PITCAIRN'S ISLAND, a small settlement in the Pacific Ocean, situated in 25° 4' S. lat., 130° 8' W. long., is dependent on the British government, from the circumstance of its having been resorted to by some of the mutineers of the Bounty in 1790. The first settlers consisted of 9 English sailors, 6 Otaheitean men, and 12 Otahcitean women. The 6 Otaheiteans and 6 of the Englishmen were slain in quarrels. The population in October 1854 amounted to 200, all but 3 of whom were born on the island, and nearly all aro descendant, of the original settlers. The islanders speak both the Taheitan and English languages fluently.
l'itcairn's Island was so named on account of its having been first seen by a young gentleman of the name of Pitcairn on the 2nd July, 1767, as stated in Commander Carteret'a narrative of his Voyage Round the World.' The island is about 4i miles in circumference, about a mile and a half in its greatest length, and the highest point is, 1008 feet above the sea. The coast is formed for the most part of rocky projections, off which lie scattered numerous fragments of rock rising like black pyramids amidst the surf, which on all sides rolls in upon the shore. Bounty Bay is the only accessible landing-place. The island has great variety of soil and aspect, is well wooded, and healthy. The thermometer ranges from 59° to 89° Fahr. Cocoa-nnt, plantain, banana, bread-fruit, banyan, orange, and other trees flourish; potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, water-melons, sugar-cane, tobacco, the tea-plant, and maize arc cultivated ; gents, hogs, and poultry are reared ; and fish is abundant. About a dozen vessels, chiefly whalers, visit the island annually, and obtain provisions in exchange for clothing and other articles which the inhabitants stand iu need of. Occasionally the island is visited by a British man-of:war. Rear-Admiral Moresby, the British Commander-in-Chief in the Pacific, visited and spent a few days on the island in August 1852, and the accounts given by him and by other visitors agree iu ascribing to the islanders the highest character for virtue, good order, and intelligence. John Adams, the
last survivor of the mutineers, died in 1829 in the 65th year of his ago. This man at the time of the mutiny was 26 years of age; tan years later, he found himself the only man left of those who had come to the island ; of the others only one had died a natural death ; moat of the men had been killed in quarrels fomented by the use of ardent spirits. The spirits were distilled from a root found on the island by ono who himself committed suicide in a fit of delirium tremens. Adams became seriously impressed with a sense of his duty to the children of his companions, and devoted himself assiduously to the instrustiou and government of his little community. A Bible and prayer book saved from the Bounty were his only assistants; strict regulations were made against making intoxicating drinks, or landing them from ships; the little territory was divided first into 9, afterwards into 22 allotments, corresponding to the number of families; a chief magis trate and two councillors, elected annually, were appointed to direct the insular government ; and an industrious, orderly, and virtuous community gradually sprang up. Four mouths before Adams' death an Englishman named Nobbs, who had been interested in the islanders by the accounts he had beard of them, arrived at Pitcairn, and was engaged by Adams as schoolmaster. After Adams death, Mr. Nobbs continued to act as teacher and chaplain. In 1S52, by the kindness of Admiral Moresby, he was enabled to visit England. After receiving ordination from the Bishop of London, and obtaining an interview with the Queen, he returned to Pitcairn. The Admiral's chaplain, who remained on the island in the absence of Mr. Nobbs, writes under date of September 5th 1S52, as follows :—" The accounts of the virtue and piety of these people are by no means exaggerated : I have no doubt they are the most religious and virtuous community in the world ; and during the months I have been 1 have eeen nothing a quarrel, but perfect peace and goad-will among all." (Murray, Rev. E., Pitcairn : London, 1853.) l'ITCAITHLY. [Penn:mime.] P1TEA. [Bovirsts.)