Hocken. — Early Visits of the French to New Zealand. 149 



should come and take away our lands. And if any of thy people should be 

 troublesome or vicious towards us (for some persons are living here who 

 have run away from ships), ve pray thee to be angry with them, that they 

 may be obedient, lest the anger of the people of this land fall upon them. 

 This letter is from us, from the chiefs of New Zealand. 



This curious document evidently bears the impress of the mis- 

 sionary hand, which, like that of Laplace, shows patriotic senti- 

 ment. It would be foreign to the idea of this paper to pursue 

 this episode further, and it must suffice to add that the out- 

 come and -reply was the appointment in 1833 of Mr. James 

 Busby as British Resident at the Bay of Islands. The letter of 

 the chiefs was forwarded to the Colonial Secretary at New South 

 Wales by the hands of the Rev. William Yate, the missionary, 

 in order to be transmitted to the King. 



An interval of more than six years now elapsed before the 

 next two visits of the French, and these followed in close suc- 

 cession, creating increased suspicion and alarm amongst the 

 Natives. In April, 1838, the corvette " Heroine," under com- 

 mand of Captain Cecile, anchored in the Bay of Islands, where she 

 remained for more than a month. Like that of her predecessors, 

 part of her business was to survey the adjoining shores, and to 

 facilitate the work small flags were erected on various points. 

 The Natives concluded that this indicated the first steps towards 

 seizing their country, and in great excitement sought the opinion 

 and advice of their friend and principal missionary, Mr. Henry 

 Williams, who laughingly allayed their fears. The wildest 

 reports fly abroad in times of panic, and now it was reported 

 that, as the missionaries were inciting the Natives to attack the 

 "' Heroine," the captain had taken the precaution of double- 

 shotting his guns. 



Another source of distress and alarm which specially involved 

 the missionaries was the arrival shortly before of the French 

 missionary, Bishop Pompallier. This was followed by great 

 excitement and ill feeling, the Natives taking sides, and more 

 than once placing the bishop in some jeopardy. To quell or 

 allay this was one of the objects of the corvette's visit, 'and, 

 though amidst military salutes and salvos of artillery the 

 episcopal dignity was speedily secured, no real peace was made 

 between the contending parties, and old settlers began to wonder 

 what was the next move on the board. 



A few months later, in October of the same year, the 

 frigate " La Venus," also on a voyage of scientific and other 

 discovery, came into the Bay of Islands, under the com- 

 mand of Captain Du Petit- Thouars, and also remained a 

 month. The vessel had then arrived from Tahiti, after 

 inflicting most severe — and, as many considered, most un- 

 warranted — punishment on Queen Pomare [and her unfor- 





3RAR 



