THE MISSIONARIES. 261 we hope, in the world to come, we bid you farewell; and subscribe ourselves, With highest esteem, (Signed) H. BINGHAM, ARTEMAS BISHOP. EPHRAIM W. CLARK, STEPHEN SHEPHARD. P. S. Dear Sir: I feel no hesitancy in assuring you that the members of the mission who are absent would, if present, gladly subscribe the above: you will allow me, therefore, to repeat my own salutations and the salutations of the joint subscribers, in the name of our association, viz. A. THURSTON, J. GOODRICH, J. S. GREEN, L. CHAMBERLAIN, G. P. JUDD, S. RUGGLES, P. J. GULIC, S. WHITNEY. I am, dear sir, with the warm feelings of gratitude and personal regard, Your friend, (Signed) H. BINGHAM. 262 ANSWER OF CAPTAIN FINCH. U. S. Ship Vincennes, Honoulu, Nov. 22d, 1829. Gentlemen, Your agreeable letter, dated on the 14th inst., was placed in my hands yesterday. Its interesting character deserves, but pressing arrangements, preparatory to my departure in the morning, preclude, so full an answer as I could desire. I rely upon my deportment towards you all, as the best evidence I can, give, of my respect for your pursuits; and I feel safe in saying, also, that whatever kindness you may have received from the officers, is the effect of their own high sense of propriety and your merits. I will, at your request, make them acquainted with the tenor of your communication; and probably may submit it to their perusal; and I shall feel happy in being the organ of conveying the sense of obligation which you profess to owe my govern ment. For your individual happiness, gentlemen, and the comfort, security, and well doing of your families, accept my very earnest and friendly wishes. DEPARTURE FROM OAHU. 263 LETTER XXIII. DEPARTURE FROM OAHU, AND LETTER OF THE KING TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. At the request of the king, who wished to write a letter by Captain Finch to the President, the Vincennes remained at Honolulu, one day longer than the time originally fixed for sailing. This morning, however, immediately after breakfast, we left the harbor and remained outside the reef, till his majesty's communication should be sent off. At twelve o'clock, the boat of the private secretary was reported alongside; and, as soon as he had delivered the dispatches, we filled away with a salute, before so fresh a breeze, that as the evening just now closed round us, the faintest outline of Oahu behind, and of Tauai, forty or fifty miles on our right, could scarcely be discerned in the haze of the dis tance. Thus, my dear H, I have a second time bidden a supposed final adieu to the Sandwich Islands: but now, through the kindness of God, under auspices far more happy than on the previous occasion. Then every imagination of the future, equally with every remembrance of the past, was shrouded in gloom; and fearful apprehensions of sorrows just at hand, whose depth can only be told by those who 264 LETTER FROM THE KING have experienced them, gave double poignancy to thoughts, and feelings of deep interest and affection lingering on things, and scenes, and friends behind. But now, while warm love for many a justly endeared object, and the liveliest interest in the glorious work of blessing and salvation there triumphantly achieving, filled my eyes with tears, and my heart with prayer, as the beautiful island receded rapidly from our gaze, no existing circumstances denied me a full participation in the bright looks and joyous anticipations of my companions, who felt, that after an ab-sence of more than three years, their faces were now fully set, towards all most dear in country, family, and friends; and as we crowded sail upon sail, till we exhibited a mountain of canvass, widely bellying to the wind, the language of every heart and every eye, from the quarter deck to the forecastle, was "Home, sweet, sweet home!" On opening the packet of the king, the following translation of the document addressed by him to the president was found. Both the original and trans lation are in his own handwriting. TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Island of Hawaii, November 23d, 1829. Best affection to you, the chief magistrate of America. This is my sentiment for you; I have joy and gratitude towards you on account of your kind regard for me. I now know the excellence of your communicating to me that which is right and true. I approve with admiration the justness and faultlessness of your word. TO THE PRESIDENT. 265 I now believe that your thoughts and ours are alike, both those countries and these countries, and all large countries. We are the children-the little islands far off in this tropical climate. We have recently had an interview with Captain Finch, with joyfulness and with sentiments of kindness and pleasure towards him. I do now hope there will be a perfect agreement between you and us—as to the rights and duties of both of our goverments, that the peace now subsisting between us may be perpetual, that the seat of our prosperity may be broad, and our union of heart in things that are right such, that the highways of the ocean may not diverge, because there is a oneness of sentiment in our hearts, with those distant countries, these islands, and all lands. May our abiding by justice triumphantly prevail, that all who come hither may be correct in deportment, and all who go thither from this country. This is my desire, that you and we may be of the same mind. Such, too, is my hope that we may pursue the same course, that we may flourish, and that true prosperity may rest perpetually on all the nations of the world, in whieh we dwell. Look ye on us with charity; we have formerly been extremely dark-minded, and ignorant of the usages of enlightened countries. You are the source of intelligence and light. This is the origin of our minds being a little enlightened—the arrival here of of the word of God. This is the foundation of a little mental improvement which we have recently made, that we come to know a little of what is right, |