The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-29
Tho Affair with General I.emery. Of the
Spanish Army,

JAMEs q. BENNETT, Esq.
Eo'ros NV Yoos HsRuo-
sas-Ifaving in the HERALD Of the 9th publ.
cation ia relation challenge alleged to have seat
to General Lemery Of IT. O. M service have deemed IL
my duty institute official inquiries the matter sns
to present legal evidence Of the transaction.
My personal knowledge aud interference il folows
On Monday afternoon last, at ocock, visited
General Lemery at the New York Hotel found him s
the room 6f Don Antonio Artes also odger there AZ
as entered the General handed me challenge
dressed to him by Mr. Agucro observed without hesi-
ation that he could not sccept IT, that his Official acts
not amenabe to individual appeals sstisctioa.
and that it would be violation Of his military rank and
official position well Of the laws of State Of
York, to enter into personal rencontre left ths
General in about half hour and returned again to see
him hour after aud found him with the chancellor d
this consulate Don Carries Chacon, with whom he had
conversation during my sbsence-a which, and other
occurrences will appear In the statement Of said Don Car
os Chacon herewith enclosed.
have also obtained from Don Antonio Artels his
count Of what had taken place in this transactsn anA
which likewise accompany requesting you will publish
the whole by my authority In place this matter
in It's true light before the public
Respectfully your obt servant,
FRANCISCO sTOUGHTON, H. G. NJ. Consul.
STATEMENT OF MR. CHACoN.
Nsw Yomx, May 2s, 1852
SlR-Iayng had the intention of answering myself
the article of the tnALp of the 27th submit to your
order and give full statement OF the whole action
concerning my friend General Iemery This gentiemas
sailtd from Havana in the Isabel and arrived at this
city from Charleston in the Southcrner last Saturday
morning Mr.. Lara his aide decamp called at the cou-
suale and requested me to accompany him TO Mr.. Gu
nard ohce where we took the beths for the denerse
and his family by the steamer Canada. which to sa
the 10th of May There being way of conveyance
for Boston on sunday the Generals intention was to
leave on Monday morning and would have done so had
not his lady (who had been very lately conined) been
too unwc to undertake the journey On Monday
noon after dinner General l. received card from Mr..
Elias Hernandez, who waiting for him In the parlor
the General not knowing the gentleman very proba
bly, not recoccting his name asked Mr. Arell who Iie
nandez was his answer was that he was Cuban that
| he Ind known for many years, Followed by Mr..
Artols who boards at the New York Hotel the De-
neral went to the paror, where he met Hernandez
with another person unknown TO both. After tho
customary SITUATIONS on both sides Mr. l.. remarked
that if there anything private he would retire,
which he did ut the request Of Hernandez who said hs
remaining alone with the two The challenge of Aguero
was read and the General answered that they should
hear from him The General Of course at the moment,
could do nothing accept in any way anything oftlis
kind. having friend at his side with whom he could
consult about this matter Had he accepted of
the newspapers have falsely represented this challenge,
he would most certainly have met his adversary for he
is too well known brave and superior officer and
OF honor to be branded AZ coward but the General
well knowing his position and under his peculiar circum-
stances. and in foreign country could in
cept such an unjust provocation.
The interview with Mr. " only lasted a few moments
Some time after, saw the General alone in Mr Lsva's
lie tue cnaIlengc INTO nand3 reiatngt -
me all the circumstances connected with this affair told
the General that he personally answerable for the
ofciol acts si his government and at the time
representing to him the figdity Of the law against
dueiling
remained al the New York Hotel that night in order to
leave next morning with him for Boston. agreeable to
previous arrangements that had made with him
sunday Weci the hotel for the depot Thrtelh street,
~ quarter to eight NJ. and heard of "a.
stated in the HERALD calling for the Of the Gene
raj at six A. NJ We left the depot OF Thirteth street
eight and half and had that gentleman inauir-
"a more particularly he might have found s the depot
or might have oyeraken the General and his friends,
had he taken the evening train for ost on and was so
very anxious to settle the matter think he would
have met with the same fate the teIesraphic despatch
which must have been lost on the road Regarding tho
assertion that despatch sent to two Of the principal
hotels in Boston: On my arrival ut the Revere Hotel,
aury GSs ns pUoRSsef E Va BsfS ri %er a
Lcmery myself you sir mentioned before my depsr-
tuic that should you receive letters by the
steamer. you would address them to the General my
self at the Revere House and lei know by telegraph
This inquiry not made once. but several times in
duty bound. but there was nothing for either OF The
General and his lady had accepted the invitation of
friend in Boston at whose house he put up while Mr..
Lara and my self took rooms nj the Revere House and
the General and his iamiy sailed the next day by tho
Canada at the appinted hour
Now that | have given you full statement Of the
facts permit me sir to add in conclusion few remarks
that Mr. Lara has ms about the General aud in
reference to the proacoonfo Puerto Principe The
four who shot at the time Of this rqo,an ca,nenS
were not executed by the order Of Genera H. hut bv
that Of the central government at Havana. and many
more would have met with the fate had it been
for the interference Of General L. Those sent to Ceu,a
hy the government authorities were recommended by
General Lemcy 10 tn. heads of that fortress to be well
treated have made these last remarks in justice to
the character and reputation OF General Lemcry.
CARLOS DE cmAcoN.
4 A true copy FRANCISCO SrOUGHToN,
Consul of H. q. NJ.
DECLARATION or Don ANTONIO ARTELLs.
On Monday last the 2lth instant, Immediately aztec
dining. General Lemery looked out for to inquire
whether was acquainted with Mr. Hernandez who
waiting for him in the parlor of the New York Hotel
whose card had just been handed to him by servant.
replied he Is cuban whom ! have known for many
years We then proceeded together the paror where
met the above mentioned gentleman, and another
unknown to me, After the usual salutations said,
Gentlemen you have any private affairs will retirc'
Mr. hernandez answered. Yes have two words to say
to the General therefore Withdrew to my own room,
and minutes after the General entered. having left
those individuals and instantly gave an account Of
their mission. and added. What shall do friend Ar
tells in the present enfcebd condition Of my wife ani
sickness cf my infant -
lie inclined to accept the challenge; but certain
individuals of prudence and experience oycrrucd his in
certain that nothing could have restrained him had
e been diseDgsgvd of sick wife and dying infant Tho
Geners told me that after having read the challenge, ha
said to the bearers Of il, will to. II
he did not reply TO IT, II was owing to the good advice
According to what was mentioned 10 me by Mr Lara
done by order Of General Lemery
but by the superior government OF the island The said
Mr. Lara also told that II many had not shared tho
fate. II owing to the intercssson of General
Lomcry and the clcmency of his lady and that II IL had
executed he would most willingly have spared their
lives Mr. Lara also informed me that when Of the
pron1ados o Principe had been sentenced by the supe
nor authorities TO Ceuta that General Lemery gave to
Of them kind recommendations for the chiefs
that pSsdo IN order that they might be treated with all
pos.SDe consideration.
NV YoRS, May ~, 1852.
(signed) ANTONIO ARTELLs.
4 true Translation