communication with his friends at Montevideo or East Falkland. However, when October arrived, and the expedition had been gone for more than a year without any tidings returning, the worst forebodings began to be felt, and an application was made to the Admiralty to assist the Society in the effort to reach its agents. H.M.S. Dido was then sailing for the Pacific, and instructions were instantly forwarded to her commander, Captain Morshead, to touch, if possible, at Picton Island, and inquire after the missionaries.

Simultaneously with this movement in England, Samuel Lafone, Esq., of Montevideo, had commissioned a fast sailing American pilot-boat to proceed to Picton Island, and render any assistance which the mission party might require. After a run of four weeks, Captain Smyley reached Banner Cove on the 21st of October; but finding it painted on the rocks, "Gone to Spaniard Harbour," he proceeded thither and arrived on the following day. He soon found a boat on the beach, and inside of it lay one person dead. There was a large scar on his head, and another on his neck, and a mattrass was thrown over him. The name "Pearce was found on his frock, and there can be little doubt that he was the last survivor of the party. The Indians, whose naked footprints were observed on the strand, had no doubt found him still alive and had murdered him; and books, papers, medicine,everything which was of no value to the savages,

were found scattered on the deck or strewn along the beach. On the shore was found a body completely washed to pieces, which must have been that of Mr Williams, as his three companions had been already buried. Captain Smyley had barely time to bury it, when a violent gale arose, and drove him from his anchorage and out to sea. His little vessel being laden with the crew of a castaway Danish barque, Captain Smyley could prosecute the search no farther, but was forced to return to Montevideo. The report of this humane and right-hearted man concludes with the following testimony:

"I have never found in my life such Christian fortitude, such patience, and bearings in my life as in these poor unfortunate men. They have never murmured even. They seemed resigned. And Mr Williams says, even in his worst distress, he would not swap his situation for, or with, any man in life. He is happy beyond expression.

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They speak in their Journals of going to the Falklands, but they found their boats not fit, and in fact they waited until all their provisions were gone, and they were taken with the scurvy so bad, that it was impossible for them to go. They had no rest; they were drove from place to place by the Indians, always in dread and fear. Add to these, the stormy, dreary, long nights, with almost perpetual ice and snow; and cooped up in a small boat, so laden that there was scarce room to move,

without food, and with that terrible disease the scurvy; and you can judge their situation partly.”

Unapprised of Captain Smyley's discovery, Captain Morshead in the Dido reached these dangerous seas about the middle of January 1852, and prosecuted the search with the skill and energy of a British sailor, and with the solicitude of a Christian friend. He reached Spaniard Harbour on the evening of January 21, and immediately sent Lieutenant Pigott and Mr Roberts on shore. They found the bodies of Captain Gardiner and Mr Maidment, and returned to the ship with a variety of books and papers. Next morning, amidst threatening weather, Captain Morshead landed. Mr Maidment's body lay in the cavern where he had so often spent the night, and in which the stores rescued from the Pioneer were kept. Outside on the rocks was painted, by way of direction to any visitor, a hand, and under it," PSALM lxii. 5-8." Captain Gardiner's body was lying beside the wreck of the Pioneer. It seemed that he had left his berth, but being too weak to climb into it again, he had died at the side of the boat. The remains were collected and buried; the funeral service was read; an inscription was placed on the rocks ; three volleys of musketry were fired; the ship's colours were struck half-mast high; and having fulfilled her mournful commission, the Dido went on her way.

CHAPTER X.

Conclusion.

WITH offerings of devotion,

Ships from the isles shall meet,
To pour the wealth of ocean
In tribute at his feet.

For he shall have dominion

O'er river, sea, and shore,

Far as the eagle's pinion,

Or dove's light wing can soar.

Psalm lxxii. 8, 10.-James Montgomery.

When we look abroad on a world that is rent with woe, and burdened with the curse, how gladly ought we to turn to the prophetic picture of the same world, clothed with the verdure of righteousness and peace, love and joy! When we behold the wretched multitudes everywhere ground down by oppression, how cheering to think of the happy period when kings shall be the nursing-fathers and queens the nursing-mothers of their people-when justice will everywhere be seen holding up her even scales-and the genius of charity opening, on the most barbarous shores, new founts of blessing that shall never more be sealed!-Dr Duff.