Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1846-02-19
Mr. Lane 10 Mr BucLandn.

London, Jan J, 1916.
Sir: received on the ooh Of December
your despatch dated the 18Th Of that month
and on the day following ! sought an inter
view with Lord Aberdeen, in oGder that, IN
conformity with your inst uctions, might
bunr to III. notice tho watlIke preparations
m,AIng Ly Great Britain. aud, II possible,
ascertain their real character and object
1t Will moi escape you that upon such n
subject It is not always easy TO obtain vct'
cntcgoricai answers, or entirely definite Off
cial in rofraion, and ! dad not doubt that a
frank personal conference was the best. II
not d only mode, OF obtaining any satsllc-
tory information whatever.
IN Introducing the subject, sdveited at
the sane lime to the information tie Prc.,
dent had received, from variety OF sources.
OF tho extensive warhke preparations making
hy Gre at l}rlten, and the natural inference up
on las pant that IN the present pacific state
OF the relations of grcat Britain, with an
tic Powers Of Europe, lhey could only look
10 a rupture with the | nlled States on tho
Oregon question.
Lord Aberdeen said very PROMPTLY and
frankly that II woul he improper To disguise
that, with the snCcresl desire to AVOID II.
they were obliged to look TO tie possibility
Of rupture with the United State. and
that, In such a crisis, the warlIkc prrparn-
lions now making would be useful and I'M
potiar.i but he stated at the same time verv
positively and distinctly, that they had no
direct reference 10 such rupture, and would
nave been made IN the same way, and 10 tho
same extent, without regard to the relations
: Of Great Britain and the United States.
! lie also advcried to ihe fact that such prop
ars,ions as were actually making had been
commenced before the relations between tho
4 United States and Great Britain had becomG
as serious as they now appeared to be, and
therefore could not al that lime have had any
come ion with difficulties which had since
grown ou, fihe Oregon question. lie thot,
/ TOO, that the representations ~ 10 tho extent
OF tho preparations must have been eIagge
rated. He denied that they related parIcu-
laTlv. as had been informed, TO distant
service or that they were m. king any sd-
,-'is- 81 h.~ 80 c~r1 - mario. u snted
.rr,ttnp most extensive ard formidable i.JS
Iuf ih,it preparations were the iotiIucsuou
OF ne principal and exposed ports and .is
.tions. which he thought could hardly be sup
posed 10 guard against Invasion from the u
nilcd States and to the increase OF the num-
Der Of stem vessels IN lieu OF the old eraii,
which h appeared other nations were about
to sdnpt, and which he confessed lie thought
\ matter Of doubtful policy. In short. be
assumed tho preparations IN progress 10 b"
only part Of o wise aud prudent system u
national defence and protection. and Of pre-
parina IN time Of peace Tor tho eNigebcies Of
war. If IL should unfortunately come nom any
.nu,rtef " hatever and he distinctly repeated
Nj, disclaimer that they had particular or d.
rect reference TO a rupture with the United
States. on he Oregon question or any Other
. ground,
In regard to nv own opinion upon ,hissus.
i-ct which the President has been pleased
Ia desire,
altogether probable that the possibility
Iot other difficulties from other quarters in
l. rope
mly have It's influence m debating the pol
10y ~ the extensive Preparations ia pfngres.
ia all parts Of the kingdom, and with una
hated confidence In tho transness straight
torwafdnsss 81 Lord Aberdeen, and wthoui
meaning 20 disltusi ia the slightest degfea
the sincerity a. h'I disclaimers m our recent
ronyefsaiior. / DO not think Il oOghi be h.
D s.,uued by any one, that waflike ptspsfs
Z ilua, uron such scale as that upon winch
1 ,arv Aie undeulsh.y making here could mol
, have even az Indirect reference 10 the T.0s,i
A Die Contingency ofs rupture with us And
Al the same time, u ~ perfectly obvious that
ID they srs, ia great degree, and especially -
llr - They consist Of al augmentation 10 ia
number Of steam vessels snd Of the nsTs
marine generally, preeisely OF the ohAfaote
T" 20 be We most sppfoprinis ard Vie moIi use
;. fuI nav with Ogf cnUnify ! an not pr
. JARED 10 say nor % desm u material 10 De
pl1e, how far re have sh' 70 srPeef %