The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-14

cW- The Republic of yesterday contains the
following abstract of the correspondence on the
Promethcus affair, laid before the House on
Thursday
THE PRoMETHEUs AFFAIR.
! The SPEAKER also laid before the House a
message from the President of the United States,
transmitting copy of the instructions despatch
ed by the Department Of State to the Minister
of the United States at London, in reference to
the attack on the United States steamer Pro-
metheus, in the harbor of San Juan de Nicara-
qua, by the British brig of war Express" and
also copy of the despatchs of Mr.. Lawrence to
that department, and of his correspondence
with her Britannia Majestys principal Secretary
of State for foreign affairs upon the same sub.
ject; which was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, and ordered to be printed.
| The first despatch is dated December g. 1851,
| from Mr.. Webster to Mr.. Lawrence, detailing
to him the particulars of the attack upon the
Prometheus and repeating the directions of the
President that he will lose no time in addressing
note upon the subject to Lord Palmerston, and
| inquire whether the captain Of the express
acted pursuant to orders from his government,
and whether that course is approved; and that
Mr. Lawrence would state, if these questions
should be answered in the affirmative, the Presi.
dent,would consider the proceeding violation OF
the treaty of April 10, 1850, by which Great
Britain has stipulated that she would not make
use of any protection which she might afford
| Nicaragua, the Mosquito coast, or any part oil
Central America, for the purpose of assuming
fr exercising any dominion over the same
~ This government" Mr.. Lawrence is instructed
"cannot consent to the collection of port charges
at San Juan by British ships of war, or that their
collection should be enforced by them. The
occurrence above referred to has created equal
surprise and regret, and has caused the Presi-
dent to give immediate orders for the despatch
of an armed vessel to San Juan"
! On the 10Th of December. 1851, Mr.. Law
renee addressed note to Mr. Webster, acknowl
edging the receipt of his despatch, and, in com
pliance with the Instructions he on that day ad
dressed note to Lord Pamerston upon the
subject, a copy of which he encloses.
Mr. Lawrence, on the Goth of December, 1876 +,
informs Mr.. Webster of the withdrawal of Lord
Palmerston from the British cabinet.
There are copies Of other notes transmitted to
Congress.
Lord Granville 10 Mr. laurence
The undersigned, her Britannia Majesty's Sec
rotary of State for foreign affiirs, has the honor
to acauant Mr.. Abbott Lawrence, envoy extra
ordinary and minister plenipotentary from the
United States of America, that Her Majesty's
government have Just received from the vice ad-
mira commanding Her Majesty's naval forces in
the West Indies, a report upon the subject Of
the Prometheus which is to the following effect
that, on arriving at ST. Thomas, the admiral re.
ceived despatch from the commander of Her
Maesty's soop" Express stating that, on the
requisition of Mr.. James Green, Her Majesty's
consul at Greytown, who is also principal Of
ficer Of the Mosquito government at that place,
he had by force compelled the American steam.
ship Prometheus to pay the port dues demanded
of her by the authorities of Greytown. To this
despatch, Vice Admiral Sir George Seymour
has Immediately replied, by saying that neither
he, nor, to his knowledge, Her Majesty's onsu,
had received any orders to allow Her Majesty
ships to be employed in such service, or in en-.
forcing the fiscal regulations of Mosquito; the
sole object of the presence of British ships OF
war at Greytown being to defend the town and
inhabitants from aggressive attempts to deprive
ing settlement 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 now to state to Mr. Alb
bott Lawrence, for the information of his gov
eminent, that Her Majesty's government fully
approve of the vice admiral's conduct in this
matter, and that they entirely disavow the aci
of violence committed by the commander of the
Express" and also the requsiton from Her
Maiesty's consul, under which the commander
acted, so far rs he acted by any authority do,
rived from the British crown.
| Under these circumstances, Her Majesty's
government have no hesitation in offering an
ample apology for that which they consider to
have been an nfraction of treaty engagements
and Her Majestys government do so without
loss of Time and Immediately upon the receipt
OF The official intelligence above alluded to-
inasmuch as in their opinion, it would be I'M
worthy OF the government of great nation to
hesitate about making due reraration when the
acts OF their subordinate authorities had been
such as not to admit of justification.
As Hef Majesty's government have full conf.
dence that the governmental the United States
is actuated by similar feeling, they hone that
this mutual confidence will induce each nation
to refer at to each other in all cases of sucb
disputes; and, until due time has elapsed for the
necessary explanations to be received, to defer
taking any steps which might lead to collisions
! and thus much aggravate the original difficulty