Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-12-06
BRITISH OUrRAGES.

correspondence has recently been publish
ed between Mr.. Everett, our Minister in Eng.
land, and the Government Of Great Britain, in
relation to alleged encroachments upon our
rights by Her Majes,v's cruisers Six several
Instances are cited by our Minister, IN which
these ouirages have occurred. The first is that
IN The case Of the American vessel, the ".)ohn
A. Robb" which was boarded by Lieut.. Matson
of Her Macsty's armed vessel the Water
Witch" on tho 81 h of March, 1912, the crew
mustered, and one of the seamen named Peter
| Hutchinson, taken away and received as a vol
! uuicer on board of the Water Witch. The cir
cumstances, from the correspcudence, seem TO
/ have been these: on The > h Of April, 1912,
| Lieut.. Ma'son. Of the Water Witch, being at
! Cabin a, IN the Coast Of Africa, territory not
under the iurisd elton of Great Britain, received
letter signed Peter Hutchinson, saying that
he and two other Enrllshmcn, whom he named,
we're on hoard the "John A. Robb,' and that
they had been cruelty treated by the master (;
they therefore implored his assistance. leu.
Ma'snn Immediately went on board the "John
A. Robh." with an armed party, took possession
of the vessel, ordered the crew to be summoned,
and heard the complaints of Hutchinson and the
others. who alleged that they were not legally
bound to 90 TO the Coz 81 of Africa. Lieut.. Mat.
son then demanded the ships papers. which
were produced After inspecting them, he an
nounced that the other two compliments were
enlisted az part Of the crew, and if they had
been ill.trea,ed must apply to the American
! Consul for redress on their return 10 RIO janet
no; bat that Hutchinson was at liberty TO leave
the vessel at any time he saw fl, and that If he
chose to enter h boat he could do so. lie
nsed to come alongside soon after, which
he did, and Hutchinson went away with him,
and was speedily enlisted as a volunteer on
board the Water Witch.
Mr.. Everett calls the attention Of Lord Aber-
deem to these facts, in letter dated Sept. 10,
1912, Lord Aberdeen replies under date of
July 3. lSi3-submit,ng statement from
Lieut.. Matson, in which, while the facts as
stated above are admitted, he urges that Hutch.
inson was on board the John A. Robb puhoul
any agreement rhaterer," that he had been i'll.
used and left OF his own accord. lie further
says, that lie believes the entry OF his name
upon the list of the crew was made by the cap.
tain of the vessel, after he (Mason) had visited
the ship, for the purpose of deceivlng him into
the berf that Hutchinson was one # the
crew, and chararteriZes the transaction as a
bungIing attempt at imposition On the
strength Of these misrepresentation Lord Aher.
deem dec!nes to dlsavow the act of Lieut. Mat.
son.
Mr.. Everett, IN reply, under date Of August
III, 1913, enters INTO an extended and minute
examination Of the facts. DENYING in very EN-
phntic terms the right Of Her Majesiy's officers
10 vIsi, American vessels in time of peace
knowing them to he such, /" for any cause what.
ever" and especially denouncing Lieut.. Mat
son for boarding the vessel, mastering the crew
and taking complete possession by an armed
force as he did on this occasion. His despatch
is long and able, stating very fully the circum
stances Of the transaction, and exposing veri
clearly the misrepresentation of Lieut.. Mat
son. The case is not yet closed. The cores
pondence concerning the other cases has no
yet bcen published.-N. Y. Courier.