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sermons began at the same time. I will mention the text that each minister chose, as suitable for the occasion.

Mr. Darling chose Isaiah lvi. 7. "I will make them joyful in my house of prayer.”

Mr. Platt chose Luke xiv. 22. "And yet there is room."

Mr. Crook chose Exodus xx. 24. "In all places where I send my name, I will come unto thee and bless thee."

The sermons ended very nearly at the same time. The congregation then joined in singing a hymn, and the ministers concluded the service with prayer. Thus ended this joyful

meeting.

The next day the congregation assembled again to hear three sermons for the Missionary Society. In the afternoon they heard three more. A great many subscriptions had already been made to the Society. The king had put down his name, as a subscriber of eight hogs a year.

The day following, which was Thursday, the laws were publicly given to the people. The king had made the laws, some time before, with the assistance of his chiefs, and the advice of the missionaries, and had written them out with his own hand. There were eighteen laws. Amongst them, were laws against murder, rebellion, theft, and sabbath-breaking.

READING OF THE LAWS.

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Murderers and rebels alone were to be punished with death. Thieves were only to be obliged to restore four times the amount of property they had taken.

On the day when the laws were proclaimed, the people assembled in the chapel, and Pomare asked Mr. Crook to begin with prayer and reading. Then, Pomare stood in the middle pulpit, and after looking joyfully round upon his subjects, spoke to one of his chiefs, named Tati, saying, "Tati, what is your desire? › What can I do for you?"

Tati, who sat nearly opposite the pulpit, arose and said, "Those are what we want-the papers you hold in your hand-the laws. Give them to us, that we may hold them in our hands, that we may regard them, and do what is right."

The king then said in an affectionate man ner to another very pious chief, "Utami, what

is your desire ?” He replied, "One thing

same manner.

only is desired by us all-that which Tati has said, the laws which you hold in your hand." The king then spoke to the other chiefs in the He next read aloud the eighteen laws, and explained several parts of them. After reading each law, the king said to the chiefs, "Do you agree to this law?" and the chiefs replied after each, "We heartily agree to it." The king next asked the people after each law, if they agreed to it, to lift up their

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right hands.

LIFTING UP OF HANDS.

This was done in an instant, and caused a rushing noise to be heard, so vast was the number of arms in a moment lifted up. When the king came to the law against rebellion, he seemed almost inclined to pass it over, as many who had rebelled against him were present. Yet when he had read the law, Tati, who had been a ringleader amongst the rebels, not satisfied with holding up his hand as usual, arose, holding up both hands, and called upon the people to do the same. This was an instance of the change, that the gospel had made in many a proud, rebellious heart.

On the next sabbath, the most interesting of all the meetings on this occasion, was held. You remember that Pomare had desired to be baptized before any of his people; but he had appeared so little prepared for baptism, that the missionaries had put off the time from year to year; they had, however, baptized a few persons, privately. Lately Pomare had shown a strong desire, not only for baptism, but also to devote himself to God, and had received much instruction from the brethren. It was, therefore, decided that he should now be baptized. Three sermons were preached that morning from the same text-Matt. xxviii. 18-20. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the

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THE KING'S BAPTISM.

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Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." After the sermon, the eight missionaries, who were present, assembled round Pomare, who was seated near the middle pulpit. After singing and prayer were ended, the king stood up, and Mr. Bicknell, standing on the pulpit stairs, poured water upon Pomare's head, and baptized him in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Pomare was observed to lift up his eyes towards heaven, and to utter a sound. The brethren

who had long watched over his soul, felt much moved on this solemn occasion. Mr. Bicknell, in a very feeling manner, entreated him to walk worthy of the profession he had made in baptism, remembering that as he held the high office of a king, the eyes of men, as well as those of God and angels, were fixed upon him.

Mr. Henry then exhorted the people to follow the example of the king, and give themselves to the Lord. After singing, and prayer, the king shook hands affectionately with all the brethren, and returned to his tent.

We have thus related the events of the happy week when the Royal Mission Chapel first was opened. O how different were these assemblies from those feasts at which Pomare and his father had often distributed the bleeding limbs of men, among the chiefs, as offerings to the gods!

The rest of the year was full of happy

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NUMEROUS BAPTISMS.

events. Many persons, in all the four islands, were baptized at their own earnest desire. The missionaries first instructed them in the meaning of baptism, teaching them that baptism could not change their hearts, and that it was only the outward sign of being born again.

The brethren in Eimeo travelled round the island, to prepare the people for baptism. They found the natives so anxious to be taught, that often the whole night was spent in answering their questions. The brethren sent also two of the natives to teach the people. One of these teachers was Patii, who had formerly been a priest, and who had publicly burned his idols. While Patii and the other native spoke to the people about divine things, many wept exceedingly.

The baptisms used to take place after the morning service on Sunday. Those who were to be baptized sat round the pulpit. The brethren walked amongst them, and poured water upon them, saying to each, “I baptize thee, in the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost." The parents, who had been baptized, brought their infants, to be baptized -those infants, that perhaps would have been buried, if their parents had continued in ignorance of a Saviour.

The brethren now invited those who truly believed to take the Lord's Supper. Some of