"TO Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, the first kingdom of all the kingdoms of the world. "We the chiefs and rulers and governors of Niue-Fekai desire to pray Your Majesty, if it be your pleasure, to stretch out towards us your mighty hand, that Niue may hide herself in it and be safe. We are afraid lest some other powerful nation should come and trouble us, and take possession of our island, as some islands in this quarter of the world have been taken by great nations. On account of this we are troubled, but we leave it with you to do as seems best to you. If you send the flag of Britain, it is well; or if you send a Commissioner to reside among us, that also will be well."