Polynesian Researches, during a Residence of nearly six Years in the South Sea Islands; including Descriptions of the Natural History and Scenery of the Islands; with Remarks on the History, Mythology, Traditions, Government, Arts, Manners, and Customs of the Inhabitants. By William Ellis, Missionary to the Society and Sandwich Islands, and Author of the "Tour of Hawaii." 2 vols. 8vo. 1829. Fisher, Son, and Co. London.

WE We are well pleased to introduce to the notice of our readers, these volumes of "Researches;" they belong to a new class of books, a new school, and a new age. We have "Researches in the Mediter

ranean ;" "Researches in Syria and the Holy Land;"" Researches in Russia ;""Researches in Africa;" and "Researches in Polynesia ;”—the last, not inferior in interest or importance to any of their predecessors: indeed, the world is much indebted to Mr. Ellis for the information which he has communicated in these volumes; and every person of taste and piety must be highly gratified with their lively and beautiful descriptions of scenery and natural history, as well as with the extraordinary and more than romantic narratives, which no one could be better qualified to relate, than the author himself. In many points the work is a continuation of the Acts of the Apostles; and, if the apos tles of Christ have any successors on earth, surely Mr. Ellis and his fellow-labourers of the Pacific are more intitled to that honourable appellation, than those lordly and luxurious persons, who appropriate it to themselves.

We receive this work with holy gratitude and praise; and must exclaim, concerning the events which it describes-"This is the

finger of God!" We possess a

lively and indelible remembrance of the extraordinary scene exhibited on the river Thames, on the morning when the missionary ship, Duff, weighed anchor for the South Seas :-the river covered with boats, and the banks lined with spectators; the decks of the gallant ship, so crowded with the friends and directors of the mission, that the vessel could with difficulty be got under weigh; the azure flag, with the dove and olive branch-symbols of "peace on earth and good will to men," floating in the breeze; and the air filled with the sacred melody of a thousand pious voices, singing the hymn

Jesus at thy command

We launch into the deep.

These were halcyon days. The enthusiasm of the crusades had revived, purified from superstition and ferocity. One of the loveliest remnants of paradise was to be recovered from "the Prince of the power of the air," and all joined heart and hand in the holy enterprise. prise. After various and painful encounters with "the spirits of wickedness," reigning with iron sway over this fair portion of our race, and after many years of anxious expectation, and, with some of hopeless despondency, at length the reward of faithfulness in the service of God is granted: "The prey is taken from the mighty, and the lawful captive is delivered." The trophies of conquest have been exhibited; and we who witnessed the embarkation of these holy forces, have lived to see, with inexpressible joy, the spolia opima brought home: we have joined in the conqueror's song over "Tahiti's foolish gods," and in praise of

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ocean, as the scene of wonders which his grace was about to disclose. Here indeed was "his way in the sea, and his footsteps in the mighty waters.' "Oh! the depths of his wisdom!" While the angry nations were raging in sanguinary warfare with each other, and a doubtful, destructive, and expensive contest was carried on for a good, either equivocal, or of uncertain tenure, or of inferior worth; and, while the minds of statesmen, heroes, sages, philosophers, were kept intent on these objects, a silent and distant operation was going on, which, after the needful time occupied in preparation, has burst forth on the astonished sight of those men who have the presumption to imagine that "wisdom shall die with them;" and that if the world is made better-and much it needs to be-it must be indebted to legislation, policy, refinement, science, of which they keep the keys. God, however, designing to "hide pride from man," and to abase these impious pretensions, has shown, in the splendid and extraordinary instance before us, as narrated in these volumes, that the work of conversion and salvation is all his own; that he is not indebted to the men of the world for their assistance, but can effect it without their wisdom and their resourcesnay in opposition to them; and that, where the gospel is received "in simplicity and godly sincerity," it contains in its bosom a thousand benefits and bounties for men's welfare, even "in the life that now is." The experiment, we say, has been tried: the result is before the world; and though, even now, some may be found weak, ignorant, or malignant enough to deny the fact, such a course only affords a test of character and disposition: for every well-wisher to the cause of Christ in the world, will, ante

cedently, desire that the facts as stated may be true, and will, thereby, show to others, what he himself is, even though the statements given should not be true: whereas he who denies and vilifies them, not only does so, in the teeth of the most authentic testimony, but, at the same time, betrays a wish that no such facts-no such testimony were in existence. We shall be curious to see the Quarterly Review of the Polynesian Researches. Will it be written with the same animus as before, on the subject of the Sandwich Islands? We trust not: if it be, it will but "foam out its own shame."

Let it not be understood, however, that we are applauding mere human efforts, in the characters of missionaries or their patrons. The work is all divine. 66 'It is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes;" and we can well imagine that "the God of this world" yields not up his long-established tyranny in the isles of the Pacific, without some desperate efforts. But we rejoice to know, that Leviathan has "the hook in his nose," and we hope that his cruel and foul reign over our brethren of the sea, is fast approaching to a close.

Our readers who have not seen the work before us, will now be anxious that we should proceed to give some account of its contents. These are most miscellaneous, and embrace a vast variety of topics of the most interesting kind. Some of the statements have already appeared in the official papers of the London Missionary Society, with which Mr. Ellis stands connected: others have been heard from the lips of the author, in the metropolis and various parts of the kingdom, which he has visited for the purpose of promoting the great object of his honourable life. And who that has heard any of them from himself, either in public or in

private, but would wish to possess this record of events the most astonishing and delightful which have been transmitted to the Christian world, since the days of the apostles! Such is our conviction of the interest and value of these records of the progress of the Polynesian Mission, that if our pages should not have the effect of producing a desire to obtain the reading of the work now under review;-if our readers can be content with our account of it, we shall think our duty but ill-performed, either to them or to the estimable author.

With this view, we should proceed to give a synopsis of the contents; but it would be quite out of place to quote the heads of each chapter; and as the author, doubtless from the pressure of public engagements, has not arranged the work so logically as could be wished, and has written, sometimes, currente calamo, this duty we are compelled to waive. Probably the author will notice our hint, in regard to succeeding editions of the work. In

so doing he will avoid some repetitions, which, though occasionally interesting, yet, in general might be better avoided. This very blemish, however, we regard as arising out of the missionary character. It is to be expected that "teachers of the ignorant, and instructors of babes," should have contracted a habit of repetition, and something of the manner of those to whom they have condescended, with whom they have been so long associated, and with whose interests they have been identified. The judgment and taste of our author, however, will not avail themselves of our apology. If the opportunity be afforded, we are well persuaded he will revise, retrench, amplify, or even recast his work, to adapt it to the more fastidious mind.

If in this process, any thing of the freshness, truth, and nature of the amazing story should be lost, we shall heartily repent of our critical recommendation: but let it be recollected that Aristotle, the father of logic, has delivered permanent canons for the art of poetry.

To give a concentrated view of the nature and design of the work, we shall quote from the preface.

"The following work will exhibit numerous facts, which may justly be regarded as illustrating the essential characteristics of idolatry, and its influence on a people, the simplicity of whose institutions affords facilities for observing its nature and tendencies, which could not be obtained in a more advanced state of society.

"In some respects, the mythology of Tahiti presents features peculiarly its own in others it exhibits a striking analogy to that of the nations of antiquity. In each, the light of truth occasionally gleams through a mass of darkness and error. The conviction that man is the subject of supernatural dominion, is recognized in all, and the multiplied objects of divine homage, which distinguished the polytheism of the ancients, marked also

that of the rude islanders. Nor was the fabulous religion of the latter deficient in the mummeries of sorcery and witchcraft, the delusion of oracles, and the influence of other varieties of juggling, and oppressive spiritual domination.

"The South Sea Islanders appear under circumstances peculiarly favourable to happiness, to happiness, but their idolatry exhibits them as removed to the farthest extreme from such a state. The baneful effects of their delusion was increased by the vast preponderance of malignant_deities, frequently the personifications of cruelty and vice. They had and vice. They had changed the glory of God into the image of corruptible things, and instead of exercising those affections of gratitude, complacency and love, in the objects of their worship, which the living God supremely requires, they regarded their deities with horrific dread, and worshipped only with enslaving fear." -Vol. i. pp. vii. viii.

"These volumes also contain a brief, but it is hoped satisfactory history of the origin, progress, and results of the missionary enterprise, which, during the last thirty years, has, under the divine blessing, transformed the barbarous, cruel, indolent, and idolatrous inhabitants of Tahiti, and the neighbouring islands, into