binding nature of a promise, however remote the period in which it was
made, or however indiscreet in itself. Of this we have the following
rather pathetic example:--

"Wives upon Pitcairn's Island, it may be imagined, are very
scarce, as the same restrictions with regard to relationship
exist as in England. George Adams, son of the Patriarch, in his
early days, had fallen in love with Polly Young, a girl a little
older than himself; but Polly, probably at that time liking some
one else, and being at the age when young ladies' expectations
are at the highest, had incautiously said, she _never would_
give her hand to George Adams. He, nevertheless, indulged a hope
that she would one day relent; and to this end was unremitting
in his endeavours to please her. In this expectation he was not
mistaken; his constancy and attentions, and, as he grew into
manhood, his handsome form, which George took every opportunity
of throwing into the most becoming attitudes before her,
softened Polly's heart into a regard for him, and, had nothing
passed before, she would willingly have given him her hand; but
the vow of her youth was not to be got over, and the love-sick
couple languished on from day to day, victims to the folly of
early resolutions.

"The weighty case was referred for our consideration; and the
fears of the party were in some measure relieved by the result,
which was, that it would be much better to marry than to
continue unhappy, in consequence of a hasty determination made
before the judgment was matured. They could not, however, be
prevailed on to yield to our decision, and we left them
unmarried."