Revised Jun 22 2021
From the above correspondence, it will be seen that these loyal islanders had prepared a specimen of their mechanical taste and industry, as a loyal offering to the Queen. It was brought to England by Admiral Moresby, accompanied by an humble address, couched in the language of duty and affection:—
"Pitcairn's Island, July 27th, 1853.
"MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY,
"We, your Majesty's loyal and devoted subjects the inhabitants of Pitcairn's Island, avail ourselves of an opportunity just offered us, to assure your gracious Majesty of our loyal attachment to your person and Government.
"The recollection of the visits of your Majesty's ships to our island will be preserved with pride and gratitude; and we desire to express, in the most unqualified manner, our thanks for these gracious marks of royal favour. We humbly trust we may be allowed to consider ourselves your Majesty's subjects, and Pitcairn's Island a British colony, as long as it is inhabited by us, in the fullest sense of the word.
"Several years since, the Captain of your Majesty's ship Fly took formal possession of our little island, and placed us under your Majesty's protection. And if your Majesty's Government would grant us a document, declaring us an integral part of your Majesty's dominions, we should be freed from all fears (perhaps groundless) on that head; and such a gracious mark of royal favour would be cherished by us to an exertion in the discharge of the various duties incumbent on British subjects.
"The Commander-in-Chief for the time being in the Pacific Ocean has permitted a ship of war to visit us occasionally; and we humbly trust your Majesty will be pleased to permit those visits to be continued, if your Majesty's Government should think fit to remove us to some other place.
"At the suggestion of our worthy benefactor, Rear-Admiral Moresby, we have ventured to present your gracious Majesty with a small chest of drawers of our own manufacture from the island wood. The native name of the dark wood is Miro. The bottoms of the drawers are made of the bread-fruit-tree. Our means are very limited, and our mechanical skill also; and we will esteem it a great favour if your Majesty would condescend to accept of it as a token of our loyalty and respect.
"In conclusion, we beg to add our earnest desire and prayer that your Majesty may long live to govern those whom God has placed under your Majesty's care and protection. May He strengthen, protect and prosper you, is the earnest desire of your Majesty's loyal and devoted subjects, the inhabitants of Pitcairn's Island.
(Signed) "ARTHUR QUINTAL, JUN.,
"Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn's Island."
The piece of cabinet-work, formed of island wood, was humbly forwarded for Her Majesty's acceptance, by Admiral Moresby, who was soon informed by the Duke of Newcastle, that the Queen had been pleased to accept this offering very graciously. It was added, "I am further to state, that Her Majesty expressed her gratification at receiving this mark of loyalty and esteem from her subjects on Pitcairn's Island."
The Queen's gracious recognition of the islanders as her subjects was much valued by them. They had been previously informed that a formal document, declaring them a part of Her Majesty's dominions, might imply doubts which did not really exist.