, 1880-10-30

Pritchard, who was or had been also British
Consul, was supposed to be the ringleader;
and In March, 1874, Mr.. Pritchard was
suddenly arrested and imprisoned. lie
was released only on the terms of immedl-
ate transportation from the island. The
news Of these high handed proceedings
raised a storm in England. Sir Robert
Peel, though he ~exonerated the French
Government at homo from completely,
declared in the House Of Commons that "a
"gross outrage had been committed" In
France M. Guizot, in spite Of the lncendl-
airy protest of NJ. Berger, n OF the Grill
cal attitude of M. Theirs, d1savOwed his
Admiral, and made pecuniary compensa-
ton to Mr.. Pritchard for the indignity he
had suffered. French sovereignty III the
Society Islands was reduced to the OLD
protect0rate, and even in that modl1led
shape was Within O. few years repudlated
by three of the isles. over the rest queen
Pomare continued her rule subject to the
%cOunsels OF her French patrons without
INSTRUMENTATION on her part or too fagrant
an excess of desDotism on theirs. In 1877,
after q reign of fifty years, she died, and q
prince Of the blood royal assembled the
throne. just three years of royal dignity
and responsibility appear to have been TOO
much for him, Notwithstanding the con-
slant assistance towards bearing them
which he has received from his french
friends. He is stated to feel his health
giving way under tho pressure OF q crown.
In an emotion ofpatri0tic anxiety Tor the tu-
turo Of his country, threatened whether by
British, or American, or German coVetous-
ness, he has finally prayed his ancient pro-
tectors to expand a little the title under
which for forty years they have ruled
LIS petition has been g%raciously granted.
Neither Tahiti nor Oceania is likely to
perceive much difference from the change
OF name under which France reigns IN
Papeete. 1t is always well that title and
powershould go together. Great Britain Ger
tainly will experience no mistrust at the aG-
grandizement Of French territory. English
men can only regret that the sphere is not
of a kind to afford scope for FIR enchmen to
show what colonizing faculty they possess.
AS a mercantile and naval station, Tahiti
has already for moro than a generation
provided them with all the advantages OF
which it is capable. What they have
chiefly taken to themselves in assuming
the titular dominion of the country is q
heavy load Of liability for the moral train
ing of the Yahitian people, which has
hitherto been disguised under the shadow
of q native throne. The hundred and
eleven years which have passed since
Cook brought the group to the knowledge
Of Europe have exaggerated the native
vices Of Incidence, dishonesty, and senSu-
atty, while they have narrowed the room
FOR tho fascinating virtues these winning
savages once displayed. Christianity is
protested, but hardly practised, and Eu-
pOOnoD 1ATroyitv has set It's mark deeply
on the scanty population Of some fourteen
thousand which inhabits a material parA-
disc. If France, in declaring herself sove-
reign of Tahiti, has decided to grapple
with the difficulties Of redeeming the resi-
due of the Tahitian people from q state of
actual degeneration under European and
Christian influences, as England is Crap
ping with analogous difficulties in FIJI,
she may count upon warm British sympa-
thy, as she need in no case %apprehend any
thing OF British jealousy.