Washington telegraph., 1855-02-21
The Sandwich Islands.

Late and Important---Death of the King
By the arrival OF the British frigate Pique. Capt
Nicholson, the San Francisco papers have advices
from Honolulu to the Goth of December, the day
the Pique left that port The n, ws is highly in
teresting and important The San Francisco
Herald, In its summary. says:
King Kamehameha III, died on the 18th of De-
cember, after an illness of five days. of hemorrh-
age Of the lungs He was born on the 18th OF
March, 1913. and was, therefore IL years and 9
months old at the time of his death.
His Majesty, and also the Queen were at the
parade and review of the military on the 2sth OF
November, which is national holiday. and it was
remarked by every one that the King never ap-
peared In better health; but on the afternoon of
that day he was taken i'll. probably from excess
of drinkIngl and did not appear at the levee at
the palace on that evening" nor did ne recover his
health afterwards.
His death was Immediately made known by
hosting the large royal standard over the palace
at half mast. At half-past IL o'clock the battery
on Punch Bowl commenced firing forty-one guns.
corresponding with the Kings age. which was
followed in succession by the L. s. sioop ST. Mary
and British ships Trincomalee and Pique and by
the French frigate Artemise, and corvette Fury
dice The minute guns continued from l2k to 6
o'clock. ?. NJ. hile all the war vessels wore
Hawaiian ensI gns at halt mast.
On the afternoon, and also on the day follow
ing his death, the corpse laid out in state at
the palace. and was visited by some 10000 per-
sons. at least 5000 of whom were Foreigners
The Queen and high chiefs sat in the rooms ad-
joining. and were evidently much affected
His Majesty was the warm friend of foreigners
and they have lost one hom they at all times
found willing to listen to them
The wailing OF tine natives; who were gathered
by thousands in the palace grounds, was truly
~ IL IL. al
which is only repeated on the death of their high
est chiefs,
On the second night after his death the CORPSE
was enclosed In lead cofIin TO await the funeral
which was to take place on Saturday. the Both oi
December Great preparations were being made
for the occasion, and II was thought that II would
be the grandest display witnessed at the Is
lands. No expense was TO be spared The palace
Government officers, courthouse and church
where the King attended, had all been draped
with Grape, at an expense of about $1,000
At half-past u O'Clock, Deceu:ber Is, the Go
vernon of Oahu, caused the official proclamation
to be read IN Hawaiian and English at the cor
ners of the principal streets of Honolulu The
proclamation of His Majesty kamehameha "
was received with shouts from the people and
evident satisfaction where ever It was made
known
The young King, Kamehameha ", will be
twenty-one years old the 9th of February
lSOO- he Is d man OF ldlI aDllIlT- having l3Q
good English education. and mas travelled through
the United States, England and France Hither
TO ne has given himself up to pleasure TO a great
extent. for want probably of better occupation
but it is reported now that ne has determined tc
abandon his billiard and card associates and turf
over new leaf. He is much more under the
English influence than the late King, and is mos
decidedly opposed to annexation, excep. to aver
foreign domination.
By the death OF the King the annexation ques
tion is definitely settled for the present. The Is
lands will not be annexed, and tie whole subjec
will probably be dropped. This was the opinion
current at the Islands.
The former Kings Ministers. Of course. 90 GU
of Office, though they may all be recalled by tn.
present King. VIM. L. Lee had rendered his re-
signation before the Kings death. The new
King has declined to accept the resignation. and
Judge Lee will continue to hold the office OF Chic
Justice for the present.
There had not been the slightest indication o
any flibustering outbreak. Six hundred soldier
were under arms, and the presence of several wa
vessels also tended to keep every thing quiet
The French irigates Artemise and Alceste ans
the British frigate Amphitrite had all sailed 70
Tahiti, leaving at Honolulu the French corvette
Eurydice, u s. sloop-of-war st. Mary's ans
British sloop-of-war Trincomalee.
There were IN port about forty vessels, mostl1
whalers, refittiLg shipping oil.