Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-02-14
OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE IN THE PRO
MEVHEI1S CASE


The Prometheus correspondence sent in to Con-
gress ON Wednesday, The first despatch is from Mr..
Webster to Mr. Lawrence, dated December instruct
ing him to inquire whether the conduct of the Captain
VI the Express consequence otlnstructons from
government, and protesting against the outrage
several dispatches follow in which it appears that the
British Secretary, being uniformed of the crcunl
stance, requests delay until he receives report from
the Admiral of the station On the 10th of January,
tnis information having been obtained, the following
letter was addressed by
LORD GRANVILLE TO MIR. LAWRENCE.
The undersigned Her British Majestys Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs, has the honor to acquant Mr.
Abbott Lawrence, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenpotentary the United States Of America that
Her Majestys Government have just received from the
Vice Admiral commanding Her Majesty's Naval forces
in the West Indies report upon the subject of the
Prometheus which is to the following effect That
arriving st. Thomas, the Admiral received despatch
from the commander of Her Maestys sloop Express,
stating that on the requiston of Mr. james Green her
Maestys Consul at Greytown, who is also principal
officer of the Mosquito Government, at that place. he
had by force, compelled the American steamship Pro-
metheus pay the port dues demanded of her by the
authorities of Greytown.
To this despatch Vice Admiral Sir George Seymour
had Immediately replied by saying that neither he nor
his knowledge her Maestys consul had received any
orders to allow her Maestys ships to be employed in
such service, in enforcing the fiscal regulations of
Mosquto the sole object of the presence of British
ship of at Greytown being to defend the town and
inhabitants from aggressive attempts to deprive the
Mosquito government of possession pending settle
by negotiation of the question relative to its future
position. Sir George Seymour had further expressly
forbidden the commander of the Express from again
employing force to compel the levy of duties for the
Mosquito government
The undersigned has to state to Mr. Abbott Law
renee for the information of his government that her
Maesty's government fully approves of the Vice Ad
miras conduct in this matter, and that they entirely
disavow the act of violence committed by the
der of the Express, and also the requstion from her
Majestys consul under which the commander acted,
far he acted by any authority derived from the Bri
fish crown Under these crcums stances, her Majestys
government have no hesitation in offering an ample
apology for that which they consider to have been an
ntracton of treaty engements; and her Majestys go
vernment do without loss of time and Immediately
upon the receipt of the official intelligence above au
ded to, inasnluch in their opinion it would be
about making due PREPARATION when the of their
subordinate authorities have been such not to admit
classification.
AS Her Maesty's government have full confidence
that the of the United States actuated
by a similar feeling they hope that this mutual conf
dence will induce each other in all cases OF such
disputes and until due time has elapsed for the necessa
Try explanations to be received to defer taking any
steps which might lead to collisions and thus much ag
gravate the original difficulty The undersigned re-
quests, &c. GRANVILLE.
FOREIGN OFFICE, Jan. 10, so.
To the above Mr.. Lawrence replied, expressing his
qualification and trusts that the questions out OF which
the difficulty grew, will be speedily settled