The Tahitian Dispatches
In 1843, Edward Little served on HMS Vindictive under Captain John Toup Nicholas (also spelled Nicolas) as first Lieutenant. The ship was sent to assess the escalating situation of Tahiti which had just fallen under the control of the French. These events would later lead to the Franco-Tahitian war (Apr 1844 - Mar 1847)
In 1836, Queen Pōmare IV of Tahiti, under the influence of George Pritchard (British consul), evicted three French nationals, two of them being Catholic missionaries. As Tahiti had been converted to Protestant Christianity in the early 19th century by the intervention of the London Missionary Society, the eviction became a national and religious issue. In 1838, French naval commander Abel Aubert Dupetit-Thouars arrived in Tahiti and demanded reparations for the expulsion of the French missionaries. He came back four years later, claiming the Tahitian government had violated a treaty of friendship with France and demanding financial compensation. In lieu of the money, Queen Pōmare was forced to sign a "treaty" asking for French protection. Encouraged by Pritchard and believing that Queen Victoria would come to her aid, Pōmare wrote to her, asking for assistance against the French. Pritchard, who had qualified the actions of the French as illegal, was expulsed from the islands. When Dupetit-Thouars returned in November 1843, he deposed the queen and outright annexed the islands. ¹
Queen Pomare’s writings to Queen Victoria asking for British intervention fell into the responsibility of Little, who was sent to deliver them to England in March 1843. The event was reported in several newspapers (English and French), in the Vindictive’s Captain’s log and in several of Captain John Toup Nicholas’ correspondences.
Captain’s log
“Wednesday 15th, Remarks [unintelligible] in Papiete* Harbour, March 1843
[...]
Sent Lieut Little, Mr G Horwood 2nd Master & nine seamen and 1 boy to a small schooner that the consul had hired with the approbation of the Commodore to convey Dispatches of great importance to Pannama* and the coast of South America which Dispatches Lieut Little is in charge of the Schooner has hired at 30 a month and commenced pay from today PM. Horwood 2nd Master & 10 seamen” [...] ²
*spelling mistakes in the text
Captain John Toup Nicholas’ Letterbook
The Caird Library has a whole journal containing Captain John Toup Nicholas’ correspondences at the time, he mentions Little in several letters:
—
10th March 1843, From Captain J Toup Nicholas to Rear Admiral Rich° Thomas
(some parts are missing)
“[...] Sir, since the schooner left this, which the Commander had hired to convey my dispatches, and his own, to you, [...] and to Panama, on which part of the coast I have be[...] informed that you are likely to be met at the [...] that this vessel will arrive there, I have first heard that there is a schooner going to Valparaiso, I therefore shall forward to you the copies of each part of my correspondence with the authorities here, as were omitted by the vessel that is now on [...] I attach so much importance, to proceed direct to England in the event of his not falling in with your Flag on the South American Coasts as it is the last of my wishes [...]”
13th March 1843, From Captain J Toup Nicholas to Rear Admiral Rich° Thomas
“[...] I earnestly trust that neither you nor their Lordship will deem me defective in my duties towards you, by my ordering the officer in charge of the dispatches to which I attach so much importance, to proceed direct to England in the event of his not falling in with your Flag on the South American Coasts as it is the last of my wishes [...]”
14th March 1843, From Captain J Toup Nicholas to the Admiralty
“[...] I have thought it my duty to send an Officer of intelligence who is acquainted with all the principal facts, direct to England with the result of the meeting of all the Chiefs and principal Inhabitants of Otahite in relation to the circumstances to which I allude.
The Officer who conveys this letter will also take my dispatches to Rear Admiral Thomas acquainting him with the “Vindictive’s” being at Otaheite and of the measures that I have pursued and am pursuing [...]
17th March 1843, From Captain J Toup Nicholas to Rear Admiral Rich° Thomas
[...] Although I hope and believe that my dispatches are on their passage to you in charge of the First Lieutenant of this ship, will reach you long before this letter, which will be forwarded via Valparaiso yet I think it right to forward by this conveyance the Duplicate of my letter to the Admiralty [...]
23 July 1843, From Captain J Toup Nicholas to ?
[...] I hope will meet with your approbation more specially so from Mr Little my First Lieutenant having gone to England with dispatches and two of our Lieutenants being unfitted for duty, and the second Master being away in the schooner that I had ordered the Consul to hire to go to Panama [...]
6 October 1843, From Captain J Toup Nicholas to ?
[...] Believing as I do that important dispatches relative to Otahite will be brought to Panama for you by the September mail and very likely in charge of the First Lieutenant of this ship the moment the “Salamander” was ready for sea, on the 25th instant, I thought right to order Commander Hammond to proceed [unintelligible], and I sincerely hope that he will find a satisfactory decision of Her Majesty’s Ministers relative to Otahiti, after they are acquainted with all the facts connected with the late events there as by the calculations I have made I think Lieutenant Little will have arrived in England about the 20th of July, he having left charges for Jamaica in an American corvette on or about the 4th or 5th of June there going six weeks for the communications [unintelligible] between our Government and that of France [...] ³
Newspapers
The newspapers give us an idea of Little’s journey back to England, as he was entrusted with the command of a schooner : ⁴ ⁵ ⁶ ⁷
Weekly True Sun, 12 August 1843
Bucks Gazette, 19 August 1843
A French article published in La Quotidienne on August 18th 1843 gives us a glimpse on how the whole event was perceived back in France, it translates to :
“We have reported several times for several days, the serious concerns about our position at Otahiti. The English are definitely putting more unwillingness towards the French authorities of these distant vicinities, and their methods are so naturally haughty and so against the laws of nations, that it would be possible these matters would get more complicated in the most serious way. The Times turns out to be insulting, as usual; it seems that M. Guizot is finally about to receive from his friends the marks of recognition they are most used to.
The first news of the conflict were dated from March 12th; at that time, the English were accusing our fellow countrymen of having taken numerous unfair actions towards the Tahitians and to have claimed from them, wrongfully, the sum of 10,000 dollars which wasn’t due to them. Following these disagreements, Queen Pomare would have found aboard the Vindictive generous protection and the most respectful considerations. The 24th of the same month, Captain Nicholas, commanding the same ship, the Vindictive, had called for a meeting with the leaders of the country and declared that he would defend the independence of the island against our fleet. To this end, he moored in front of the Queen’s palace, and the relations between M. Nicholas and our officers had taken such a personal sourness, that it seemed difficult that no concession could have peacefully ended the quarrel. However, to this date, March 24th, no collision had yet to take place, and our fleet was waiting, to take a side, the arrival of Admiral Dupetit-Thouars that several ships were looking to meet.
From then, the United States newspapers have reported, if nothing positive, at least some details which seem to have shed a light on this case. The Abeille, from New Orleans, wrote July 15th :
“Quarels had risen between some English and French vessels, docked in Otahiti islands. The decision of these quarrels had been given to the respective admirals of the two fleets. The Queen has surrounded herself with a guard of six hundred men to ensure her safety.”
In this short note, there is only one important passage; it’s the one referring to the cause of the decision of the two admirals. Obviously, this news comes after the one we already know about, and it’s probable it’s due to some indiscretion from the English officers charged by Captain Nicholas, to carry in England the news of what transpired; it is, indeed, what we can read in the newspapers of Kingston (Jamaica) on the 8th; we report the version and the comment of the Courrier des Etats-Unis; it seems that in the absence of any English ship at Chagrès, American Commodore Dallas, taken by the importance of the news carried by two officers, had put the frigate Vandalia at their disposal to carry them from Chagrès to Kingston
“At the word of the Kingston newspapers, from the 8th, two officers from the frigate Vindictive, would have been sent to carry the news of the quarrel happening in Otahiti to England, without a doubt, so that by taking two different sails, the message would have more chances to arrive quickly at its destination.
“Lieutenant Little and his companion had declared to the American Commodore Dallas, to get from him one of the ships of his wing, that they were carrying dispatches from Queen Pomare to Queen Victoria, in which she was begged to help her Indian sister, to shake off the yoke of the French who had taken the sovereignty of her small kingdom by force. If this protestation from Pomare exists, and there is no ground for doubt, the Franco-English diplomatie would have way more difficulty resolving this quarrel, than it would have if only the maritime conflict was to be judged. The problem, indeed, would be called into question in its entirety; because it’s obvious the English government, which only recognized the legitimacy of the French possession because it was a voluntary donation and not a violent conquest, would not fail to accuse the French ministry of having lied to obtain the British approval when the pleas from the Queen of the island reach them, pretending their occupation of these islands to be peaceful, when it’s a usurpation. And at the same time, Lord Aberdeen will call on the example given by Great-Britain, in the Sandwich islands, which she has protected the independence of, against her own officers”
The Standard announces that one of the two officers had disembarked at Plymouth” ⁸
Portrait of Queen Pomare IV of Tahiti by Charles Giraud, 1851, Musée de Tahiti et des Îles
The Dispatches
As for the dispatches, I believe I have found the ones Little carried to London, as the file I have found at The National Archives contains letters related to the conflict : several letters from Captain John Toup Nicholas addressed to the Admiralty, a letter from Captain John Toup Nicholas to Lieutenant Edward Little, giving him the order to leave with the said dispatches, several letters from Queen Pomare to Queen Victoria and a report of the proceedings of the assembly held at Tahiti early March 1843, a declaration from Du Petit Thouars to Queen Pomare, a letter from Commodore Buglet to Queen Pomare from January 1842, several letters from E E de Bouger to the Regent of Tahiti from 1842 and testimonies from a missionary and a merchant residing in Tahiti
Only the letter to Little mentions him, but I'm including the whole file to provide more context, these are in the same order as in the original file and not in a chronological order ⁹
—
Letter from Captain John Toup Nicholas
Her Majesty’s Ship Vindictive,
in Papiete Harbour, Tahiti,
14th March 1843
Sir,
Since I had the honor to address you,
immediately after my arrival here, I have closely
investigated into all the various documents connected
with the late transactions in this Island, and inquired
diligently into all the events that have occurred
connected with the usurpation of the Queen’s authority
by the Forces of France, and I have discovered a circumstance
which I deem of such importance as connected with
any negotiations that may between the Governments
of England and France on this delicate question, that
I have thought it my duty to send an Officer of
intelligence who is acquainted with all the principal
facts, direct to England with the result of the meeting
of all the Chiefs and principal inhabitants of Otaheite
with relation to the circumstances to which I allude to
The Officer who conveys this letter will also take my
dispatches to Rear Admiral Thomas acquainting
him with the “Vindictive’s” being at Otaheite, and of
all the measures that I have pursued and am pursuing
My object in this hastening to send to England
this refutation of the Queen’s and Chiefs to the French
Admirals charges against them, is, that the British
Government may be in possession of this important
document by which to set aside at once the pretence
that has been set up by the French for the aggressions
that they have been committed here, I allude to the grounds
set forth in the Officiel “Declaration” of Admiral Du
Petit Thouars in justification of the extraordinary
measures that he has taken in this Island,
I could desire especially to call their
Lordships attention to the fact that this “Declaration”
of the French Admiral, as it is styled, containing the
foundation of the pretended cause of all their late
hostile measures against Queen Pomare and her
Dominions, was never seen by the Queen nor by any
of her Chiefs until I discovered it amongst the
Consuls papers and got it translated and showed
it to Her Majesty, as it had been sent to our Consul
by the French Admiral in the French language,
but it had never before been translated into the
Tahitian language, consequently even if the Queen
To the Secretary of the Admiralty
London
[rest of the letter missing]
—--
Letter from Captain J Toup Nicholas to Edward Little
By John Toup Nicolas, Companion
of the Bath Captain of Her
Majesty’s Ship “Vindictive”, and
Senior Officer in the Georgian
and Polynesian Islands
You are hereby directed to take
charge of my Dispatches for the Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty, and also those addressed to Rear
Admiral Thomas
You will proceed with them
in the schooner, which has been hired by the
British Consul, with my approbation, toward
the Coasts of South America, between [unintelligible]
and Panaman where I expect, from the information
I have received you will meet the Commander
in Chief, to whom you will shew this order,
and deliver all the despatches in your charge
stating to Rear Admiral Thomas that
you have my instructions to proceed
direct to England by way of Panama and Jamaica
to Lieutenant Edward Little
HMShip Vindictive
I annex, as I deem the dispatches of both the
Consul and myself of the greatest importance
but should the Commander in Chief think
otherwise, you of course will follow his orders for
your further proceedings. If, however, you
should not meet the Commander in Chief,
you will make the best of your way to
Panama, and thence to England, by way
of Jamaica, and use very diligence in delivering
to the secretary of the Admiralty the dispatches
bearing his address, and you will apply to
the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for your further proceedings
Dated on board Her Majesty’s
Ship Vindictive, at Tahiti this
15th day of March 1843
J Toup Nicholas
—
Letter from Queen Pomare to Queen Victoria
[Tahiti, January 23rd 1843]
My dear Friend and sister Queen,
Victoria, Queen of Great Britain
Health and Peace to you, and saved may
you be by Jehovah, the foundation of our Power as
Queens of our respective Countries, we dwell in Peace
from the arrangements made by our Predecessors
This is my speech to you, my Sister
Friend, commiserate me in my affliction, in my
helplessness, and in the difficulties in which my
Nation is involved with France
The existing protectorate Government
of France in my Dominions I do not acknowledge
I knew nothing of what my Chiefs and French
Consul had done before I wrote to you by Captain
Jones, I being absent at Raiake.
On the arrival of the French
Admiral “A Du Petit Thouars”, the same Chiefs
who formerly signed the document requesting French
protection, assembled, viz: - the three Governors,
and “Paraita”, the person who was left in charge
at Papeete, (Paraita* is the root of this great evil)
the French Admiral, and the French Consuls,
after having completed their design in signing
the document, sent it over to me at Moorea, through
the medium of my Messengers “Tairapa” and
Mr Simpson, for my signature
Tairapa said to me ‘Pomare’ write
“you name under this document, if you do not
“write your name you must pay a fine of Ten
“thousand Dollars, five thousand to morrow,
“and five thousand the following day, and should
“the first payment be delayed beyond two O’Clock
“the first day, hostilities will be commenced,
“and your Land taken.
On account of this threat against
my will, I signed my name, I was compelled to
sign it, and because I was afraid for the British
and American subjects residing on my Land
(in case of hostilities) would have been indiscriminately
massacred, no regard would have been paid to Parties
This is the way my Government has
been taken from me, and constituted into a
French Government
My Government is taken from me
by my Enemies, “Paraita”, “Hitati”, “Tati” and others
connected with them, It was they who combined
and entered into agreement with the French -
They have banished me, that I should not be Sovereign
of Tahiti - that they should be Kings, and also
their Children
And now my Friend think of me,
have compassion on me, and assist me, let it be
powerful, let it be timely and saving, that I may
be reinstated in my Government; let it be prompted
by the feeling which caused the Messiah to come into
our World to save you and me
Have compassion on me in my present
trouble, in my affliction and great helplessness
Do not cast me away, assist me quickly
my Friend, I run to you for refuge, to be covered under
your great shadow, the same as afforded to my
Fathers by your Fathers who are now dead, and whose
kingdoms have descended to us, the weaker Vessels
I renew that agreement, let it be lasting
and for ever - let its continuance extend, not only
to Ourselves and Children but to our Children’s
Children. My Friend do not by any means separate
our Friendship - This is my true wish
I now deliver up to you, my Friend, my
last effort - My only hope of being restored is in you
Be quick to help me, for I am nearly dead, I
am like a Captive pursued by a Warrior, and nearly
taken, whose spear is close to me
The time is very nigh, when I fear I
shall lose my Government and my Land.
My Friend send quickly a large Ship of War
to assist me - A French Ship of War is daily
expected here - Speedily send a Ship of War to
protect me, and then I shall be saved.
It is my wish that the Admiralty may
speedily come to Tahiti - I If he cannot speedily
come I wish a large Ship of War may come just
at this present time
Continually send here your Ships of
War, let not one month pass away without one
until all my present difficulties are over
I have also at this time written a
letter to your Admiral on the Spanish Coast,
to come to Tahiti and assist me
Health and Peace to you, may you
be blessed
My Sister Friend
Queen of Great Britain
(signed) Pomare
Queen of Tahiti
The above is a correct copy the Duplicate
signed by Queen Pomare being in my possession
J Toup Nicolas
—
Letter from Queen Pomare to Queen Victoria
Tahiti, 13 March 1843
My dear Sister Victoria, Queen
of Great Britain
Health to you, I have
already sent a letter to you
[unintelligible] my present difficult position
I write again to your
Majesty respecting my troubles
and your Officers who are the
Bearers of dispatches to your
Majesty's Government will carry this
to Great Britain
Still continue to assist me
beloved Queen, This is my
request to you, devise means
by which peace may be restored
to my Kingdom
This is my desire that
the King of the French would
remove the individual J A
Moerenhout French Consul
This man by money and other
bribes has turned away the
hearts of my Chief People from
their Sovereign, so that they
have become traitors to their
Queen. This man will not
regard the Laws of my land
but his own will alone he
regards, and his general
conduct brings to light his
evil character
This man is not a Frenchman
but comes from some Country
near France. He is a very bad
man and very troublesome
& I can anticipate no good,
so long as he remains here
I feel fully persuaded that when
the King of the French knows
his real character he will
immediately remove him
Dear Friend and Sister, do
make known to the King of the
French the proceedings of this man, that he may be removed
Let not this man remain
any longer in my dominions
my dear Friend
Health to you Queen
Victoria in your reign
Signed Pomare
The above is a correct translation
Signed George Pritchard
HBN Consul
—
The full transcript can be found here (25 pages)
—
Little was then discharged from the Vindictive on Aug 21st 1843 after fulfilling his mission, without ever returning to Tahiti or the Vindictive. He was then appointed to the Victory from August 22nd 1843 to October 20th 1843. The situation in Tahiti would later escalate into the “Franco-Tahitian war”, where the French would fight the Tahitian forces from 1844 to 1847. In 1847, a French Protectorate was established. When Queen Pomare came back from her exile, she was pressured to rule under that protectorate. England remained officially neutral and never intervened militarily, but the presence of British Naval warships nearby put constant pressure on the French. Ultimately, the French formally annexed Tahiti in the 1880s ¹⁰
Little seems to have kept a cordial relationship with Captain John Toup Nicholas. They were both mentioned in an article about the Queen’s Levee in March 1845, where J Toup Nicholas presented Little to the Queen ¹¹
Sir James Clark Ross, Sir John Franklin, F.R.M Crozier (spelled T.R.M in the article), James Fitzjames, H.T.D. Le Vesconte and George Hodgson were also in attendance
Sources
