The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-30 00:00:00

THE FRENCH IN OTAHEITE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
Papeete, March 6, 1844.
SlR,—The denouement is hurrying so rapidly to a close
that, not foreseeing what it may be, I think it the
better plan to apprise my countrymen, through the co-
lumns of your paper, of the strange acts which have
been enacted here of late. Bearing her Majesty's com-
mission, and enclosing you my name and rank, I pledge
you that which is most sacred to a British officer—his
honour—to each fact I assert. Long ere this can be
received, the public will be in possession of the under-
hand and ungentlemanly manner in which Admiral Du-
petit Thouais forced the Protectorate on Queen
Pomare ; a demand of 10,000 dollars being made on a
nation who were unable to pay the former one of 2,000.
The paper presented to the Queen was worded in such
a Jesuitical manner as to deceive Europe into the belief
that it was a voluntary act of the Queen ; whereas the
alternative was the French guns opening on her
people, and laying her towns in ashes. The trivial pre-
text seized on with such avidity, of the Queen plaeing a
crown set round with cocoa-nut leaves, and not
inserting some device to please the French in her private
flag, is too flimsy to blind any one not wilfully so Some ex-
case was wanted to haul down her flag. This answered
for want of a better. Four hundred marines were landed
in presence of two of the Queen's chiefs ; her flag was
violently taken down, and the French colours then hoisted
they are still flying. The Queen, being apprised that it
was the intention to seize her, and place her eldest son
(a boy about seven years old) on a nominal throne, go-
verned by a French regency, fled to her Majesty's ketch
the Basilisk. She was received by Lieutenant Hunt,
who gave up his accommodation to her Majesty, her
husband, and three children, with some other persons of
rank. She has resided for several weeks on board this
little vessel, not being permitted to land. Some time
ago, hearing that her subjects had fled from their homes,
had assembled in the mountains, and were in a state of
great excitement, of her own accord she dispatched a
letter, which was seized by the French Governor. It has
been construed into treason against the majesty of France.
I append an authenticated copy, and mark it No. 1.
Some of her chiefs were invited in and seized—one of
them loaded with irons. They are all still confined on board
the frigate Ambuscade. A proclamation was published
ten days ago ; it is also appended, and marked 2. These
chiefs merely fled, dreading the punishment their friends
had received.

On Sunday week soldiers came to a house where the
Queen's female attendants resided ; they threw their
things and the Queen's furniture about, turned them out,
and have turned the house into a prison. The poor
people, having no shelter, have since then resided in the
British chapel.
The French Governor has strained every nerve to put
this place into a fit state of defence ; he boasts that if
two months more be given him, he would defy any ship
to enter. The small island in front of the harbour is
having an earthen embankment of twelve feet raised on
it : fifteen 32-pounders are to be mounted, also barracks
built for the gunners. Commanding the entrance to the
harbour -barracks are built, and a battery being erected,
to be armed with fourteen 8-pounders. Other works are
being constructed behind the town on the rise of the hill.
The French war-steamer went with the proclamation to
prevent the natives passing on the isthmus. Some of
them, returning to their homes, have been stopped ;
several have lost their money and other Property. The
Governor has gone with 400 soldiers to erect a fort and
hem the people in ; an Englishman went with him as a
pilot to take the frigate and steamer as far as water
would permit. The acting Governor has issued a pro-
clamation, which I also inclose and mark 3, de-
claring this place in a state of siege. All English officers
are obliged to be on board at eight o'clock, P.M. Last
night parties were found destroying all English boats
hauled up on the beach : a few renegades who are a
disgrace to their country have had their property spared.
An owner of a vessel, who has just sold it to the French
Government, not being able to procure any English
house, is residing with his wife, and has young children,
in a native one ; he wrote mentioning that his wife is ill;
daily expecting her confinement, and requesting he
might be permitted to keep a light, but has been re-
fused. Ile called on the acting Governor, informed
him of the dangerous state of his wife—the same apa-
thetic reply was given, that no exception could be made
in his favour.

Now, Sir, I am coming to a fact which will astonish
you. A French officer, high in employ, no less a person
than the Commissary-General, the day before yesterday
publicly stated in presence of some Englishmen, that if
the natives rise and are joined by any Englishmen, he
would go, and with a pistol be the'first man to shoot Mr.
Pritchard. What must be the state of the vulgar crew
when their chief people speak in this assassin-like man-
ner ? A gentleman is thus spoken of who is a minister
of peace. Mr. Pritchard was for many years a mission-
ary out here. For ten years he has served his country.
as British Consul ; he is beloved by the Queen, respected
and looked up to by the people, devoting many hours to
their spiritual good : he is universally well spoken of by
the commanders of English vessels ; this has rendered
him obnoxious. The French have placed themselves in
a sad degraded state when they thus war against those,
all the world over respected by belligerents—the clergy
and women. Did I pause here, I think I should have
given you sufficient ; but where has England suffered an
outrage equal to that which was put on her last evening ?
Mr. Pritchard left his house to go on board her Majesty's
steamer Cormorant to see some of the officers ; he
had only a few, yards to walk from his gate to the jetty.
The commandant of police, who had been observed
all day prowling about, ran out of the guard-house
(it is the one from which the Queen's attendants have
been expelled, and only a few yards off), without his hat,
seized Mr. Pritchard, and hurried him off, followed by
some soldiers. Immediately on hearing it the com-
mander of the Basilisk and myself went off to the acting
Governor, M. d'Aubigny ; he refused to tell where
Mr. Pritchard was confined. After some demur he gave
a paper to Lieutenant Hunt, which he also read aloud.
It was of such an atrocious nature that we agreed not
to mention the contents, fearing the extra alarm it would
throw Mr. Pritchard's family into, and the excitement it
would cause amongst the population in general. Judge
of my surprise to hear this morning that it was placarded
in French, English, and Tahitian on the different public
places. I herewith append copies in both the former
languages, and mark them 4. A British subject, and he
our Consul and the representative of the ,Majesty of
England, treated as a common convict, seized in open
day, in the presence of his family, hurried like a vile
malefactor along the streets, jeered at by French sol-
diers as he was dragged in front of the barracks. Is
England thus low that she will not call down for ven-
geance on the dastards' heads who thus dare insult the
person to whose keeping she had confided her honour ?
It is not yet forgotten that the persecuted Queen Pomare
has been ever the firm friend to Englishmen. Her
father and grandfather sheltered and protected them.
There is no security for life or property. Many are
sending their money and papers on board the vessels in
the harbour, and, unfortunately we have only a war-
steamer carrying six guns, and a ketch of 200 tons here.
Was an English man-of-war here, the French autho-
rities would not dare to have gone to such insane lengths.
By the subjoined document, you will perceive that
Mr. Pritchard is kept a close prisoner, no one allowed
access to him; not even a friendly eye to see him. The
document brought by the soldier would not be left; but
this translation was taken as it was and loudly read.
The prison is a wretched wood but• behind. the French