APPENDIX. 



LAPLACE S MANIFESTO. 



His Majesty, the King of the French, having commanded me to 

 come to Honolulu, in order to put an end, either by force or per- 

 suasion, to the ill-treatment to which the French have been victims 

 at the Sandvi^ich Islands, I hasten, first, to employ this last means as 

 the most conformable to the political, noble, and liberal system pursued 

 by France against the povi^erless ; hoping, thereby, that I shall make 

 the principal chiefs of these islands understand how fatal the conduct 

 which they pursue towards her, will be to their interests, and per- 

 haps cause disasters to them and their country, should they be 

 obstinate in their perseverance. Misled by perfidious counsellors ; 

 deceived by the excessive indulgence which the French government 

 has extended towards them for several years, they are undoubtedly 

 ignorant how potent it is, and that in the world there is not a power 

 capable of preventing it from punishing its enemies ; otherwise they 

 would have endeavoured to merit its favour, or, not to incur its dis- 

 pleasure, as they have done in ill-treating the French. They would 

 have faithfully put into execution the treaties, in place of violating 

 them as soon as the fear disappeared, as well as the ships of war 

 which had caused it, whereby bad intentions had been constrained. 

 In fine, they will comprehend, that to persecute the Catholic religion, 

 to tarnish it with the name of idolatry, and to expel, under this 

 absurd pretext, the French from this archipelago, was to offer an 

 insult to France, and to its sovereign. 



It is, without doubt, the formal intention of France that the King 



VOL. IV. 134 



