"When the chief Tamasese and others first moved the present troubles," he wrote, "it was my wish to punish them and put an end to the rebellion; but I yielded to the advice of the British and American consuls.

Assistance and protection was repeatedly promised to me and my government, if I abstained from bringing war upon my country.

Relying upon these promises, I did not put down the rebellion.

Now I find that war has been made upon me by the Emperor of Germany, and Tamasese has been proclaimed king of Samoa.

I desire to remind you of the promises so frequently made by your government, and trust that you will so far redeem them as to cause the lives and liberties of my chiefs and people to be respected." Sewall's immediate adversary was, of course, Becker.