The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1865-01-03

s
veyed, and thal was not much, l1f "a
island vas Little more thau three m5.t
in circumference.
Ia 1905 an American vessel toaci
Cd at Pitcairn Island, an rcporte
the discovery Of lbs inhabitants NJ ,l
British government, bul tlse wars d
Napoleon we're raging Al She time an
the government had too much excl
iug work on hand to think II che zen
half-sayage people located on a rocky
islet in the South Seas. a great mn
wonderful chang however, had tak
en- place among the islanders dJr.n
these eighteen years. All the Ohh
eitan men, and al but one Of the mu
lineers, had died naturally or wers
murdered by each others hands. HI
a goodly number Of children wgr
born; these aga.n married aud mHlti
piled, while the solitary rtmua8t 5
the mutineers. named Adams, 5eeam,
a godly- living old man, and was re
garded by the whole community a.
patriar ch. Tie was quite ilIyerat,
when he landed on the island, and ye
he managed TO teach himself aud BIZ
associates. He entered heart and sou
into the work, aud SO well did he ac
compliah his task that several uniu.
peaehable authorities who visited ,h,
island declared that perhaps the worlt
had never seen 80 yirtuous, amiabl,
and religious people.
They lived together, we are toId,iu
perfect harmony and contenlnent
they were hospitable even beyond the
limits of prudence they WI simple
and natural in their habits aud they
appeared to be altogether without any
guile; and they were patterns OF con.
jngal and parental affection. III course
Of time old Adams died, but the IT
tects OF his precept and example lived
after him, and the new generation
which had arisen Oh the island coAtin-
ued IS free from vice and as fun of
religious feryor as the old. Bu her
numbers were rapidly Increasing, and
the rocky island was limited ii extent
They began to hnd themselves in dif.
iicuiles Tor want oil space aud fresh
water, and in 1881, when the popna
ton was eight-seyen, they we're re
moved, at their own request, TO Otahi.
hitie. Here, howeyer,they found tie
world y very different world indeed
from that OF Pitcairns Island. they
were soon disgusted with the leyity
and low morality Of their relations and
nei.l0ors and alter nine months resi-
dence they chartered a rossel and re-
turned to their old quiet home. From
1881 10 1855 they coEinued TO live
and make Tue most Of life on Pitcairn
Island, but the want oI sufficient space
again presented difficulties Which'could
not be overcome, In these elrcnuis
stances they petitioned The British
Government for grant on Norfolk
leland, which was about TO be made a
penal settlement. In the following
year the request WAS gfaried, aud The
htlle colony were shortly afterwards
removed to their new home.
The Pitcairn Islanders have re-
aimed on Norfolk lslaud ever since;
aid it viii no doubt be gratifying 10
their numerous friends in this country
TO learn, by advices brought 10y the
last mail, that they are still increasing
in numbers and prospering saiislacto-
rily. In 1862 they were visited Off
cially by Sir John Young, Governor
Of New South Wales, whose report to
the Duke Of Newcastle has just been
published in the Sydney pa9ers. Sir
John found them living in security
and abundance-decently clad, regu-
lar attenders upon divine worship, and
free from all those foul practices and
banelul superstitions ghich render tie
occupants of too many ot the islands
in the Pacific licenlious and unhappy.
They had increased 10 number TO two
hundred and eighty when Sir John
Young yieited the island aud they had
a magistrate Of thejr own, elected By
all the men and women above eighteen
years Of age but crime waa utterly
unknown to them. They had a cier.
gymau and a schoolmaster paid by the
Home Government, but there MAS
a doctor nor lawyer On the
ISLAND. Ardent spirits were unknown
all we're equal in fortune, ia prospects
aud positions aud they seemed 70 be
altogether free from ihc jesloues, and
heart burnngs, and The cares aad sor
rows, which enbitter life in any 9TH
or pArt Of the world The island on
which they lyei sas exceedingly pro
luctisc and beautiful. and tie land
which they cultivated. supplied them
4beudantly wilh potatoes and other
crops. They had cattle, sbeep, and
pigs by the huudred focks Of turkeys
and wild fowls swarmed ia the groves
tie sea around the island ieemed win
& Of various kinds, which were cas-
Iiy caught, and nothing seemed want
lng to make Norfolk Island paradise.
and It's people the happiest on earth.
They we're certainly peculiar peo-
pie ia every respect, and they are
likely 10 remain 20 for some time 10
come, for strangers, unless With the
consent Of the Governor, are not per-
mitted 70 take up their residence On
tie island. They are therefore lei
IN comparative ignorance Of Tie rect
81 tie world aud its Ways, aud where
ignorance. a. in this case, Is bliss, L a