"Hilo, Hawaii, Sept 14, 1843". Dateline on 3pp folded letter from D. B. Lyman to family in Newton Falls O., light strike of red "Fairhaven, Mass. Apr 5" circular datestamp with "SHIP" handstamp, manuscript "27" rate, this certainly took a long time to find its recipient, fascinating contents reads in part "In July or Aug 1842 commissioners were sent by the Hawaiian government to meet with the governments of the U.S. & of the principle powers of Europe with a view to secure the independence of the Islands. Soon after, the British Consul left secretly for England, leaving his deputy, a sworn enemy to this Govt…about the middle of Feby 1843 H.B.M. Ship Carysfort R't Hon. Lord George Paulet arrived & after some strange movements, quite in the style of the British Consul who had left, made such demands & enforced them in such a manner that the King & his executive consul thought it best to surrender all provisionally…The 6th of July, the U.S. Frigate Constellation arrived. The commander Commodore Kearny protested against the cession of the Islands to the British crown, announcing his determination to hold Kamehameha III & Lord George Paulet responsible for all that American interests might suffer in consequence of it. He also raised the Hawaiian flag & saluted the native authorities under it when they visited him on board his ship., splitting along folds, otherwise Very Fine letter with fantastic contents discussing important events in Hawaii during the time when Britain attempted to annex Hawaii

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