Polynesian., 1844-06-08

The news from Europe is not of much mo-
ment, except in relation to France and Tahi-
ii. The French Ministry, sustained by a vote
of 46 majority in the Chamber of Deputies,
petit Thouars, in taking possession of Tahi-
ii, and have recalled him. For the present
the island will remain under the former con-
Joint Government of the Queen and Protec-
torate. In another article, written previous
to the receipt of this news, it will be seen
that we expressed the opinion that it was
doubtful whether France could make her re-
cent territorial acquisitions in the Pacific
permanent. This doubt is confirmed by the
tenor of the present intelligence. France
may continue to hold one port for her ship
ping, but probably will not incur the heavy
expense necessary for an extensive military
colony, when the occasion so little iustifes
the outlay, and her people are at last awaken
ing to the egregious deception which interest
ed writer's have put upon them. The disa-
vowal of the acts of the Admiral has created
a great ferment in the opposition prints,
which are unsparing in their abuse of Louis
Philippe and Guizot, attributing the step to
the remonstrances of England. The follow
ing extract from the London Times, shows
the nature of this feeling:-
"The anticipations which the character
Of the Sovereign and the Ministry of France
LII 80, = 4-xo> l-,z H.. Dy
the moderation of LOUIS PHILIPPE and his
Ministers is due the praise of having prevent
ed the great dangers of a little squabble.
The occupation of Tahiti has been disclaim-
ed on the part of the French Government,
and the sovereignty of a region neither pro-
ductive to commercial nor convenient for
warlike enterprise has been rejected by the
French Monarch. The absurd expedition
and the ~gasconading despatch of Admiral
DUPETIT THoUARs have thus received a cas-
tigation which was well merited by the ag-
g~ression which invaded a small island of de-
fenceless savages not less than by the vanity
which magniied the exploit into a triumph of
the French nation.
"In taking this decisive step we are not
unaware that both LOUIS PHILIPPE and M.
GuIzoT have exposed themselves to the vio-
lent examinations oftwo strong parties. Trea-
son to France-treason to the memory of the
past, and the hope ofthe future-submission.
base and ignominious, to the capricious die
tates Of d%omineering and perfidious Albion
such will be the battle-cry of the Legitimist
and the Democratic factions. The grand o.
mission of settling a colonial balance in the
South Seattle impolitic and sluggish neg
lect of an opportunity so favorable for rear
ing a settlement which should be a counter
poise to New Zealand-the Indifference
which such a neglect proved to the naval
greatness ofFrance-these and similar char
ges will be flung at the heads ofM. GuIzor
and his colleagues, with a spitefulness which
we believe is unknown out ofFrench politics,
and which far exceeds, both in frequency
and effect, the simultaneous earnings of our
Wing journals, or rather journal, at LORD
ABERDEEN's trucking subserviency'' to
the interests of France.
"In adopting the course which he has had
the moral courage to take, the King of the
FRENCH has initiated the conduct ofthe Eng
lish Government on an occasion precisely
similar-viz., when the Sandwich Islands
were occupied by the ambitious freak of an
adventurous frigate. The dependency thus
annexed to the British Government was re-
pudiated as soon as it was announced; and
the State was thus saved the expense of re-
tanning a conquest which would have been
costly without honour, and invidious without
profit"