448 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
latter. Had he in early life been privileged to 
associate with individuals whose conduct and prin¬ 
ciples were favourable to virtue and religion, there 
is every reason to suppose his moral character, 
with respect at least to this vice, would have been 
as irreproachable as his mental habits were com¬ 
mendable. But, alas for him 1 it was quite the 
reverse. 
Though not distinguished by the ardour and 
strength of character so conspicuous in his father, 
he possessed both decision and enterprise: the 
abolition of the national idolatry was a striking 
instance of the former; and his voyage to England, 
of the latter. 
The motives by which he was induced to under¬ 
take a voyage so long and hazardous, were highly 
commendable. They were,—a desire to see, for 
himself, countries of which he had heard such 
various and interesting accounts-—a wish to have 
a personal interview with his majesty the king of 
Great Britain, or the chief members of the British 
government, for the purpose of confirming the 
cession of the Sandwich Islands, and placing 
himself and his dominions under British protec¬ 
tion. 
It was also his intention to make himself ac¬ 
quainted with the tenor and forms of administering 
justice in the courts of law—the principles of 
commerce—and other subjects, important to the 
welfare of the islands. 
The melancholy death of the late king and 
queen, which took place shortly after their arrival 
in England, not only prevented the full accomplish¬ 
ment of these desirable objects, but awakened 
very generally a degree of apprehension that the 
people of the islands, unacquainted with the true 
