Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-14
M. Webster to M. Laurence.
DEPARTMENT or STATE,

DEPARTMENT OF
Washington, December 3, 1851.
SIN: transmit copy of letter Of yesterday and OF
the papers therein referred to- addressed TO this Depart
ment by Mr. Joseph L. White counsel Of the American
Atlantic and Pacific Ship Canal Company from which it
appears that when the steamship Prometheus belonging
that company under weigh at San Juan del Nore
for the purpose of making her last voyage from thence to
New York the city authorities OF San Juan boarded her
with police and served process on the
ship and captain for hundred and twenty dollars
claimed by those authorities as port dues which the cap
tain refused pay. Thereupon, the English brgofwar
Express lying in the harbor, Immediately got under
weigh made sail for the steamer, and, when within
quarter mile of her. fired round shot over her fore
CASTLE and few minutes afterwards another shot over
her stern which passed so near that the force Of the ball
distinctly felt by several persons on board The cap
tain of the then sent boat board the brig to
inquire the of the firing The captain OF the brig
replied that it protect the authorities OF Greytown
In their demands that if the steamer did not Immediate
ly anchor he would fire bombshel into hers and he or
dercd his be loaded with grape and canister shot
The then the anchorage and anchor
ed The brig anchored very the steamer, sent
boat board the later with orders that the fires should
be extngushed and to that an officer would be sent
to see this done. The authorities then came
board, the amount demanded paid under protest and
the steamer permitted to proceed to 1t further
appears that the captain of the Express acted under the
authority and by orders of Mr. Greene, who claims to
be the British Consul at San Juan.
The President directs that you will lose time in adj
dressing note upon this subject Lord Palmerston
You will inquire if the captain of Express acted pur
suant to orders from his Government whether his
is approved You will state that if these ques
tons should be answered in the affirmative the President
would consider the proceeding violation of the treaty
Of the 10th of April $780, by which Great Britain has
stipulated that she would not make of protection
which she might afford Nicaragua the Mosquito coast
any part of Central America for the purpose of assuming
or exercising any dominion the same.
IT. Mr.. White says, Lord Palmerston instructed Mr.
Greene in October 1850 to interfere with the
sells the company and in November of that year again
instructed him to make Greytown free port it is diff
cult to believe that these instructions could have been
countermanded therefor is known to exist
Perhaps may be said that although San Juan be
garded free port, that only that duties of
impost shall be levied collected goods and does
imply that port charges not to be paid by of
vessels in other ports This Government, however
cannot the collection of port charges San
Juan by British ships of war; that their collection
should be enforced by them.
The above referred has created equal
prise and regret and has caused the President give
immediate orders for the dispatch of armed vessel
San Juan
am, sir, respectfully, your ebedient servant,
DANIEL WEBSTER.
ABBOTT LAWRENCE, Esq, SC.