On the one hand, a large number of the Queen's subjects had been put to death in a conflict with the natives, and some of them, I am afraid, it is too clear, after the conflict had ceas ed ; and I am well aware of the force of the ar gument, (as well as of the additional force which it would derive from the natural feelings of the European community, excited by so a tragical an event,) that to overlook such an offence against the laws, and to abstain from subjecting the offenders to the vigour of justice, must tend to shake British authority, and encourage fur ther aggression and outrage. On the other hand, the straight forward narrative addressed to you by Rauparaha himself, and the account of cer tain circumstances preceeding the affray, by Mr. 