It  is  a  peculiarity  with  the  Hawaiians,  that  in  all  the
events  in  which  our  own  country  has  been  concerned
with  them,  they  look  to  England  with  gratitude  and
love.  They  have  had  to  bear  from  us  at  times  some
wrongs,  and  some  of  the  arrogance  of  a  superior  people.
But  they  possess  the  happy  temperament  of  being  able
to  forget  a  wound  given,  and  bless  the  hand — the  same
which  stabbed — that  binds  up  the  wound.  Thank-
fulness for  the  restoration  of  their  coimtry  immediately
succeeded  and  supplanted  any  feelings  of  resentment ;


NATIONAL  GBATIT17DE.  S97

and  among  the  most  honoured  names  in  the  roll  of  their
remembrance,  stands  that  of  the  late  Admiral  Thomas.
Tx)rd  George  Paulet  was  a  courteous  but  firm  English-
man, who  carried  out.  with  an  unhesitating  decision  the
duty  which  seemed  to  lie  before  him.  Towards  him
the  people  did  not  seem  to  cherish  any  anger,  and  their
joy  at  the  restoration  of  their  islands  has  taken  the
form  of  a  perennial  gratitude  to  the  English  officer  who
was  the  instnmient  of  that  act  of  justice.  Admiral
Thomas's  day  is  one  of  three  yearly  celebrations  kept  at
Hawaii,  and  on  that  day  the  most  distant  consular
agents  of  the  kingdom  are  required  to  hoist  the  national
flag.  This  grateful  feeling  follows  him  beyond  the
grave,  and  seeks  to  express  itself  to  his  descendants.
