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the Thirty," I think it would be well to do so; but, at any rate, the first-mentioned law should be so altered as to include bond fide residents in any town within its operation. If your Majesty would allow me to extend the advice I am now offering beyond the strict limits of my duty, I would suggest that negotiations be entered into with a view to again connecting the Wesleyan Church in Tonga, of whatever denomination, with the Wesleyan body elsewhere. Nothing would, in my opinion, tend to the permanent tranquillity of your Majesty's kingdom so much as the exchange of a voluntary arid heartfelt union of your Majesty's Wesleyan subjects for the forced union which must now, to a considerable extent, as a consequence of recent events, prevail. If my poor aid and influence can in any way conduce to the attainment of this object, they are most heartily at your Majesty's service for the purpose. I have received evidence that would, in my opinion and in that of the Chief Judicial Commissioner, justify my putting in force against Mr. Baker the power intrusted to me, under the Western Pacific Order in Council, of prohibiting a British subject who is dangerous to the peace and good order of the Western Pacific from residing within such limits as I may deem necessary. I am, however, most unwilling to exercise this power, for the following reasons : — 1. I know that Mr. Baker has rendered great and valuable services to the Tongan Government, and that your Majesty regards him with feelings of friendship and esteem. 2. I believe that, if your Majesty should decide to follow the advice I have ventured to offer, Mr. Baker would be the most able and fitting instrument for carrying into effect your orders thereupon. 3. That Mr. Baker is at present suffering much anxiety from the illness of his son and daughter, caused during the attempt made on his life, and that it would be, for the present, impossible to remove those members of his family from Tonga. I trust, however, that the intimation of your Majesty's concurrence in the steps I have advised your Majesty to take will enable me to deem it consistent with my duty to abstain, as regards Mr. Baker, from exercising the powers vested in my office. I should be glad to receive a reply to this my letter at your Majesty's early convenience, as I am unwilling to detain Her Majesty's ship longer than is absolutely necessary. I desire'to repeat, on behalf of my Government, the expression of the feeling of friendship and esteem felt for your Majesty and for the Tongan people by Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen and by the British nation ; and I have, &c, C. B. H. Mitchell.

Sub-Enclosure 2. The King- of Tonga to Sir C. Mitchell. [Translation.] Sic, my Feiend, — King's Palace, Tonga, 26th April, 1887. I received your despatch of yesterday, and thank you for the same. Prom that letter I perceive there are three things you wish me to take notice of: — 1. To grant an amnesty to those prisoners who were concerned in the late disturbances. 2. To make a Proclamation that it is free for all persons to perform their worship according to the dictates of their conscience. 3. To repeal the Laws of the Six and of the Thirty. With regard to the first, I am perfectly willing to grant it, and I have instructed Mr. Baker with respect to it. As to the second, before three weeks are past I will call all the chiefs of Tongatabu together and tell them the Constitution will be carried out, " That every man be free to perform his worship according to the dictates of their own conscience, and should any chief act otherwise he shall be brought up to be punished according to law."* With respect to the repeal of the Laws of the Six and of the Thirty, I am not willing they should be repealed, but that the Law of the Six should be understood to mean residents who have been one year in any town. And with reference to the further letter of to-day in re the Free Church site at Nukualofa, I am willing that the Law of the 300 Fathoms shall not be applied to the same. And if your Excellency would kindly initiate negotiations with the Wesleyan Church in the colonies on the plan proposed by the New Zealand Conference, I should be glad ; and that is my mind. And with reference to Mr. Baker, if I and the chiefs had listened to Mr. Baker's advice there would have been no persecutions. But I am prepared to promise that there shall be no more persecutions of Wesleyans because of their religion, and should any chief do so he shall be judged. With many thanks for your expressions of regard and friendship, my love. Jioagi Tubou.

No. 5. The Secbetaey of State for the Colonies to the Offices Adhinistebing the Goveenment. Sic, — Downing Street, sth September, 1887. With reference to my circular despatch of the 7th July last, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Government, a copy of a despatch from Her Majesty's

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* A like command will also be sent to Haapai and Vavau.—(lnitialled) J. T.