“In the month of April 1842, (Haʻalilio) was appointed a joint Commissioner with Mr. (William) Richards (and Sir George Simpson) to the Courts of the USA, England and France.” (He and Richards sailed from Lāhainā, July 18, 1842, and arrived in Washington on the fifth of December.) (Polynesian, March 29, 1845)
While on the continent, a newspaper noted a note Haʻalilio passed to a friend: “We are happy that our Christian friends have so much reason to congratulate us on our success in the prosecution of our official business at Washington.”
“May the cause of righteousness and of liberty, and the cause of Christ every where be prospered. (Signed) T. Haalilio, William Richards.” Boston Harbor, Feb. 2. (The Middlebury People’s Press, Vermont, February 15, 1843)
“The Sandwich Island chief, Ha‘alilio, now on a visit to this part of our country, in company with Rev. Mr Richards, has been treated with attention by many of our citizens, and has made a very favorable impression by his general appearance and address.”
“He speaks English tolerably well, is a great of men and things, and observer evidently possesses a cultivated mind. On Tuesday he will proceed to New York with Mr. Richards, and will return to this city on the following week, with the intention of proceeding to Liverpool in the steam packet of the 4th of February.”
“He has taken up his residence, for the present, with James Hunnewell of Charlestown. From Europe he will return to this country previous to taking his departure for the Sandwich Islands. (New York Herald, January 25, 1843)
But all was not smooth during Ha‘alilo and Richard’s US visit …
“The Hampshire Gazette gives the following account of an insult put upon Ha‘alilio, the Ambassador from the King of the Sandwich Islands:”
“Last Wednesday morning Rev. Mr Richards and the chief look passage in the steamer Globe, at New York, for New Haven.” (New York Herald, January 26, 1843)
“‘Before they sat down to breakfast Mr. Richards went to the office window to procure two tickets for breakfast.’” (Pauahi; Kanahele)
“On applying for breakfast tickets, the clerk offered Mr. Richards one for himself, and a half one [admitting to the second table] for his servant.” (New York Herald, January 26, 1843)
“(Richards) returned the half ticket and requested two. The man told to give the half to Ha‘alilio (his servant).” (Pauahi; Kanahele)
“Mr. R. informed him that the so called servant was a Island chief, and an ambassador to the United States, and had been so accredited at Washington.”
“The clerk replied that this made no difference; if the man breakfasted at all, he must do so with the servants.”
“In a mild way Mr. R. appealed to Capt Stone, and he fully justified the decision of the clerk. The result was, that Mr. Richards was either obliged to separate from his friend, or to share with him the degradation.”
“(Richards) chose the latter course, and both of them took breakfast with the blacks and other servants of the boat.” (New York Herald, January 26, 1843)
“Some newspapers are trouncing the Captain and Clerk of the steamboat Globe for refusing a seat at their breakfast table to Ha‘alilio, Embassador from the King of the Hawaaian or Sandwich Islands to this Government – the said Envoy laboring under the original sin of being copper-colored.”
“Of course, the steamboat men were wrong – but was it indeed their fault, or that of a diseased public opinion – a ridiculous and disgraceful popular prejudice?”
“Suppose this Ha‘alilio had been a mulatto native of the United States – a free voter and ‘sovereign’ of this Country – the son, for instance, of our late Vice President …”
“… these same papers would probably have abused the Captain if he had given him a seat at the common table, and even stigmatized the passengers for consenting to eat with him!”
“And why is not a cleanly and well-bred American freeman as good as a Sandwich Island dignitary? – There is no Country on earth where Social Aristocracy is more exclusive and absurd than here …”
“… and the less manhood a person has the more he plumes himself on his external and factitious advantages over some one whom he tries hard to look down upon.” (New York Daily Tribune, January 28, 1843)
On February 18, 1843, they arrived in London and within six weeks “after accomplishing the object of his embassy to England, he proceeded to France, where he was received in the same manner as in England, and … “
“… succeeded in obtaining from the French Government, not only a recognition of independence, but also a mutual guarantee from England and France that that independence should be respected. (Similar responses were made from Belgium.)” (Polynesian, March 29, 1845)
After fifteen months in Europe, they returned to the US and prepared to return to the Islands.
“On his arrival in the western part of Massachusetts, (Ha‘alilio) was attacked by a severe cold, brought on by inclemencies of the weather, followed by a change in the thermometer of about sixty degrees in twenty-four hours. Here was probably laid the foundation of that disease by which his short but eventful life has been so afflictingly closed.” (Polynesian, March 29, 1845)
“On Sabbath evening, just before his death, he said; ‘This is the happiest day of my life. My work is done. I am ready to go.’ Then he prayed; ‘O, my Father, thou hast not granted my desire to see once more the land of my birth, and my friends that dwell there; but I entreat Thee refuse not my petition to see thy kingdom, and my friends who are dwelling with Thee.’” (Anderson)
Timothy Haʻalilio died at sea December 3, 1844 from tuberculosis. He was 36 years old.
“Great hopes had been entertained both among Hawaiians and foreigners, of the good results that would ensue to the kingdom from the addition of its councils of one of so intelligent a mind, stores as it was with the fruits of observant travel, and the advantages derived from long and familiar intercourse in the best circles of Europe and the United States. … (Upon news of his death) every attention affection or sympathy could suggest was afforded the deceased.” (Polynesian, March 29, 1845)
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