No. 249.
Mr. Comly
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
Honolulu, December 28, 1877.
(Received January 19, 1878.)
No. 18.]
Sir: Rear-Admiral Murray, commanding North Pacific
squadron, arrived at this port with his flag-ship, the Pensacola, on Sunday,
23d December, after a stormy passage of twenty-one days from San Francisco.
The Pensacola made the voyage under sail, not using her engines except to
fire up during the gale and on entering the harbor. After a due interchange
of official civilities, I called with the admiral and Captain Irwin upon all
of His Majesty’s ministers, the justices of the supreme court, and the
governor of Oahu.
On the 27th these calls were returned on board with due observance. The
commissioner for France was also received on board on the 26th, and raised a
point of official etiquette on receiving a salute of eleven guns, whereas he
claimed thirteen. After a great deal of correspondence the affair was
finally settled by a duly attested copy of the new regulations of 1876, with
reference to salutes.
Others have called or applied for escort, and the whole diplomatic and
consular corps manifest a disposition to pay due honor to the United States
flag.
The inclosed official account of the reception and audience at the Iolani
Palace leaves nothing to be added by me, except that His Majesty did us the
honor to send his state carriage for the admiral, Captain Irwin, and
myself.
I am, &c.,
[Page 379]
[Inclosure in No. 18.]
Audience at Iolani Palace.
An audience was granted by His Majesty yesterday, the 28th instant, to
his excellency James M. Comly, American minister resident, who presented
Rear-Admiral Murray and Capt. John Irwin, of the flag-ship
Pensacola.
The admiral addressed His Majesty as follows:
“Your Majesty: I am especially directed by the
proper authorities at Washington to pay this visit in the flag-ship to
your dominions. It was very agreeable to me, as well as to my officers,
to receive such instructions, as evincing a disposition on the part of
the authorities of the United States to continue, and if possible bind
more firmly, the kindly relations already existing between the two
governments—a task very agreeable to us, and we hope acceptable to Your
Majesty.”
His Majesty replied as follows:
“Admiral: It gives me pleasure to welcome you
and your officers to this kingdom, and the more so that this visit with
your flag-ship is made in pursuance of special orders from your
government, evincing, in your courteous view, its disposition to
continue, and if possible bind more closely the kindly relations which
our countries have always sustained toward each other. I hope you will
find your stay here a source of satisfaction to yourselves, in the
enjoyment of our climate and social amenities, and that the discharge of
your official functions will prove as agreeable to yourselves as I am
confident that it will be acceptable to myself and government.”
Captain Irwin then presented the following officers: W. C. Stamm, chief
engineer U. S. N.; H, C. Nelson, surgeon U. S. N.; G. Cochran, fleet
paymaster U. S. N.; R. W. Huntington, captain U. S. M. C.; fleet marine
officer; Isaac I. Yates, lieutenant U. S. N.; R. P. Rodgers, lieutenant
U. S. N.; W. J. Barnette, flag lieutenant; J. D. Adams, lieutenant U. S.
N.; A. M. Guthrie, rear-admiral’s secretary, U. S. N,; F. M. Bostwick,
midshipman U. S. N.; Selim E. Woodworth, cadet midshipman U. S. N,; H.
C. Wakenshaw, cadet midshipman U. S. N.; A. W. Grant, midshipman U. S.
N.; H. H. Rogers, midshipman U. S. N.
The minister of foreign relations presented Judge Caton, of Illinois;
William Renney Watson, Glasgow, Scotland; and F. P. Hastings, United
States vice and deputy consul.
His Majesty was attended by the members of the cabinet, judges of the
supreme court, members of the house of nobles and privy council, His
Majesty’s chaimberlain, and the staff officers.
Some time was agreeably spent in general conversation, after which the
minister resident and the other gentlemen took leave.
