[Found under: “NOTES OF THE WEEK.”]

News from a Far Country.—The following item is clipped from the Weekly London Times:

An Irish Queen in the Sandwich Islands.—The fact that Queen Emma of the Sandwich Islands is expected in Europe gives interest to the following details:—The Sandwich Islands were thus named in 1778, by Captain Cook, in honor of Lord Sandwich, then First Lord of the Admirality. The inhabitants are of the Polynesian race, and were long governed by a number of native chiefs perpetually at war with each other. In 1784 one of them, Kamehameha I., subjected all the islands to his authority, established a monarchy, took up his residence in the town of Honolulu, in the island of Oahu, and reigned until his death in 1819. His dynasty is still on the throne. The present King, Kamehameha V., aged thirty-five, succeeded his brother, who had left no children, in 1863. He has reformed the constitution of the State, favoured trade, manufactures, and the settlement of foreigners, and has acquired the love of his people. The Minister of Finance, M. Crosnier de Varigny, is a Frenchman; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Wilkie, was born in Scotland; and the Minister of Interior, Mr. Hopkins, is a native of London; the Minister of Justice and the Chancellor, Mr. Harris and Mr. Allen, are both citizens of the United States. This Cabinet is much esteemed by the Chambers. Queen Emma is a native of Ireland, and is aged twenty-nine. She married in 1856 Kamehameha IV., the late King, but lost her only son in 1862, and her husband in the following year. Queen Victoria has placed a ship of war at her disposal for her voyages to Europe, where she intends to visit successively England, France and Germany.

(Pacific Commercial Advertiser, 9/30/1865, p. 2)

The Pacific Commercial Advertiser, Volume X, Number 13, Page 2. September 30, 1865.