New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-11-19
FROM CALIFORNIA AND The NORTH
PACIFIC.
R,.n on orr 0orre.pondenl.


Islands.
The Kanaka kingdom was thrown into terrible
excitement art month by the Kings attempting to
Hill his Private Secretary and afterward proposing
70 abdicate the throne. On the lOth OF September
his Majesty, Kamehameha ", while at Lahaina,
whittier he had gone for a earouse, shot Henry A.
Neison. his Private Secretary, with revolver, the
hall entering the chest, near the right nipple, and
inaictne a severe but not dangerous wound The
Honolulu papers up to the Sd of October (our latest
date) give DO statement of the affair, and the rumors
published IN the San Francisco papers are extreme
" contradictory in regard to the motives which led
he King TO try TO commit homicide. Iae Alta, IN
an editorial summary Of the news from the Islands,
says:
i The Kings motive was jealousy be had been told
that Nelson had seduced the Queen After the shoot
ing, however, His Majesty was satisfied the reports
be had heard untrue, and that Nelson was inno-
cent; wbeFeupOn he took notion 70 abdicate the
throne, and place himself within reach OF the laws Tor
trial. TIE announcement OF this purpose caused a
great excitement, and was objected 10 by everybody,
and the King has consented 70 remain ON the throne
SO soon as Nelson is well enough to see him, His
Majesty will visit him, express his regrets, and after
ward he win make all the compensation IN his power
for the injury. %
A correspondent of The Bulletin writes as fol
lows;
'Tbe King, with his family and suite have been
for some time back ON the island of Maui, intending TO
thence Hawai-.
Honolulu on the 9Th of September accompanied by
his secretary returning 10 Lahana on the 9Th Either
while here or previously he received information
which led him TO believe that Nelson bad been guilty
of improprieties of department toward the Queen If
not worse Ii is supposed that malicious persons have
been for time labOring to poison the Kings mind
against the Queen, who is believed 20 be undeservng
OF suspicion, and that Nelson had recently gwen
color TO these charges by improper famliartes which
the Queen failed 20 report 20 her husband, through
fear Of his violent temper.
"The King landed at Lahana in a very perturbed
state of mind and coon AFTER under some trihing or
fancied prOyOcation, inflicted severe personal ehas-
tisemen upon his wife, who is young and very lovely
person. and the object undoubtedly OF his very tender
attachment On the evening of Saturday, the 10th, he
eansed his vessel 10 be provsOned largely, and sud
denly embarked with very few attendants, leaving
bis suite behind. They sailed toward Hawaii hindered
bv Gains and currents until night, when the re-
turn to lahaina suddenly ordered. The King was
evidently bToodng all day upon his troubles, and to-
ward evening drank moderately. He landed about 10
o'clock less excited by drink than in q morbid state OF
mind from dwelling upon his domestic trouble, amount
ing probably to mental alteration. lie proceeded I'M
medatey 70 the royal quarters where he behaved in
violent and disOrderly manner, striking the Governor
some refreshments, he called for his pistols. The
attendant, hestating 10 bring them, put under
arrest. Procuring the pistols the King went directly
10 the quarters OF the foreigners OF hs SUITE and meet
ing them on their way out las they had previously
tired for the nigh went close 10 Nelson and shot him
down. DIR. McKibben going 70 his aid was ordered
off by the King who threatened 10 shoot him also If he
did not let him alone. lie then went to the Queens
apartments, and calling her mother, told her TO bid
farewell 10 her daughter "a he was about TO kill her.
After distressing offs hour or more the united
entreaes of the two ladies prevailed ON HIM to desst
"In the mean time, ali the attendants and followers
had fed in dsmay both natives and whites, scarcely
any of them returning for twentyfour hours more.
They carried with them the wounded man, who re-
eeived prompt attention.
"Hpee the affair, all has been very quiet. Inc
King fully reeoncled with his wife, and II Is under
stood that he and deeply regrets the error of his
conduct What statement he will make public, that
will not reflect serious discredit upon himself, 1t
Is difficult 20 understand The above are undoubtedly
the true facts"
The MineRT. French paper of this city, says:
II parait que c6ait des danes de la cour, dit
la femme de Nelson, qui par jalouse souta &c venn
mensonger dams lOreile du roll
IL appears that it was one of the ladies OF the
Court, called the wife of Nelson, who was actuated
by jealousy to blow this lying poison into the ear of
the King
On the other hand, a private letter from Honou
i communicated to The Ada, says;
'' Before his Majesty's departure for lahaina, he
sent native to Kooan TO inform his mistress that IL
was his intention to 20 Lahana, that he wished her
To 90 along with him, and that she must come over
Immediately. The woman forthwith packed up ana
started for Honolulu. As soon az she arrived, the
King sent word to Capt. Matthews that he was " all
ready 10 sail. The vessel soon started, the King
drinking much brandy during the trip. When he ar
rived AT Iahana, one of his servants informed him
that Mr.. Nelson had been on very intimate terms with
his mistress the boat and this 70 enraged the King
that he ordered the Steward 10 go below and bring up
his revolvers, with one OF which he soon ai'erward
shot the supposed offender"
This letter tries TO convey the idea that there
no suspicion of the Queens fidelity; but this idea is
not cOuntenanced by other writers IN Honolulu.
The Commercial Advertiser Of that place says:
"Iis unnecessary for here TO rehearse the details
of the affair alluded TO, which familiar to each Of
our readers At the time of It's occurrence his Majesty
appears 10 have been excited by the false reports
Which he had heard, 10 degree, which, had his sus,
picions been well grounded. public sentiment would
have fully justified and acquitted him OF evil intent
He believed he was acting on sufficient grounds-that
his information was rehable-tbat his own personal
honor, tle hoRor Of he's throne, has family and his
realm were at stake-and that IN shooting his seere-
tary he was simply melting out that justice which
public continent, had these rumors been known TO the
public would have mperOusly demanded
The regular correspondent of The AtG says:
'The extraordinary part of the matter is, that not
one soul in the whole community would believe IN the
pOssi5v of such those alluded TO, and
how the king-a clearheaded man. and an qBectiOaGfe
kasband-coud have become 50 possessed rs 10 harbor
any suspicion Of the kind is mystery to everybody
The italics are mines they lead us 10 infer that
the Queen was suspected
OF nobody, save the Queen-certanly not of a
.mistress--would the word possibility" have been
used Chastity is very, very rare virtue among
the native Hawaiian women, but Queen Emma has
always borne spOtless reputation and now 1t Is
declared impossible that any rumors against her
sheuld be true The King himself acknowledges
that he was very wrong in suspectng her.
On the second day after the assault on Nelson,
che King repented bitterly what he had done. The
correspondent of The Alta says:
~ very shoFf time his Maiestys mind realized
theerror under which he had been aboriug, and his
Regrets were canal in force TO those other feelings