416 A MISSION TO VITI. 



Macleay, and, returning again to Malta, reached South- 

 ampton on the 12th of March, 1861, with no other acci- 

 dent than the breaking of the main shaft of the engine, 

 between Valetta and Gibraltar. 



The war in New Zealand continuing, it soon became 

 apparent that the British Government had no inclination 

 to accept the cession of Fiji, but the fact was not officially 

 known until May, 1862, when the Wesleyan body had 

 intimation of it. They had written, it appears, a letter 

 asking for information, and stating at the same time 

 that if her Majesty's Government should accept the ces- 

 sion, they should feel very much pleased if Colonel 

 Smythe was appointed Governor of the new colony. 

 Since then the official correspondence relative to the 

 Fijian islands has been laid before Parliament ; and the 

 public has now ample materials to form an opinion on 

 the whole subject. I have simply written an unvar- 

 nished account of all I heard and saw, and refrained from 

 discussing the rejection of so fine a country from a poli- 

 tical point of view. I have no doubt as to the future of 

 Fiji. The importance of the group once recognized, 

 nothing will stop our race from taking possession of it, 

 and replacing barbarism and strife by civilization and 

 peaceful industry. 



