The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-16 00:00:00

ANOTHER OTAHEITE IN THE

THAMES.
(From Punch.)
At the very time Otaheite was being a bone of con-
tention abroad, the Thames was almost set on fire by
the flame of discord at home. The affair at the So-
ciety Islands has found a parallel in a series of pro-
ceedings at the Eel-pie Islands, where a sort of Queen
Pomare has long held peaceful dominion in the person
of a respectable landlady.
It appears that a party of Frenchmen landed a
little while ago on the Eel-pie, and endeavoured to
make themselves masters of the island. The Twicken-
ham policeman, who acts as a sort of chargé di affaires,
merely watched the proceedings without taking any
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station-house. The civic consul, who acts as British
resident to look after the swans belonging to the cor-
poration, kept a jealous eye on all that was being
done, but observed for some time the strictest neu-
trality.
A little while after lamplight the Frenchmen be-
came exceedingly noisy, and a shot was fired from a
pea-shooter, which shivered to atoms the glass of a
clock, and stopped the minute hand, so that the inha-
bitants were prevented from ascertaining the hour.
A scene of riot then ensued, the French were in a
state of fierce intoxication, and the landlady, the
Pomare of the Eel-pies, screamed for help, upon
which the Frenchmen offered their asssistance, and at
once proclaimed a French Protectorate.

Poor Pomare fled for succour to the only British
vessel, which happened to be a coal-barge ; for it will
hardly be believed that such has been the apathy -of
the Government, there was not even a steamer on the
station.

The French, then finding themselves matters of the
island, began to insult the helpless natives, and the
civic consul having advised resistance, was at once
seized and shut up in a small boat-house, where he
was kept a prisoner until Captain Snooks, of the
Vivid, having arrived, demanded his release in the
name of the Civic Government.

Mrs. Pomare remains on board the coal-barge,
where she bears her misfortunes with becoming dig-
nity.

The following scene in the Twickenham Vestry
will throw some further light on the affair, which it
is hoped may yet be arranged satisfactorily :
Mr. Swaddles, seeing the Churchwarden in his
place, would ask if there was any truth in the
dispatches that had been laid upon the table from the
Eel-pie Islands ?—(Hear.)
The Churchwarden said that advices had certainly
been received which had caused some embarrassment;
but in the present state of affairs he was unprepared
to say anything.
Mr. Swaddles would only ask whether it was true
that the only force we had at the Eel-pie was a coal-
barge ?—(Hear.)
The Churchwarden replied it was true that a coal-
barge was at one time our only force, but a punt had
since been sent out, and a wherry of observation had
been commissioned for the Eel-pie service.—(Cheers.)
Mr. Swaddles was of opinion that there should
have been a steamer on the spot. It was wilful neg-
ligence to leave the Eel-pie exposed to the chances of
surprise. The island might be sacked in a few hours ;
and if that were done, what was to prevent Twicken-
ham falling into the jaws of the foreigner ?—(Hear.)
The Churchwarden thought that if it became a
question of jaw, there could be no fear while the
Vestry could boast of the Honourable Member's
countenance.—(A. laugh.)
The subject here dropped, and the Vestry adjourned.

CIIEESEMONG ERS' BENEVOLENT INSTITTJTION.—The
members and friends of the above institution held their
annual festival yesterday, at the White Conduit Tavern,
when about two hundred gentlemen sat down to an ex-
cellent entertainment, at which Mr. R. D. Rea presided.
The usual loyal and patriotic toasts were given and duly
responded to, which were followed, by that of " Pros-
perity to the Cheesemongers' Benevolent Institution ;"
after which the chairman addressed the meeting at some
length in an eloquent and energetic speech, intimating
that the institution had been established for granting
annuities and otherwise relieving distressed members of
the trade. The institution had, by the exertion of its
friends, gradually progressed, and should such exertions
be continued, they would soon be enabled to assist a
greater number as well as to establish the contemplated
alms-houses. The eloquence of the chairman's address,
followed by a donation of 101. 103., had the effect of pro-
ducing contributions to the amount of 3001, in addition
to the annual contributions of 7001 The present funded
stock is about 6,5001., and there are at this time thirty-
two annuitants at 241. per annum. The evening was
spent in general hilarity, and the health of the chairman,
and of Mr. Simpson, the secretary, &c., having been
drank and duly acknowledged, the company broke up.
NOTTING II AM.—A Romish 6' cathedral," on a
larger and more magnificent scale than any built in
England since the Reformation, has been recently
erected in this town, and will be " opened" on Wednes-
day, the 28th instant. A large number of the Roman
Catholic gentry, including the Earl of Shrewsbury (who
has been a principal contributor), Lard Arundel, Lord
Camoys, Lord Dormer, Lord Newburgh, Viscount South-
well, the Hon. C. Clifford, the Hon. T. Stoner. Sir P.
Mostyn, Sir E. Vavasour, &c., aro expected to be pre-
sent, and the solemn pontifical mass will b" presided over
by Dr. Wiseman. The architect is Mr, Pugin.