148 Transactions. 



and complete surveys. The results of Laplace's interesting 

 voyage were, like those of his predecessors, issued by the 

 French Government in the same magnificent style of type and 

 illustration, and again showed the right of France to stand 

 in the foremost rank of cultivated nations, and of her splendid 

 recognition and aid of scientific labour. Unlike D'Urville, 

 who abounded in facts and observations, and rejoiced in the 

 details of his travel, Laplace prefers to treat his subjects from 

 a speculative or philosophic side, whether they be the manners 

 and customs of a savage people, the usages of people more 

 advanced, or the growth and policy of a young colony. H: : s 

 style is most interesting, as where, for instance, he discusses 

 the policy of France and England in distant seas, the punish- 

 ment of crime by penal servitude, and the development of Eng- 

 land's colonies of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land. 

 Short though his sojourn was, and disagreeable as we must 

 conclude it to have been, it nevertheless resulted in the making 

 of some early history, and hence has a special interest for us. 

 He describes the Natives as filthy and detestable, the chiefs as 

 not worthy of the name, and the women, excepting the young 

 girls, as disgusting specimens of humanity. Nor has he much 

 good word for the missionaries ; he compares them unfavour- 

 ably with those of his own Church, accuses them of greed, and 

 bitterly complains of their refusal to render assistance to his 

 sick sailors. He states, what was certainly untrue, that they 

 spread the report amongst the Natives that the great French 

 vessel, with four hundred men on board, had come for the pur- 

 pose of avenging the death of Marion and of seizing the 

 country. It is certain that he saw in New Zealand no man's 

 land, and, unappropriated as it was, a country admirably suited 

 for French possession in the Pacific, and it is probable he took 

 no pains to conceal such an opinion. Tie this as it ma.}', the 

 following interesting document was sent to King William by 

 thirteen chiefs, who thus sought his protection. It was signed 

 by them the day after the " Favorite " had dropped anchor at 

 Kororareka, hence her arrival was not unexpected : — 



To Kini: William, fche gracious chief of England. 

 Kim; William, — We, the chiefs of New Zealand, assembled at this 

 place called the Kerikeri. write to thee, lor we bear that thou art the great 

 chief of the other side the water, since (he many ships which come to our 

 land are from thee. We are a people without possessions. We have no- 

 thing hut timber, flax, pork, and potatoes. We sell these things, however. 

 to your people, and then we see the property of Europeans. It is only 

 thy land which is liberal towards us. From thee also come the missionaries, 

 who leach us io believe in Jehovah God and in Christ His Son. We have 

 he. rd the tribe of Marion is at hand, coming to take away our land, there- 

 fore we pray thee to become our friend, and the guardian of these islands, 

 lest the teasing of other tribes shwuld come near to us, and lest strangers 



