FIRST CODE OF LAWS. 137 
things, if he desired it, we would give him the best 
advice in our power, and inform him of what is 
contained in the word of God, and also of the laws 
and customs of our own country, and other civi 
lized nations.” 
The first code of laws was that enacted in 
Tahiti in the year 1819 ; it was prepared by the 
king and a few of the chiefs, with the advice and 
direction of the Missionaries, especially Mr. Nott, 
whose prudence and caution cannot be too highly 
spoken of, and by whom it was chiefly framed. 
The code was remarkably simple and brief, in¬ 
cluding only eighteen articles. It was not alto¬ 
gether such as the Missionaries would have wished 
the nation to adopt, but it was perhaps better 
suited to the partial light the people at that time 
possessed, and to the peculiar disposition of Po¬ 
rn are. He was exceedingly jealous of his rights 
and prerogatives, and unwilling to admit the 
chiefs to a participation in his power. His will 
still continued to be law, in all matters not in¬ 
cluded in their code; and with regard to the re¬ 
venue which the people were required to furnish 
for his use, he would admit of no rule but his own 
necessities, and consequently continued to levy 
exactions as his ambition or commercial engage¬ 
ments might require. 
The Missionaries would have regarded with 
higher satisfaction an improvement in the prin¬ 
ciples recognized as the basis of the relation sub¬ 
sisting between the king, chiefs, and people, some 
division of the power of government—enactments 
proportioning the produce of the soil to be fur¬ 
nished for the king, and securing the remainder to 
the cultivators. But having recommended these 
points to the consideration of the rulers, they did 
