any of her estimable subjects, we must do this | plant colonies in every part of the world. If under protest, and shall embrace the earliest priority of discovery authorized possession, opportunity of representing our case more which alone it does not; but if cession of fully to her Britannic Majesty's government, through our ministers, trusting in the magnanimity of the sovereign of a great nation, which we have been taught to respect and love; and we shall then be justified.'

His Majesty, therefore, cedes to Lord George Paulet, for the Queen of Great Britain, the provisional government of the Sandwich Islands; with the reservation of the cession being subject to any arrangement made by his representatives in England. As may readily be supposed, Lord Aberdeen unhesitatingly declared to those representatives, that any such occupation was an act entirely unauthorized by her Majesty's government; and that, on the contrary, her Majesty had determined to recognize the independence of the Sandwich Islands, under their present chief. That, however, it must be distinctly understood, that the British government equally intends to engage, and if necessary to compel, the Chief of the Sandwich Islands to redress whatever acts of injustice may have been committed against British subjects, either arbitrarily, or under the false color of lawful proceedings. That, while affording due and efficient protection to aggrieved British subjects, the consuls and naval officers employed in the Pacific were enjoined to treat the native rulers with forbearance and courtesy, and to avoid interfering harshly, or unnecessarily, with the laws and customs of the native governments.

territory made by legitimate authority sanctions possession, which it does, then the Sandwich Islands might long ago have been annexed to the British crown-a formal cession of them having been made to the King of Great Britain in consideration of services rendered by Captain Vancouver, before whom the grateful Chief, in presence of the Erries and the assembled multitude, made a solemn declaration to that effect; and ever since that period the natives have considered themselves under the immediate protection of Great Britain.

But, supposing the charge of all-grasping to be true, what prevented us from establishing colonies in every part of the Pacific, and on the northern and western coasts of America? Instead of which, what did we do? We gave up Nootka Sound and its islands, which were ceded to us by Spain; we left the Falklands a derelict in the ocean, also ceded to us by that power; and, though conscious of the value of those islands for their many fine harbors, their favorable position, and rich surrounding fishing-ground, we occupied them only a very few years. New Zealand has been taken possession of by us, 'tis true, but only to prevent general confusion and destruction of human life, in consequence of multitudes of our countrymen, some by force and some by fraud, getting possession of large tracts of land from the natives. It has thus, in reality, been forced upon us, and we believe most reluctantly, and contrary to the wish of the government. The finest, and one of the largest islands in China, Chusan,

eastern coast of that great Empire, and contiguous to its most wealthy commercial cities, though ours in right of conquest, was given up by us; and we were content to receive in lieu of it the barren rock of Hong-Kong, rejecting every other fertile island in the same estuary, of which it is the most worthless; and we limited our demands of permission to trade at four ports only on the eastern coast.

Lord Aberdeen has further declared it to have been the desire of the British government, that the intercourse of its public servants with the native authorities of the Sand-its position facing the centre of the extensive wich Islands should rather tend to strengthen those authorities, and give them a sense of their own independence, than to make them feel their dependence upon foreign powers, by the exercise of unnecessay interference; -that it has not been its purpose to seek to establish a permanent influence in those islands, at the expense of that enjoyed by other powers: it desires only that other powers should not exercise there a greater influence than that possessed by Great Britain. This sound doctrine, moral as well as political, will, we may hope, afford a useful lesson to M. Guizot, in applying it to the proceedings of his countrymen at the Marquesas and the Society Islands; to which we shall presently have occasion to advert. It may also serve to abate the furious attacks of our transatlantic brethren on this occasion, who, in no measured terms of abuse, accuse the British government of an all-grasping disposition to

But the Americans are the last people in the world to accuse us of a grasping disposition-to seize upon new acquisitions of territory. That they should feel sore at being superseded in the protection of the Sandwich Islands, which they had in fact usurped, is natural enough; that they should be desirous of continuing that influence which they have acquired over the King and authorities of the Sandwich Islands, is not to be wondered at. These islands are, of all others in the Pacific,

the most advantageously placed as a commer- tion of which the captain's endeavors to stop cial and naval station, as regards the inter- him proved ineffectual. Captain Belcher course with the west coast of North America, evidently knows little or nothing of the peothe Philippine Islands, Japan, and China.ple of these islands. Indeed, how should he? As a station for the whale fishery, they are In one place he describes them, from perof more importance to America than to any sonal observation, as well-disposed and easiother nation. The number of their whaling ly managed,' which is a character very differships employed in the Pacific is more than ent from that given to them by most voyagdouble that of all the other maritime nations, ers. In another place, indeed, he calls them whether engaged in the spermacetti fishing, half, if not entire, cannibals.' In this, howextending through all parts of the Pacific as ever, he is not singular. Krusenstern, a sofar as the coast of Japan, or in that for the ber, sensible Russian, has proclaimed them, black whale in all the northern parts of this from accounts given him by an Englishman ocean, from the Aleutian Islands to Behring's and a Frenchman residents on the island, Strait; and for both these fisheries the Sand- (suspicious enough,) as the most determined wich Islands afford most convenient ports of cannibals; as having a peculiar relish for refuge and refitment. human flesh; as making war to gratify that The British whale fishery, of both kinds, taste; and that women and children, in times has been, for several years past, much on the of famine, are greedily devoured. Our early decline; and these islands supply so few ar- navigator, Cook, pronounced them to be, ticles, and those only to a small extent for without exception, the finest race of men in commercial purposes, that they were not like- the whole Pacific. 'For fine shape and fealy to create in the British government any tures,' he says, 'they perhaps surpass all othdesire to possess them; and an order has er nations. The men are, in general, from been given for their restoration. The Amer-five feet ten inches to six feet. The women, icans may therefore be satisfied, and conti- who are but little punctured, youths and nue to carry on the sandal-wood trade, which young children, who are not at all, are as fair was the principal article for the China market, but now nearly exhausted. Sugar plantations are, undoubtedly, on the increase; rice, maize, and millets, plantains, bananas, yams, and the sweet potato, are abundantly produced. The silkworm has recently been introduced; but some of these articles are in such small quantities, as not to hold out any sanguine hopes of a lucrative or extensive commerce. It is somewhat whimsical, and augurs no great share of moderation or modesty, that a nation, brought into existence only about half a century ago, and which, by its grasping propensities, has swallowed up nearly the half of a vast continent, and will not be satisfied until she has got the whole, so that its two shores may be washed by the Atlantic on one side, and the Pacific on the other;—that such a nation should talk of the grasping propensity of others!

as some Europeans.' By subsequent visitors their women have been described as very beautiful; their forms, while young, perfect models for the painter or statuary.

Mendoza, who first discovered the island of Madalena, and gave to it the name of Marquesas de la Mendoça, out of respect for his friend the Marquis de Caneté, describes the natives as fine people, with good teeth, eyes, and countenance, their manners gentle; but he left them under a different feeling on account of their ferocious character. He was, in fact, compelled to make an attack upon them, and killed a number of the poor people, who had not been guilty of any offence, though some of them had stolen a piece of iron. His impression, however, was favorable. There came, among others,' says the historian, two lads paddling their canoe, whose eyes were fixed on the ship: they had After a long coasting tour, Captain Bel- beautiful faces, and the most promising anicher made for the Marquesas Islands, and mation of countenance; and were in all anchored in Anna-Maria Bay, in the island things so becoming, that Quiroz affirmed of Ruhahiva, not a little surprised at the en- nothing in his life caused him so much retire want of curiosity on the part of the in- gret as the leaving such fine creatures to be habitants. Neither king, nor chief, nor peo- lost in that country.' And as to the men, ple came near him. They were busily em- about forty of whom had ventured on board, ployed, it seems, in preparing to make war it is recorded that the Spaniards, when near on one of the other islands. He soon, how-them, appeared of mean stature. One among ever, got sight of the chief, and at once de- them was a full head taller than the tallest scribes him as imbued with ingratitude and Spaniard in the squadron. every bad feeling; and that revenge,—sulky, moody revenge alone-actuated him in undertaking the present war, in the prosecu

When Captain Wilson, in the Duff, carried out a cargo of missionaries, it is stated that seven young women came swimming off to

Both

the ship, sporting in the water like so many ships of war, for the maintenance of his conNaiads, and wishing to be taken on board, quest. He had, in fact, a very early specicalling out piteously Waheiné-we are wo- men of what they were to expect. One of men. As they were naked, the missionaries their naval captains, of the name of Halley, at first objected; but in a short time relent- was appointed governor. As he and another ed, and they were taken on board, having officer, with a party of men, were proceeding only a maro, or belt of green leaves about along a defile, they were fired upon by some the loins. It happened there were some natives concealed behind the rocks. goats on board, who instantly relieved them officers were killed, and several of the men of their vegetable dress, when the simple wounded. The captain was highly spoken creatures darted down below, and were par- of as a kind-hearted man, and apparently had tially covered by the missionaries' ladies. gived great satisfaction to the islanders. But it is slyly insinuated in the narrative, that It is by no means improbable that the acthe temptation was such as no one without quisition of this group of islands may prove to great restraints from God's grace could have the French another Algeria on a smaller scale resisted.' The missionaries, however, did an Algerietta. They have in fact already, it not like the people, and one of them could not be prevailed on to remain with them. Such are the people whom the French have determined to fraternize, or to govern. It has been a matter of conjecture what could have been the real object of the French to decide, so rapidly and at once-without discussion, conference, treaty, or stipulation of any kind to take forcible possession of these islands. All that we know is, that D'Urville admitted to our officers that one main object of his scientific voyage was to find a suitable spot for the establishment of a colony. You must be aware,' said he, 'how vexatious and humiliating it must be to our officers in their voyages, to find every island almost in the world, and the whole of the vast continent of Australia, in the possession of England; so that they are frequently under the necessity of refitting and refreshing, and even of watering their ships, at the pleasure and by the permission of the English, when coming under a British flag.' It was therefore, no doubt, on his recommendation, that the Pacific was fixed upon as the theatre for their future proceedings. Indeed, M. Dupetit Thouars, captain of the Venus, when cruising in the year 1838 in the Pacific, avowed to our officers that he was looking out for some suitable island on which to hoist the French flag, for the purpose, he added, of forming thereon a penal settlement.

On his return to Paris, Dupetit Thouars was raised to the rank of Rear-Admiral, and reappeared in the Pacific with his flag in the La Reine Blanche, on a secret expedition as was given out; which, however, was soon understood to be an order for the seizure of the Marquesas Islands, ostensibly at least for the above purpose. He took possession of St. Domingo and Ohitahiva, built a fort on each, and garrisoned them with four hundred troops. He now demands from his government thrice that number of troops, and four

seems, given a new and most discriminating name to a group, which is henceforth to be called the Oceanic Islands,' as if there were no islands in other oceans. Does the old name of Pacific not square exactly with their views of what may happen, or be intended? We ask the question, as there are strong indications, which we shall presently advert to, that their 'oceanic' conquests are not likely to stop with the Marquesas. They have, indeed, already assumed the Protectorate of the Society Islands at Tahiti, for which the Marquesas may previously have been taken possession of as a sort of stepping-stone-not being more than some four hundred miles distant from the latter islands. From what transpired in the British Parliament with regard to the proceedings of the French at Tahiti, we are by no means satisfied with the explanation there given; on the contrary, it appears to us that they are at present actually in possession of Tahiti, and that the authority of Queen Pomare is defunct.

Lord Lansdowne in putting a question, in the House of Lords, regarding the alleged occupation of, or the protection to be given by the King of the French to, the island of Tahiti, observed, that for a number of years past a very great improvement in the civilization and religious instruction of the inhabitants of Tahiti, and its other islands, amounting, he believed, to a population of 150,000 souls, had taken place; that this had been occasioned by persons who, from beneficent and religious motives, had taken up their residence there, and by their influence had induced the inhabitants entirely to change the habits of life-to introduce education and to found schools, which were now numerous. He wished, therefore, to know, if the government had received such explanations and assurances that English settlers at Tahiti would obtain from the French authorities that degree of protection which was justly their due; that they would not be subject to any unjust

treatment, or, above all things, to expulsion | pose of benefiting a multitude of benighted from these islands.' Lord Aberdeen, in re- human beings, living a depraved life, without ply, stated that,' he was not sufficiently in- law, without morality, and without religion. formed of the precise grounds upon which Mr. Ellis, in his 'Polynesian Researches,' the French government had acted, or of com- published after a residence of ten years in plaints made against the authorities in those the islands of the Pacific, has placed their islands, which had led to the convention; labors in that favorable point of view which but he had no apprehension as to the estab- cannot fail to win for them the approving relishment of the French in those seas, nor that gards of all thinking and reasonable men. our commercial or political interests would Their zeal for the propagation' of the Chrisbe affected by it. He stated that he had re- tian religion and morality, was found to keep ceived the most unqualified assurance, that pace with the docility of their pupils and every degree of protection and encourage- their desire of knowledge. They found the ment would be afforded to the British missiona- Tahitians a people of strong natural intellect, ries residing in those islands; that, in grant- and encouraged by the king, Pomare I., they ing the Protectorship to the French King, it were disposed to gratify the desire for inforhad been stipulated that all the places of mation even beyond the original intention, worship at present existing would receive not only by employing their time in establishprotection, and that the fullest liberty would ing schools for the education of both sexes, be given to the missionaries to exercise their but by instructing them in the management functions: and he concluded by saying, that of property, and in teaching them the com'he reposed the fullest confidence, not only forts it can procure in the articles of clothing, in the King of the French himself, but in the food, and lodging. And let it also be recolMinister who at this moment was the princi- lected, that they have completely succeeded pal adviser of that Monarch.' Sir Robert in abolishing human sacrifices, and the murPeel, however, stated, that the officer com- der of infants, formerly carried to a most lamanding the French squadron in the South mentable extent; they have prevailed on the Seas, had made a demand of satisfaction natives to destroy every vestige of those from the Sovereign and Chiefs of Tahiti and stocks and stones to which those sacrifices its dependent islands for an alleged offence were made; and they have succeeded in against France, and called upon them for a shaming the lower classes of females, inhabdeposit, as a guaranty for future good con-iting the ports, from those indecent practices duct towards the French, to the amount of which were encouraged by their communica100,000 dollars, (10,000?) The chiefs at tion with the seamen of the whaling ships once declared their utter inability to comply that frequent those ports. with this order; but, instead of it, they consented that Tahiti and the other islands should be placed under the nominal sovereignty of the King of the French-the Queen of the islands reserving to herself the territorial jurisdiction.'

Lord Aberdeen expresses his confidence in the King of the French and his Minister, that they will not countenance or give their support to a dishonorable proceeding; but we fear, as we have already hinted, that they may have been imposed upon, and been led Alas, for the poor Queen! There seems to believe that the Queen and Chiefs of Tato be some strange misconception of the pro- hiti had bona fide solicited the protection of ceedings that have been carried on at Tahiti, France. They now know, however, from either by the King of the French and his Queen Pomare herself, that all the proceedMinister, or they have thought it expedient ings in this disgraceful affair had their origin to disguise the facts. We have all due con- in fraud and treachery-chiefly carried out by fidence in those high personages on whom the French Consul, who is accused of having, Lord Aberdeen relies; but they have, if we under false pretences, prevailed on certain are not greatly mistaken, been deceived by Chiefs of the island to affix their signatures, their subordinates, as we shall presently in the name of the Queen, to a document, show. the object of which was to induce the King In all that Lord Lansdowne has expressed of the French to take Tahiti under his prowith regard to the Missionaries, we most cor-tection; the pretence being grounded on a dially agree. It is impossible not to admire false statement, which accused some native Chiefs, and the Representatives of other nations, of bad conduct and crimes. When the Queen was apprised of this, she called a council of her Chiefs, with an assembled multitude of natives and foreigners, and in presence of the British, French, and Ameri

the resolution and perseverance of those worthy men, who, at the sacrifice of life, health, and comfort of every kind, leave their native country, their homes, and friends, traversing the ocean for many thousand miles, from pure conscientious motives, for the sole pur

(Signed)

' POMARE.'

can Consuls, denied all knowledge of it, and 'During my absence from my own courso also did the Chiefs themselves who signed try, a few of my people, entirely without my the document. They declared that the French knowledge or authority, wrote a letter to you Consul brought it to them in the night, and soliciting your assistance. I disavow any that they put their names to it without know- knowledge of that document. ing what it contained. The governor, Pa'Health to you. raita, being one of the persons imposed upon, wrote to the British Consul, Mr. Cunningham, declaring that they did not know what were the contents of the letter which the French Consul brought them to sign, and that they affixed their names to it, as it were, in the dark. The translator also affirmed, that it must have been written by some person not a Tahitian; its idiom being foreign, its orthography bad, words misapplied, and the handwriting even foreign.

This letter, we believe, was brought and delivered into the hands of the King of France by Sir George Simpson. Whether any or what orders have been sent from France, we are not aware; but the French Consul proceeded to form a provisional gov vernment of three persons, putting himself at the head of it as Consul Commissaire-duRoi,' assisted by a military governor and a But the most convincing evidence of the captain of the port. If he has had the sancforgery was the declaration of two of the tion or assistance of Admiral Dupetit Thouars, Chiefs who signed the document, Tati and that officer's name at least has been suppressUlami, to the following effect:-'That all ed, while he has kept himself aloof at Valpamen may know that we, who have signed our raiso, ashamed probably of the whole pronames hereunto, clearly and solemnly make ceeding; but we fear he will turn out to be known and declare, as upon oath-That the the person who, by his conduct on a former French Consul did wholly dictate and write occasion, has given countenance to that of the letter, said to be written by the Queen the Consul. When that intelligent missionPomare and her governors, requesting pro-ary, the Rev. J. Williams, called at Tahiti in tection of the King of the French. Through March 1839, being then on his last and fatal fear we signed it. It was in his own house, voyage to the New Hebrides, he thus writes and in the night-time, that the document was signed by us. And we signed it also because he said, If you will sign your names to this, I will give you one thousand dollars each when the French admiral's ship returns to Tahiti."

'We also declare clearly, that Pomare had not signed her name when we signed our names. The Queen's name was signed at Moorea, and it was because she was frightened that she signed it.

This is the truth; and we also made known those words to the captain of the English ship of war, and to the English Consul, in the presence of many people.

We also fully made known those words to Pomare after the late great meeting; and what is here written is the truth, to which we have signed our names. (Signed)

'TATI.
'ULAMI.'

to his friend: You will, doubtless, see by the papers the cruel and oppressive conduct of the French. A sixty-gun frigate has been sent here, to chastise the Queen and people of Tahiti for not receiving the Roman Catholic priests; and the captain demanded 2000 dollars to be paid in twenty-four hours, or threatened to carry devastation and death to every island in the Queen's dominion; and Mr. Pritchard, and some merchants here, paid the money, and saved the lives of the people. The French would only hear one side of the question, but demanded four things within the twenty-four hours-2000 dollars, a letter of apology to the French King, a salute of twenty-one guns, and the hoisting of the French flag.'

The Queen, however, is not the only person to whom this self-constituted triumvirate exhibited their insolence. They sent a letter to Captain Sir T. Thompson of the Talbot, demanding to know for what purpose he had come to Tahiti. Of course be took no notice of so insolent a demand. The Queen had

While this plot was carrying on in the absence of the Queen, no sooner was it made known to her than she addressed a short let-just arrived, and hoisted the original Tahian ter to the Queen of Great Britain, to the President of the United States, and to the King of the French, disavowing all knowledge of such a document. Pomare thus writes to the King of the French :

'Peace be to you. I make a communication to you, and this is its nature

flag, which the Talbot saluted. On this, & second letter came from these individuals, protesting against the captain's right to salute such a flag,- holding him responsible to the King of the French, his government, and nation, and for the consequences of such disrespect, and for a measure so hostile towards