HAWAIIANGROUP. j3 



permission to remain, on condition that he would not attempt to 

 propagate his religion. 



In November of the same year, Captain Russell, of H. B. M. ship 

 Acteon, made a treaty with Kamehameha III. One of its articles 

 provided for the protection of British subjects and property; and 

 under this treaty with a nation whose established religion is Pro- 

 testant, it was resolved that an attempt should be made to introduce 

 Catholic missionaries again, by making use of the British flag, and 

 by claiming that at least one of them, an Irishman, came under the 

 protection of its provisions. 



The brig Clementine arrived, under British colours, having a 

 number of Catholic priests on board, who landed. Great excitement 

 was at once produced in Oahu, and they were forthwith ordered to 

 re-embark and depart in the same vessel. This they refused, but 

 were compelled by threats to comply, no force, however, being used. 

 Although under English colours, the vessel was owned by the 

 French consul; but he, when asked by the authorities of Oahu to 

 interfere, denied that he had any control over the vessel, asserting 

 that she had been chartered. 



The Catholic priests having been compelled to re-embark, the vessel 

 was abandoned by the owners and those who had chartered her. 

 Her colours were hauled down by the French, and burnt in the street 

 by the British consul, and a large amount of damages was claimed 

 from the government, on the plea that she had been forcibly seized. 



This transaction had hardly occurred, when the French frio-ate 

 Venus, Captain Du Petit Thenars, and H. B. M. ship Sulphur, 

 Captain Belcher, arrived. The two consuls did all in their power to 

 make it appear that a gross violation of the rights of their respective 

 citizens had been committed. The scenes which followed were dis- 

 graceful; for instance, the English consul so far forgot himself as 

 to shake his fist in the face of Kinau, a female, second in rank to the 

 king; and Captain Belcher did the same to the Rev. Mr. Bingham, 

 the head of the American mission, whom he threatened to hanar at 

 the yardarm. The only offence of the reverend gentleman was his 

 having acted as interpreter, and being supposed to exercise an in- 

 fluence over the government. Although this threat was no more than 

 idle bravado, it produced much excitement. 



A treaty was made with the French, and new articles were 

 added to the Russell treaty. Both commanders promised that the 

 Catholic missionaries should depart at the earliest opportunity, and 



VOL. IV. 4 



