command, suited for adults.'

Constant private teaching to individuals was going on, and the 250
copies of the Lifu primer were dispersed where some thousands were
wanted, and Mr. Patteson wrote a little book of sixteen pages,
containing the statement of the outlines of the faith, and of
Scripture history; but this could not be dispersed till it had been
printed in New Zealand.

And in the meantime a fresh element of perplexity was arising. The
French had been for some time past occupying New Caledonia, and a
bishop had been sent thither about the same time as Bishop Selwyn had
gone to New Zealand; but though an earnest and hardworking man, he
had never made much progress. He had the misfortune of being
connected in the people's minds with French war ships and aggression,
and, moreover, the South Sea race seem to have a peculiar distaste
for the Roman Catholic branch of the Church, for which it is not easy
to account.

The Loyalty Isles, as lying so near to New Caledonia, were tempting
to the French Empire, and the Bishop at the same time felt it his
duty to attempt their conversion.

Some priests had been placed at the north end of the island for about
six months past, but the first communication was a letter on July 6,
complaining, partly in French, partly in English, that since Mr.
Patteson's arrival, the people had been making threatening reports.
Now Mr. Patteson had from the first warned them against showing any
unkindness to the French priests, and he wrote a letter of
explanation, and arranged to go and hold a conference. On the way,