the old king breathed his last breath without a struggle-and I had the melancholy satisfaction of smoothing his features, after the rough hand of death had passed across

them.

The moment it was evident he was in the very last agony, Kaahumanu ordered the door fastened and the window curtains dropt-when they began preparing the corpse for exhibition to the people, who had assembled in multitudes about the house. A Chinese lounge, or settee without a back, was spread with a rich mantle of green silk velvet, lined with pink satin-on this the corpse was laid, the lower extremi ties being wrapped in loose and heavy folds of yellow satin, while the chest and head were without covering, except a wreath of feathers placed on the head, so as to pass over and conceal the eyes. The splendid war-cloak of the king, composed of red, yellow, and black feathers, was spread over the arm, of the settee at his head, and a large cape of the same material and colours, occupied a corresponding place at his feet. The crowd without had, in the mean time, received some intimation of the event; and redoubling their lamentations, were rushing from all directions towards the windows and the doors, so that it was difficult to keep them closed; as soon, therefore, as the body was thus laid out, the curtains of the six windows in the room were again drawn up, and a scene of wailing ensued that is indescribable. I secured a rough sketch of the group in the room, consisting of Kaahumanu, his wife-Keariiahonui, his son-Hoapiri, Wahine, and Opiia, the sisters of Kaahumanu and Laanai, the husband of Opiia, besides one or two attendants. If I ever have leisure to copy it, you may see it at some future period.

The death of scarce any other chief could affect us so deeply and sincerely. My first interview with him, the day we arrived at Oahu, VOL. IV. Ch. Adv.

inspired me with a feeling of respect that I never have known for any other native, except our patroness at Lahaina, the good queen Keopuolani. He always appeared more civilized-more dignified-more like a Christian, than any of his fellows; and I can, with the strictest veracity, say of him that which I can hardly do of any other in the nation-that I have never heard from him a word, nor witnessed in him a look or action, unbecoming a prince, or what is far more important, inconsistent with the character of a professedly pious man. His high features and slightly stooping shoulders, gave him a patrician and venerable look. His manners were easy and gentlemanlike, and as a "royal captive," to those acquainted with his publick and private history, he was truly an interesting object. A shade of melancholy was always traceable in his countenance, and when visiting him, I have often been reminded by his case, of the early history of the amiable Prince James the First, of Scotland.

You are acquainted with the kind and generous part he acted on the arrival of the mission family in 1820, and of the fatherly care he exercised over those of them who were established in his own island, till the period of his removal to the windward, in conformity to the wish of the general government. The introduction of the religion of salvation in this perishing land, has not been, as we trust, without everlasting benefit to him. He professed to have the hope of eternal life through the redemption of Christ, and his last days were marked with a peace which we believe to have been that of the righteous man. Mr. Ellis was greatly gratified with his conversation during his illness, till he became insensible. His body is to be carried to Lahaina, to be deposited, at his special request, in the same sepulchre with Keopuolani.

L

Thursday, 27th. Spent this morning with Kaahumanu and the nearest relatives of the deceased, and at their request took another sketch of him, as he lay in a full dress of British uniform. Mr. Ellis succeeded at the same time, in getting an excellent profile likeness from the corpse.

Friday, 28th. At 9 o'clock this morning all the members of the mission family now at Honoruru, went to the royal residence, to attend religious services before the embarkation of the funeral party. There was a very large collection of chiefs, foreigners, and common people. At 10 o'clock the coffin, covered with black silk velvet, and enveloped in a rich pall of the same material, was carried into the open air in front of the house, in the middle of the circling crowd. The chiefs, dressed in full mourning, surrounded the coffin-Kaahumanu and Keariiahonui, taking their seats near the head. Harriet, Mr. Chamberlain, and the foreign residents occupied the verandah, into which the doors and windows of the second story open, while Mr. Ellis and myself occupied the front door of the ground floor. After a hymn and prayer, Mr. E. preached from the words, "Be ye also ready." The services were closed by singing a native version of Pope's "Dying Christian." The corpse was immediately carried on board a pilot boat, and followed by the nearest friends and Mr. Ellis, who accompanies them to Maui. They chose the pilot boat as the best sailer. Several schooners and brigs filled with people, followed during the morning. Every thing was conducted with the propriety and order of a Christian burial, and testified to the benefits derived from moral and religious instruction.

Saturday, 29th. Surely gross darkness covers this people, and, though the Sun of Righteousness has risen on the gloom, the spectres of superstition are daily seen flit

ting across the beams of a brighter day. Since I have been at this place, I have often made a retired walk, on the side of Punch Bowl Hill, a place of study in the cool of the morning and evening. As I was walking backward and forward there this afternoon, with a paper in my hand, a small party of the natives approached, and charged me with being a wicked man, for praying their chiefs to death-that Taumuarii was dead by my prayers

that I was killing Karaimoku, and soon there would not be a chief left on Oahu. I explained to them their mistake, as to the object of my frequenting that spot, and the inability of any one, by prayer or incantation, to take away the life of another; but they said my words were "falsehood only;" and an old woman hurried off to a quarry, where a number of men were digging stone for a large house Karaimoku is building, and bade them go and kill me at once, or Karaimoku would be a dead man. They only laughed at her, however, and Karaimoku himself who was near, on his way to see me, joined heartily with them. It seems the place I had thus occupied, was the site of an old idolatrous temple, and of course intimately associated, in the minds of the less enlightened of the people, with the superstitions of the tabu system-of which there is no remaining one more general or deep rooted, than that of a belief that certain persons have the power of cutting short the lives of others, by sorcery and prayer. Near the close of our last quarterly publick journal, you will find some remarks on this subject.

Sabbath evening, 30th, 9 o'clock. While I take my pen to write, my dear M. the first temple ever erected for the worship of the only true God on these islands, is smoking in ruins! About an hour since, while the family were singing a few hymns after tea, with Mr. Hunnewell and Mr. Harwood, we were

MILTON'S TREATISE OF CHRISTIAN

DOCTRINE.

Under the head of Literary and Philosophical Intelligence, in our number for October last, we gave from the London Literary Gazette, a full and correct exhibition of the general contents of this long lost work of the greatest of modern poets-in regard to which there has been, ever since its discovery was announced, a deeply excited curiosity throughout the learned world. It has recently been reprinted in our country, at Boston; and we were preparing ourselves, by a very careful perusal, for its review, when we received our number of the Evangelical Magazine for December last; which contains a review, much like that which we had contemplated. Our first intention, indeed, had been, to make our review extensive and particular: but this design we abandoned, on considering, not only the scantiness of our pages, but the probability that those who wish for an intimate knowledge of these singular volumes such they truly are will read the whole for themselves. We think that the contents of the work in our October number, the short review which we shall extract from the Evangelical Magazine, and some additional remarks of our own, will satisfy those of our readers who will not be disposed to peruse the book at large. If however, we shall hereafter find, that the essays announced in the review we publish, or that any other remarks or strictures that we may meet with, or be disposed to make ourselves, will probably be useful or gratifying to our readers, they shall certainly not be withheld. The American edition of the work, which is very handsomely executed, is printed in two octavo vo

lumes. It appears by the following title, which stands at the head of the article in the Evangelical Magazine, that the British publication was in the quarto form; and it strikes us that the price was unusually high.

"A Treatise on Christian Doctrine; compiled from the Holy Scriptures alone. By John Milton. Translated from the Original by Charles R. Sumner, M. A., Librarian and Historiographer to His Majesty, and Prebendary of Canterbury. 4to. 21. 10s. common paper; 51. 5s. best. Knight, PallMall.

The genius and learning of the Commonwealth have raised it to a pre-eminent distinction in the annals of our country's glory. In every department of human knowledge it boasted of men who shed a lustre on their own times, and who lived for the good of posterity. After the detraction of ages, it is pleasing to find, that the memory of those unrivalled individuals who flourished in this illustrious period, is emerging gloriously from that cloud with which political prejudice has attempted to obscure it, and is promising, once more, to impart a character of thought and energy to the busy age in which we live. There was a time, when to mention the name of Cromwell, or any of the leading men who adhered to his administration, was to awaken the clamour of fanaticism, hypocrisy, and treason; but this virulent slang is every day becoming less welcome to all ranks and classes in the community, and a more dispassionate judgment is beginning to be exercised, in reference to men and measures which have been too long viewed through a jaundiced medium.

We cannot but view Mr. Sumner's preface to the work before us, as a most honourable specimen of that species of candour to which we have alluded. Although a clergyman of the National Church, and high in ecclesiastical and royal favour, he has ventured to speak of the Protectorate in terms of considerable respect. At least, he has not allowed himself to employ the language of ungenerous invective, but has dealt with exemplary fairness in speaking of talents and character, which nothing but a puny prejudice would ever have dared to impugn. We are, indeed, highly delighted with Mr. Sumner's preface; not more by the liberal spirit which it breathes, than by the perspicuous account which it gives of the great poet's theology. Upon the discovery, the identification, and the peculiarities of this posthumous volume, the learned translator has dwelt at large, and by the able critique which he has thereby furnished, has rendered, in a measure, the labours of all future reviewers unnecessary. His task, in all respects, is most ably performed; and whatever may be the opinion entertained respecting the work itself, there can be but one of the distinguished translator.

It is not without a pang of regret that we profess our belief, that this long lost system of theology is indeed the actual production of the immortal Milton. That it fell from his pen, and that too at a period of life when his judgment must have reached its utmost maturity, cannot for a moment be doubted. Whatever, therefore, might have been his earlier views of divine truth, it is but too lamentably evident, from this volume, that towards the close of his earthly pilgrimage they were, in many essential particulars, wretchedly erroneous and unscriptural. It is, indeed, harrowing to the feelings to learn, from Milton's own showing, that he believed the Son of God to be nothing more than an

exalted creature;-that he held the materiality and death of the human soul;-that he denied the doctrine of justification by faith alone, without works ;-that he maintained, in unqualified terms, the total abrogation of the Decalogue;-that he resolved the institution of the Christian Sabbath into a mere matter of expediency;-that he pleaded for the lawfulness of polygamy;-and that he professed his belief that the Deity is possessed of some palpable form, and is agitated by passions similar to those which are common to the human bosom. With these cardinal errors are mixed up a variety of minor ones, equally characteristick of that spirit of unhallowed speculation, which, in the case of the great poet, was found to associate itself with an avowed contempt for human authority, and a profound deference for the word of God. To some of our Baptist brethren, it will not be a little gratifying to find that Milton was on their side. The triumph is, however, in some degree moderated by the circumstance, that his extreme heterodoxy in other particulars, must forever annihilate him as a theological authority. If, however, they will boast of him, let them not forget that he was an Arian, a Polygamist, a Materialist, a Humanitarian, and, in fact, an abettor of almost every error which has infested the church of God.

How little, alas! can mere genius effect in protecting the human mind from the influence of pernicious error, and in conducting it to a cheerful acquiescence in the revealed truth of Heaven! How affecting is it to see the most stupendous intellects, falling victims to the sorcery of an ingenious though deceitful theory, while the unlettered peasant holds on in the even tenor of his way, believing what God has said, and obeying what he has commanded!

When first we perused the objectionable parts of Milton's theo