Polynesian., 1844-08-31
Foreign Office; the Consul General had

become automatically known last. Nothing
could be more strictly in accordance with
the Articles of Vienna than this; the Com
missioner being by the law of nations one
grade higher than the Consul General, and
he, on account of the extension ofhis charge,
one grade higher in name and rank than the
Consul, whose duties are confined to one
place. Here then was a coincidence with
the dates of the presentation of those minis
tcrs' credentials, which would render a re-
sort to alphabetical or numerical arrange
ment unnecessary and as we'll on this account
as to guard against the appearance foffence,
His Majesty, in decrceing his Order of Pre-
cedencc, founded upon the Attorney Gencr-
ais report, omised to adopt that part of it
which alludes to the possibility of distinguish
ing among nations. Dccreeing the Articles
of Vienna to be in force here, His Majesty
prescribes that, diplomatic rank as defined
in the books, should form the first criterion
of precedence at his court; and that where
this criterion should become impractible, by
reason of all or any of the Foreign agents
being OF the same rank, then that the date
Of presentation at the Foreign Office should be
resorted to, as the next least invidious critic
rion of distinction.
Shortly after the adoption of this Code of
Etiquette, the American Commissioner went
on a tour to the island of Hawaii. and of
course carried his title to precedence away
with him. William Hooper, Esq, Vice
Commercial Agent, was by the 18th. Article
OF the Code the representative of the United
States, for purposes Of ceremony. This
brought the British Consul General first in
rank at the court, and entitled to precedence
over all the rest. But before the anniyersa-
ry of the 31st., II. B. Ms Consul General,
having accredited a PRo-CoysUL, departed
for Tahiti; thus a second time changing the
order of precedence which would take place
at the feast. The Pro-Consul being some
what less in name and rank than the Consul
of France, fell, for that reason, below him.
Now it should be observed, that both the
Consul OF FRANCE and the PRo-CoNsuL OF
GREAT BRITAIN were actire diplomatic agents
at this court, and for the time being, repre-
senting their governments directly and SOLE
ly; which, Of itself, gave them claims indie
pendently of any rank, that might be urged
in discussing the difference between a Pro-
Consul and a rice, or pro Commercial Agent,
to precede the Vice Commercial Agent Of
the United States, who was to be, under the
4th. Article, a representative by courtesy,
at the approaching feast; there still being
within the kingdom, to wit, at Hawaii, a d.
plomatic Commissioner Of that power. So
that, from being first in order, according to
rank and presentation of credentials when
the Attorney Generals report was made, the
United States became last, France became
first, and both an account Of the word pro.
which means for or rice, and on account of
the date of the presentation of the Pro-Con-
sufs credentials, Great Britain became Sec
ond. 1t is natural, reasonable and right. TO
toast the sovereign whose minister happens
to have precedence at court next after His
Majesty the King, who, the world over, takes
precedence at his own court, over all other
sovereigns. This was hence the order Of
toasts and royal ~salutes on the occasion Of
the feast Of the 3lst. Of July.
We gather from this review the admirable
adaptation ofthe rules of Vienna to prevent
the appearance of invidious distinction in
matters OF etiquette. The whole order Of