MORE FRENCH AGGRESSIONS IN THE PACIFIC.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 792, 16 November 1853, Page 2

MORE FRENCH AGGRESSIONS IN THE PACIFIC.

The Sydney papers now received contain statements which, although they are deficient in details, are but too conclusive as to the fact that France is vigorously pursuing the work of aggression of which poor Tahiti could scarcely have been expected to prove the last victim, considering the complaisant easiness with which England permitted that melancholy sacrifice lo be consummated. The Messager dc Tahiti for July (as quoted in the Sydney Herald , of the 31st ult.) gives an account of the closing of the Legislative Assembly by a speech from the Imperial Commissioner, in which he alluded especially to the incorporation with Tahiti of the Pomotou Islands (the Dangerous Archipelago.) It is added, “The Protectorate has been extended to these Islands, and representatives from them appear to have sat in the Assembly, which is composed partly of Europeans, and partly of Natives.” Only a day after the publication of this intelligence, an American barque arrived in Port Jackson with two French officers, by whom she had been chartered for the purpose of taking supplies to “ the French settlement” of New Caledonia,—which, as was then learned for the first time, had been taken possession of by the French on the 241h of September. We cannot slate what is known’of this aggression belter than by copying the following article from the Herald of the 2nd inst., which we transfer lo our columns on account not only of ils narrative of the facts, but also of its Just, though brief, comments on this important and ominous movement: — The following .arc the particulars which we have been enabled to glean respecting the act of the French Government in taking possession of the Island of New Caledonia and its dependencies. It appears that the French Rear-Admiral commanding in the South Pacific, sailed from Tahiti in the steam corvette Le Phoque, accompanied by several naval officers and Civilians, “on a cruise among (he islands.” On the 23rd September, the Phoque arrived at New Caledonia, and on the 24-th the Admiral landed at Belaide, and, hoisting the French flag, formally took possession of the “island of New Caledonia and ils dependencies” in the name of his Imperial Ma jcsly, Napoleon 111., Emperor of the French. A proves verbal of the occurence was immediately drawn up, in which the Admiral spates that he lakes possession of the islands by order of his Government; and declares them to be a French colony from and after the 24th of September,

It would appear that no extensive preparations had been made for the maintenance of the new station ; but Admiral Des Poihtes chartered the American barque John H. Millay, which he found there, and despatched her with his secretary, M. De Perrier, and M. Amet, an officer of the Phoque, lo Sydney lo obtain supplies and stores on a large scale. We are informed that three French frigates were lo follow' the Phoque, with troops, to insure (he possession of the island. M. Deperaier brought a letter from Rear-Ad-miral Des Pointes IoM. Senlis, Consul of France at Sydney, requesting his assistance and advice in obtaining the stores required, and enclosing a copy of the proves verbal. M. Senlis, immediately on receipt of this important intelligence, forwarded a copy of the last named documents lo his Excellency Ihe Governor General. We have reason to believe that the immediate object of the French Government is to establish a penal settlement on Ihe island; but coupled with the systematic extension of French influence over the Society Islands, the Pomolou Group, and Ihe Marquesas, this occurrence assumes a great importance in a political point of view, and is indicative of w r ell considered designs on the part of the French Emperor. We shall return lo the subject more at length to-morrow, hut we cannot refrain from expressing our deep regret that, by the laxity of the British Government, notwithstanding the repeated and earnest representations which have been made to it, both from the Government of the colony and from commanders of Her Majesty’s vessels who have visited and explored the islands of Ihe Western Pacific during the last few years, as to the immense importance of New Caledonia in reference to the Australasian dependencies, Ihe opportunity of colonizing that fine group has been lost. That regret is enhanced by the consideration that after all our struggles to get rid of the withering curse of conviclism, after the bitter differences which had arisen between the coloand the mother country have been happily reconciled by the total abandonmentof transportation to these shores, —a convict settlement should he formed by a powerful foreign nation in our immediate neighbourhood, and on the high road of communication between Australia and the important marts of commerce lo our northward and eastward, China, California, and the west coast of America.

In a commercial point of view, the colonization of New Caledonia, even by the French, may appear at first sight advantageous to the interests of this city, but such a consideration is entirely secondary in importance, and sinks into insignificance by the side of the moral, social, and political consequences attaching to the occupation of one of the most splendid islands in the Pacific by a rival nation, whose aims and objects are so dissimilar, not to say opposite, to those which have for many years been earnestly contemplated by the most intelligent colonists of Australia and of New Zealand.

several we have seen at former Lectures in the Hall, was not so numerous as might have been anticipated, or as we are satisfied would be attracted if Mr. Williams were able to resume the subject here.