_His Majesty's Replies To the Addresses of the Diplomatic Corps, and to
the Consuls of Foreign Nations, Congratulating Him on the Anniversary of
His 27th Birth-day._
His Majesty replied to M. Perrin and the members of the Diplomatic Corps
in the following gracious terms:
GENTLEMEN:--For the congratulations you have just offered me
on the recurrence of the anniversary of my birthday, I thank
you very kindly indeed. I do indeed hope that further
experience may offer me new lights by which to be directed in
my endeavors to secure prosperity to all who dwell within this
Kingdom. But let me assure you that your felicitations on this
occasion cannot fail to stimulate and encourage me, for they
show that at least up to this very day the large and
predominating powers you represent, are good enough to survey
with satisfaction, and through you, Gentlemen, to express
their satisfaction for the present, and their hopes for the
future, in the conduct of my Government, and with God's help,
I will not disappoint them. In justice to myself and your kind
expressions connected with the names of the Queen and our son,
I must express the peculiar pleasure with which that portion
of your address has filled me.
To Mr. Reiners and all other Consuls of foreign nations, his Majesty
made the following gracious answer:
GENTLEMEN:--To congratulations so warm and so flatteringly
addressed, it is difficult to reply so as to be satisfied that
I have done justice to your feelings as they have this moment
been expressed. I and my house have, indeed, a great deal for
which to be thankful to Divine Providence, and on this
twenty-seventh anniversary of my birthday, I cannot but be
sensible of the debt I owe to the King of Kings. Any occasion
which is converted into an opportunity for the expression of
satisfaction and cordiality on the part of those who represent
great external interests, must be gratifying to one whose
position is a difficult one, even when things are at the very
best, if due allowance be made for the number of conflicting
interests to be respected, and more than that, fostered.
At a time when our commerce is drooping from causes beyond the
control of any Government, it is a source of high satisfaction
to me to receive so many well wishes for the continuance of my
rule from gentlemen so perfectly adapted as yourselves to
judge of the benefits which my reign is likely to bestow. On
the part of the Queen and the Prince of Hawaii, I thank you,
most kindly and sincerely, for your prayers in their behalf.