May 2, 1848: Letter from the Consulate of France in the Sandwich Isles to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Honolulu

French (in part):

Available in Chronological Files 402-23, dated May 2, 1848

Contemporary English Translation (in part):

Available in Chronological Files 402-23, dated May 2, 1848

Honolulu 2d May

Consulate of France at the Sandwich Islands

Mr. Minister,

In the Speech pronounced on the 27th of April last, on the occasion of the opening of the Legislative Assembly, and printed in the Polynesian of the 29th of the same month, on the subject of the Convention of the 26th March 1846, King Kamehameha III thus expresses Himself:

“It has pleased His Majesty the King of the French to ratify the Treaty of the 26th of March 1846 in similar terms to those in which Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, ratified the British Treaty of the same date.”

I have the honor of observing to you Mr. Minister, that the Government of his Majesty, the King of the French, in the circumstance so treated of, has followed the forms of his “chancellerie”, and not been guided by the rule of any other Power . . .