of Hawaii. I will only add one other recommendation, which is, the semi-annual or annual meeting of the great chiefs, for the revision of your state affairs, alternately, for convenience sake, at Honolulu and Lahaina. "All that I have said you will, I think, receive in the spirit of kindness, and as coming from your friend. "November 21, 1829." "W. C. B. FINCH." LETTER LXIV. DEPARTURE FROM OAHU, AND LETTER OF THE KING TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. U. S. Ship Vincennes, at Sea, Ar the request of the king, who wished to write a letter by Captain Finch to the President, the Vincennes remained at Honolulu one day longer than the time originally fixed for sailing. This morning, however, immediately after breakfast, we left the harbour and remained outside the reef, till his majesty's communication should be sent off. At twelve o'clock, the boat of the private secretary was reported alongside; and, as soon as he had delivered the despatches, we filled away with a salute, before so fresh a breeze, that as the evening just now closed round us, the faintest outline of Oahu behind, and of Tauai forty or fifty miles on our right, could scarcely be discerned in the haze of the distance. Thus, my dear H, I have a second time bidden a supposed final adieu to the Sandwich Islands; but now, through the kindness of God, under auspices far more happy than on the previous occasion. Then, every imagination of the future, equally with every remembrance of the past, was shrouded in gloom; and fearful apprehensions of sorrows just at hand, whose depth can only be told by those who have experienced them, gave double poignancy to thoughts and feelings of deep interest THE KING TO THE PRESIDENT. 389 and affection lingering on things, and scenes, and friends behind. But now, while warm love for many a justly endeared object, and the liveliest interest in the glorious work of blessing and salvation there triumphantly achieving, filled my eyes with tears, and my heart with prayer, as the beautiful island receded rapidly from our gaze, no existing circumstances denied me a full participation in the bright looks and joyous anticipations of my companions, who felt that, after an absence of more than three years, their faces were now fully set towards all most dear, in country, family, and friends; and as we crowded sail upon sail, till we exhibited a mountain of canvass, widely bellying to the wind, the language of every heart and every eye, from the quarter-deck to the forecastle, was "Home, sweet, sweet home!" On opening the packet of the king, the following translation of the document addressed by him to the president was found. Both the original and translation are in his own handwriting. TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Island of Hawaii, November 23d, 1829. "BEST affection to you, the chief magistrate of America. This is my sentiment for you; I have joy and gratitude towards you on account of your kind regard for me. I now know the excellence of your communicating to me that which is right and true. I approve with admiration the justness and faultlessness of your word. "I now believe that your thoughts and ours are alike, both those countries and these countries, and all large countries. We are the children, the little islands far off in this tropical climate. "We have recently had an interview with Captain Finch, with joyfulness and with sentiments of kindness and pleasure towards him. I do now hope there will be a perfect agreement between you and us, as to the rights and duties of both of our governments, that the peace now subsisting between us may be perpetual, that the seat of our prosperity may be broad, and our union of heart in things that are right, such, that the highways of the ocean may not diverge; because there is a oneness of sentiment in our hearts, with those distant countries, these islands, and all lands. "May our abiding by justice triumphantly prevail, that all who come hither may be correct in deportment, and all who go thither from this country. "This is my desire, that you and we may be of the same mind. Such, too, is my hope that we may pursue the same course, that we may flourish, and that true prosperity may rest perpetually on all the nations of the world in which we dwell. "Look ye on us with charity; we have formerly been extremely dark-minded, and ignorant of the usages of enlightened countries. You are the source of intelligence and light. This is the origin of our minds being a little enlightened-the arrival here of the word of God. This is the foundation of a little mental improvement which we have recently made, that we come to know a little of what is right, and of the customs of civilized nations. On this account do we greatly rejoice at the present time. "I give you thanks, too, for your bestowing kindly on me the globes and the map of your country, to be a means of mental improvement for me, and also for your other presents to my friends, who rejoice with me in the reception of the favours which you have granted them. "Long life to you in this world, and lasting blessedness to you and us in the world to come. (Signed) "KAUIKEAOULI TAMEHAMEHA III." LETTER LXV. RETROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE VISIT AT THE SANDWICH ISLANDS, BY CAPTAIN FINCH. U. S. Ship Vincennes, at Sea, EARLY after the arrival of our ship at Oahu, it became evident, that the policy and course of conduct pursued by Captain Finch was any thing but agreeable, to a majority of the foreign residents. Even before its public delivery, the letter of the secretary of the navy, addressed by the authority of the president to the king, was denounced by those made acquainted with its contents, as "a most per RETROSPECTIVE VIEW. 391 nicious document." And it was soon intimated, that a remonstrance of the principal American citizens, in reference to it, would be returned to the government, through the secretary of state, by the Vincennes. Such a document is on board. I have not seen it; but common report made me acquainted with its character, before leaving Honolulu. It consists of a protest, against the channel through which the president thought proper to communicate with the king, the secretary of the navy, rather than the secretary of state; of a denial of any right in the secretary to inform his majesty, that the religion of the "Christian's Bible" is the true religion; or, to recommend the missionaries, as American citizens, to his kindness and protection; of a declaration, that any charge of ill-conduct in any American citizen at the islands is false; in an avowal, that, even if such were not the case, the government of the United States have no cognizance of offences committed by its citizens beyond the limits of its jurisdiction; and in a remonstrance against the propriety of introducing my name in a governmental paper. I am spared the necessity, however, my dear H- not only of any comments of my own on this subject, but also, of any summary remarks on the state of the mission and of the island, by a "Retrospective View" of our visit, written by Captain Finch, with a copy of which I am furnished. Any one acquainted with the intelligence and acuteness of observation which characterizes his mind, with the candour of his judgment, and the integrity of his principles, will at once accord an approval to the justness of his strictures, and the correctness of his views; and, with this article, I cheerfully close my account of the présent condition of the Sandwich Islands. A RETROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE VISIT TO THE SANDWICH, OR HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. FROM OCT. 2, TO NOV. 24, 1829. "AFTER an absence of nearly three years from home, on service upon the western coasts of South America, I felt as if on the certain eve of returning thither, as did the ship's company, whose terms of engagement had expired.* The orders to proceed on an extended cruise were therefore unexpected and most unwelcome. In addition to disappointed hopes, I was little prepared, and far from being desirous of visiting islanders whose moral character was undergoing change, and whose primitive traits were fast disappearing; whether for the better, was a problem which I supposed a cursory glance and short survey would not enable me to determine. Again, I felt a reluctance to be placed in circumstances which I foresaw might involve me, as a party, in the various conflicting accounts which had been given to my government and the public, in regard to these people, and was afraid that irregularities amongst our trading or whaling vessels, and collision with the natives, might invite my interference, which, if exerted, yet probably would fall short of the exigences of the demands. Added to these considerations, I had heard of the hostility which was entertained by almost all foreigners resident at those places, where teachers of the gospel, or missionaries, had established themselves. I promised myself, on the whole, neither gratification nor usefulness, and therefore undertook the voyage with real regret; but now that it is gotten through with, I feel relieved, and look back rather with surprise that I engaged in it with apathy, or that I anticipated difficulties and a distaste which I have not, to the extent apprehended, realized. "My visit has been performed without any occurrence other than of a pleasurable kind attending it: my interposition when called for has been mildly exercised, and availing -the objects of our government, I hope, answered-and the good effects, 1 fear not, will be understood by any commander, who may hereafter perform the like routine of duty. My reports collectively to the government will exhibit what I have done, as well as furnish my opinion on many points, and show the unavoidable (and supposed) defectiveness of the orders and laws under which I had to act. These are lucidly pointed out by my predecessor, Captain Jones of the Peacock. * A portion of the crew returned in the frigate Brandywine, the residue re entered for a twelvemonth, and the deficiency was made up by yolunteers from the frigate. |