The Polynesian., 1841-04-17
Vol. mo. As


pire, and has ceased to afford field for
encroachment, British or foreign.
Every one calculated to form an opin.
ion, or who has givcr. the least considera-
to the subject concurs in representing the
position of the Falkland Islands as the KEY
of the Pacific Could proof more deci.
sive of that fact be adduced, than the far
famed and destructive cruise Of the Amer.
lean frigate Esser, Commodore David Por.
ter For nearly twelve months the Els.
sex secured the South Seas unmolested,
" burning, sinking, and destroying ;" her
captures amounted to twelve sperm wha-
lers, valued, according to James, at two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and,
although the bulk of these were ultimately
re-captured, still the fisheries were for the
time paralyzed. Could the evil have
reached such a height, would single frig-
ate run such a hazard, had England pos
sessed naval yard at the Falklands? But
if the evil were grievous in those days,
what would be the result now' At that
time QSl3) New South Wales was known
merely as a place of transportation, and
the numerous rising colonies of those seas
were nonresident. For one British flag
which then swept the Pacific. there are
now a score, but those flags are more es.
sentially pacific than the seas they sweep,
and the Aurtralian portion of them are as
destitute of the means Of self-protection,
as their ports are incompetent to afford
security against foe. The British PEN
nants in that quarter of the world, usually
float from the mast-heads of such craft as
the Pelorus, Pandora, Zebra. sxteen-gun
briggs; or the Success, Rainbow, Voltage,
and Alligator" jackass frigatcs," Where
as, the folds of the tri-color wave from
heavy flty-gun frigates, such as the Arte-
mise and Venus, or thirty-two gun cor
vcttcs, the Heroine for example. Sup
pose, (Which heaven forefend) war were
to break out, let us say with France, what
opposition could our cockle-shells make
against ships of such tonnage, scantllng,
and armament as these The waters of
the Dcrwent, Port Jackson, and the Swan.
are intimately known to numerous French
commanders, who are perfectly aware of
the immense injury they could inf1ict upon
our colonies with the most perfect impu.
nifty, and at gain Of a million or two
sterling to themselves. Are those facts
of no moment to Great Britain, or are the
French such magnanmous foes as never
to cypress the weak: Let the Sandwich
and Otahetan isles give answer.
Let US suppose another American war.
Would Captain David Porter pause in
the randywne, 60, where he ventured
in the Essex, 30, and with his certainty of
success quadrupled We should think
not! Surely this is some argument in
aid of others, why the Falklands should
be colonizcd, and made naval depot.
Were such the case, and did war ensue,
I'VE shall also suppose Sydney, Hobart
Town, Freeman,Ic, &c. adequately rorti-
fed how long would an adverse flag re-
main in the Pacific With home through
out its range, and with those islands to
keep an eye both on the Atlantic and it,
the cruisers Of England would give good
account of those of the enemy, whilst tie
letters of marque Gf such were wisely
granted) from all ports of Australia would
cneedi1y turn tho mercantile cc,lo