30 north, differing 3' 30" from that assigned to it by Captain Basil Hall
in his sketch of the Jjew Chew group.
And the outline of the coast was observed also to run in a direction varying
somewhat from that laid down by that navigator. The whole of the
island of Great Lew Chew was circumnavigated in the course of this survey
under the directions of Commander Kelly.
On the arrival of the Plymouth at the Bonins, it was found that the settlers
on Peel Island, the principal one of the group, had of their own accord
organized a municipal government, under the title of • The Colony of Peel
Island.” Commander Kelly also, in accordance with the instructions of
Commodore Perry, visited the islands hitherto termed “ Baily’s,” took formal
possession of them in the name of the United States, and gave them
their proper name of Coffin, a due record of which was made upon the chart,
and upon the spot, by affixing a plate, inscribed with the fact, to a large
sycamore tree growing about twenty feet from the beach, near the northwest
point of the cove, and burying one also, with some documents placed in a
bottle, giving a true history of the discovery of the islands, and assigning
the credit to the genuine discoverer, the American whaling captain, Coffin.*
-A s an interesting specimen of this original effort at constitution-making by wanderers
from many lands, civilized and savage, we subjoin a copy of the
“ ORGANIZATION OF THE SETTLERS OF PEEL ISLAND.”
. “ We’ f te undersigned, residents and settlers on Peel Island, in convention assembled,
wishing to promote each other’s mutual welfare, by forming a government, have ordained
and established the following articles, which we solemnly hind ourselves to support for the
period of two years.”
ARTICLE I.
“ The style of our government shall be ‘ The Cobng o f Peel Tslomd.
ARTICLE H.
“ The government shall consist of a chief magistrate, and a council, composed of two
persons; and by virtue of this article, we hereby unanimously elect and appoint Nathaniel
Savory, chief magistrate, and James Maitley and Thomas H. Webb, counciimen; each to
hold his said office of chief magistrate and councilman for the period of two years from
the date of this convention. The said chief magistrate and council shall have power to
enact such rules and regulations for the government of this island as to them, from time to
time, may appear necessary for the public good ; such rules and regulations, to become
binding on the residents, must have the approval and concurrence of two-thirds of the
whole number of the residents.”
ARTICLE HI.
“ Until such time as the chief magistrate and council may be enabled to form a code of
regulations, we unanimously ordain and establish the following thirteen sections, under this
article, which shall have full force and effect until the adoption of others, and until the ex-
pi ration of two years.”
On leaving Napha, the reflection naturally suggested itself to the mind
of the Commodore as to the effect produced upon the Lew Chewans, by his
visit. I t seemed evident that a very marked change had taken place in the
deportment of the islanders toward the Americans.
There was less mystery about them, and some of the spies had thrown
off a portion of their reserve. The Lew Chew authorities probably conjectured,
and with good cause, that the trouble they had taken m their attempts
to deceive the Commodore, with respect to the condition of their government,
the poverty of the islands, and the harmless innocence of the people,
was futile, and so much labor lost. And accordingly it was found that,
although they still adhered, as if by instinct, to their system of deception,
they were not quite so ready with their misrepresentations.
Section 1 —“ I t shall be the duty of any and all person or persons having claims and
demands against each other, or who shall have any dispute or difficulties between themselves
which th ey cannot amicably settle, to refer the same to th e chief magistrate and
council for adjudication and settlement; and th e ir decision to be final and binding.
S e c tio n 2.—“ All penalties in this colony shall be a pecuniary fine: and no penalty for
any offence shall exceed the sum o f H i J T B j
S e c tio n 3 — “ The chief magistrate and council shall have power to direct the seizure
and sale of any property of any offenders, sufficient to pay th e , same, against; whom a fine
has been decreed, wherever it may be found within the limits of Peel Island.
S e c tio n 4.—“ I t shall be unlawful for any resident, settler, or other person, on the
to entice anybody to desert from any vessel that may come into this port, or to
secrete or harbor any such deserter.”
Section S.—“ Any person who shall entice, Counsel, or aid, any other person to desert
from any vessel in this port, or shall harbor or conceal him to prevent his apprehension,
shall be liable to a fine, not exceeding $50 dollars).” WSgfr
S e c tio n 6.— “ All moneys arising from th e levy of fines upon offenders shall be a public
fund for the use and behalf of th e colony I and th e same shall be placed in the hands
of th e chief magistrate for safe keeping, and to be appropriated to such public purposes as
th e chief magistrate and council may deem necessary and proper ; and a correct account
of all expenditures of said moneys shall be k ep t by them, and a statement of receipts and
expenditures published a t th e end of one year. ’
S e c tio n 7.— “ All public moneys remaining unexpended a t the end of one year shall
be equally divided among the present settlers, unless otherwise ordained by a convention of
th6 A c tio n 8 —“ Port Regulations.—There shall be two regularly appointed and recognized
pilots for this ■ and, by virtue of this section of article 3, we hereby unanimously appoint
James Maitley and Thomas H. Webb as such for a period of two^ years from the
date of this convention. Said pilots may appoint capable substitutes under them; and it
shall be unlawful for any other person or persons to perform the duty of pilots. Any one
who shall, without the authority of either of the appointed pilots, attempt to pilot any
vessel into or out of this port, shall he liable to a fine equal to the amount of the established
rate of pilotage.” • .
Section 9.—“ I t shall be unlawful for any commander of a vessel to discharge any of
, this no rt without permission from th e chief magistrate ic P.rftW in 1 and oouncil, and no