The Press.
London, England, 1853-05-21 00:00:00

States Exploring Expedition in ls4o. It con-
sists of nearly One hundred inhabited islands
of all sizes. lu the smaller islands," says
Captain Erskine, " forming the eastward or
windward division, the W,,bbleyans ere ra.
" pidly succeeding in the work of conversion.
but the great mikjority of the inhabitants of
the larger island:4 are systematically ad-
" dieted to bloodshed and cannibalism, to s.
" degree not generally believed by civilised
" nations, and which. indeed, may be said
" scarcely to admit of exaggeration. in pro-
" portion, however, as they surpass the neigh-
.. bowing people of this ocean in the !wittily°
" of these vices, do they exhibit their supe-
" riority in energy. intelligenee, and a know-
" ledge of the useful arts; mid it may be
" questioned if this race, which seems to differ
" wore intellectually than physically from the
" African negro, be not pre-eminently that ono
" of the Paeitie capable of the highest degroo
" of rational civilisation."

" siek of blots stoo•kiuint hortitleo
(H' rails Ns, gas, serno, loot consols,
No on' %hero the wad,.
So sings Bon ti,utltier. If he has not yet
started, which we are inclined to doubt, in con-
sequenee of some reeemt intelligenee front the
domains of Poesy, we should rceionmend him
to choose the Samoans for the present rather
than the Feejtatas, in spite of the dormant
capabilities of the latter.
The islands last visited, however, by Captain
Erskine, New Caledonia, the New Hebrides,
and the Loyalty Islands, have Unite interest
for us at. present than any of the other groups.
Comparatively unknown from the date of their
discovery till the existence of sandalwood in
most of them was ascertained about 10425, they
have till within the last few years been the
scene of all the shameful anal discreditable
pntetieem earried on by the erews of the trading
vessels, who, as Captain Erskine says, " have
often shown themselves in no way behind the
blacks in cruelty and treachery, and indeed,
with the sole exception of cannibalism, in the
practice of all the vices we generally ascribe to
savages." The story in all has been one, and
the result the saute:—" Several British vessels
" have been out off by the natives, from mo-
" lives either of cupidity or revenge, and minty
" lives are still lost on either side." Still,
however, the natives are gentle enough if well
seated; and two large trading establishments,
formed and conduetAal upon more generous
and less diabolical principles—the onto by Mr.
Itaddon, an Englishman, at Anciteum, the
southernmost of the New Hebrides ; and the
other by Mr. Towns, a merchant of Sydney, on
the Isle of l'ineit—are not only in themselves
thriving, but have opened their respective
neighbourloands to Europeans, who reside
there now in perfect safety. What hope
there is for the future we learn front the fol-
lowing extract :
The present Bishop of New Zealand, who, with unei-
ionpleol daring and olevo 16111 ill the Cause of Floristiontity,
has odready Isar made Iwo sueeessful ‘oyages UI the
New II elotioles, New enlesloonin, nod the IslOylilt) group, in
esso•l %.;:t Isms. 1 lei I bra en.w of four witirtneil
wen. taking Welt with hint to his diocese, for eoluestion,
so•vernl willing Inds foot, the different hobnob', 111114 100
bilhif 1,1141 the urigillHtur of a better orgsnimisol and moon
extended ststem, 1114. AlleVll4l4 of which, if his valuable lifts
he spared for n few youEs, 11111 homily be doubtful ; and it
is to be hoped we shall also, throsigh his itootnimentelity,
lOW • 1111/1011,1•41•11 of 11111/ lii Rot information OD the subjeet
of the Melanesian people, ;of Awing+ the hollowing journal
but a bast) mad imperfect sketch.
We bitVe been so hi kilt up with the subject
matter of the book itself that we have said but
little of the author. This is, perhaps, as nmeh
to his praise as anything we could say inure
directly ; for in a —litho of this nature,
whieh is not, and is not intended to be, a per-
sonal one, the modesty whirls refuses to mako
"I " the prominent letter of the alphabet
throughout the book is much to be avian!.
elated. The narrative is clear and unaffected,
and the whole book most interesting.

Coalition Cabinets, Past and Present. A Letter
h► the Earl qf Aberdeen. Second Edition
London: .loho mortimer.

311Eler. are some people who think that tho
Taws of the republic of letters are almost as
clipricious and inconstant as those of the
world of Fashion, and that the modem of think.
wg in the first are often as whimsical as those