_His Majesty's Reply to the Address of Capt. Davis, of the U. S. Sloop_
=St. Marys=, _upon the eve of her Departure for San Francisco._
I can heartily assure you, Captain Davis, that it would have
been a source of unfeigned regret to me, had circumstances
prevented my having this last interview with you before your
departure from these waters. When I say last, I mean the last
during the visit of the _St. Marys_, for I sincerely hope to
see you here again, and when you do return, I hope you will
bring with you the same officers whose sojourn here with you
has contributed so much to the social enjoyment of the last
few months.
Your desire to increase the good understanding existing
between my Government and your own has been so conspicuous
that I cannot but congratulate the latter upon the happy
circumstances that in sending a ship here, for the
preservation of safety and order, the command of that vessel
devolved upon no other than you. That you have been successful
in your object, must be a matter of pride to you, and I do not
think you will hear with indifference from my lips the simple
announcement, that I and every member of my Government have
appreciated those exertions, but no one more so than I, whose
opportunities of judging of your intentions have, I am happy
to say, been more numerous than those of some others.