[TAHITI]: A small, interesting collection of manuscript letters relating to Tahiti and Queen Pomare IV and the French-Tahitian War of 1843-47, most being contemporary English translations of letters sent by the Queen and other individuals, nineteen pages, mostly folio, various places (Paofai, on board HMS Basilisk, Papeete harbour etc.), February 1843 - March 1844, to various correspondents. The collection comprises four contemporary translations of letters from Queen Pomare IV stating, in part, 'I wish to inform you the words Mr. Morenhaut verbally said to me yesterday morning before my face shaking his head at me, throwing about his hands and staring fiercely at me, violently ordering me thus, ''order men to hoist the new flag and that the new Government may be respected…'' I protested against his conduct and told him that he was a troublesome man, if he had anything to say why did he not have a meeting convened…' (to Captain Thomson, 10th February 1843), 'I have been troubled by the French Consul, and because of his threatening language I have forsaken my house. His angry words to me have been very strong….But now I clearly make known to you the Commodore my desire through this letter. Do you shield me that the French Consul may not at all trouble me again. I look to you to protect me quickly….' (to Commodore Nicolas, 4th March 1843), 'There is here a small ship of war to watch over us. Another is coming. Do not listen to the men who will pain you by reporting that we shall not be assisted. Britain will not cast us off. Let our conduct be good…. do not on any account cause evil to grow, by no means ill treat the Frenchmen….' (n.d., c. January 1844) and one other; two lengthy contemporary copies of statements made by Tati the Great, a head Chieftain in Tahiti and counsellor to the Queen, upon having met with the French, in part, 'These were the words of the Admiral - ''This is my reason for coming to Tahiti. The flag of the priests having been insulted and hauled down. The Frenchmen having been ill used….and the Queen's authorities in conniving at and supporting crime….The money I received formerly I have still on board the ship. The money received from the Sandwich Islands also remains on board the ship, and that also which I shall now demand will be kept on board the ship as redress for the evil treatment of Frenchmen by those of Tahiti…' and in the second stating, in part, 'We…declare…that Morenhaut the French Consul did truly dictate and write the letter said to be written by the Queen Pomare and her Governors requesting protection of the King of the French. Through fear we signed it….and we signed it also because Morenhaut said ''If you will sign your names to this document I will give you one thousand dollars each when the French Admiral's ship returns to Tahiti. We also clearly declare that Pomare had not signed her name when we signed our names. The Queen's name was signed at Moorea, and it was because she was frightened by the French that she signed it…'; an A.L.S. by Commodore Nicolas, one page, folio, HMS Vindictive, Papeete harbour, 7th June 1843, to George Pritchard, the British Consul at Tahiti, stating, in part, 'Captain Mallet of the French….arrived at this port yesterday, having offered a most unprovoked insult towards Great Britain by saying when at my table at dinner, that ''England was the most Infernal Nation in the World''; I have to request of you not to make the usual official visit to that officer….until Captain Mallet has made atonement for this gratuitous offence'; and an A.L.S. by Eliza Pritchard, one page, 8vo, Paofai, 5th March 1844, to a gentleman, stating, in part, 'I beg to inform you that three French sailors did….wantonly kill a small pig (belonging to us) close to our gate. Our servant remonstrated with them but they would not attend to him. He will be able to identify the sailors should he see them again'. With blank integral leaf. Some light overall age wear and a few letters with neat splitting at the folds, G to generally VG, 8