The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-20 00:00:00

THE BOMBARDMENT OF GREYTOWN.

Lord C. HAMILTON then rose to ask what steps her
Maje,ly's Government bad taken to obtain compensa-
tion for the British subjects residing at Greytown whose
property was destroyed when that town was bombarded
in 1854 ; and if it would lay upon the table of the house
copies of the communications that had taken place on
that subject with the Government of the United States.
He said some persons in New York formed a company
called the Transit Company. This company obtained on
certain terms a piece of land which speedily became
covered with buildings. Not content with this piece of
land they were constantly askieg for large grants, though
they refused to fulfil the conditions on which the first
piece of land was granted. It appeared that the Go-
vernment at Washington appointed a gentleman to re-
'present them at Grey town, and this gentleman was con
neetzd with the company. The consequence was, that he
'was constantly promoting squabbles between the com-
pany and the local authorities, and he went so far cn one
occasion as to withdraw from the local authorities a per-
son who had committed a murder. The authorities had
no power to resist the encroachments of the company,
and they resigned en masse, and requested the British
consul to carry on the government. The Americans then
busied themselves with getting up cases of grievarce.
These were not submitted to arbitration, but the ipse
dixit of the American was taken, and claims of compen-
sation were made for alleged injuries to American pro•
perty. The local authorities could only remonstrate,
and the American consul said he had referred the mat-
ter to the Government 4t Washington. Nothing was
heard of the reference till on the 12th July, 1854, an
armed corvette arrived in front of this town, and the
captain sent a message to the authorities, that if they
did not pay 24,000 dollars within 24 hours the town
would be bombarded. The authorities drew up a pro-
test, as did also the British vice-consul, and these pro-
tests were sent on board the corvette. Within the 24
hours the corvette began to bombard the place, and
continued so to do until they had fired 250 to 300 shells
into this unresisting town. Not content with that the
captain landed a body of men, who destroyed what re-
mained of the town, and among other property set fire
to the residence of the English vice-consul, who had his
flag flying at the time. Thisaccount was not fromßritish
residents only, but.the French and the Italian residents
drew up a similar account. In consequence of this out-
rage the whole population were driven to take shelterin
the neighbouring forest. This transaction took place
three years ago. No attempt as far as he could learn had
been made to offer any explanation, still less any compen-
sation. He had told the house that a number of fictitious
claims were made by the Americans, but that no attempt
was made to submit them to arbitration. In the mean-
time a document had fallen into the bands of some of the
parties, which showed that these claims were mere pre-
tences. It was a letter written by Mr. White, the agent
of the Transit Company, addressed to the A merican re-
presentative at Greytown, as follows :
" Captain Hollins—[the officer in command of the cor-
vette}—leaves here next Monday. Yoa will see from his
instructions that much discretion is given to you, and it is
to be hoped that it will be so exercised as not to show any
Isrcyto he town or the people. If the scoundrels are
soundly
taus tha
Punished we can take possession, and build it up
" a business; place, put in our own officer, transfer the ju-
risdiction,ftad you know the rest. It is of the last reaper-
j,,u,st,ne people of the town should be taught to fear
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