Washington telegraph., 1849-10-17
From the N. Y. Sun.
THE sr1crD sgArEs AMP FRANCE.

NJ Poussin, has been dismissed 10y our
Government. The cause, IS q series OF
grossly insulting letters written to our
oovernn nent, by M. Poussin, and endorsed
bv the French Government. They refer
to claims of French citizens. During the
war with Mexico, Frenchman at Vera
Cruz purchased quantity of tobacco,
which had been seized by agents OF the
American army, knowing it to- be private
property, and as such subject to the rules
of war As soon as the commander OF
Vera Cruz, COL Childs, heard of the trans
action he caused the tobacco to be restor-
ed to its rightful owners. and to the
Frencnman his purchase money. a NIL
itary commission held afterwards, approv-
ed of Col Childs' action, which was also
confirmed by General Scott. The matter
was supposed to be there ended. An
other case was supposed to be that OF a
wrecked French vessel, the Eugenia, the
captain of which applied to the Comman-
der of the sloop Truxton. of the biockad-
ing squadron, to help his vessel OH. 1he
required aid was rendered, and the COM
emander of the TruXton demanded salvage
(which was refused, and the Eugenia after
being detained thirty hours, was permit
aet to go free. The conduct OF the COM
snander of the Truxton was approved by
commander Clifford, to whom the case
was afterwards referred, and here this
case was supposed to be ended.
In February last, M. Poussn presented
ITO Secretary Buchanan large claim on
the part of the Tobacconlst Frenchman
for the difference between the price ne
maid for the tobacco. and the price tor
which he sold it. A Court ofinqulry was
held before which Col. Childs appeared
as witness, and it was decided that the
original adjustment of the affair was Just
and sufficient. the claim was therefore
refused The decision was transmitted 10
the State Department, by which tune
MIR. CLAYTON had become Secretary ot
State. After due examination he atflrmed
the decision of the Court. Upon thus, M.
Poussin wrote an insulting letter to the
Secretary, in which he assumed that Col.
ChilGs had perjured himself before the
Court os Inquiry, aud that the Govern
meut had done unjustly. AS special
courtesy, his letter was returned to him
for reconsideration, giving him liberty to
withdraw it. or place it on file in the
State Department. lie insisted on argu-
ing his alega tlons. but was told that ar
gument was not required, 1t was favor
of etiquette: he could Withdraw the Otfen-
sive letter, or place it Oh file. lie finally
erased portion of the offensive matter,
the letter was filed, and here the matter
was thought at an end.
This insult was set down as matter
of inadvertance. NJ Poussin very soon
presented the clam of the captain OF the
l;ugenia, for thirty hours detention after
being saved from total wreck. The case
was given over to the Secretary of the
Navy, Mr. Preston, who upon full exam
nation confirmed the original decision,
and denied the claim. Upon this, M.
poussIi wrote still more lnsOent letter,
insinuatng the dishonorable, repudlatlEg
character of this Government, its wan: of
honesty and good faith, and ended by
saying "he acas sorry to tind the Anaera-
c,n GoueraDaent so utterly lnSenstble to
the dignity and SO ignorant Of the inter
estS of It's Marine service, as Ut hdd
sLo,cn itself to be IN MIstranSacteoN.
No reply was made to this letter, bu;
with former ones, it was enclosed to our
Minister at Paris, who was instructed to
Law them before the French Minister OF
Foreign Affairs. NJ De Tocqueville, that
he and the French President. and Gov
ernment, might know the language their
Ambassador had seen fit to use. lhlS
was done with confidence on the part OF
our Government that full reparatlon would
be made De Tocqueville replied to MIR.
Rush, after examination of the letters aud
facts connected, htat the French E1ecu-
tire saac no occasion for ITS action, and
that there had euidently been unnecessary
recrimi1aatiOn on BOTH SIDES, thus direct
ly incuIpating our Government.
This reply was submitted to General
Taylor, who immediately directed that no
further correspondence should be held
with the French Minister, and that his
passports be at once made out and tender
ed to him. Secretary Clayton was di-
rected also to instruct Mr.. Rush to inform
M. De Tocqueville. that his opinion upon
the conduct Of the Americam Government
had not been solicited that action acas &C.
pecteI, nat opinion-and that ere he re-
ceived this information, M. Po4ssin's
passports would be rendered him. The
passports were sent to the French office
of Legation on Friday, and it is evident
that M. Poussin knew nothing of the fact
on Monday night, as he was then at the
Art Union, where he responded to toast
complimentary to M. De Tocquevile-
He learned it, however, on Tuesday, and
left for Washington:
The result of this affair can only be
guessed at. France may retaliate by re-
iuslng to receive Mr. Rives, which will