S. ironclad "Benicia" at the disposal of
King Lunalilo for a cruise round Hawaii, and that he would arrive
here the following morning with Admiral Pennock and the U.S.
generals Scholfield and Alexander.
Now this monarchy is no longer an old-time chieftaincy, made up of
calabashes and poi, feather-cloaks, kahilis, and a little fuss, but
has a civilized constitutional king, the equal of Queen Victoria, a
civil list, etc., and though Lunalilo comes here trying to be a
private individual and to rest from Hookupus, state entertainments,
and privy councils, he brings with him a royal chamberlain and an
adjutant-general in attendance. So the good people of Hilo have
been decorating their houses anew with ferns and flowers, furbishing
up their clothes, and holding mysterious consultations regarding
etiquette and entertainments, just as if royalty were about to drop
down in similar fashion on Bude or Tobermory. There were amusing
attempts to bring about a practical reconciliation between the free-
and-easiness of Republican notions and the respect due to a
sovereign who reigns by "the will of the people" as well as by "the
grace of God," but eventually the tact of the king made everything
go smoothly.
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