s. 9d. should be paid to Tomma for WAGES, deducting the expenses which had been incurred for slops, &c. during the voyage.

Our readers we are sure will rejoice in the mode in which this enquiry terminated, whereby a case is put on record, which may at all times be referred to, and can be cited in a court of justice in defence of these people against any future oppression. But we must now direct our friends to the case of the New Zealander, who had also been on board this ship, and who was sent back without wages, by another ship: we shall do this by making the same extract from the letter of Mr. Marsden, which Mr. Fox has inserted in a postscript to his Appeal.

August 25, we embarked on board the Ann, then lying at Spithead; after we had been a day or two on board, I observed amongst the sailors, a New Zealander, named Duaterra. Duaterra is nephew to Tippahee, the chief who visited Port Jackson, and of whom you have heard me speak; Duaterra was also at Port Jackson previous to my return from that settlement; I was very agreeably surprized in finding this young man on board; and more particularly so, as there were three missionaries with me, going out to New Zealand, as our voyage would afford so good an opportunity for them to form an intimacy with one who might be of such essential service to them, when they arrived at the place of their des tination.

"Duaterra is a very fine young man, about two and twenty years of age, and five feet ten inches high; he possesses a most amiable disposition, is kind, grateful, and affectionate, his understanding strong and clear. He is married to one of the daughters of a great chief, called Wanakee; his wife's name is Mike. I asked him his reason for leaving New Zea land; he told me, his object was to see KING GEORGE. It is about two years and a half since he entered on board a ship, the SANTA ANNA, belonging to Port Jackson, which touched at New Zealand, on her way to some of the South Sea islands, on a Sealing voyage; the vessel landed a gang of men on Bounty+ island, and Duaterra amongst them, in order to kill seals, and then went to Norfolk island to obtain provi

*The Treasurer of the Society for Foreigners in Distress has intimated, that this case will form part of the next Report of the Committee of that Society.

+ Bounty island, and Bligh's island, are the same place: Captain Bligh's ship was called the Bounty; hence this island has been called by both names,

sions, and was blown off before she could get them on board; so that it was about ten months before she got back to Bounty island again; the men who had been left there were greatly distressed for provisions, living principally on seals; they were also in want of water; as no springs could be found on the island, they were dependent on the occasional showers of rain. In this island, Duaterra suffered exceedingly from hunger, thirst and cold. After the Santa Anna returned to Bounty island, and had completed her cargo of seal-skins, she proceeded to England, and arrived in the River Thames about the middle of last July. Duaterra now expected to see the KING, for the sight of whom he had voluntarily suffered so many dangers, hardships and toils, but in this he was unfortunately disappointed; the captain of the ship kept him nea ly the whole time he was in England, on board the ship at work till she was discharged, and on the 5th of August, sent him on board the Ann, which sailed almost immediately for Portsmouth. Duaterra was much concerned that he could not be allowed to see scarce any thing of London, and more particularly that he was compelled to return to his country before he had seen the King. He speaks of this now with much regret, and says, his countrymen will find great fault with him, for coming back without attaining the object of his Doyage. I wish much that I had met with him in London, as I should have felt a peculiar pleasure in gratifying his wishes. It is a melancholy consideration, that this young chief should, through inattention, lose the only reward he expected for two years hard toil, as he wrought as a common sailor without any wages, but a little clothing and provision. Captain Clarke informed me, that the master of the Santa Anna would not have given him common sailor's slops, if he could have got him on board ihe Ann without them. Captain Clarke refused to take him without his slops: SURELY THE LABOURER IS WORTHY OF HIS HIRE. As I was so fortunate to find him on board the Ann, I determined immediately to try if I could learn from this young chief, something of the language, religion and government of the New Zealanders, with a view to aid the missionaries, who were going to settle amongst them, and to promote a more easy communication between the New Zealanders and the colonists of New South Wales. I also determined to instruct Duaterra in the English language as much as possible during the voyage.

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"Duaterra is possessed of very considerable natural parts, manifests great anxiety to acquire useful knowledge, has a

very quick perception, and communicates his ideas of any subject he understands with ease and clearness."

These particulars which Mr. Fox was allowed to extract from Mr. Marsden's letter, will enable the public to form a correct view of all "the probable consequences of the iniquitous conduct of those merchants, agents or captains, who thus fraudulently make use of the services of these people. Curiosity may prompt young men belonging to the families of the chiefs, to enter on board our merchant ships and to visit Europe; but, truly, it behoves the captains of such ships to treat them with the utmost humanity during the voyage, and merchants or agents ought to shew them some degree of hos pitality and civility. In the case of Duaterra, if Providence had not so wonderfully overruled the bad conduct of the captain, as to have directed him to the Ann, on board of which was Mr. Marsden and three missionaries, going out under patronage of the Society for Missions to Africa and the East, it is impossible to conceive what dreadful consequences might not have flowed to Europeans in future years, if he had returned home to his country with his mind filled with rage and anger against the captain and people who had used him so very improperly. Duaterra's mother is sister to five chiefs, who are brothers, one of whom has no less than 10,000 men under his command; his father is a chief, and is brother to three other chiefs, and he has married the daughter of a very powerful chief, who has a brother also a chief; thus he is related to eleven chiefs, and there are but thirteen in the whole. A man thus related and connected, might easily have filled New Zealand with the history of his wrongs, and could not have failed to have excited the utmost jealousy and hatred against all British traders; as well as raised almost insupera ble prejudices against any persons, who, as missionaries, might have been disposed to have settled amongst them."

The destruction of the Boyd, and murder of the crew, is an awful commentary on the case of Duaterra; and we trust that it will be the only warning necessary to captains of ships, and the owners who send them into the South Sea, to teach them to act on principles of justice and humanity to the natives of those islands, who can never be expected to acquire the arts of civilization and the knowledge of christianity, unless they meet with the practice of justice and mercy in those who profess and call themselves christians, and go to acquire wealth by traffic for the produce of those scas.