The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-08-12

fannie Msjesty and the United States Of America. y
No further extracts will be made from this letter
but 1t is appended hereto and marked No. a.
and its contents commended TO the perusal OF all
who are in search Of truth on the subject Of this
aggression. 1t is full ackno wledgment and assev,
erstion, officially made to the Prince Regent OF
| Portugal, that the British squadron, commanded
| by Captain Lloyd, in the port Of Fayal, were the
agaressors and violated in the mo It fragrant manner,
against the opportunities Of the Governor, the
neutrality of that port, by the capture
and destruction of the General Armstrong
What more can be wanted to establish the respon-
sbility Of Portugal to the owners OF the american
| brig thus captured and destroyed in violation Of
the laws of ma lions! But if further evidence is
required from the same source it will be found in
the following Jurisprudence, which took place be-
ths sh MnM Minister sE%pis
Affairs, written expressly under the instructions OF
the Prince Regent Of Portugal, at Rio Janeiro, to
| which place the house of Borganza had been driven
by the successful invasion of Portugal by Napoleon
Bonaparte.
On the 23d of December, 1914, the Minister of
| Foreign Affairs at Portugal addressed commune
cation to General Sumpter, Minister of the United
| states at Rio Janeiro, enclosing to him let
| ter addressed to Lord Strangford, Envoy Extraor-
binary and Minister Plenpotentiary Of q reat Bri-
tain at that court, written under the express
! direction of the Prince Regent of Portugal, by
his Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Marquis dc
| Aguiar, dated22d December, 1914, hereto annexed,
| marked No. 8. IL is a remarkable fact, connected
with these letters that the Minister Of the United
| States at the Court of Portugal had received no
information Of tn, capture and destruction of the
brig General Armstrong, until officially informed
| of it by the communication of the Marquis de
Aguiar, above referred to, and that the facts,
timents and ,lusons contained in these letters
were purely voluntary the part of the Prince Re
gent OF Portugal and were not solicited expected
by the government ofth United States. Nointima-
ton had been given ut that time of any intention
the part Of this government to demand indemnity of
the government of Portugal for this violation of
her neutrality, nor had It reached the ears Of the
of nj a1 a. mi mia atari
department Of the government, that this occur
renee had taken place. which, had it been known,
would assuredly have attracted the attention of the
President. In this situation of affairs, it will be
seen by this correspondence, that; the Minister of
Portugal, nstructe to that end by his mastcr the
Prince Regent, with all the evidence collected from
the Azores before him, expressly Declares that con
perusal Of those papers, his Excellency will OBJ
serve the outrageous manner in which that CON-
mander Captain Lloyd violated the neutrality
| bis Royal Hi hness hal resolved to maintain dur
| ing the war that unbappily exists between Eng
land and the United States, by audaciousy at
| lacking the American prisateer General Armstrong
| in the port of FayL, and under the guns Of the
castle, Notwithstanding the circumstances of the
Governor, founded on the laws of nations, and the
friendship and alliance that existed between the
| two sOvereigns."
The Minister of Portugal proceeds further to
aIimadvert on the illegal proceedings of the
commander of the British heet and does not hesitate
to ascribe to him the base attempt at tho time he
| commenced the unprovoked attack on the Ameri-
can privateer, to attribute those violent measures
to the breaking OF the neutrality on the part of the
Americans in this instance by repelling the British
armed barges that were sent for the purpose of
connoitering that vessel, advocating with the most
manifest duplicity that they were consequently
| the aggressors. "But what appears still moro sur
prising continues the Minister, g is the arrogance
| with which the British commander threatened to
consider the territory of his Royal Ilighness
mics, should the Governor adopt any measures to
prevent them from taking possession of the Amer-
can privateer. which they subsequently plundcred
l .Jgat ~ he, as,kfv
piled the Governor of the Azores for not
| protecting the brig while in the neutral port of
Fayal and excuses him from the penalty Of the dis
| pleasure of the Prince Regent and consequent
moval from Office, by the peculiar circumstancesn
which he placed with the belief that the island
would have been attacked and depredations COM
mtted therein which could not be anticipated if he
had performed bis duty in repslling the British
force.
The minister, after giving the full details con-
nected with this transaction, informs Lord Srang-
ford that the Prince Regent had dirested his Minis
ter at the court of London, to make the strongest
representations before the Prince Regent Of
| the United Kingdom and to require satisfaction
and Naturalization, not only for his subjects, but
taiaraitlcsd BY Inc sIiSgasfa OF a'euusI5t, sTas
The letter in which tho foregoing despatch was
closed gives in sub lance the details, and vol
unfairly recognizes, without reserve, the British
naval commander as the aggressor and the violator
of the neutral position Of Portugal between the two
| belligercnts.
! Thus stood the ma tier at the time, and immedi-
! atey after the outrage had been nitted, when
all the facts fresh the minds of the actors
! in these scenes. and the impressions made all
who with, ssed the bloody conflict, well the
authorities Of Portugal at Rio Janero, were the
suit OF th, facts which are incorporated in every
| state paper cmauating from the government OF
| Portugal In relation to this disastrous affair.
The formal demand on England for indemnii;a-
ton and satisfaction. as well in behalf of Portugal
a. Of the owners of the armed brig Gen. Armstrong,
il n clear and unequiyocal admission aud avowal
| of he Of tn he of
the American brig, on which responsibility alone
could Portugal found demand on the government
Of Great Britain for indemnity: These acts recos
nizing the liability Of Portugal remained uncontra
dicted, and were regarded as conclusive in relation
to the claim Of the owners Of the Gen. Armstrong
for long series Of years. These delays were occi-
stoned rs will appear by the spondeace by the
peculiar condition of the government Of Portugal,
ana the ipdspostion Of the American government
| 10 urge this claim on her, until that government
should be placed In better situation and under
better auspices but tao owners have never failed
TO make contiua claim, and from time TO time, to
urge tho government Of the United States to
| speedy demand on the government Of Portugal for
| the full indemnity to which they are entitled.
In this situation things remained until the com
ing ia Of the ADMINISTRATION OF Gen. Andrew Jack
! con. During this administration the subject OF this
claim wa again Gallo 10 the attention Of the gov
errmcnt Of Portugal, under instruction from tn >
Department Of state Of the United states, to Mr.
Cayansgh, the Charge d Affairs at that court. 1t
appears by th, corrcspondencc ON file at the De-
IaTtuent OF state Of the United states, that de-
mand for indemnity received by the Amer san
Charge by a note 10 the Minister OF Foreign Affairs
OF Portugal, dated 18th February, ISL, TO which
no written reply returned, but In converse
tion held by Mr.. Civanagh with the Minister Of
Foreign Affairs the 18th of Marsh, 1871, the
Minister OF Portugal assigned reason for not
havipg wercd tLc note Of Mr. Cavsnagh, his want
OF infoi nation the subject Of this claim, and 10
obtain such information he had ordered ex ANNA
! ton Of the whole matter TO be made. And finally,
he said among other things, - that he was igno-
rant Of the true state Of the question, but would
! subject"
II docs not appear tina, any written ccmmunica-
ton was ever received from the guycrsmcn. tPor-
tugal 20 The Charge Of the United states in answer
10 the numerous letters addressed to the various
Ministers a orcign Affairs Of Portugal, from time
10 TIM. Occupy ing that oai,is station, from the
date 81 the communication II the Marquis deAgiar,