The Imperial Era- part the first.

The French bombardment raised some serious dilemmas for the islanders.
Up until then their presence had largely remained secret. Tamba- Tamba's only contact with the wider world had been when the occasional American ship had stopped at Tamba- Tamba to take on water or supplies.There was some contact and trade with Wessel's Island, but none with Britain. The Islanders had lived in fear of punitive missions by the British, but this never happened and seemed less likely to with the passing years.
The population of the Island was less than 100. They were in no position to protect themselves against attack.
Having being alerted by the master of The Benedict to the fact that an apparent colony of Englishmen was in peril, the Admiralty sent the frigates Mercury and Columbine to Tamba- Tamba to investigate the situation.

Lt. Dixon, R.N

In August 1794 The Mercury and Columbine anchored off Cocktown and Lieutenant Artemis Dixon RN went ashore with a dozen marines. His first act was to claim Tamba- Tamba for King George the III.
Citizen Rowley Rowley, in effect the head of state, now found himself in an even deeper dilemma.
On September 25th 1794 the Council of Tamba- Tamba sat down to draft two letters, one to His Majesty King George III, and one to The Right Hon.William Pitt.
In it they asked, effectively, to be considered a part of Great Britain and offered the protection afforded to other British Colonies.
Historians often misconstrue the letter as an apology and a request for a pardon by the Mutineers, but this was never the case.
Once loyal subjects who settled these parts as the slaves of misfortune is how the Islanders describe themselves in the letter.
The Council had debated long and hard over the taking such a radical step, many of the older citizens fearing repatriation and retribution. The letters of course, could be viewed as superfluous as Tamba- Tamba was now effectively under British occupation.