rsued with no slack hand, until astonished Europe finds another
Cherbourg, a safe harbor, ample means of repair, and frowning guns to
repel all invaders. Imprudent Young France, indeed, whispers now that
Algiers makes the Mediterranean a French lake. But that is a little
premature. While Gibraltar and Malta hold safely their harbors, and
England's naval power is unbroken, no nation can truly make this boast.

* * * * *

The next enterprise of France was hardly so creditable to her as the
Algerine conquest. Midway in the Pacific is the island of Tahita or
Otaheite,--as fair a gem as the sun ever looked down upon. The soft and
balmy air,--the undulating surface, rising to mountains and sinking into
deep valleys, luxuriant with tropical verdure,--the distant girdle of
coral reefs, which holds the island set in a circlet of tranquil blue
waters,--the gentle and indolent temper of the natives,--have all
conspired to throw an air of romance around the very name Otaheite. The
Christian world is bound to it by another tie. For thither came
Protestant missionaries, drawn by the reports of the tractable
disposition of the islanders, and labored with such success that in 1817
the king and all his subjects espoused Christianity.

Into this island Eden discord came in the guise of a Roman catechist,
who was sent thither for the express purpose of proselyting. As if aware
of the nature of his ungracious task, he disguised his real character.
But he was detected, and, together with a companion who had joined him,
was dismissed from the island by Queen Pomare, who dreaded the sectarian
strife his presence would awaken. This was her whole offence. Four years
later, in 1838, when the whole transaction might well have been
forgotten, Captain De Petit Thouars appeared in the French frigate
Venus, and demanded and obtained satisfaction in the sum of two thousand
piastres Spanish, and freedom for Catholic worship. In two subsequent
visits, though no new offence had been given, he increased the severity
of his demands, first putting the island under a protectorate, and
finally, in 1843, taking full possession of it as a French colony. The
helpless Queen appealed to Louis Philippe, who returned the island, but
reaffirmed the protectorate.

This same French protectorate is a rare piece of ponderous irony. The
French governor collects all export and import duties, writes all
state-papers, assembles and dismisses