SANDWICH ISLANDS. 
53 
proportionally increased. He had also reason to believe 
that not only did the Americans wish to form a permanent 
establishment in at least one of their Islands, but that the 
Russian Government had resolved on seizing on them on 
the first convenient opportunity. A detachment from the 
settlements of the latter power had already made one at¬ 
tempt to gain a footing, and had erected a fort and planted 
some guns on it. It is true, the Government of St. Peters- 
burgh disavowed the intention afterwards, hut there is no 
doubt that it connived at the proceedings of its servants. 
Under these circumstances Tamehameha II. resolved 
to follow up . the plans of his father, who had, as we 
have already seen, placed the Islands under the immediate 
protection of England; and reasoning of other kings from 
himself, he conceived that a personal interview with the 
sovereign of England would most effectually secure his pro¬ 
tection, and procure his co-operation in the plans he might 
form for the civilization of his kingdom. He was, besides, 
desirous of acquiring glory; and as his father had left him 
no islands to conquer, he conceived that so distant an expe¬ 
dition as that into the civilized world would procure him 
a reputation beyond that of any of his predecessors. 
He had long been curious as to the laws and govern¬ 
ment of England, of which he had formed the highest idea; 
