Text
Letter Reference:
1850_Apr01_AlexanderLiholiho-Bates
Date of Letter:
April 1, 1850
From:
Alexander Liholiho
To:
Mrs. Bates
Content Summary:
Alexander Liholiho writes Mrs. Bates about his stay in France, letters he has received and those
that may have been lost.
Typescript:
[Page 1 of 4]
Hotel Meurice
1 April 1850
My dear Mother Bates,
Your very kind
letter of the 26th of November was gratefully
received I assure you, for it was about the only
one of the few answers that I received to the
many letters that I wrote to friends in the
Islands, but with a few exceptions. I find
that my letters were all directed wrong, for
perhaps if I had not written to those I did
not write to, I would have received answers
as prompt as if they took a little interest in
friends at a distance. I am sorry I did not
write to the Girls, for, Lot, who wrote to them
has received their answers, and they are I
think the only ones that answered his letters
at all except the King & Queen & John Young.
I have only received one from the King since
I left, and also only one from John Young,
but the Queen is very kind to me & writes very
often. Besides your own, the Queens are the only
ones that have reces acknowledged the receipts
of my letters; I believe John Young did so too, but
of my other letters that I wrote I presume they
[Page 2 of 4]
have all been lost. For their fate does not seem to
be known. I wrote to Bernice, to Hopkins and to several others, but, I do not what the matter is in
Honolulu. In the Girls of letters to Lot, they speak
of having a great deal of company, I do not think
some of my other friends have half the Company,
and yet the Girls have found time enough to
answer their letters and also to their father.
Perhaps - but I do not know how much credit
to give to some reports that I have reached us,
and, therefore, perhaps I ought not to Complain.
But, I assure you, that I felt it quite hard, for
I have no reason to think of, that would prevent
some reasons of my friends that I wrote to from
answering. William, writes regularly, and I am so
obliged to him. We have now been in this delightful city for more than two months, and sad to relate, the longer I stop in Paris, the more attached
I have become, You must think me very naughty
but so it is. We have gone some into English society
in France, & I like it much, but, I think I prefer
French Society, and I think I would enjoy it
infinitely more if I could speak the language.
The French society I think is more fascinating, but
perhaps you will say, that I have been soft soaped
by the French, but I do not know what it is, but
[Page 3 of 3]
there is something that is so pleasant, with the French
young ladies especially. We are taking French lessons, &
to hear some of the Mademoiselles use words that we
know, to my ear it is exceedingly sweet. We go to theatres
in the Evening & also to the Operas and other sights in
Paris which are all very interesting. - I think Paris
is the finest city that we have been in yet, and there
is such a gaiety among the population, and the streets
are far superior to any other in Cleanliness, and also the
Climate agrees with me better than any we have been in
yet, and on the Whole I think I would like to spend
a year in France before I return, but, I suppose I
am to return sooner. I wrote to Libby at
last mail, and shall write to Nell soon, for I like
to receive answers to letters. And I shall also write to
Mr. Bates, and the boys if I can have time. I am sorry
Mr. Jasper and his wife have fallen out. but are quite amused with the Vida affair. I cannot write much longer.
I can only add that Your brother is doing his work &
has begun at it with right good earnest. I hope he will
succeed in his Mission ^but have doubts. He enjoys very good health, & grows
very fat. My great love to the boys, and a kiss for Sissy &
her baby. Tell sissy I shall bring her home something very
nice. Remember me to Mrs. Judd, & the Girls and Also
to Mr. Bates. Mr. Judd & Lot join in sending great love,
and believe me to be your “Keiki Aloha”
Alexander
[Page 4 of 4]
His Majesty 1850
Mrs. Bates
Honolulu
The @
Honolulu
Notes:
1. Mother Bates - This is assumed to be the wife of Mr. A.B. Bates, an attorney who for a
short time was a tutor to the princes, Lot and Alexander.
2. Lot - Lot Kapuāiwa Kamehameha was the son of Kīnaʻu and Mataio Kekūanāoʻa. He
would later become king, Kamehameha V, and rule the Hawaiian Kingdom from
November, 1863 - December, 1872.
3. King & Queen - Kauikeaouli & Kalama were the king & queen at the time of this letter
and the adopted parents of Alexander Liholiho.
4. John Young - John Kaleipaihala Young also known as Keoni Ana, was the son of
Kamehameha I's trusted foreign advisor, John Young and Kaʻōanaʻeha, daughter of
Kamehameha I's brother, Keliʻimaikaʻi. He was a trusted advisor of Kamehameha III and
was the Kuhina Nui from 1845-1855.
5. Bernice -
Bernice Pauahi, daughter of Konia and Pākī. Her mother was a daughter of
Kamehameha I.
6. Hopkins - This person is unknown.
7. Libby - This person is unknown.
8. Mr. Bates - Mr. A.B. Bates, an attorney who for a short time was a tutor to the princes,
Lot and Alexander.
9. “the boys”- This appears to refer to the sons of Mrs. Bates.
10. Mr. Jasper and wife - Mr. John Robert Jasper was married to Jane Loeau, who was the
daughter of Kuini Liliha and Kalaniulumoku and a school mate of Alexander at the
Chiefs' Children's School.
11. Vida affair - The spelling of this term is not clear, and this event is unknown.
12. Your brother - Mrs. Bates brother is unknown, but was apparently in Paris or in one of
the cities visited on the princes' tour.
13. Libby, Nell, Sissy - These three girls are mentioned as having letters sent to them by
Alexander, but not having responded. They are unidentified.
14. Mrs. Judd - Laura Fish Judd was the wife of Dr. Gerrit P. Judd.
15. Mr. Judd - Dr. Gerrit Parmele Judd was a member of the third company of missionaries
and a medical doctor. In 1842, he resigned from the mission and became an advisor and
translator to King Kamehameha III. He held many positions in the Hawaiian government
and in 1849, he was commissioned as Minister Plenipotentiary to England, France and
the United States where he visited, accompanied by Lot & Alexander. It was on these
travels that Alexander wrote this letter.
16. Lot - Lot Kapuāiwa Kamehameha was the son of Kīnaʻu and Mataio Kekūanāoʻa. He
would later become king, Kamehameha V, and rule the Hawaiian Kingdom from
November, 1863 - December, 1872.
17. Alexander - Alexander Liholiho would become king and rule from January, 1855 November, 1863, as Kamehameha IV.
1850_Apr01_AlexanderLiholiho-Bates
Date of Letter:
April 1, 1850
From:
Alexander Liholiho
To:
Mrs. Bates
Content Summary:
Alexander Liholiho writes Mrs. Bates about his stay in France, letters he has received and those
that may have been lost.
Typescript:
[Page 1 of 4]
Hotel Meurice
1 April 1850
My dear Mother Bates,
Your very kind
letter of the 26th of November was gratefully
received I assure you, for it was about the only
one of the few answers that I received to the
many letters that I wrote to friends in the
Islands, but with a few exceptions. I find
that my letters were all directed wrong, for
perhaps if I had not written to those I did
not write to, I would have received answers
as prompt as if they took a little interest in
friends at a distance. I am sorry I did not
write to the Girls, for, Lot, who wrote to them
has received their answers, and they are I
think the only ones that answered his letters
at all except the King & Queen & John Young.
I have only received one from the King since
I left, and also only one from John Young,
but the Queen is very kind to me & writes very
often. Besides your own, the Queens are the only
ones that have reces acknowledged the receipts
of my letters; I believe John Young did so too, but
of my other letters that I wrote I presume they
[Page 2 of 4]
have all been lost. For their fate does not seem to
be known. I wrote to Bernice, to Hopkins and to several others, but, I do not what the matter is in
Honolulu. In the Girls of letters to Lot, they speak
of having a great deal of company, I do not think
some of my other friends have half the Company,
and yet the Girls have found time enough to
answer their letters and also to their father.
Perhaps - but I do not know how much credit
to give to some reports that I have reached us,
and, therefore, perhaps I ought not to Complain.
But, I assure you, that I felt it quite hard, for
I have no reason to think of, that would prevent
some reasons of my friends that I wrote to from
answering. William, writes regularly, and I am so
obliged to him. We have now been in this delightful city for more than two months, and sad to relate, the longer I stop in Paris, the more attached
I have become, You must think me very naughty
but so it is. We have gone some into English society
in France, & I like it much, but, I think I prefer
French Society, and I think I would enjoy it
infinitely more if I could speak the language.
The French society I think is more fascinating, but
perhaps you will say, that I have been soft soaped
by the French, but I do not know what it is, but
[Page 3 of 3]
there is something that is so pleasant, with the French
young ladies especially. We are taking French lessons, &
to hear some of the Mademoiselles use words that we
know, to my ear it is exceedingly sweet. We go to theatres
in the Evening & also to the Operas and other sights in
Paris which are all very interesting. - I think Paris
is the finest city that we have been in yet, and there
is such a gaiety among the population, and the streets
are far superior to any other in Cleanliness, and also the
Climate agrees with me better than any we have been in
yet, and on the Whole I think I would like to spend
a year in France before I return, but, I suppose I
am to return sooner. I wrote to Libby at
last mail, and shall write to Nell soon, for I like
to receive answers to letters. And I shall also write to
Mr. Bates, and the boys if I can have time. I am sorry
Mr. Jasper and his wife have fallen out. but are quite amused with the Vida affair. I cannot write much longer.
I can only add that Your brother is doing his work &
has begun at it with right good earnest. I hope he will
succeed in his Mission ^but have doubts. He enjoys very good health, & grows
very fat. My great love to the boys, and a kiss for Sissy &
her baby. Tell sissy I shall bring her home something very
nice. Remember me to Mrs. Judd, & the Girls and Also
to Mr. Bates. Mr. Judd & Lot join in sending great love,
and believe me to be your “Keiki Aloha”
Alexander
[Page 4 of 4]
His Majesty 1850
Mrs. Bates
Honolulu
The @
Honolulu
Notes:
1. Mother Bates - This is assumed to be the wife of Mr. A.B. Bates, an attorney who for a
short time was a tutor to the princes, Lot and Alexander.
2. Lot - Lot Kapuāiwa Kamehameha was the son of Kīnaʻu and Mataio Kekūanāoʻa. He
would later become king, Kamehameha V, and rule the Hawaiian Kingdom from
November, 1863 - December, 1872.
3. King & Queen - Kauikeaouli & Kalama were the king & queen at the time of this letter
and the adopted parents of Alexander Liholiho.
4. John Young - John Kaleipaihala Young also known as Keoni Ana, was the son of
Kamehameha I's trusted foreign advisor, John Young and Kaʻōanaʻeha, daughter of
Kamehameha I's brother, Keliʻimaikaʻi. He was a trusted advisor of Kamehameha III and
was the Kuhina Nui from 1845-1855.
5. Bernice -
Bernice Pauahi, daughter of Konia and Pākī. Her mother was a daughter of
Kamehameha I.
6. Hopkins - This person is unknown.
7. Libby - This person is unknown.
8. Mr. Bates - Mr. A.B. Bates, an attorney who for a short time was a tutor to the princes,
Lot and Alexander.
9. “the boys”- This appears to refer to the sons of Mrs. Bates.
10. Mr. Jasper and wife - Mr. John Robert Jasper was married to Jane Loeau, who was the
daughter of Kuini Liliha and Kalaniulumoku and a school mate of Alexander at the
Chiefs' Children's School.
11. Vida affair - The spelling of this term is not clear, and this event is unknown.
12. Your brother - Mrs. Bates brother is unknown, but was apparently in Paris or in one of
the cities visited on the princes' tour.
13. Libby, Nell, Sissy - These three girls are mentioned as having letters sent to them by
Alexander, but not having responded. They are unidentified.
14. Mrs. Judd - Laura Fish Judd was the wife of Dr. Gerrit P. Judd.
15. Mr. Judd - Dr. Gerrit Parmele Judd was a member of the third company of missionaries
and a medical doctor. In 1842, he resigned from the mission and became an advisor and
translator to King Kamehameha III. He held many positions in the Hawaiian government
and in 1849, he was commissioned as Minister Plenipotentiary to England, France and
the United States where he visited, accompanied by Lot & Alexander. It was on these
travels that Alexander wrote this letter.
16. Lot - Lot Kapuāiwa Kamehameha was the son of Kīnaʻu and Mataio Kekūanāoʻa. He
would later become king, Kamehameha V, and rule the Hawaiian Kingdom from
November, 1863 - December, 1872.
17. Alexander - Alexander Liholiho would become king and rule from January, 1855 November, 1863, as Kamehameha IV.