Writing to his sister Liliʻuokalani from Cairo, he responded to her letter apprising him of the smallpox epidemic in the islands: "… what is the use of praying after 293 lives of our poor people have gone to their everlasting place.
Saat menuliskan pesan kepada saudarinya Liliuokalani dari Kairo, ia menanggapi suratnya yang memberitahukannya soal wabah variola di kepulauan tersebut: "... apa gunanya doa setelah 293 nyawa kaum miskin kami pergi ke tempat penantian mereka.