At this critical moment the French frigate La Venus, of sixty gmis, made her appearance. Captain du Petit Thouars sent to request I would allow him to act in conjunction, and on his landing, a fresh interview was requested and obtained. However, finding them stubbornly determined on maintaining their acts, we came to the determination of awaiting the arrival of the king.
Before sunset the missionaries were reinstated in their domiciles, accompanied by the white population, and crowds of natives, who appeared to rejoice in the act. The recaptured Clementine, in charge of Mr. Speck, mate, and under her proper banner, triumphantly quitted Honululu to apprise the king of our first acts.[1]
The Starling hove in sight about the same time, and so far from showing any hostile feeling, Kuanoa himself, with his large war canoes, assisted in warping her in.
The Venus I had been taught to expect in these seas, her voyage being partly scientific; our meeting, therefore, was very cordial. At a dejeuné given on board the Venus to the Consuls and myself, the flags of England and America combined were hoisted at the fore, and a salute of eighteen guns fired. I regretted much our inability to return the salute, our orders forbidding it except in cases of necessity.
On the 20th the king arrived, contrary to the
- ↑ These and the foregoing facts are noticed as a short denial of the false statements which have appeared on this subject.
