Pitcairn's Island  Notes  Source  Whalesite

Lieutenant Commander Hunt
(H.M. Ketch Basilisk)
to Rear-Admiral Thomas,
(August 1, 1844)

Sir,

      In obedience to your orders, I have the honor to inform you that I visited Pitcairns Island on the 28 July last, where I remained until the 31st, during which time I gave all possible attention to the state of the Inhabitants and am sorry that it is not in my power to make as favorable a report as I could wish.

      I found that the School had been neglected for nearly a twelve month as also had the bible classes, the excuse made by Mr Nobbs for this was that he had been frequently ill and could not attend regularly on that account and on the part of the Natives that Mr Nobbs being unable to attend regularly they did not think it worth while to send their Children but the truth is that a great jealousy of Mr Nobbs exists in the breast of the people as he has no authorised

authority over them and his Moral Authority is very little. I have caused the School to be re-established under the Regulations which I enclose and which I made all the Inhabitants agree to and had them also inserted in their Law Book and I think I may say that they will be attended to at least until another Man of War arrives.

      Whilst on this Subject if I might be permitted I would recommend strongly to Her Majesty’s Government that a Governor should be sent to the Island as the want of a person in authority is beginning to be much felt, the patriarchal form of Government which existed in times past not being so applicable now on account of the many different families and consequently interests now prevailing in the Island.

      I think that a Clergyman or Missionary of the Church of England would also be of great advantage as the people are fast falling into a State of carelessness on Religious points which if suffered to go on much longer it would be very difficult to arouse them from.

Should the Government think fit this Gentleman might bear a Commission as a temporal Governor also.

      On the subject of the presents which the Government have thought proper to send them I have the honor to enclose a list which according to their own account would be more acceptable. I would recommend that the presents above alluded to should not be distributed equally as has hitherto been done but should be given as payment for the construction of works of public utility and as rewards for good behaviour.

      The Island is still well capable of producing sustenance for the Inhabitants but the time must come when it will no longer be so, on looking over the chart I observe that the Bassin Islands which appear of good size are uninhabited, they perhaps would be an advisable place to transport the surplus population and I think also that these Islands might be of use in other ways to Great Britain on account of the increasing trade in these and the China Seas.

      I have the honor to enclose a List of the births marriages & deaths which

have taken place since the departure of Her Majesty’s Ship Talbot. I also enclose the Copy of a Commission which I gave to the Chief Magistrate pending your approval as many disputes have arisen between the Inhabitants and the crews of Whalers whom I have recommended the Inhabitants for the future to exclude from their Village though not from the Island.

      Before concluding this letter I would again take the liberty of pressing on the notice of the Government that this interesting people should no longer be left without more efficient Authority to control them.

1st.      There should be a School at Pitcairns Island to which all the people should be obliged to send their Children who must be able to repeat the Alphabet and be of the Age from two to 14 Years.

2nd.      Mr Nobbs shall be placed at the head of the School assisted by such persons as shall be named from time to time by the Chief Magistrate.

3rd.      That the School shall be from Seven O’clock till Noon all days except Saturdays and Sundays and except such times as the Chief Magistrate shall think fit.

4th.      That a quarter dollar per month, or an equivalent as marked below shall be paid for each Child by the Parents whether the Child attends School or not; in case Mr Nobbs shall not attend School the Assistants appointed by the Chief Magistrate shall receive the Salary in proportion for the time Mr Nobbs may be away.

      1 Barrel of Yams or Potatoes — value two dollars

      3 Good bunches of plantains — One dollar

      1 days labour — half a dollar.

      The Chief Magistrate will see that the labour is well performed and that any goods which may be given as an equivalent for money shall be delivered either at the Market place or at the house of Mr Nobbs as he shall direct.

      Fishhooks and lines, (a large quantity) Blankets, Spades, lead, Medicine, Strong Cloth, Saws, Chisels, Planes, Hammers, Nails, Two inch Irons, Three Whip Saws, & a few Steel pens.

      You are hereby authorised to act

in the capacity of British Commercial Agent between the Natives of this Island who may have any Negotiations with the Master, Crew, or passengers of any Vessel of whatsoever Nation she may be which may call off this Island.

      You are also given the power to prevent the landing of any person or effects from the above vessels which you may think to be detrimental to the well being of the Island.

      Any person disobeying the Authority hereby granted to you will be held responsible for so doing.

Given under my hand onboard the
said Ketch, off Pitcairns Island
this 31st July 1844.

(Signed) Henry. S. Hunt.

      Pagination of the original autograph has been maintained.

      Lieutenant Commander Henry Samuel Hunt Commanded HMS Basilisk in 1844. He was born in 1809.

      Rear-Admiral Richard Darton Thomas (1777 – 1857) was an officer of the British Royal Navy who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, and was Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station in the 1840s. [Wikipedia]

      Hunt makes reference to the "Bassin Islands". No Islands of that precise name can be identified on charts of the time. [tgt]

Document no. 67. August 1, 1844. "Lieutenant Commander Hunt (H.M. Ketch Basilisk) to Rear-Admiral Thomas". Pages 1292 to 1307.

Pitcairn's Island  Notes  Source  Whalesite