October 30, 1837: Letter from Dudoit to Kīnaʻu
This letter dated October 30, 1837 is part of the correspondence documenting the international controversy surrounding the expulsion of two Catholic priests in Hawaiʻi. See Blog Posting: ʻOkatoba 23: “He mea Hoike i ka Kapena Beleker hana ana.” In this letter, Jules Dudoit writes to Kīnaʻu, Kuhina Nui of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, to confirm the veracity of certain reports that Dudoit had heard–specifically, whether it was true that King Kauikeaouli gave Kīnaʻu written directions to withhold permission for those priests to land in Hawaiʻi.
Jules Dudoit. Photo Credits: Hawaiʻi State Archives. Call Number: PP-71-4-024
Just prior to the dispatching of this letter, Dudoit was offered the post of consular agent by Captain Dupetit-Thouars. See L.A. Jore, Captain Jules Dudoit, The First French Consul in the Hawaiian Islands, 1837-1867, and His Brig Schooner, the Clementine in Sixty-Fourth Annual Report of the Hawaiian Historical Society 21 (trans., Dorothy Brown Aspinwall 1955). The French Government confirmed the appointment, and also bestowed upon Dudoit the title of Honorary Consul. Dudoit was later conferred the title of Knight of the Legion of Honor, “one of the most coveted distinctions in the power of Napoleon to confer.” (Pacific Commercial Advertiser, July 28, 1866).
Available in Available in Foreign Office and Executive – Chronological File, 1790 – 1849 1837 Oct 23, 24, 30.
Honolulu Okatoba 30, 1837
E Kinau e: eia koʻu manao ia oe: na Kauikeaouli i olelo mai iaʻu peneia: e pono ke pae ma keia nei aina na pelani e hele ana mai maluna o ka moku Europa mai Valparaiso mai ke noho mau ole lakou ma koʻu aupuni nei, a ke hoolimalima emo ole ai lakou i wahi moku i holo aku ma ka aina a lakou e holo aku ai: ke lohe mai . . . .
. . . nei au, na Kauikeaouli i waiho ia oe i wahi palapala i kapu ai i ua pelani la aole e pae mai ai. Ke ninau aku nei au ia oe _ he oiaio anei keia olelo i lohe mai nei au: e pono no ke hoikeia mai nei iaʻu ia mea ma loko o ke kahi palapala ou.
Aloha oe me ka oluolu. – J.Dudoit [agent Francais]