JOHNSON , ship Syren to The prince replied: Gentlemen : I am truly pleased to meet you, and happy to receive a kindly congratulation from the, December 30, 1872

the prince.

His Royal Highness has spent the past week at his seaside cottage at Waikiki, in the enjoyment of his usual good health. He arrived at his town residence of Haimocipo yesterday morning, where he remained during the day, receiving business calls, and returning to Waikiki in the evening.

The captains, whose signatures are attached to the accompanying address, assembled together at the Hawaiian Hotel, at half-past 12 o’clock yesterday, and then proceeded to the city residence of His Royal Highness. The deputation were received with marked cordiality by the prince, who impressed every one present with the apparent excellence of his health, and his dignified, courteous demeanor.

Mr. W. M. Gibson, who, by especial request, had been invited to take part in this expression of congratulation, after a few expressions of lively satisfaction at the prince’s fine health and highly gratifying political prospects, read to him the following address:

Dear Prince: We, shipmasters now in the port of Honolulu, being about to proceed on our respective voyages, and wishful before leaving to tender to you an expression of our regard for your person, and of our satisfaction at your well-founded prospect to ascend the throne of your great ancestor, Kamehameha the First, have united cordially in this address of congratulation, in which we beg to mention some of our views and hopes in respect to the interests of this port, to which we hope frequently to resort with the ships under our command; and also in respect to the welfare of this island kingdom, over which we hope to see Your Royal Highness reign.

We fully appreciate that the admirable position and great natural advantages of this port should insure for it a flourishing and constantly increasing commerce; as it shall grow with the growth of the great and enterprising states that bound the east and the west of the Pacific, and should make of it the chief emporium of this great ocean. But in order that this result be brought about, and the future of Honolulu be crowned with the pre-eminent prosperity and glory that should be its due, it will be all-important the freedom of the port be strictly guarded; and that vessels entering it shall not be liable to vexatious, litigious interferences, for any condition of things on board, which does not affect the revenue and police regulations of the country; and in view of this we entertain the hope, and beg to suggest, that the future sovereign of this kingdom shall surround himself with those counsels alone which shall look warily to the prosperity of this port, and to the development of all the material interests of the country.

Your Royal Highness, we have the conviction, derived from experience and observation in our own prosperous country, that happy physical conditions and a widespread material prosperity are the best foundations upon which a Christian or enlightened order may be established; and that the material prosperity of this happily situated archipelago must be greatly promoted by the confidence of ship-owners and the confidence of all others employing here capital and organized labor, so essential to the advancement of the interests of these islands; that their risks and combinations shall not be interfered with for the sake of gratifying an abstract sentiment, inspired, no doubt, by a desire to pander to a political sentiment abroad which disorganizes material interests, being merely mischievous and disturbing in its character, and at the same time makes no provision for the objects of its sympathy.

We hope to see ere long this port, being guarded in its interests by a wise legislation, and which has so often been our favorite recruiting station, crowded with richly-freighted commercial navies, and also to behold a bountiful export of the products of these islands. Such material prosperity we feel will promote increase of people, and the best welfare of the Hawaiian race.

Wishing health and long life to Your Royal Highness, we are your most obedient servants,