Do not let these good seeds perish; do not leave undone what you began, and what is so hapily progressing; lend us your powerful hand; take us under your protection; let your flag cover us, and your lion defend us; determine the form through which we could shelter ourselves lawfully under your wings; cause our children to bless you, and to cherish your Christian feelings as we do. May the great Jehovah preserve you, and recompence you for all you do in our behalf. Peace be with you, the Queen of Great Britain, &c., &c. (Signed) QUEEN POMARE. TATI. UTAMI. PAOFAI. HITOTI. P.S. Should not what is written above be understood by you, we refer you to Captain Elliott, commanding your Majesty's ship "Fly." He is acquainted with our circumstances, and will make them fully known to you. (Translation.) Inclosure 4 in No. 6. Law passed by the Tahitian Legislative Body. A LAW concerning the propagation of tenets inconsistent with the true Gospel. Let Tahiti and all the islands of the Kingdom of Pomare, Vahine the First, stand unique under that Gospel which the missionaries from Britain have propagated ever since the year 1797, that is, these forty years past. When foreigners come from other countries to this, on their landing let this law be put into their hands, that they may know, if such persons persist in teaching tenets which are inconsistent with that true Gospel which has been of old propagated in Tahiti: if they build houses for worship, if they congregate followers in uncultivated places, that they might teach them all kinds of strange doctrines; if they trouble the usual modes of worship, and propagate strange customs for the sake of amusing, that do not comport with the written word of the God of truth, such person has become guilty of breaking this law, and will be judged and awarded. This shall be his award. He will be sent to his own land, and shall not reside on Tahiti. If any Tahitian shall propagate doctrines inconsistent with the Gospel of truth, such as are called Mamoia, because they are doctrines inconsistent with those which have been taught by the missionaries from Britain, and with what is found in the written word of God, that person has violated the law; if he be a person of rank or a common man, it is the same, he has broken the law, and will be judged and awarded. This will be his award. He will be sent to his native land to accomplish the sentence of the law in; if it be public road, fifty fathoms; if any other work, such as is found written in the laws. If he persist in refusing to do it, he will be judged, and new work imposed on him. Tahiti, 8th November, 1838. Sir, No. 7. Viscount Palmerston to Mr. Consul Pritchard. Foreign Office, September 9, 1839. I HAVE had under my consideration your despatch of the 9th of November last, detailing the proceedings of the French frigate "Venus,' at Tahiti, on the 31st of August preceding, and transmitting a letter which Queen Pomare and her Chiefs had thought proper to address to Her Majesty, soliciting that Her Majesty would be graciously pleased to place the islands of Tahiti under the protection of the British flag. In reply, I have to desire that you will express Her Majesty's deep concern at the difficulties under which Queen Pomare appears to labour; but you will, at the same time, say that, considering the great extent of the present dominions of the British Crown in the Southern Ocean, and the difficulty of adequately providing for the defence of persons living in allegiance to Her Majesty in a quarter of the globe so distant from Great Britain, Her Majesty feels it would be impossible for her to fulfil, with proper punctuality, any defensive obligations which Her Majesty might contract towards the Government and inhabitants of Tahiti, and therefore, however strong the interest may be which Her Majesty takes in the prosperity of the Society Islands, and in the happiness and welfare of Queen Pomare, Her Majesty is bound in good faith to decline to enter into any specific engagement of the kind which has been suggested; but you will assure Queen Pomare that Her Majesty will at all times be ready to attend to any representations that Queen Pomare may wish to make, and will always be glad to give the protection of her good offices to Queen Pomare, in any differences which may arise between Queen Pomare and any other Power.. No. 8. I am, &c., Mr. Acting-Consul Wilson to the Earl of Aberdeen.-(Received March 11, 1843.) My Lord, British Consulate, I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship, for the information of Her Majesty's Government, the inclosed documents respecting the change which has taken place in the affairs of the Tahitian Government, attached with an impression of the consular seal, being copies of attested copies, officially transmitted to this Consulate by Rear-Admiral A. Dupetit-Thouars on board of the French frigate "La Reine Blanche." I have the honour to inform your Lordship that, since the above change in the Tahitian Government, under protection of the French, the Tahitian Flag has been altered; it is now the original flag with the French colours in the upper part next to the staff, and was, at noon of the 12th instant, acknowledged and saluted by the French Admiral on board the frigate "Reine Blanche." I have also the honour to inform your Lordship that the ports of Tahiti are to remain free ports, and subject to the same regulations as before, pending the pleasure of the King of the French. The provisional Government is composed of three members, nominated by the Admiral, viz., a Commissioner-Royal-who is the French Consul,-a Military Governor, and Captain of the port of Papeite, the latter, two Lieutenants on board of the frigate "Reine Blanche." These members are to form a council, and will regulate all affairs relating to foreigners. For further information respecting the change of affairs in the Tahitian Government, I beg to refer your Lordship more particularly to what is contained in the documents I herewith transmit. Admiral Dupetit-Thouars to the Queen and Chiefs of Tahiti. Station Navale de France dans l'Océan Pacifique. Déclaration du Contre-Amiral A. Dupetit-Thouars, Commandeur de la Légion d'Honneur et Commandant-en-chef de la Station Navale de France dans l'Océan Pacifique, à Sa Majesté la Reine et au Chefs principaux de l'Ile de Taïti. VENU à Taïti dans l'espérance d'y rencontrer l'accueil que j'étais en droit d'attendre d'une Puissance amie liée par des traités au Gouvernement auquel j'ai l'honneur d'appartenir, Gouvernement qui récemment encore a donné à la Reine Pomaré des preuves de la grande bienveillance dont il est animé envers elle; je m'attendais à n'avoir à offrir à la Reine et aux chefs principaux de Taïti, que des actions de grâce pour les bons traitemens dont je supposais que mes compatriotes étaient incessamment l'objet. C'est avec un vif sentiment de peine que j'ai reconnu qu'il n'en était point ainsi, et qu'au lieu de la simple équité que nous réclamons et qu'on ne peut raisonnablement refuser à personne, il n'existe peut-être pas un seul Français à Taïti, qui n'ait à se plaindre de la conduite inique ou rigoureuse du Gouvernement de la Reine à son égard. Contrairement à vos propres lois, les domiciles de plusieurs Français ont été violés pendant leur absence, et leurs maisons, ainsi forcées, sont restées ouvertes et exposées au pillage; des spoliations de propriétés ont été violemment et injustement prononcées, et exécutées plus brutalement encore; plusieurs de nos compatriotes ont été frappés par des agens de la police dont le devoir était de les protéger; d'autres ont été jetés en prison sans jugement préalable, traités en criminels, et mis au bloc comme de vils scélérats, sans avoir pu se faire entendre, &c. Est-ce donc là la protection égale à celle de la nation la plus favorisée, à laquelle nous avions droit? Est-ce là le traitement garanti à nos nationaux par les traités? Non, ils ont été violés et mis de côté de la manière la plus outrageante pour la France, et malgré la promesse toute récente de la Reine au commandant de la corvette "F'Aube," l'infâme Moia, assassin d'un Français, contre lequel elle avait rendu une sentence d'exil, est encore ici, et c'est par l'impunité d'un criminel que les témoignages de bienveillance du Roi des Français sont reconnus. Mal conseillée, subissant une influence funeste à ses véritables intérêts, la Reine apprendra une seconde fois, qu'on ne se joue pas impunément de la bonne foi et de la loyauté d'une Puissance comme la France. Puisque nous n'avons aucune justice à attendre du Gouvernement de Taïti, je ne demanderai point à la Reine ni aux chefs principaux de nouveaux traités, leur parole, à laquelle ils manquent sans cesse, ne peut plus aujourd'hui nous inspirer de confiance; des garanties matérielles seules peuvent assurer nos droits; de nouveaux traités seraient sans doute mis en oubli, comme les premiers, qui d'ailleurs sont suffisans, car nous ne demandons pas de faveurs particulières ni exceptionnelles pour nos compatriotes, mais seulement les droits naturels dont on ne peut les priver et qui leur sont acquis; tels sont, la liberté de commercer, de résider, d'aller, de venir, de partir, d'acheter, de louer, de vendre ou de revendre, et la liberté de conscience. Ces droits sont imprescriptibles, et ceux de toutes les sociétés civilisées; ceux dont nous révendiquons l'usage parceque ce sont les nôtres; ceux enfin, que nous obtiendrons dès que le Gouvernement marchera légalement et que les lois faites pour tous seront également connues de tous. En attendant que ce résultat si vivement désiré se réalise, la gravité des plaintes qui me sont portées et les justes indemnités réclamées par grand nombre de Français pour dommages et intérêts des torts qu'ils ont soufferts dans leurs personnes ou leurs propriétés, par suite de l'inexécution des traités avec la France et de la conduite abusive des agens du Gouvernement de Taïti, me font un devoir de vous demander et même d'exiger au besoin, pour la sûreté de mes compatriotes et de leurs droits, 1°. Que vous déposiez, comme garantie des indemnités qui leur sont légitimement dues, et comme caution de la conduite que vous tiendrez à l'avenir à leur égard, une somme de dix mille piastres fortes qui devra être versée par les soins du Gouvernement de la Reine Pomaré dans deux fois vingt-quatre heures à compter d'aujourd'hui, deux heures de l'après midi, entre les mains du commis d'administration de la frégate la "Reine Blanche," pour être consignée dans la caisse du Gouvernement où elle restera pour être ensuite remise à la Reine Pomaré sur l'ordre du Gouvernement du Roi, lorsque les traités avec la France seront fidèlement exécutés, et que les indemnités dont il appartient au Gouvernement Français seul de déterminer et de prononcer la validité et la quotité, seront acquittées. 2°. Qu'à défaut du versement de la dite somme de dix mille piastres fortes dans le tems prescrit, le fort de la Reine, les établissemens de Moutou Outa et l'Ile de Taïti, seront provisoirement remis à ma disposition et occupés par les troupes Françaises comme gage de l'exécution des traités, jusqu'à ce qu'il ait été rendu compte au Gouvernement du Roi, des griefs dont nous nous plaignons, et qu'il ait statué, comme il a été dit, sur la validité et la quotité des indemnités auxquelles nous avons un droit légitime. 3°. Qu'enfin, dans le cas de l'inexécution de l'une ou de l'autre des clauses ci-dessus, je crois qu'il est de mon devoir de vous déclarer que je me verrais, bien contre mon gré, dans la dure nécessité de prendre une détermination plus rigoureuse encore. Cependant, pour prouver à la Reine et aux chefs principaux combien il me serait pénible d'user d'une telle sévérité envers eux, je les autorise à me soumettre, dans les premières vingt-quatre heures du délai fixé plus haut, toute disposition d'accommodement capable d'appaiser le juste ressentiment de ma nation, si vivement excité contre eux, et conduire à une sincère réconciliation entre deux peuples qui ont de grandes sympathies de caractère et que l'on s'efforce malheureusement de diviser. A bord de la frégate la "Reine Blanche," le huit Septembre, milhuit-cent-quarante-deux. Le Contre-Amiral, Commandant-en-chef la Station Navale de (Signé) A. DUPETIT-THOUARS. (Translation.) French Naval Station in the Pacific Ocean, Declaration of Rear-Admiral A. Dupetit-Thouars, Commander of the HAVING come to Tahiti in the hope to meet with that reception I was entitled to expect from a Power allied by treaty to the Government C in whose service I have the honour to be, and which Government has recently given to Queen Pomare fresh proofs of the good intentions it entertains towards her, I expected only to have to render thanks to the Queen and to the principal chiefs of Tahiti, for the good treatment which I presumed my countrymen had never ceased to enjoy. With regret I found such was not the case, and that instead of that even justice which we claim there is not, perhaps, a single Frenchman in Tahiti who has not to complain of the iniquitous or rigourous conduct of the Queen's Government towards him. Contrary to your own laws, the domiciles of several Frenchmen have been violated during their absence, and their houses, thus forcibly entered, have remained open and pillaged; seizures of property have likewise been unjustly ordered, and executed in the most brutal manner; several of our countrymen have been beaten by the police-officers, whose duty it was to protect them; others have been thrown into prison without previous trial, treated as criminals, and executed as villains, without being able to obtain a hearing, &c. Is this then the protection granted to the most favoured nation, which we claim of right? Is this the treatment secured to our countrymen by treaty? No, treaties have been violated and put aside in the most outrageous manner for France; and, notwithstanding the promise recently made by the Queen to the commander of the corvette "Aube," the murderer of a Frenchman, the infamous Moia, whom the Queen had sentenced to exile, is still here, and it is by impunity to a criminal that the proofs of benevolence of the King of the French are acknowledged. Ill-advised, submitting to an influence fatal to her true interests, the Queen will learn a second time that the good faith and loyalty of a Power such as France, is not with impunity to be trifled with. As we cannot expect justice from the Government of Tahiti, I will not demand new treaties from the Queen and principal chiefs; we can no longer trust their word, which they incessantly break; substantial securities alone can protect our rights; new treaties would, doubtless, soon be forgotten like the former ones, which, however, are sufficient, for we do not ask for particular nor exceptional favours for our countrymen, but simply equal rights, to which they are entitled, and of which they cannot be deprived; liberty to trade, to reside, to go, to come, to quit, to buy, to let, to sell, or to re-sell, and the liberty of conscience, these are imprescriptible rights, and are those of every civilized people; these we claim, because they are our own; these, in fact, we shall obtain as soon as the Government acts in a legal manner, and that the laws, made for all, shall be equally known to all. Pending the realization of so desirable a result, the serious complaints which have been made to me, and the indemnities justly claimed by a great number of Frenchmen as compensation for the wrongs they have suffered in their person or property, by the non-execution of the treaties with France, and the abusive conduct of the agents of the Government of Tahiti, make it imperative on me, for the security of my countrymen and of their rights, to demand, and if necessary, by force, 1st. That you deposit, as security for the indemnities to which they are legitimately entitled, and for guarantee of your future conduct towards them, the sum of ten thousand Spanish dollars, which, in the space of twice twenty-four hours from this day at two o'clock in the afternoon, must, by order of the Government of Queen Pomare, be paid into the hands of the cashier of the frigate "Reine Blanche," to be deposited in the Government chest, where the money shall remain, until restored to Queen Pomare by order of the Government of the King, whenever the treaties with France shall be faithfully executed, and the indemnities paid, the validity, amount, and proportions of which shall be decided by the French Government alone. 2nd. That in default of the said sum of ten thousand Spanish dollars being deposited within the prescribed time, the Fort of the Queen, the establishments of Moutou Outa, and the Island of Tahiti, shall be provisionally given up to me, and occupied by French troops, as a pledge for the due execution of treaties, until satisfaction shall be given to the |