Revised Jun 19 2021
“H. M. Sloop Fly, Callao,Jan. 25th, 1839.
“Sir,—After a long passage, I arrived at Pitcairn’s Island on the 29th November, when I found this interesting community preserving their deservedly high character for exemplary morality, innocence, and integrity; but they very earnestly represented to me the immediate necessity for there being some chief, or head, to their increasing community (amounting now to ninty-nine souls), for their internal regulation and government; but more especially to meet the difficulties and dangers which they had already experienced, and were again threatened with, by lawless strangers in whale ships; there having been cases of recent occurrence, where half the ruffian crew of a whale ship were on shore for a fortnight, during which time, they offered every insult to the inhabitants, and threatened to violate any women whose protectors they could overcome by force, occasioning the necessary concentration of the men’s strength for the personal protection of the females, and thereby great damage to their crops, which demanded their constant attention; taunting them that they had no laws, no country, no authority that they were to respect—American vessels denying that they were under the protection of Great Britain, as they had neither colours nor written authority. I found them, however, with a merchant union jack flying, procured from an English ship. Apprehending that my duty required some decided step in this unlooked for contingency, I considered I should best afford protection to these people, and least involve my own Government, of whose intention in respect to the Pitcairn islanders I am ignorant, by conferring the stamp of authority on their election of a magistrate or elder, to be periodically chosen from among themselves, and answerable for his proceedings to Her Majesty’s Government, for whose information he is to keep a journal. I accordingly drew up a few hasty regulations, to be observed under my authority, in the election of this officer, marked No. 6.; which, with a formal attestation of his being sworn before me, and a union jack, which I supplied them with, will, I trust, insure them from any renewed insults from foreigners. By their unanimous voice, they selected for the situation Edward Quintal, a most able and superior senior of their number. I trust, sir, you will consider my assumption of the power to confer this authority, was warranted by the urgency of circumstances and the difficulty of reference; and that you wifi be able to approve of the view I have taken of my duty.
“I have the honour to be, Sir,
“Your very obedient servant,
“(Signed) R. ELLIOTT, Commander.
“To Rear Admiral C. B. H. Ross, C. B., &c.;, &c.;,