The Hawaiian Embassy.  The prime minister of the Hawaiian kingdom was, at this period, an adventurer of the name of Gibson.  He claimed, on the strength of a romantic story, to be the heir of a great English house.  He had played a part in a revolt in Java, had languished in Dutch fetters, and had risen to be a trusted agent of Brigham Young, the Utah president.  It was in this character of a Mormon emissary that he first came to the islands of Hawaii, where he collected a large sum of money for the Church of the Latter Day Saints.  At a given moment, he dropped his saintship and appeared as a Christian and the owner of a part of the island of Lanai.  The steps of the transformation are obscure; they seem, at least, to have been ill-received at Salt Lake; and there is evidence to the effect that he was followed to the islands by Mormon assassins.  His first attempt on politics was made under the auspices of what is called the missionary party, and the canvass conducted largely (it is said with tears) on the platform at prayer-meetings.  It resulted in defeat.  Without any decency of delay he changed his colours, abjured the errors of reform, and, with the support of the Catholics, rose to the chief power.  In a very brief interval he had thus run through the gamut of religions in the South Seas.  It does not appear that he was any more particular in politics, but he was careful to consult the character and prejudices of the late king, Kalakaua.  That amiable, far from unaccomplished, but too convivial sovereign, had a continued use for money:  Gibson was observant to keep him well supplied.  Kalakaua (one of the most theoretical of men) was filled with visionary schemes for the protection and development of the Polynesian race:  Gibson fell in step with him; it is even thought he may have shared in his illusions.  The king and minister at least conceived between them a scheme of island confederation—­the most obvious fault of which was that it came too late—­and armed and fitted out the cruiser Kaimiloa, nest-egg of the future navy of Hawaii.  Samoa, the most important group still independent, and one immediately threatened with aggression, was chosen for the scene of action.  The Hon. John E. Bush, a half-caste Hawaiian, sailed (December 1887) for Apia as minister-plenipotentiary, accompanied by a secretary of legation, Henry F. Poor; and as soon as she was ready for sea, the war-ship followed in support.  The expedition was futile in its course, almost tragic in result.  The Kaimiloa was from the first a scene of disaster and dilapidation:  the stores were sold; the crew revolted; for a great part of a night she was in the hands of mutineers, and the secretary lay bound upon the deck.  The mission, installing itself at first with extravagance in Matautu, was helped at last out of the island by the advances of a private citizen.  And they returned from dreams of Polynesian independence to find their own city in the hands of a clique of white shopkeepers, and the great Gibson once again in gaol.  Yet the farce had not been quite without effect.  It had encouraged the natives for the moment, and it seems to have ruffled permanently the temper of the Germans.  So might a fly irritate Caesar.