THE

Evangelical Magazine,

For JANUARY, 1799.

LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS

From the DIRECTORS of the MISSIONARY SOCIETY to CAPTAIN ROBSON, of the Miffionary Ship, DUFF.

CAPT. ROBSON,

THE

HE juft eftimation in which you have long held the objects of our inftitution, and the commendable zeal with which you have promoted them, render your appointment to the command of our fhip on the prefent expedition, a measure very fuitable in itself, as well as fatisfactory to us. You are placed therefore in a station, which, on account of its connection with the interefts of our Redeemer's Kingdom, you will contemplate as very honourable and important; and you are invefted with fuch a degree of influence, in conjunction with a Committee, over the conduct and regulation of the Miffion itself, as will impress your mind with folemn reflections, and lead you moft earnestly to invocate the grace which may be fufficient for you.

We are all, indeed, the weak and erring inftruments whom God condefcends to ufe to exemplify the fupremacy of his power, as well as the benevolence of his defigns; and although we are apprized of the duty of employing our utmoft talents in this great undertaking, we feel with you, that its fuccefs depends upon himself alone, to whom, therefore, the entire and undivided praife is to be referred. We are also encouraged mutually to use our unwearied endeavours to promote this caufe, because it is evident that a facred impulfe has been excited, and a spirit of prayer called forth on its behalf, in a measure unusual and without a precedent in modern times. While we, therefore, are committing this object into your hands, we truft you are in reality receiving a much higher inveftiture; and that your commiffion has the fanction of the Great Head of the Church,

whofe

whofe efficacious influence can enable you to fulfil the purpoles of his wifdom and grace.

It is a very great fatisfaction to us, and it will also, doubtlefs, afford confiderable relief to your mind, that we are enabled to affociate with you our highly esteemed friend and brother, the Rev. Mr. Howell, whofe exemplary zeal for the honour of our Saviour, and the most effential interests of the human race, has difpofed him to relinquith, for a time, the comforts of his refpectable fituation, that he may render his utmost services to promote the fuccefs of this important enterprize he is, therefore, appointed and authorized to affift you in carrying these inftructions into effect, and in particular to take the overfight of the more fpiritual branchesof the Miffion during the voyage; to cherish and improve the religious attainments of the brethren; and to be the centre of union and affection among them. On fhore he is to be the representative of the Directors, in relation to the Spiritual concerns of the Miffionaries already fettled; to obferve their order, to enquire into the progrefs of the work among the Heathen, and to adminifter to them, as well as to those who accompany him, fuch affiftance, encouragement, admonition, or advice, as may appear requifite. For thefe purposes we inveft him with the authority of a permanent Member of the Committee, over which you are appointed the perpetual Prefident; the reft of the Committee are to confift of five Miffionaries, elected from among themfelves, and changed periodically. To this Committee is confided the duty of fulfilling the directions hereafter given, it being however understood, that your concurrence, and that of Mr. Howell, is requifite to give validity to their refolutions; and the grounds for the exercife of this difcretionary power muft be recorded, and ftated to us. Thofe circumftances, however, refpecting the management and navigation of the fhip which are within your province as its Commander, are entirely and exclufively under your conroul, and the refponfibility is limited to yourfelf.

The number of perfons who have been confecrated to this fervice confifts of 10 married men, with their wives and 7 children; and of 19 fingle brethren. The very favourable opinion we entertain, both of their Chriftian character, and of their fincerity and qualifications as Miffionaries, we truft will be confirmed both by their conduct during the voyage, and their usefulness among the Heathen. It is on the ground of those general maxims of circumfpecion, which require that we should provide against events

which appear in fome degree even improbable, and not becaufe we entertain any doubt of the fpirit, the fortitude, or the devotednefs of our brethren now on the point of departure, or thofe already established in the islands, that we think it neceffary to fuggeft the following inftructions.

Should any of them unexpectedly manifeft a defire to withdraw from this fervice, previous to their quitting the coaft, -or fhould they unhappily difcover traits of difpofition and character of fo unfavourable a nature as to furnish strong grounds of apprehenfion that their influence would be injurious;-in either cafe it would be defireable to put them on fhore, and furnith them with what may be fufficient for their fubfiftence till they can reach their refidence.

If, when you arrive at Rio Janeiro, any of them should difcover a reluctance to proceed, and request to be left at that place, it would be proper to acquiefce therein, leaving with them the means of fupport till it is probable they may have the opportunity of working their way to Europe:but although this may be a fufficient expence for the Society to incur in a cafe in which we only comply with the wifh of the individual; yet if you and the Committee fhould find it neceffary for the good of the caufe to separate from you an unfuitable Miffionary, and have the opportunity of conveying him either to England direct, or through the way of Lif bon, it would be prudent to fubmit to that expence rather than rifque the fuccefs of the Million by the infectious fociety of an injurious member.

We must add alfo, that if, when you arrive at the islands of the South Seas, any of the prefent or of the former Miffionaries fhould be defirous of returning to England with the fhip, this defire fhould not be complied with, except on very urgent grounds, as it would form a very pernicious precedent.-Extreme indifpofition arifing from the climate ought to be confidered as a reafon for their removal to another place more likely to fuit their conftitution; but thould not be concluded immediately to be a fufficient caufe for conveving them home.-A defire of returning with the fhip, arifing from ficklenes of mind, or a declining zeal for the fervice, if gratified would operate as an encouragement to others to offer themfelves as Miffionaries, under the fecret perfuafion that they alfo might be allowed to return after having fatisticd an idle curiofity, or a wandering difpofition, and thus prove effentially injurious.

Should there be any whofe tempers or religious opinions are fo uncongenial to their brethren as to occafion animoVOL. VII,

C

fities

fities and divifions, fuch fhould be removed to a fituation where they may be likely to harmonize better with their affociates, but not brought home to England, except their continuance in the iflends would prejudice the great cause; the protection and promotion of which muft indeed be the principal rule by which your conduct, and that of the Committee, on thefe occations fhould be regulated. Thus it is poffible that a neceflity may be impoted upon you to remove fome whofe continuance may be incompatible with ne profperity of our undertaking, and you may be obliged to proceed to this meature, even against the confent of the injurious members; it being however affumed, that you act herein with the concurrence of the body of the Miffionaries, without which there would not be a fufficient proof to us of the neceflity of the meafure; and it might alfo difturb the harmony of the fociety there, as well as diminith the refpect which they would otherwife entertain for the Directors at home. It will be left to your difcretion whe-' ther to leave there on fome other ifland, with their own concurrence, where their perfonal fecurity and fubfiftence can be well afcertained; or to bring them with you to China, and let them work their way home in fome English vetfel, or to allow them to return in the Duff; it being however understood that our engagements to bring home a cargo of tea from China will render it impracticable to extend this indulgence to more than three perfons. This limitation however does not extend to the cafe of removing any of them on account of perfonal infecurity.-We have great reafon to itate this to be a very improbable circumftance, and fhould it even occur, it might be only necefiary to convey them from one ifland to another; it is however fuitable to record it as an indubitable principle, that the fafety of the Miffionaries is a confideration to which any other is fubordinate.

Having finished this unpleafant part of our duty, and which we fincerely hope the event will prove to have been unneceflary, we proceed to enlarge more particularly on the plan and difpofitions of this important enterprife.

As foon as you have received your Milionaries on board, together with the ftores for the voyage, and for their ute in the iflands, you are to proceed without delay to Portfmouth, and fail with the fift convoy that may be appointed; attaching yourself thereto, and keeping company therewith, to far as its courfe and yous may coincide: after which you are at liberty to teparate from it, and proceed to the port of

Rio de Janeiro on the coaft of Brazil. On your arrival there you will have an opportunity of laving in 5 or 6 hogfheads of wine, and an ample ftock of freth provifions on moderate terms you will, if requifite, procure a fupply of fugar for the ufe of the Miffionaries. You will alfo take with you from thence one ram fheep and two ewes, which are intended for the Friendly Iflands. The dollars with which you are provided will ferve you for the payment of these articles, and the furplus you will have occafion for in the further progrefs of your voyage. From this place you will forward your difpatches, addreffing them to Mr. Jofeph Hardcaftle, the Treafurer to the Inftitution.

We cannot recommend you to profecute the remainder of your voyage by attempting to double Cape Horn, the fuccefs of which is very precarious, and the extreme rigour of the climate would be very unfuitable to the woinen and children; and would also inevitably occafion the loss of the live flock, on the prefervation of which the health of the fhip's company and paffengers materially depends. We advife you, therefore, on your departure from Rio, where your detention we hope will not exceed a week, to stretch immediately into the latitude of about 40°, or where you find the weft wind blowing fteadily, and purfue your course to the ifland of Tongataboo, which it is our defire that you fhould first vifit, and where you will enter on the most important branches of your expedition.

The great object of your voyage, and the rule of your duty, is defined in the following refolution of the Society at their General Meeting, viz. "That the Directors be au"thorized to prepare another voyage to the Pacific Ocean, "for the purposes of vifiting and affifting our brethren al"ready there--of adding to their number where circum"ftances may render it expedient, and of planting the gof"pel in other lilands where it fhall appear moft eligible, "from their extent, population, or other favourable cir"cumftances."

It is a peculiar fatisfaction to us to reflect that, in confequence of your having accompanied the laft Miffion, oberved the occurences upon the Iflands, witneffed the discreet, the judicious and fuccefsful principles upon which the invaluable Conductor of that expedition proceeded, you are fo well qualified for the execution of this peculiar fervice; yet it will be fatisfactory to you, as it is incumbent alfo upon us, to state to you the plan which we recommend, and the principles upon which it is founded.

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