We cannot close this biography, without noticing a character, who, though not a native of Wisbech, spent his early life in a humble sphere in this town, and has since exerted his talents in the cause of Christianity, so as to benefit the world at large. Mr. WILLIAM ELLIS, though born in London in 1794, was brought by his parents to Wisbech at the age of four years. He enjoyed none of the advantages of education beyond the commonest rudiments, nor do his juvenile years furnish any thing remarkable to interest. At the age of twelve, he left his father's house, and took up his abode with a farmer about fourteen miles distant, where he remained about three years, when, acquiring a taste for botany, he engaged with a gardener in the country; but in October 1811, removing to London, he spent a year in a nursery ground at Kingsland, and continued there for the two following years; during this period he devoted his mind to study, and receiving some serious impressions of religion, his attention became directed to "Missionary labours." We know that strong mental powers and intellectual energy, besides piety and zeal, are requisite to an undertaking of this nature, and these qualifications he seemed to possess; for having offered himself to the London church missionary society, and undergone the customary and necessary examination, he received directions in January 1815 to proceed to the South Sea Islands, his wife accompanying him, and reached Eimeo, one of the Society Islands, four leagues west of Otaheite, on 13th February 1817. Mr. Ellis having made himself acquainted with the Taheitean language, which bears a close affinity to that of the Society Islands, was invited to visit the Sandwich Islands, whose inhabitants are a most inoffen sive, hospitable, and kind-hearted people, in order that he might propagate the doctrines of Christianity there; and much of the advance which these islanders have made is doubtless to be ascribed in a great measure to the happy natural disposition with which they appear to be almost universally endowed. Already they have overthrown the shrines of their idols, and there is now scarcely a pagan image, or even a pagan rite, to be found amongst them; they feel the propriety of covering their persons, and of assuming our costume, and evince a ready inclination towards civilized life. Mr. Ellis, after becoming a resident at Hawaii, (Owyhee*) made a tour of that island, of which an interesting account has been published by him. In the year 1824, Mrs. Ellis' health induced him to think of returning to his native land, where she might receive medical assistance, which the Sandwich Islands did not afford. About the period of his intending to return to his native country, the king and queen of the Sandwich Islands had resolved to visit the British dominions, and Mr. Ellis was to have accompanied them when they took their departure for England, but a passage could not then be procured for him. Mr. Ellis, in his character of missionary, had made a sincere impression on the king and queen of Hawaii, as is shewn by their conversion to Christianity, and abolishing their national idolatry. It is a strong proof that the king possessed great decision of character, by his undertaking a long and hazardous voyage to this country: this expedition was prompted by an earnest desire on his part to see for himself countries of which he had heard such various and Where captain Cook lost his life. interesting accounts; to have a personal interview with his majesty the king of Great Britain; to obtain a better knowledge of the nature of commercial transactions, and to make arrangements with the British government, for confirming the cession of the Sandwich Islands, and for placing himself and his dominions under British protection, and finally to make himself acquainted with our institutions. The king, Tamehameha, and his queen, Tamehamalu, with their suite, accordingly left the South Seas, and arrived in London on the 20th May 1824, and took up their abode at the Caledonian hotel, Adelphi. They attended the public amusements, and visited the theatres, dressed in the European manner, and a time was appointed for their introduction to his majesty king George IV. Whilst waiting for this ceremony, Tamehamaha, his queen, and most of their suite, were seized with the measles; every attention and respect was paid to them; the king sent his own physician to attend them, and it was hoped their majesties were recovering, when inflammation ensued, and terminated in their death; the queen on the 8th July, and the king six days after. The government paid due honours to their remains, and the Blonde frigate, captain lord Byron, was ordered to convey them, with their suite, to the Sandwich Islands. Although the melancholy death of the king and queen prevented the accomplishment of the objects so fully as might have been wished, yet no unfriendly feeling is likely to be entertained by the people as to the cause of it, for though the intelligence was received in their own country with sorrow, yet the hospitable manner in which the king and queen were received and treated while they lived, the high respect paid to their remains, and other tokens of friendship, not only prevented suspicion, but appear to have confirmed the attachment and confidence felt by his suite towards England. A younger brother about ten years of age is the successor. The narrative above alluded to, which Mr. Ellis has published, is very interesting, and cannot fail to awaken respect for the office of the Christian missionary, and to exhibit the author as a man of correct observation and enlightened philanthropy: it is entitled, "A Narrative of a "Tour through Hawaii, or Owhyhee, with Remarks on "the History, Traditions, Manners, Customs, and Language of the Inhabitants of the Sandwich Islands." In a work entitled "Blome's Britannia," published in 1673, an enumeration is made of some of the principal families then resident in Cambridgeshire, which are as follows: |