ly
reached 500 tons in 1853. The sugar mills were generally worked by oxen
or mules, and the molasses drained in the old fashioned way.

THE UNFINISHED ANNEXATION TREATY.

The year 1853 was rendered memorable by a terrible epidemic of
small-pox, which carried off several thousand people on the Island of
Oahu. During that and the following year there was an active agitation
in Honolulu in favor of annexation to the United States. The king
favored it as a refuge from impending dangers. The missionaries
generally opposed it, fearing that its effects would be injurious to the
native race. The negotiations were carried on between Mr. Gregg, the
American Minister, and Mr. Wyllie, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and
a draft of the treaty was completed in June, 1854.

The representatives of France and Great Britain remonstrated with the
king against it, while the heir-apparent was also opposed to it. The
negotiation was still pending when the king suddenly died on the 15th of
December, 1854.

His adopted son and heir, Alexander Liholiho, was immediately proclaimed
king, under the title of Kamehameha IV.

THE REIGN OF KAMEHAMEHA IV.

Was uneventful. He was married to Emma Rooke, a chiefess partly of English
descent, who both by her character and her talents was worthy of the
position. By their personal exertions the king and queen succeeded in
raising the funds with which to found the "Queen's Hospital" at
Honolulu. Their little son, the "Prince of Hawaii," died in 1862, at
four years of age, and with him expired the hope of the Kamehameha
dynasty. During the same year Bishop Staley, accompanied by a staff of
clergymen, arrived at Honolulu and commenced the Anglican Mission.

During the following year the king was rapidly failing in health, and on
the 30th of November, 1863, he died, at the early age of twenty-nine,
and was succeeded by his elder brother, Prince Lot Kamehameha.

The development of the country during his reign was nearly at a
stand-still. The cultivation of wheat as well as that of coffee was
given up, but the culture of rice was commenced in 1860, and proved to
be a great success.

THE REIGN OF KAMEHAMEHA V.

The reign of Kamehameha V. was memorable for the change of the
constitution which he made on his own authority, soon after coming to
the throne. The right of suffrage was made to depend on a small property
qualification and on ability to read and write. The Nobles and
representatives wer