Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-06-08
Seizure of the Sandwich Islands by the
British Government.

bv n British man-of-war, under the command
of Lord George Paulet, and of the forced
cesslou by the King, Of his domin'ohs to the
British Crown. The whole proceedings
were marked by such rapaci'y and violation
Of the law Of nations, as would never have
been attempted towards a nation possessing
the power to maintain its dignity. The i'm
por,ance Of these islands is Immense. They
are visited by above two hundred American
vessels annually, and n large amount OF
American property is invested there. Mr..
Marshall has arrived, bearer of dispatches
10 the American government The Journal
of Commerce says, that it has authority,
which it deems unques'ionable for the fact
that the independence Of the Sandwich Is
lands, has been acknowledged by England
and France, us well as by the United States.
We take from the Tribune, the following
narrative Of the events which preceded the
session, and forced the King into surrender
Of his domnions-
at seems that Immediately on his arriva
Lord George Pnulet addressed letter to the
Governor Of Woahoo, announcing that heI
had come for the purpose of affordlng protec-
ton to British subjects, and demanding IN.
slant information rs to whether the King had
been noticed Of his arrival. The Governor
replied that he had not, but that they would
Immediately inform him Of his Lordshlp's
wishes, and ,ha, the King would probably be
| there IN about six days. On the l6th of Feb
ruary, Capt. Paulet wrote to the King de-
mundlng a private interview on the next day,
at which he said he should bring his opn in
terpreter. The King declined to grant him a
private interview under those circumstances
but said he was ready to receive any comuni-
cation, or it The business was ot private ma
lure he designated DIR. Judd as his confden'
tal agent.
To this Cant. Paulet replied that he would
hold no intercourse with DR.. Judd, and en-.
4 closed the demands which he considered II
his duty to make upon the Government, and
with which he required compliance before
tho next afternoon. The difficulties COM
planned Of were connected with the conduct
and treatment Of the British Consul. Mr.
II Charlton had been the Consul, bu, after COM
/ mi,tng series Of highly disreputable acts,
and involving himself to largo amount he
had suddenly decnmped from the islands,
without giving any notice OF his intention
Il previous to gong, engaging passage in 'Ae
name of another person, and, IN the hurry ot
his departure, forgetting to pay his creditors.
/ After his departure, a Mr.. Slmpson produced
authority from Mr.. Charlton, decga,lng 10
| him his consular functions. Mr.. s. was oh.
noxious To the Government for his declared
I hostility. Tie had openly insulted the Gov
! ernor of Oahu, had publicly threatened to
! involve the Government in difficulties, and
| even 10 procure the hosting Of fhe English
! flag. He had a $50 refused TO abide by the
| decisions OF jnrisis, and acknowledge the
| existing laws. Ills recognition was also
protested against by two agents of the
Il Hudson Bay Company, who represent the
chief commercial interest OF Great Britain IN
these islands.
Il Under these circumstances the King decl.
ded not to recognize Mr. >. MS Consul till he
could learn the pleasure of The British Gov
ernmcn,. An attachment had also been
! placed upon property of Mr.. Charlton for a
deb, decided to be due by a jury, and admit
ted by Mr.. & himself. Capt. Paulet de-
manded that this attachment should be re-
moved. that the property should be returned
I that Mr.. Simpson should be recognized q!
I Consul, thar new trials should be granted II
! several other cases which had been decided
that n guarantee should be given that M
British subjec, should be placed in irons nn
less accused of n crime made felony by th'
laws of Eng land, and that all the cases be
tween British subjects and the natives. sbnnl'
be tried by jurios half OF whom were English
men. In the meantime tie captains irIgat'
i Carysfon was cleared for action. lniorma
zion Of intended hos,ilities at 4 p. NJ. wa
E,h. pI,t (,cIn
at l2 the preceding midnight, and to th'
| American and French Consnls, at 10 A. NJ
Of the day of the expected attack, thus gIvln!
u the foreign residents nearly six hours OF day
tight To seek protection for their persons, an'
to remove their property.
The King was forced to comply with ,lIes
demands to escape an attack. Mr.. Simpson
} thus acknowledged as Consul, immedIatel
} formed variety Of new demands, of whc
the N. Q. Bulletin gives the following &C
count.
4, "Exorhtnnt indemnities were ciaIne
without any damages being proved, only pre-
tended on the most frivolous prctexts. De
Inands were made for the immediate paymcn
of damages in cases still pending before th
courts, aud under the previous protest to II
/ II. Majesty. | will instance one case rs
1 specimen. Mr.. skinner, agent for Mr.. Char
= ton, as he pretended, put in a claim for dam
. agos. in consequence Of the nllrdged reserva
. ton OF $4,000. made for tho purpose OF bid
, dng in Mr.. Charlion's property, when
= should be sold at auction under the attach
u ment, in order iha, it might not be sacrificed
$ For THE act Of generous fidelity to the lr
= ,erest Of his employer, Mr.. Skrimer. wi,
v cqua! generosity 'waiving heavy damages
/. proposed 10 content himself with 5000 {
S Interest, n, G6 per centum, and with unbonnde
l. Ilberali,y agreed to wait ten days for I'll
= payment OF the cash. This demand an
!, others like il. were supported by his lordsb
with threats of immediate force. When M
. Skinner was asked to show his authority !
If agent. the request was considered as qui
% mpcr,incnt. Demands for proofs of Il
,i damages were also Gisregarded, ns quibbl'
,r altogether vcxa,ious and inopplicable to II
a case. When it was asked what pecul
foresight had endowed Mr.. Simpson with II
right to assume that the property would
sacrificed OK auction, or how there could
~ any Just demand COR the immediate PAYNE
p, Of damages, grounded on n case which hI
$, already been referred to II. b. Majesty Z
Of decision, his I.ordship flew into passlo
v md with considerable animation, threaten
A.. ii, 49,, D.,ti.h nau C,rtbvi,hO "