AN

CHAPTER XVIII.

HISTORICAL SKETCH-THE CARYSFORT AFFAIR.

N expression occurred in the King's speech given in the preceding chapter which must now be explained. It was an expression of thankfulness for an escape out of troubles, and it spoke of a restoration of his kingdom. The circumstances alluded to require that we should retrace our steps several years.

The happy-and-united-family condition of the commercial community in its early days did not always continue. As interests grew larger, and the mercantile class comprised English and European traders as well as Americans, there were occasional bickerings, jealousies, lawsuits. The consular appointments had not been happy. England was represented by Mr. or Captain R. Charlton, a careless, free-living man, much opposed to the straight missionary clique, not disliked by the native population, but deficient in diplomatic knowledge; and in a small way the trading consuls were obliged to act in a political capacity and to exert personal influence. The first Commercial Agent, as the Americans style their consuls, was still more unfit for his office; and so objectionable did he become to the native government, that upon their earnest remonstrance at Washington, Mr. Jones was removed, and was replaced by a Mr. Brinsmade, the senior partner of a house of business at Honolulu, trading

MR. BRINSMADE AND HIS FIRM.

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under the name of Ladd & Co. Mr. Brinsmade was one of those rapid, intelligent, all-sided men which the social hot-bed of the United States produces so quickly and in such numbers-a man who, if his practice as a surgeon fell off, would turn merchant; if he failed in that, would become an editor; or meeting with disappointment in the last vocation, would without hesitation climb the steps of the rostrum as a preacher; and even at a pinch would offer himself as a candidate for the presidentship. Mr. Brinsmade's manners were not unpleasing; he wrote with point and rapidity, and his pen had a scabrous edge. The firm of which he was the leading member was a peculiar one. Its three constituents came out from the United States in 1833, to try the experiment of conducting business on 'purely Christian principles,' and of making their firm a pattern card of mercantile morality.' It was thought that the house received pecuniary assistance from the Boston Board Missions; it is certain that the missionary influence in the islands was strongly exercised in its favour, and the firm conducted the principal secular affairs of the Mission. The partners obtained, for an insignificant consideration, the grant of a long lease of a large tract of land on the island of Kauai for the establishment of sugar plantations; it also gained wharfage and warehouse sites in the harbour of Honolulu, together with valuable privileges in the shape of exemption from duties, and a supply of native labour. It is humiliating to think that a house commencing business with an unlimited capital of Christian principles should end in bankruptcy.

The peace of the happy commercial family had been disturbed towards the year 1840 by claims and * A. Simpson, 'Progress of Events.'

counter claims, arising out of business transactions between the American and British traders. Such a case occurred in 1839; and upon submitting the dispute to arbitration, Brinsmade's house was declared indebted to an English subject to the extent of 6,000l. Subsequently such claims were decided by juries; but as it was before the promulgation of the Constitution and the Code, proceedings were most irregular, and entirely of an amateur character. In 1840, in consequence of the refusal of English residents to contribute towards the construction of a new road, the Governor of Oahu forcibly caused the native servants of non-contributors to labour on the work. Complaints were in consequence made to the English Consul,-the Agent of the Hudson's Bay Company being one of the complainants. A great deal of ill-feeling was elicited between the British, Governor Kekuanaoa, and the Americans who sided with him. These difficulties arose about some jury cases and the proportions of English and American empanelled. A difficulty of this kind was referred to Captain Jenkin Jones, who with H.B.M.'s ship Curaçoa' was then in the harbour; but the English commander's intervention, if anything, made matters worse than they were before, and the acrimony which existed between classes was excessive. The English Consul, whatever good points he might have possessed, was unfit for his position; he was hasty in temper, and uncouth in his communications, and had made himself many enemies. In the meantime the influence of Mr. Brinsmade, the United States Commercial Agent, over the King and the native government, was rapidly increasing.

Sir George Simpson, the Territorial Governor of Hudson's Bay, was at the time visiting the islands. He gave the government the benefit of his advice,

and also made them a loan of 10,000l. Amongst other things, Sir George recommended that commissioners should be appointed to proceed to the United States and Europe, to negotiate for an acknowledgment of the independence of the islands, and for a guarantee against their usurpation by any of the great powers. The commissioners appointed on this errand were the Rev. W. Richards, the chief Timoteo Haalilio, and Sir George Simpson. The last-named immediately left for the North-West Settlements of Russia, and travelling through Siberia, made his way to London. In July 1842, Mr Richards and Haalilio started for the United States, viâ Mazatlan.

There was quite an eastern emigration. Mr. Brinsmade had already taken his departure for Europe, with designs which will be hereafter explained. He left his partner, Mr. Hooper, to act in his absence. Lastly, Mr. Charlton found, or fancied he found, that he was dwelling in a wasp's nest, and that everybody was against him. Irritated by the numerous insults he had received, and the open disregard by the government officers of his interference when British subjects were concerned; thinking also, that it was necessary that the representations to be made by Richards and Haalilio and their backers should be met on the spot, he determined to proceed to London, viâ Mexico.'* He accordingly took wing from the islands in September of the same year, leaving as his substitute, Mr. Alexander Simpson, who had arrived there on business of the Hudson's Bay Company. Simpson was a relative of Sir George's, and brother to the discoverer of the same name, who, with Dease, completed the survey of the northern coast of America.

* Progress of Events.'

The temper in which the English Consul left Hawaii will be seen by the following letter in which he announced to the King his intended departure:

Sir,

British Consulate, Woahoo, Sept. 26, 1842.

From the insults received from the local authorities of Your Majesty's government, and from the insults offered to my Sovereign, Her most Gracious Majesty, Victoria the First, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, by Mathew Kekuanaoa, Governor of this island; and for other weighty causes affecting the interests of Her Majesty's subjects in these islands, I consider it my bounden duty to repair immediately to Great Britain to lay statements before Her Majesty's government, and have therefore appointed, by commission, as I am fully authorized to do, Alexander Simpson, Esq., to act as consul until Her Majesty's pleasure be known.

Your Majesty's government has more than once insulted the British flag, but you must not suppose that it will be passed over in silence. Justice, though tardy, will reach you; and it is you, not your advisers, that will be punished.

I have the honour to be Your Majesty's most obedient humble servant,

RICHARD CHARLTON,

Consul.

His Majesty Kaméhaméha.

This letter is a specimen of Mr. Charlton's written communications, and are indicative of his humour when he left the islands,-never to return. But he had another and a very personal cause of disquietude at that time. A debt incurred to some persons at Valparaiso, ten years before, was pressed; and the claimants had commissioned Mr. Pelly, the agent of the Hudson's Bay Company, to collect it for them. A suit was instituted against Charlton, and shortly after his departure, a verdict was given by a jury composed of foreigners,