powerful for him; and I believe something very much allied to menace from one of the lieutenants of the Venus damped his ardour, as he spent the remainder of the time with his head between his hands, nearly resting it on his knees.
The questions at issue were—1st, The forcible entry of the Clementine, and putting on board Messrs. Bachelot and Short.
2nd, The right of British subjects to reside at these islands, so long as they conformed to the laws, as established by treaty of Lord Edward Russell. This latter they endeavoured to reject—indeed refused to acknowledge. The discussion on the merits of the case of Messrs. Short and Bachelot continued until four, when all parties being exhausted, the king proposed an adjournment until the following morning.
The only object carried was the consent that Messrs. Short and Bachelot should remain unmolested until they could be removed, on the guarantees respectively of Captain Thouars and myself. The meeting was then adjourned.
The discussion was resumed on the morrow at ten, and before two we had concluded by gaining their consent to the unmolested residence of Messrs. Bachelot and Short, until a favourable opportunity offered for their reaching some civilised portion of the globe, and that no further molestation should be offered the Clementine.
I then presented the claims of the owner for demurrage and other expenses.
