The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-02-16
THE DAILY DISPATCH

i'HE PRoMETHEus.-The correspondents
between Mr.. Lawrence and Lord Granvill
respecting the affair Of the Prometheus has
been published, and the letter Of Lord Gran
vile contains most frank apology for the
conduct of the commander Of the Express.-
The tone of the letter shows cordial desire
10 keep the amicable relations Of England to
ourselves unbroken. We give the letter:
LORD GRANVILLE TO MR.. LAWRENCE.
The undersigned, her Britanic Majesty's Sc.
cretary of State for Foreign Affairs, has the
honor to acquaint Mr. Abbott Lawrence, En-
voy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipoten-
tiary to the United States Of America, that her
Majesty's Government have just received from
the Vice Admiral commanding her Msjesty's
naval forces in the West Indies, report upon
the subject of the Prometheus, which is TO the
following effect THAT, on arriving at ST..
Thomas, the Admiral received a despatch from
the commander of her Majesty sloop Express,
stating that, on the requistion Of MIR. James
Green, her Msjesty's Consul at Greytown,
who is also principal officer of the Mosquito
Government, at that place, he had, by force,
compelled the American steamship Prome-
theus to pay the port dues demanded Of her by
the authorities Of Grey town.
To this despatch Vice Admiral Sir George
that neither he, nor, TO bis knowledge, her Ma
yesty's consul had received any orders to all
low her Majes US ships to be emplyed in such
service, or in enforcing the fiscal regulations
OF Mosquito; the sole object Of the presence OF
British ship of war at Greytown being to de-
tend the town and inhabitants from aggressive
attempts to deprive the Mosquito government
OF possession, pending settlement by negotia-
ton OF the question relative 10 its future posi-
Sir bcl~ G.,
pressIy forbidden the commander of the Ex-
press from again employing force to compel
the levy of duties for the Mosquito govern.
ment.
The undersigned has now to state to MIR.
Abbott Lawrence, for the information of his go
vernment, that Her Majesty's government fully
approve of the Vice Admirars conduct in this
matter, and that they entirely disavow the ac1
of violence committed by the commander o.
the Express, and also the requisition from hel
Majesty's consul, under which the commander
acted, so far as he actedby any authority de-
rived from the British crown. Ender these cir
cumstances, her Msjesty's government have NJ
hesitation in offering an ample apology for tina
which they consider 10 have been an infractioI
Of treaty engagements; and her Majesty's go
vernment do so without loss of time, and i'm
| mediately upon the receipt of the official in
| telligence above alluded to, inasmuch as il
their opinion it would be unworthy of the go
vernment of great nation to hesitate abon
making due reparation when the acts Of thei
subordinate authorities have been such as no
to admit of justification.
AS her Majesty's government have full con
idence that the government Of the Unite
States is actuated by similar feeling, the.
hope that this mutual confidence will induc
each other, in all cases of such disputes, an
until due time has elapsed for the necessar.
explanations TO be received, to defer taken an,
steps which might lead to collisions. and thu
much aggravate the original difficulty. TIL
| undersigned requests, &c.
Foreign Office, Jan. 10, '52. GRANVILLE.
To the above Mr.. Lawrence replied, express
ing his qualification, and trusts that the ques
| tions out of which the difficulty grew, will b.
speedily settled.