Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-01-19
COMMODORE JoNEs-CALIFoRSIA

Gentlemen: Seeing IN TIE ihseill9ehcef Oh oaturuay,
under the editorial caption, 'An untoward occurrence
the article copied from the .fadisoneR Of Friday,
nay be illtimed out Of place 10 request the pub
lication of private letter received more than month
ago from the Pacific. The extract gives some accoun!
OF the movements Of The American and English squad
rons on that dsan, ocean, in September last; and OF
the then accredited rumor of war, which, therefore,
may not be withou, some interest just now 10 your
readers.
Gar SEA, Sept 10, 1912
"Just ten days ago was one Of the guests
on board the DuJtia, Admiral Richard Thomass flag
ship, then ut anchor in Callao Bay, and now we are
several hundred miles in the direction for California
what 10 do there time viii develop and you may infer
from what now communicate.
The British Admiral arrived at Caao from Valpa-
raso very xpectedy, on the evening of August ~
end forthwith despatched the Clarion sloop Of war
cret service, during the nsh) and 1t was soon ru
Inorcd that the Dublin would follow the next day; butt
as if to quiet tia. ramcr, Admiral Thomas, the next
DAY issued invitations 10 Commodore Jones and suite
and the other commanders in squadron 10 dinner
On the following Friday. In the mean time the British
Consul Genera died at Lima, and as the Admiral invited
the Commodore 10 unite in the funeral ceremonies, not
only were the officers CT The two squarons brought oge
ther, but our Commander fell in laxtaposcn with the
Diplomatic Corps Of Lima, from whom he learned posi-
lively that the DUBLIN, with very large extra supply OF
stores would sail immediately on some special service,
orofoundu secret AS might be agned, this set all the
quid nuncs to guessing, but not the slightest clue to
the real object could be obtained &c Al the day and
hour appointed, assembled on beard the Dublin CT
q good old English dinner, the American Commodore
on the right Of the Admiral ard the French Comno-
dore on his left &c The entertainment passed oil
well-excellently well-excep, that no hint was drop
ped by any one abou. the Dublrs intended movements
although we occasionally eered Commodore Bough!et
relative the French secret expeditions which we had
Just learned had taken possession OF the MaTGuesas
and Washington Islands
When taking leave Of tie Admiral at nine o'clock
Commodore Jones ds!catey approached the subject Of
anil he tp M n
when IL would be convenient 10 honor him with ms
company diGncr. THIS was rather poser, 10 which
tie Admiral after little hesitation, answered, that he
would call on him the neat Monday Tins Friday
evening the Cd Of Sept Mex, day the steamer arrived
from Valparaiso, and brought some Intelligence 10 tie
British Admiral, which put all in motion Oh board the
Dublin. At two ociaci on Saturday, Admiral Thomas
called beard oil: uag s!'p 10 take leave OF The Com
modore, saying that il. was going oui that evening"
and that all authorized 10 say was, that his
orders secret and past received from England by
the Carystord sooP al Simultaneous with these
incidents and transactions, the Commodore rrcs'rtd
letter from the ta!ta suites ConSht at .haIataa, IN
Hfrico, containing The manifesto al the Mexican
Government transmitting It's letter OF l1ay 81, to Mr.
Webster, TO the diplomatic corpsoi the world, may
eay-nnl also the inmor of through scvera! chan
nes, between The t. STATES and Mexico and also that
Mexico had coded TO Grea, Britain the two CALIFORNIA;
for seven millions of dollars, &c. Nc. Here, then,
was clue to the mysterious movements Of the Eng
lish squadron DC. 4 package Of letters was brought
by the steamer from some @here, addressed to house
IN Panama, by II " ship Dab!ia' What does this
mean Bound TO Panama to meet troops from the
.1est ides 10 take possession OF California, doubtless
'sJll be there before you, says our Commodore lie
dased Lima coEsus witli MIR Pickett, our Charge
Il .9Fairs aad WITH much much mystery as Admiral
Thomas had pFaci.,ei, IN less than forty eight hours
alter him our squadron at sea, consisting OF The
frigae Lnittd Stats. tie CyGns and Dale sioops OF
var, Gil we'll psovisoDed, wuh The plan OF twelve
months campa IN, as think, we'll deslgaed Upon
this subject say more AZ present thln 10 assure
YOU that We shall not act fasb!y believe the Com
incdoe has the confidence and support Of every officer
and man in The squadron. Among the commanders
and other commissioned oiicers there 10 perfect unsn
nifty OF opinion all official matters, and perfect lar
,nony and good Will IN social uerccuse, which is iaiseT
extraordinary in these days, Nc.
Rear ser.!sa. Richard Th,na- the captain oi Lord Col
in whose Admiral Cuiiswood hCalhr h' h'st aid
fne specimen he o English officer aEd ee'i,lnan
Note Gg he Editors IF tie National Iateiiigencer
AT the writing of the above ,he a,rs! date Of private
letters received from the United States in .NcTeh
1872 and it s mos. likely that CommodoEe Jones had
received no official Communications IRON his Govern
Inent bearing more recent date.
Theiaifai Monterey, if truly reported BY tie Me2
can apers though inch accounts are derived If
certainly 10 be regretted, because the Republic OF Mex
co and the United States actually at peace aud III
good fellowship. Bat generous nation on The one
hand and just Government OF the ether can, under
the circumstances, find 10 difficulty IN an aniicnoie
se!aiyessesat of the affair without occasion Tor casting
censure in any quarter feast until better advised than
our Government is al present known TO be.
Naval Commanders, ii must be considered serVing IN
remote seas, charged with high and responsible trusts
protectors and defenders Of the Gag Of the Republic
nre often constrained to act deesively and promptly,
according TO their view oil facts and circumstances seen
only by the lights shed around them at the time to ac;
oiten indeed, without any certain knowledge OF events
at home without orders or dispatches from home for
perhaps year more. vixen thousands Ct miles from
their native land.
LArEE YET IRON ENGLAND.