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. 
