RESTORATION OF THE ISLANDS.

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restoring the islands to their natural governors. The joyful news quickly spread among the people. On the 27th, the Admiral in an interview with the King agreed to the terms of restoration; and although stipulations were contained in these, very favourable to English interests, and likely to occasion some embarrassments to the native government in executing them, yet the inconveniences were as nothing in the scale weighed against the great and unexpected benefit conferred in giving back the life of the land.' On the 31st, the restoration was publicly made, amidst acclamations and joy. Eastward of the city lies an extensive plain, which was chosen for the scene of this conspicuous act of justice. Thither poured the population of Honolulu early in the day, under a cloudless and smiling sky. At ten in the morning, the English marines being drawn up in line, supported by a corps of artillery, the King, escorted by his own troops, arrived on the ground. As the royal standard was unfurled, the brass guns of the 'Dublin's' corps fired a salute, and simultaneously the English colours were lowered at the forts, and the Hawaiian flag rushed up and fluttered joyfully in the morning breeze. Then spoke out their salutations, the guns of the ships of war Dublin,' Hazard,' Carysfort, and Constellation,' together with those of the two forts and the shipping in the harbour. If explosions of powder can make men glad, the Hawaiians were glad that day. The military having been reviewed, the King returned to his house, where the native troops raised by Lord George Paulet, saluted the King's flag, and swore fealty to their sovereign. The officers who had received British commissions kissed the King's hand. At one, there was divine service at church, and then the King in the sacred edifice addressed his people, and told

them how the life of the land' had been restored to him. His would be no cold words. The unrealities of older civilized states had not yet taught the Polynesians to listen to official eloquence with unbelieving calmness and a condescending hear hear,' in its due place. Kaméhaméha III. had serious faults of character, but he loved his people and his land with a warm, true, and devoted love, and the words which he uttered that day were genuine and deeply felt both by the speaker, and his breathless auditory. The King's speech was followed by a spirited address from one of the chiefs, who announced, in his sovereign's name, a general amnesty, the release of all prisoners, and a festival of ten days. During that period of carnival, balls and entertainments were given by the residents of Honolulu, in which native chiefs, and the officers of the numerous men-of-war in port, met in friendly intercourse; and before the festival days were over, the U.S. ships United States' and 'Cyane' arrived, bringing with them news which increased the general joy, that the independence of the Hawaiian Islands had been recognized by England and France. As a final act to that eventful rejoicing, an endeavour was made to take advantage of it to reconcile all conflicting parties in the kingdom.

It is a peculiarity with the Hawaiians, that in all the events in which our own country has been concerned with them, they look to England with gratitude and love. They have had to bear from us at times some wrongs, and some of the arrogance of a superior people. But they possess the happy temperament of being able to forget a wound given, and bless the hand--the same which stabbed-that binds up the wound. Thankfulness for the restoration of their country immediately succeeded and supplanted any feelings of resentment;

NATIONAL GRATITUDE.

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and among the most honoured names in the roll of their remembrance, stands that of the late Admiral Thomas. Lord George Paulet was a courteous but firm Englishman, who carried out with an unhesitating decision the duty which seemed to lie before him. Towards him the people did not seem to cherish any anger, and their joy at the restoration of their islands has taken the form of a perennial gratitude to the English officer who was the instrument of that act of justice. Admiral Thomas's day is one of three yearly celebrations kept at Hawaii, and on that day the most distant consular agents of the kingdom are required to hoist the national flag. This grateful feeling follows him beyond the grave, and seeks to express itself to his descendants. There is an unusual simplicity in all this, very startling in our days of complex motives and restrained sentiments. We scarcely know whether to smile or to blush at the lesson afforded us, and we are inclined to repeat the words of the great reflective poet :

'I've heard of hearts unkind, kind deeds

With coldness still returning;

Alas! the gratitude of men

Hath oftener left me mourning.

CHAPTER XIX.

HISTORICAL SKETCH-THE ENVOYS EXTRAORDINARY

THE

THE BELGIAN CONTRACT.

HE scene now shifts to Europe, whither the principal actors in our history have simultaneously betaken themselves. Thither has gone, burning with anger, the English Consul, Mr. Charlton,-to be finally extinguished. There, too, has gone Mr. Brinsmade, the United States Consul, upon important business to be mentioned hereafter, about which he laboured long and with the most perfect unsuccess. Thither have gone, though by different routes, the ministers plenipotentiary and envoys extraordinary, viz., Sir George Simpson, Governor of Hudson's Bay, viâ Siberia, and Mr. Richards, the ex-missionary, and Haalilio, a chief of inferior rank, and late secretary to the King, viâ United States. Thither also has gone Mr. A. Simpson, late acting English consul; to carry news to the English government of the cession of the islands, and to find his news already known, and himself as coldly received as the messenger who brought the tidings of Saul's death to David. Lastly, thither had gone Mr. J. F. B. Marshall, charged with secret instructions from the King, to act as a corrective to Mr. Simpson in England, the latter travelling with him in perfect innocence of his mission,-as quietly

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as the acid and the alkaline powders rest side by side in a seidlitz-powder box, though so antagonistic in their nature, and so ready to fizz when finally brought into contact. Simpson was doomed to find, too late, that men betray,'-particularly American citizens. He says in his pamphlet—

A Mr. Marshall, an American shopkeeper at the islands, by a ruse de guerre of Judd and the American consul, got a passage in the schooner sent to convey me to Western Mexico. He spread abroad the news as he passed through the Stateswhere it excited intense attention; and on his arrival in England, entered, in conjunction with Richards and Haalilio, into communication with the Foreign Office.

The first business of Richards and Haalilio was at Washington. There, after some negotiation, though no declaration of independence was at that time obtained, the President, in a message to Congress on the 31st December, 1842, used language respecting the Hawaiian Islands which was considerate enough, and coupled with the appointment of a commissioner to reside at the court of Hawaii, was taken to be tantamount to a formal recognition. The commissioner despatched to Honolulu was Mr. George Brown. The envoys arrived in London in February 1843, and being joined by Sir George Simpson, had an interview with the Earl of Aberdeen, who was at first unfavourable to the idea of formally recognising the independence of the islands, believing them to be too greatly under American influence. On the 8th of March the envoys went to Belgium, on their way to Paris. They saw King Leopold, who pledged his influence to aid the object of their mission. On the 17th they had an interview with M. Guizot, who received them with marked courtesy, and promptly gave a pledge to acknowledge