a man-of-war- r a guard of honour of sixty men, a treaty,
shouts of " Vive le Rol," and a salute of twenty-one guns from "my ship." The Admiral established the most friendly relations : he recovered the wife of a native Menelaus, and gave the potentate a petticoat for his Helen, and a suit of very military clothes, graciously ac- cepted a present of pigs, reciprocated with an oven and other little conveniences, and was altogether as seductive as he was conquering. But the basis of the treaty of cession with King YOTiTt, now the vassal of France, is the subject-matter of the great question. Some American sailors had sought an asylum from sea-perils in his port, when, in the mirth of his heart, he allowed his people to amuse themselves by shooting at those sailors, and the fun was so furious that one of the strangers was killed. Now some missionaries let King YOTETi know the danger of his joke ; and when Admiral Di:merry arrived be craved protection against the consequences. The Admiral offered to sell the protection of France for the cession of sovereignty, and YOTETt, whose animal spirits had quite evapo- rated, agreed.
When, therefore, the United States call Yorivi to account, a French resident will answer; and the proud republic is likely enough to feel grave offence—especially as it gains nothing directly in the transaction. Yet something has been gained to civilization, and therefore to the American community : the Marquesas, under French rule, will not be a place where such practical jokes will be repeated ; and a courteous reply to the demand for satisfaction, with a guarantee for the future, might turn away the wrath to come.
In a broader view the proceeding possesses a high interest. Poly- nesia, that labyrinthine paradise of islets, must one day belong to the European races: those parts which are not colonized by Eng- land or the United States will probably be seized by France, anx- ious for new colonial establishments, though her history shows that she can neither support them nor hold them fast. Here, however, the process is beginning.
