ing exquisitely painful,) "I would let you all know how happy I am; I am looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God my Savior. At one season he observed, "Here I am, waiting for my change-what a mercy! If were a heathen I could not wait so." To his medical attendant, who, aware of his unconquerable aversion te medicine, had, with much kindness, administered as little as the case would admit, he said, "I cannot take any more, let me go as easily as you can;" and then, lifting up his eyes to heaven, added, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for I trust mine eyes have seen thy salvation." Not long before his dismission, he used the following verses, with a reference to his own circumstances "My fluttering pulse, and falt'ring breath. "Look to my cross, the sovereign cure, Ile was blessed with the continuance of his intellectual faculties till within two or three hours of his dissolution, when the powers of nature being completely exhausted, the unfettered spirit was allowed to take its joyful flight to that blissful region, where the inhabitant saith not, "I am sick," the people that dwell therein having been forgiven their iniquities. Contemplating his undisturbed and tranquil exit, we may truly and emphatically say, "the end of that man is peace." Thus terminated the life of Captain Wilson, on Friday, August 12, 1814, at the age of fifty-four, leaving a widow, a son, and four daughters, to la ment their loss. Since his death, Mrs. Wilson has been bereaved of her second daughter about eleven years of age, who gave pleasing testimony that she was graciously fitted to meet the blessed spirit of her father in the realms of eternal light and felicity. The life and death of the Captain furnish subjects for much improvement to the reflecting and pious mind; they give an interesting view of the providence of God. It appears mysterious, yet wise in its operations-often afflictive in its events, yet kind in its designs-the minutest parts accurately arranged in connection with the most prominentand all like the seasons of the year, terminating in some grand and beneficial result; or like the elements of nature, working together for good. The storms of a commercial life, the calms of easy circumstances and retirement, the blasts of temporal adversity, the beams of prosperity, the floods of domestic affliction, the soft breezes of religious friendship, all promoted his final and eternal welfare. In the early part of his life we see the hand which held, supported, and directed him, but which he then saw not. We see how wonderfully he who had chosen him from eternity prepared his way before him, and fitted the instruments which were to be employed in his conversion. With admiration we see how events, persons, places, and times concurred to bring his spirit in faith and repentance, to that God whom he had offended, and whose salvation he despised. That Providence which had preserved him amidst deaths often, various and numerous, till he was effectually called by divine grace, guided his feet, by ways to him unknown, to a city of habitation. The other parts of his life show in a manner confounding to human pride, but highly encouraging to faith, the sovereignty of divine mercy, the riches of divine grace, the efficient influence of truth, and the ineffable blessings of real religion. These principles enable the most endeared relatives and connections to follow the soul of their friend up to the gates of death, and to contemplate his state beyond the grave with the sublimest feelings of delight, admiration, and gratitude. "For him to live was Christ, but to die was gain." APPENDIX. SINCE the preceding Memoir was compiled, a most wonderful and happy change has been wrought in the state of the mission to the South Sea Islands. The particulars may be gathered by a perusal of the following extracts. The Rev. Mr. Marsden in a letter dated March 6th, 1816, states that not less than seven hundred natives were attending the school of the Missionaries at Eimeo. A Sydney gazette also mentions the sudden increase of the school from 50 or 60, which had usually attended, to that number; and adds; 'Independent of those taught at the school, many others have learned to read under the tutorage of their own country men, whose books they borrow occasionally, and thence accrues a new source for the extension of knowledge. Idolatry has received an universal shock, and totters from its foundation throughout all the islands. Some of the opposing chiefs, with the priests and their followers, endeavor to prop the rotten fabric, but their efforts conspicuously tend to the acceleration of its fall.' The same gentleman, in a letter dated June 7, 1816, says, 'All accounts agree that a most wonderful change has been produced in all the Society Islands; and the spread of the Gospel seems to be almost universal. I think we have never read, since the Apostles' days, of the Gospel spreading in so wonderful a manner as it has done lately in these Islands. Pomare is become a great man and a pious Christian; and shews the work of grace to be real from the whole of his conduct. I understand he is now a sovereign once more. His enemies made an attack upon him and his people on the Sabbath day, when they imagined they would not defend themselves; but Pomare felt it his duty to fight on the Sabbath, in defence of himself and subjects. In this battle he obtained a complete victory, and took many prisoners; whose lives he spared, contrary to their custom, which has had the most happy effect upon the minds of his enemies, as it has convinced them that the new religion is a merciful religion. Many have joined him from the effects of his clemency.' While angry controversialists are denying the utility or expediency of missionary establishments, it is a high gratification to the mind of a Christian to be able to repose upon such facts as the following. Idolatry is totally abolished in Otaheite and Eimeo, and is fast giving way in other islands. The school flourishes, and many who have learned to read, have dispersed themselves among the islands, and have taught others. Many hundreds can read well; at least 3,000 have books among them; and hundreds of the natives can repeat their Catechism word for word. The following are extracts from the letters of the Missionaries. After detailing some serious feuds in the islands, they add: "These things had a happy effect upon the minds of the idolaters. They unanimously declared, that they would trust their gods no longer; that they had deceived them, and sought their ruin; that benceforward they would cast them away entirely, and |