95

A.—4

The Queen of England will, I have no doubt, hoar with great pleasure that even in your country her name is known and loved, and Her Majesty will, I am satisfied, willingly aid you in your efforts for the advancement of those who are dependent upon you : indeed, her goodness is such that ft) spread the blessings of peace and concord over the earth has constantly boon her aim, and oven theao parts so distant from her own homo will bo to Her Majesty objects of the most lively interest if she can assist in raising the inhabitants of them from vice and barbarism to Christianity and civilization. I beg that you will under any circumstances of difficulty communicate with me. If I can send any animals or plants to you which are not at present to bo found in your islands I shall feel great pleasure in doing as, if you will write to mo for them. It may he in my power next year to visit you. I shall mike a point of doing so if no unexpected difficulties present themselves. If you could visit me I should feel great pleasure in receiving you or any members of your family, and I can without difficulty at any time send a vessel from honoo to convey you back to your own country. Captain Maxwell will deliver to you a small present, which I have sent to you, feeling that in thus ovincmg the regard of my countrymen for you I shall act in conformity with tho wishes of the Queen of England. Begging you to accept the assurances of my high consideration for you, I have, &c, G. Ghey, Mr. George Tubou. Govemor-in-Ohief.

V.—Fiji,Friendly Islands, and New Caledon

No. 2. Governor Sir G. Geey to the Eight Hon. Earl Geey. My Loed, — Government House, Auckland, sth April, 1848. In reference to my Despatch No. 9, of the 10th ultimo, reporting the outrages which had been committed at the Island of Eotuma, I have now the honour to state that, upon considering all the circumstances connected with that particular case, as also the facts which have recently been brought to my knowledge in reference to the various islands in the Pacific, I have thought it my duty to issue a notice offering, on behalf of the British Government, a reward of £200 to any person or persons who shall apprehend, or shall give such information as shall lead to the apprehension of, the offender or offenders who were concerned in shooting the chief Mushcock, at the Island of Eotuma, on or about the 12bh day of July last. I anticipate that the issue of this notice will produce a very useful effect upon the lawless British subjects now scattered through the Pacific, by showing them that they are still liable to bo tried for the crime of murder committed in one of the neighbouring islands ; whilst the inhabitants of the islands in the Pacific, amongst whom translations of this notice will be promulgated, will be made aware that the British Government will, in as far as practicable, protect them from injuries from British subjects, and that there is thus a Power to whom they can look for redress in the case of outrages similar to those which were committed at Eotuma. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. Earl Grey, &c. ■ G. Geey.

No. 3. The Eight Hon. Earl Geey to Governor Gbbt. Sib,— Downing Street, 9th October, 1848. Your Despatch No. 13, of the 14th March last, containing suggestions for the extension of the British dominion in the Pacific, has been communicated by me to Viscount Palmerston, and has received from his Lordship and from myself that attentive consideration which its contents require. It is impossible for Her Majesty's Government to accept at present that submission to her sovereignty which is offered by the chief of Tonga and by the chiefs of the Fiji Islands, of whom your despatch makes mention. Independently of other reasons, it is to be apprehended, notwithstanding your arguments as to the ultimate economy of the measure, that the expense which such an extension of empire would necessarily occasion woiild be larger than Her Majesty's Advisers would think themselves justified in proposing to Parliament. The offers which you have received must therefore be declined, but in a manner as conciliatory as possible, accompanied by the expression of Her Majesty's desire to promote as far as may be in her power the welfare of the inhabitants of those islands, although she is unable to accept their proffered allegiance. Her Majesty's Government have it, however, under consideration whether the appointment of British Consular Agents in places situated in the Pacific, and in the Friendly Islands and Fiji Islands in the first instance, might not bo conducive to British interests in that part of the world. The duties of such Agents might be to give instructions and assistance to the native authorities towards the establishment of a regular Government to protect British subjects, and to conclude treaties with such chiefs or Powers as they might consider of sufficient importance. Such treaties might contain stipulations both political and commercial. They might recite, by way of preamble, that Her Majesty is anxious to assist in promoting the progress of prosperity, civilization, and religion in those islands, and that she accords to their inhabitants her disinterested friendship. The contracting chiefs should engage to receive such Consuls or other officers, and such missionary and other teachers, as Her Majesty may send among them for their benefit and instruction, and that all British subjects and their property and commerce shall be well treated within their respective islands. The chiefs should also contract, in return for the aid afforded them, not intentionally or willingly to do wrong to the subjects of any foreign Power ; and it might be either made a further engagement on the part of the native contracting parties that, if involved in disputes with foreign Powers, they should adeferess themselves to the Queen of England, and leave to her to determine what they should do; or, if this be considered as imposing too great a responsibility on Her Majesty's Government, it might be made part of the Agents' instructions to effect the same object by persuasion as far as they may find it in their power.