Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1853-04-30

stand, at the least. Supposing only 5OO good
and effective, out of the SS4 now on the Is
lands, 2, 500 would remain to be imported.
have reason to know that 2, 500 muskets,
with bayonets, percussion locks, and car
fridge boxes complete, could be supplied,
from Birmingham, at cost not exceeding
$40, ,OOO-to which would have to be added
freight and insurance to this port. The same
number of inferior arms might be procured,
in Birmingham, for 81 800, but, in arms, as
in most things else, it is bad economy to
prefer cheapness to quality.
Five hundred good cavalry sabres would
cost, in the same place, about SSl7-one
hundred pairs of pistols, for cavalry, with
holsters, complete, about S6OO-and one
hundred lances complete, mounted on shaft
sand shoes about SS44
Of the 81 pieces o: artillery, now on the
Islands, believe very few effective cannon
could be selected, for which we have shot to
fit, with out which, for all purposes of de-
fence, they are absolutely useless.
1t might be advisable to import, say twen-
ty-four cannon of heavy calbre, and Of three
mile range, with sufficient quantity Of shot
to correspond, and to place, of these, IL in
battery on one side of the harbor, as far to
seaward as possible, and IL on the other
side, also as far to seaward as possible
We would, then, be able not only to defend
our harbor and all the shipping in it, but, in
time of war, between foreign nations, to per-
form our neutral duties effec:ually, which,
under the laws of nations, we are bound to
do, though we had not single Treaty In
existence.
Il - -, L. ,J, 10
battery of twelve lisht-ield pieces, with all
their appointments complete.
In England the price of 24- Is FOUNDER iron
fort guns, rammers with sponges, and ladies'
complete, would be about Sc, 6,6GO; if, Of
double the calbre or more, the price, of
course, would be proportionally greater.
You will not fail to observe that the
Prince strongly recommends that, what funds
you may appropriate to the support OF the
military forces of the Kingdom, should be
paid into, and disbursed by Board of ord
nance. Whatever the name Of the Board
might be, it certainly would be desirable to
ensure that that portion of the Kings reve-
nues, which may be appropriated to military
purposes, should not be diverted, under any
circumstances, to any other object.
In his estimate for the military the Prince
SAYS nothing of the pay to be assigned to
himself, or to General Of division, Kameha-
meha. 1t will be for the legislature to con-
slider what provision should be made for
the support of their princely and military
rank.
Our police force throughout the islands is
excessive, relatively to the population, when
compared with the constabulary force, which
is found sufficient in those large cities of Eu-
rope, where murders, prostitution, house
breaking, pocket-picking and drunkenness,
are represented as being rife. With mil
itary force organized on the footing suggest
ed by the Prince, perhaps the police force
might be reduced to one half of its present
number. This, if thought advisable, would
be so much money saved, to come in aid of
whatever military fund may be provided
The loyalty of the population towards the
king is so great and universal, that, firmly
believe, il the Prince were driven to it (from
the absence of all pecuniary provision by the
Legislature to support the miitary,) by ap-
peaing, in the Kings name to the patriotic
feelings of the inhabitants, he could raise
several thousands of volunteers. who would
arm and equip themselves, at their own ex-
pense, and follow him to the field, OH any
occasion Of public danger. Something Of
this kind existed in the days of teudalism,
when the militia, was the entire ablebodied
Of which every man bound him
self, not only.to aid personally. in the de-
fence of the 1ate, in the contingency Of
foreign invasion, but held himself provided
with arms and equipments suited to his con-
dition; and to parade these. for inspection.
before local officers, twice in each year. In
the reigns of Henry ii and Edward l. of
England, such militia system was compul-
sorry. The arms with which the militia pro-
vided themselves, in those days, were each
an hauberk, an iron breast plate, sword and
a knife. But our good King Kamehamcha
III, has abolished feudalism in this Kingdom.
He is now a constitutional sovereign, upon
the most enlightened principles; and, have
no doubt that, in your wisdom and patriotism,
you will devise means to support his authority
by an adequate military force upon some
plan harmopizing with the system Of tLeir
civilized nations.
Con PRESERVE THE KING!
r. c.. WYLLIE.