Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-01-14
Nh. Foe 10 Mr.. Forsyth.

Sir: ! have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt Of your letter OF the Goth
inst in which, IN reply to letter which
! had addressed to YOU on the 18th, you
acquaint me that the President is not
prepared to comply with my demand
for the liberation of Mr.. Alexander
Mcleod, Of Upper Canada, now I'M
prisoned at Lockpon, in the State of
7 New York, on pretended charge Of
murder and arson, as having been en-
gagged in the destruction Of The piralical
steamboat "Caioiihe, Oh the 29th Dec,
1897.
learn with deep regret that such is
the decision Of the President OF the
United States, for | cannot bat ioresee
the very grave and serious consequent
ces ,ha, must ensae if, besides the lnj u
ry already inflicted upon Mr.. Nc l.c"d,
of yexatious and UNJUST Imprisonment,
. any further harm should bc done to him
in The progress oi ihis extraordinary
proceeding.
\ 1 have lost no time in forwarding to
her Ma jesty's Government in Engla
the correspondence that has taken place,
and shall await the further orders ol
her Macsty's Government with respect
to the important question which that cor
respondence involves.
But feel it my duty not to close this
communication without likewise testify
ing my vast regret and surprise at lll,
expressions winch | find repeated in
L., a. Ia, IL.
boa, Caroline. had confidently hoped
that The first erroneous impression %! the
character of that event, imposed upon
the mind of the United States Govern.
mcnt by partial and exaggerated repre-
sentaloils, would long since have been
eilaccd by IL more srtct and accurate
examination Of the facts. Such an in
veslig alton must even vet, | am willing
to believe, lead the United States Go
yernment to the same conviction with
which her Nlajcsty's authorities on The
/ spot were impressed, that the act was
one in the str!ctest sense of sell.delence,
/ rendered absolutely necessary by the
circumstances Of the occasion, for TIE
! safety aud protection Of her Majesty :
subjects, and justified by the same mo-
tvcs and principles which, upon similar
aud well known occasions, have govern
cd the conduct OF llus'rlous officers oi
the United States.
The steamboat Caroline was hostile
vessel engaged in piralical war against
her MaJesty's people, hired from her
owners Tor that express purpose, and
known to be SO beyond the possibility OF
:. doubt.
I. The place where the vessel was de-
The territory Of friendly Power, but
the friendly Power AHR jeen deprived,
through oyerbcaring piralcal violence,
oi the use oi us proper authority over
that portion oI Territory. The authori-
ties Of New York had not even been
able to prevent the artillery of the State
nom beng carried of publicly, al mid
day, TO be used us Instruments Of wa'
az aInst her MnJesy's subjects. 1t va:
under such circumstances, which II Is tt
be hoped will mover rocur, that the YES
sci was attacked by party oi her Ma
Jcsiy $ people, captured and destroyed.
a lei0onstrancc against the act II
: question has been addressed by til,
: United State 10 her MajesiJ's Govern
! menl IN England Fam not authorize {
To pronounce the decision of her MOJes'
tvs Government upon that remonstrancc
T, but have felt my sell bound TO record
/ IN The mean time, The above opinion, II
order to protest III the most solemn man
2 "er against the spirited aud loyal con
y duct oi party OF her AlnJesiy's oi!icoi
aud people being qualified, though al
: unfortunate misnpprehensiUn, as be
!. Ilcsr, of the facts, with the arpclallol
oi "uilagc or oi murder.
b. avail myself ol this occasion to re
i new 'o YOU the assurance OF my disliu
- sulshed consideration.
y. II. $. FOX.