OF

CAPTAIN JAMES WILSON,

CONTAINING

AN ACCOUNT

OF

HIS ENTERPRISES AND SUFFERINGS IN INDIA,

HIS CONVERSION TO CHRISTIANITY,

HIS MISSIONARY VOYAGE TO THE SOUTH SEAS,

AND HIS

PEACEFUL AND TRIUMPHANT DEATH.

BY JOHN GRIFFIN.

First American Edition,

COMPRISING AN

APPENDIX,

OF

USEFUL AND INTERESTING MISSIONARY PAPERS.

BOSTON:

SAMUEL T. ARMSTRONG, AND CROCKER & BREWSTER,

NEW YORK: JOHN P. HAVEN,

يا

CONTENTS.

An engraved likeness of POMARRE, king of Otaheite.

PART FIRST.

Remarks upon the subject of Biography generally-Dr. Haweis's
opinion of Wilson's eventful and instructive life-Wilson's parentage
was at the battle of Bunker Hill-goes to India-runs his ship

ashore-undertakes a hazardous enterprise for the relief of the army

in India-succeeds-is taken prisoner by the French-escapes with

great labor and risk from captivity-is retaken-his cruel treatment

-horrors of the prison house-he is released-saves a man from

drowning-engages in trade-becomes rich-meets Mr. Thomas

the Baptist missionary, and with him returns to England-settles at

Horndean.

9

PART SECOND.

Capt. Wilson becomes acquainted with the author-arguments for

the truth of Revelation-necessity of a Revelation-Leslie's short

method-Predestination-is under very deep concern about the sal-

vation of his soul-is admitted a member of the church in Port-

sea.

31

PART THIRD.

Wilson offers himself for the missionary voyage-goes to London
and enters on the employment-the ship Duff is purchased and pre-
pared for sea-Letters-Duff sails from London, August 10, 1796-
arrives at Spithead is visited by some of the Directors-Letter of
Instructions-Duff sails from Portsmouth, Sept. 23d-arrives at Rio
de Janeiro, Nov. 12.-Notice of the Duff's safe arrival given at the
General meeting in May, 1798-Capt. Wilson's letter to Joseph
Hardcastle, Esq. dated at Canton, in which is an interesting account
of the voyage, and reception at the Islands.-Kind and grateful let-
ter of the Missionaries to Capt. Wilson; he is ridiculed in China-

soon obtains a cargo, and leaves China, Dec. 3, 1797-arrives at the

Cape of Good Hope, March 17, 1798, and in the River Thames

July 11, all well; having been absent one yer and nine months—a

day of public thanksgiving observed by the friends of the mission-

Dr. Haweis's Sermon-Letter of the Missionaries to the Directors -

Letters of Pomarre-Letter from the Rev. Mr. Marsden.

-

96

PART FOURTH.

Capt. Wilson's manner of life-resides in London-health impair-

ed-Marries into a wealthy and respectable family at Camberwell-

his kindness to his relatives, whereby he becomes involved, and sus-

tains very heavy losses-Mrs. Wilson-on fixing upon some settled

plan in bestowing charity-countess of Warwick-Capt. Wilson dies

in peace and triumph, Friday, Aug. 12, 1814-Reflections.

153

APPENDIX.

Letters from Mr. Marsden-from the Missionaries-from Po-

marre-the ROYAL MISSION CHAPEL at Taheite Missionary meet-

ing there-new laws-POMARRE BAPTISED— -Missionary meeting at

Huaheine-at Eimeo-St. Luke's Gospel published-remarkable

changes in the manners and morals of the natives-a barbarous mur-

der, note-Some account of POMARRE the present king-his man-

ners and personal appearance-extract of his letter to Mr. Marsden

-the newly built vessel called "Haweis" —
-an Address to the

friends of Missionary Societies-Divine Predictions the warrant and

authority for missionary exertions-John Foster on the LOVE OF

MONII, an extract from a Missionary Sermon.

.

175