whether foreigners were bound by the local laws, and it was a great gratification to the king and his supporters to have the President say, "Our citizens who violate your laws, or interfere with your regulations, violate at the same time their duty to their own government and country, and merit censure and punishment;" and to listen to his appeal that the citizens of the United States resident in the islands should receive the protection of the government and have their interests promoted by it. The king in his letter of reply said: "Best affection to you, the Chief Magistrate of America. … I know the excellence of your communicating to me that which is right and true. I approve with admiration the justness and faultlessness of your word. … Look on us with charity; we have formerly been extremely dark-minded, and ignorant of the usages of enlightened countries. You are the source of intelligence and light. This is the origin of our minds being a little enlightened—the arrival here of the Word of God. This is the foundation of a little mental improvement which we have recently made, and that we come to know a little of what is right, and the customs of civilized nations. On this account we do greatly rejoice at the present time." The ceremony of the delivery of the letter and presents was followed by a round of civilities, in which the officers of the Vincennes were entertained at the houses of the leading natives, and the American visitors were greatly impressed with the sincerity of their Christian profession and their advance in civilized life and deportment.[1]
- ↑ For. Rel. U. S. 1894, App. ii. 8, 39; Bingham, 353; Jarves, 287, 379.
