The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-02-17


public.
have tho honor to be, sir, very respectfully,
your obedient servant AGgorr LAWRENCE.
To Hon. DANIEL WEBSTER,
Secretary OF State, Washington.
LORD GRANVILLE TO gIg LAWRENCE.
FOREIGN OFFICE, Dec 30, 1891.
The undersigned, her Majesty's principal Score
tary Of State for Foreign Affairs, has the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of the note which MIR.
Lawrence, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipo.entiary Of the United States OF America,
addressed to Viscount Palmerston, the 18th inst,
complaining OF the proceedings of the captain of her
Majesty s brig of war Express the,oocason of the
captain Of the American Atlantic and Pacific Ship
Canal Company g vel Prometheus refusing to pay
certain harbor dues at tho port Of GreytoHn, Mos
qnito.
The undersigned begs in reply, to state th 1T in
conformity with the advice which her Msjestys GO
vernment gave to the government OF Mosquito,
when the treaty of Washington. OF the 18th OF
April, 1850, was concluded between Great Britain
ard the United States, tho Mosquito government
decided that the vessels and goods of all nations
should, without distinction, be- from the first OF
January, 1851, exempt from the payment of all
duties whatever ut the port Of Gceytovn. But the
town council OF the place, in order to raise small
revenue to provide Tor some few unavoidable ex-
penses, resolved at one OF their meetings that car
tain taxes and dues should be levied TO supply, in
some measure, the pa,o of the revenue which would
have been obtained ii the customs tariff had not
been abolished
This c0ulci which is composed OF Two English
men, two citizens Of tho U nited States, French
man, and a native of Greytown, highly intelli-
gent merchant, accordingly passed resolution, by
which certain small harbor dues, amounting in tho
whole to about eleven dollars each vessel, were
imposed on shipping frequenting the port OF Grey
town.
MIR Lawrence will see, therefore, that tho above
mentioned barber dues were notimpoaed by the ad.
vice Of her Msjesty's government. With regard
to the enforcement of these oues the undersigned
begs to assure Mr. Lawrence that the captain of
the Express did not act onthe occasion in question,
in consequence OF any orders from her Majessy's
government aud, us far as her Majesty's govern
ment are at present Informed, no report upon the
subject having yet been received from Greytown,
the captain Of the Express appeara to have exceed
ed his proper authority Her Majestys govern.
ment, however, may expect very shortly to receive
direct from the officer concerned, accounts of the
transaction which forms the subject Of Mr.. Law
renco's note, and Mr.. Lawrence shall, thereupon,
receive further communication. Mr.. Lawrence
may, in the meanwhile, rest assured that it is far
from the intention of her Majesty's government to
authorize any proceeding at Variance with the sti
pulatons Of the treaty Of Washington, Of the 10Th
Of April, 1850; and that they most deeply regret
sny transaction which can be considered an af-
front offered by any British officer or authority to
the United States flag.
The undersigned has the honor to assure Mr..
Lawrence Of his highest consideration.
ID. N,ryyy