St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-05-04
1l1isrrllann.
BIT OF HISTORY.
An Episode In the Political Annals OF
Honolulu.


going there he had the coat OF arms
placed over the entrance to the
American lega ton. In 1864, says
the New York Sun, an English man
of-war stopped at Honolulu, having
On board two cadets in the English
navy, both sons of peers. One OF
them, Lord Charles Beresford,is now
high in the service. This was dur
ing the war of the rebellion, when
England was rather unfriendly 10
the United States, and many tnglis,h-
men were inclined to think that the
United States government was OF
no special consequence and was
practically destroyed.
One night Lord Charles Beresiord
and his friend, in order to snow
their contempt for the United States
government, went to the American
legation, tore down DR.. McBride's
coat of arms, and hired native to
row them with it into the bay where
their ship was anchored.
On learning next morning that the
coat of arms was missing the Amer
lean minister instituted search,
and soon found the native who had
taken it to the ship. A search war
rant was produced and the coat OF
arms brought back by an officer.
The commandment of the man-o!-
war and the English minister at
Honolulu Immediately called on the
American minister and offered an
apology in the name of their govern
ment for the insult which had been
offered. After having made their
apology they stated that they sup
posed this was satisfactory and that
they had atoned for the offense
The American minister informed
them that this was not satisfactory,
that the two young lords, who were
officers of the British government,
had not only committed theft,
but had by their act insulted the
government represented by him. lie
further said that, having taken
down the coat OF arms with their
own hands, he would not be salts
fed until they themselves put 1t
back where they got it. At this the
English minister and commandment
vehemently protested, saying that
such demand was Illuminating and
disgracelul and could not be COM
piled with. The American minister,
however, insisted on a compliance
with his demand, saying that the
disgrace consisted in the act of steal
ing the coat of arms and that moth
ing short of this would be considered
reparation for the offence. After
considerable diploma tic correspon-
dence and some delay, the English
minister agreed to comply with the
demand of DR.. Mcbride, and the lat
ter mentioned the next noon as the
time when the coat of arms should
be replaced.
1t was soon noiSed about Honolu-
lu that the two young men were to
replace the coat of arms the next
day at II O'Clock. When the time
came thousands of people from the
city and surrounding country were
there to witness the ceremony. A
sketch was made of the two young
men while in the act of mailing the
coat of arms to the archway over the
entrance to the American legation.
After the coat of arms had been re-
placed the two young men came to
the American minister and apollo
gized for their conduct, saying that
they did not stop to think what an
insult they were offering to the
American government. This ended
the matter in the islands.
The American minister then re-
ported all the facts to Secretary
Seward. The latter demanded an
apology from the English govern
ment, which was made. The two
young men were called home and
were dismissed from the British navy
for FIVE years. Lord Charles Beres-
ford has since won distinction in the
English navy. He commanded the
landing force at Alexandria in 1882,
Another incident relating to this
affair may be worth mentioning
The King of the Sandwich Islands
at the time was Kamehameha V
He was very favorable to English
influences in the islands and let it be
known that he was personally dis
pleased because the American minis
ter compelled the Englishmen to re
store his coat of arms. A few week.
after this, when the American minis
ter went to the palace to make hi
usual official visit, the king, evident
ly with the design of insulting him
sent word that he was engaged
The American minister returne,
word that he was there in his off
cial capacity and desired an inter
view. The king sent word again
that he was engaged and could no
see him. The minister again sen
word that he was there as represen
tative of his government and intend
ed to stay until he did see him. TIL
king then appeared, but in a yer,
nervous and excited state; but NJ
reference was made to any differ
ences, and the interview passed O.
pleasantly, and their relations cor
tinued thereafter agreeable.
DR.: James Mcbride, this firm an