Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-01-14
From the N. Y. Herald.

s@esN 9e68 ss4s fa& sf7 From the ". Y Herald
Important from France-Ayvard of Emperor NaPo-
leon In the GEN. Armstrong Case.
Since our last issue on Saturday two mail steamers
The Pacific and Frank n-arrved in this port from
Europe, with four days latter intelligence than that
received by the Canada The politica. is unim-
poTtan except the Indignation of the London Times
against the publication of the Cuban correspondence,
and the new constitution of Spain but this dearth OF
interest IN our public dispatches is made up for by
our private correspondence, which contains many
items peculiarly interesting. Chief among these is
the information we have received from Paris OF the
rendition OF an award by Louis Napoleon in the mat.
ter OF the celebrated claim made by our government
against that of Portugal for Naturalization for the loss
OF the American privateer Cen Armstrong, in 1914,
and which award has been adverse to the claim in IA
vor of Portugal.
1t will be recolected that during the very early por
ton OF General Taylors short administration measures
were taken to coerce the Portuguese government into
settlement of all its long standing liabilities 10 Amer
can cillzens. For this purpose special instructions
were sent TO our minister Lisbon, directing him 10
require prompt settlement of these claims, and two
vessels OF war despatched TO that port to give
efficacy to the demand. The urgency and determine
ton manifested by administration produced the
desired effect, and all claims made upon Portugal by
this country amicably adjusted, with the excep
ton of that made behalf OF Captain Samuel c.
Reid OF this city, for the value OF his brig-the Gen
eral Armstrong-lost under circumstances which en-
tailed accountability upon The Portuguese government
and which we will here briefly recapitulate.
| During the last war with England, the General
! Armstrong was in commission American prlva-
teer and was owned and command by Captain Reid
On the 26h of September, 1918. she laying at an
Choir in Fayal. port of the Azore islands, under the
Portuguese dominion. Faya was then a neutral port
and such. the captain of the pvateer felt confident
IN the security of his vessel About of the same
day. however, three British vessels Wharf.-The Plan
aganet, of IA guns the Rota, and the Carnation-ap
peared in the roads, and Captain Reid. suspicious Of
their designs, endeavoed to get his vessel under tht
guns of the castle. About 8, p. m, while engaged il
this movement, he was attacked by four of the enc
my's boats, manned by 100 men but having been hr
ed upon with effect they returned 10 their ships
Soon after midnight the attack was renewed by twelv'
large boats armed with carronades and swives, ant
manned by 400 men. An obstinate and most sangui
nary fight ensued, which resulted in the total defea
and repuSe of the attacking party who lost several o
their boats and 40 men killed and wounded. Mex
morning, the Carnation commenced firing on the pri
vaeer, and Captain Reid, seeing that he could no lon
ger defend her against such an overwhelming odds
abandoned her and she was after set fire b.
the enemy.
Under these circumstances, Captain Reid made
claim for decentralization from the Portuguese govern
= men. for the loss of his vessel in consequence of the
having permitted the neutrality of the port TO be vic
lated, The sum demanle we believe, was a hun
dred thousand dollars, for which, of course, Engan
should have been responsible to Portugal. The jus
tce and legality of the claim, however, was denied b.
the government or the latter country, and the matte
J had remained up to the present time unarranged-
Finally, from the coerci,e adopted by Ger
Taylor in 1919, the affair brought 10 issue,
the Secretary of State Mr.. Clayton, and the POI
uguese minister, agreed, behalf of their respectiv
governments to submit the whole matter to the arb
traon of Louis Napoleon, the then President O
France That parsonage has since then been mad
one of the reignng monarchs of Europe We nos
learn by private advces from Paris that on the
of December an award was made by Louis Napoleo
adverse to the claims of the United States and in Fl
vor OF the Portuguese government. The matter VIZ
one of deep interest, and the decision Of NapoIeo
the Third will excite attention throughout the countr
MI. Webster and the Farmer.
: Some years since Mr.. Webster started off fro
b Marshheld on trouting expedition TO Sandwich
# neghborng town Cape Cod. On approaching
fine stream he alghed from his wagon, and Just the
: he met the owner of the farm. whose stream ru
: through It, Good morning. says Webster, is the
l. any trout here 80 Well, says the farmer, some pc
: pie fish here, but don't know what they 10 get:
u I'll throw my line in says Webster, and see VIII
is there is Webster walked the banks of the strear
e trying his luck, and the farmer followed him. SOC
n Webster remarked, You have some bog on vol
) farm Yes, says the armer, that amt the wor
n of it, Fishing still further along, Webster saws, sYc
Il seem 10 have plenty of mosquitoes here Yes
e replied. shat amt the worst of ii Mr.. Webster &c
o ting somewhat discouraged in hot August day, bi
5 ten by mosquitoes scratched by brias, and not raj
u ing single fish, dropped his rod and said, he ddr
e believe there was any trout here And that amt Il
@ worst OF it,, says the farmer. Well says Mr. Wei
ster would like 10 know what the worst of it is
Re There never any here says the farmer M
e Webster enjoyed the JOKE and often told il 10 his pa
- tcular friends
!, The eyes of needles are punched by machn
which, superintendent by boy can punch twenty tho
sand in day.