Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-14
Mr.. Laurence 10 Tiscou,t Palmerstoa.
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
100 n. LII. n In TOr

LEGATION UNITED STATES,
138 Picc0diiiy, December 10, 1851.
The undersigned. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentary of the United States America direct
ed by President Of the United States call the
ton Of Vscount Palmerston her Britannia Maestys prn
cpal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to outrage
committed the United States steamship Prometheus"
belonging the American Atlantic and Pacific Ship Ca
nal Company, by the British brig Of Express
San Juan del Norte, in November last
IL appears that the " Prometheus under weigh at
San juan with about FIVE hundred passengers for the
purpose Of making voyage New York, when the city
authorities Of San Juan boarded her with police force
and served process Of attachment the ship and cap
tain for one hundred and dollars claimed by
those authorities port dues which the captain refused
to pay. Thereupon the Express" Immediately got
der weigh made sail for the steamer and when within
quarter Of mile Of her fired round shot her fore
castle and few minutes afterwards another shot
her stern which passed that its force dis
tncy felt by several persons board The captain Of
the then sent boat board the brig inquire
the cause of the firing The commander Of the brig
piled that protect the authorities Of Greytown in
their demands and that IL the steamer did not immediate
ly anchor he would fire bomb-shell into her; and he
ordered his guns to be loaded with grape and canister
The steamer then proceeded the anchorage and anchor
ed The brig anchored very her. and sent boat
board with orders that the fires should be exngushed
and say that officer would be to that this
done. The authorities then board, the
demanded paid under protest and the
permitted TO proceed to II further appears
that the captain Of the Express acted under the
thorty and by order Of Mr. Greene who claims to be
the British Consul at San Juan
The Government Of the United States has learned Of
these proceedings with deep surprise regret IL
consent TO the collection Of port charges at San Juan
by British ships Of that their collection should be
enforced by them. The President, Immediately on re-
ceivng intelligence Of these events gave orders for the
dispatch Of armed vessel to San Juan He has also
caused the undersigned to be instructed to inquire Of
yscount Pamerston whether the captain Of the Ex-
press acted pursuant 10 orders from her Maetys Co
ornment and whether his course is approved?
The undersigned is also directed to that IL these
questions shall be answered in the affirmative the Pres-
dent will consider the proceedings violation Of the
treaty Of the 10Th Of April 1885, by which Great Britain
has stipulated not to make Of any protection which
she may afford Nicaragua the Mosquito coast or any
part Of Central America for the purpose Of assuming
exercising dominion over the same.
The undersigned nvas himself Of the opportunity az
forded by these instructions renew 10 Vscount Pal
erston the Of his distinguished consideration
ABBOTT LAWRENCE.
VrscoUyT PALMFRsToS &c.