The Pacific, as every body knows, is studded with islands,
of no great importance in their individual size, but collectively forming territories of some extent ; attractive for their scenery, fertility, and delicious climate ; and peopled by races of much natural in- telligence, but utterly incapable of resisting the inroads of the European races. Large islands on the outskirts of Polynesia, in- cluding the largest in the world, are already in possession of Eng- land, and colonized by thousands of her subjects. In Polynesia proper, there are numbers of European settlers, or visiters for lengthened periods—missionaries, traders, whalers seeking re- freshment, runaway convicts, runaway sailors, and other adven- turers in search of licentious freedom. The aborigines have learned some civilization and much vice : but hitherto their territorial rights—speaking of the smaller islands—have been respected. Such a state of things could not possibly continue ; for if none of the great powers of the earth obtained possession, private adven- turers must in time have superseded the natives, both in numbers and influence. A great European power, France, has, however, taken the lead in the partition of Polynesia. She has assumed possession of the Marquesas, taken Tahiti and its sister islets under her sove- reign " protection," and there are shrewd suspicions that the Sandwich Islands are also to be annexed to the French empire; large portions grasped out of the clusters of Polynesia! The ques- tion is, how will France use her new acquisitions ? If in the spirit of tyranny, native courage, aided by the fierce adventurous spirit of those of the French and Anglo-Saxon race that already roam about the region, will throw off the yoke. If as the dog in the manger, merely for exclusive possession, shutting out European enterprise, French Polynesia will follow other colonies out of French posses- sion. If, on the other hand, France were to adopt a special policy suited to the peculiar part of the globe, she might greatly benefit all races. The establishment of a competent government authority, the enforcement of just laws, and the protection of innocent free- dom, in whose name soever administered, would complete the circle of blessings in Polynesia ; a large amount of happiness might be made to flow from the dominion of France, earning for her a new fame, and adding not little to her material wealth.
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