Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-08-01
MISCELLANEOUS.
From ths Proridence Jonrnat.)
,aTcR FROM OTAHElTE


From he Proc,dence .Journat)
LATER FROM OTAHElTE.
W. nubsh 10 day. some interesting letters from Ola
hei,e giving some details Of the operation OF the
French at that Island, and the present posture OF al
fairs Oiaheite, Tahiti, is the largest OF the group
ofSociety islands, and is OF those sometimes class.
ed as the Georgian Islands It's great beauty and Ter
ty has given to 1t the of the gem of the Paci-
6c IL was xplored by Captain Cook, IN 10Y. II IS
about thirty miles IN length, and twenty wide at IT'S
greatest breadth. The mountains, winch rise to the
height of ten thousand feet, clothed to their summs
with the cocoa nut banana, bread tree, and other va
luable trees willie the slopes according they present
Northern Southern posure afford fruits 'penne
a, different seasons The language OF Otahe's, was
The first Poynesan language that WIS reduced 10 wr-
ting which accomplished by the missionaries
The inhabitants were found TO be mIld aable and en-
oapnr IN their manners but addicted 10 cruel practices
and exceedingly hcent,ous and debauched. The 50
ciety ofaeroi sed Oiaheite the members of which
kept community Of wives, and murdered their infant
children This has been abolished by the efforts OF the
missionaries The introduction of Christianity
tended with much difficulty but has at length gained
firm footing, and has done much tor the civilization
of the group Next to the Sandwich Islands, this may
be considered the interesting of the Islands in that
portion of the globe.
Tanirl, February 10, 1S43.
In my former letters, have SAID nothing of the 10.
cal news Of the place but thinking II will hereafter
make some noise the world will endeavor TO give
YOU idea Of the situation IN which are at present,
On the 10Th of last November the French Admiral
Do Petit Thours arrived here in the Rene Blanche,
fpate Of "a guns and claimed lndemnhcation of tins
government the amount of $4,000, for the injuries
inflicted French subjects residing here; which nJu-
ries farce, as the Tahian government some
two years ago paid the Admiral 5000 for nipri
son,ng some few Frencbmen who had broken the laws
OF the island, and which, without doubt, it has right
to do as long acknowledged free and indepen
H. ,Izl-, Gal r.
has been get possession of this island either by fair
or foul means, and which, sorry to say they have
in manner accomplished for on Dn Petit Thour s
arrival he issued proclamation stating his grievances,
and gave the government forty eight hours in which
to raise and pay the required sum, and in of its
not forthcoming al the appointed tIme threatened to
fire upon and destroy the place. In the time,
the French consul, residing mere, got up meet
ing with four of the principal chiefs, and drew up
document, wherein they requested to be placed under
the protection of French they found
themselves incapable of governing themselves AS
they could the required sum, and standing in
fear Of having the town blown about their heads, and
their lives taken they signed the document while the
Queen absent on the adjacent island OF Morea,
fifteen miles distant. The French Admiral then sen,
one of his boats with the document TO get the Queens
signature, still threatening TO destroy the place. Ut II
were not obtained But as the Queen through
the policy Of the French, and knew that they merely
wished 10 get footing on the island 10 take posses
sion She therefore first refused to sign he.
and denounced four chefs rebels aud traitors TO
their Queen and country But she, without any means
of oppos the French taking possesslon obliged
10 place her name 10 the parchment protesting at the
time that she signed through tear Tor the lives and
property Of her subjects.
Immediately on receiving the Queen signature they
started for Tahiti and arrived in time to put stop TO
the hoses that would have commenced at the expl-
ration of the forty eight hours. On the Admirals re
ceipt of the document he issued proclamation decar
ing that all differences had ceased to exist between the
two Governme nts and appointed one OF his Leutenants
Governor, one harbor mas,'r, and made the French
consul commissioned of the King and those three have
formed the local Government, annulng the old laws,
and issuing new thereby nverthrow,ng the whole or
der Of Government The Government has gone on
regularly I'll within The las: ten days, since winch, We
have had nothing but fumor5 at var and have an dea
that we shall have disturbance here, VI Tue
tranquility of Europe not disturbed by II: Tor you
know tina, twelve days ago we had an arri
val here of n B. M ship Talbot, Captain Sir Thomas
Thompson direct from England ana OF the Bousou,
French frigate. SIR Thomas brought letters from the
English Government TO Queen Pomona; and as she was
on the arrival of the rgae, Morea, he senta boat
for her to come over she has never been on Tahiti
since the French had got possession, and hosled their
protectora,e flag But on the receipt oil SIR thomas
letter, she across IN state, with Inc Ola iah'
flag fying in her barge She pulled directly on board
of the frga!p without landing, and they manned the
yards and ran the old flag Of Tahiti to the fore and sa
luted it with twenty guns, they also did on her
departure THIS annoyed the French greatly, so much
So that they ISSUED pfo.cs, against the proceedings oil
the commander Of II b. NJ ship Talbot, in hosting
and sauting the old Tahiti flag, thereby disturbing the
peace and tranquility OF the place. and IN acting direct
" hostile to France. Sir Thomas then requested the
Queen to call meeting of all the inhabitants the
island, to know whether it their wish that
the French should hold possession and govern the
island The meeting took place yesterday in the Queen
enclosure and it attended by about ten thousand.
When called upon 10 speak, they all agreed to man,
in wishing the French to remain the Island, and
they all wished the Queen TO allow them to 60 and pull
dowa the prolectorae ng but she would not allow it
Last night howe ver the flag hauled down and the
signal bayards cut away. The Captain of the
Buusoul threatened fire upon the place If the flag DOES
not 90 up again and The Captain of the English frgate
has threatened TO fire the Frenchmnn the nome nj q
shot is fired upon the town.
As the tenor of the Erglish letter TO Pon,ona was,
that England would protect her against any foreign
power tina, would encroach upon her domnious, and
both frigaes at present lie all ready for battle, and
the Queen and most Of the natives have fed 10 dis.
tant par, Of the island, there is knowing how this
affair will end, though trust the Frenchman and the
Englishman will fight it out, they equally match
ed. l care not which wins shall not have time TO
write you of the end of the ARRAY but will do by the
next ship that sails
TAHITI, March oath, 1s43
In my former letter 10 yon, informed you Of the
manner in which we were situated here with the
french and Engiish ano nave now 10 INFORM you,
that the business serious aspect than
for The l2,h Of last month"; Commodore Nj
choas arrived here in II. b. M. ship V'ndiciive of
So guns, bringing presents to this Queen from Queen
Victoria, and having heard OF the manner IN which
the French had gained possession of the Island mme
datey made known in public meeting of the natives
his intentions OF lying here and protecting them against
the encroachments OF the French at all hazards. The
next day being the third day of his arrival here, he
bent sa'is and warped his ship abreast the Queens
sidence, where she is still lying. We have also two
French soops OF war here tina, have been lying here
for the las, two months, doing nothing but watch The
proceedings Of the English Commodore with The VI
jealousy, and they intend remain here ill the az.
rival of the French Admiral, WHO'S expected daily We
then shall have rumors Of war, if not actual war itself
a. neither party disposed 70 give way TO the other
and both parties have compromised their national honor
so far, that they cannot draw back without mutually
pears disposed to do. My opinion is, that The small
island of Tahiti will be the cause OF involving France
and England in conflict, for it is The island which
- 49, Ia