Under Hawaiian skies, a narrative of the romance, adventure and history of the Hawaiian Islands, a complete historical account, by Albert Pierce Taylor.

FRENCH AND ENGLISH AGGRESSIONS 315

of England's sudden seizure of the Islands. In the Honolulu
Polynesian, May 27, 1848, appeared the following:
"We clip the following extract from an old file of the New
York Tribune. It shows the feelings and views entertained by
the American Government at the time of the seizure of the
Islands by Lord George Paulet. It is believed that the same
views respecting the independence of the Hawaiian Islands are
still entertained by the Cabinet at Washington. The emphatic
passage extracted from Mr. Webster's letter in reply to the application of the King's Commissioners for a formal recognition
of Hawaiian independence, and the subsequent remarks of the
President in his Annual Message, may serve to quiet tle nerves
of those whose keen perceptions are constantly conjuring up
visions of seizures, protectorates and annexations.
"'TIHE SANDWICH ISLANDS.-The course which the government of the United States will take with regard to the recent
seizure of the Sandwich Islands by the British is a subject of no
little interest and speculation. That it recognizes the importance
of the Islands maintaining the position and character of an independent nation, is clearly shown by recent official documents.
Our relations with them have depended entirely upon our informal agreement, concluded with them in 1826 by T. ap. Catesby Jones, then commander of the United States sloop Peacock.
This has never been ratified by our government, but has continued in silent operation, having been faithfully adhered to on
both sides. During the last year, Messrs. Richards and Haalilio
applied to our government for its formal acknowledgment of the
independence of the Islands. They stated that the al)pointment
of consuls and commlercial agents, both in Europe and the United
States, was regarded as a tacit recognition of their independence,
but that the King thought a more formal acknowledgment essential to the honor and interests of his kingdlonm. To this letter
MIr. Webster, under (late of December 14, 1842, replied in a letter
from which the following emlphatic passage is an extract:
"'The United States have regarded the existing authorities of
the Sandwich Islands as a government suited to the condition of