The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-20
The Loss OF the Ship southerner-Dcfence
or Colonel Aspinwau.

The Loss OF the Ship southerner-Defence
or Colonel Aspinwan.
TO TIE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
LONDON, Nov. 4, 1858.
It is with feelings Of much surprise that l have
seen in your journal of the 10th October . letter
from Capt. Benz Russell to his owners, Messrs STAN
ton Thomson, dated London, Oct. 4, in which while
relating matters connected with the loss Of the ship
SOuthener, lately under his command, he speaks in
terms Of most unmerited censure of the treatment
sustained, as he alleges, by himself and crew in
their misfortune, at the hands of COL Aspinwa late
Consul Of the United States at London.
Now, having been present as clerk in the Consul
ate Gan office have since renquished) at the diff.
ferent interviews between COL Aspinwall and Capt.
Russell, and having thorough knowledge of the
circumstances alluded to, beg to state that what
Capt. Russell has alleged Is wholly untrue, and to
submit short statement Of facts, which trust you
viii give place to in your journal for the informa-
ton Of those who being unacquainted with the dis
tingushed character horne by Col. Aspinwan 10 the
estimation Of all who have known him, may have
formed an unfavorable impression Of his conduct
from the misstatements put forth by Capt. Russell,
without any other purpose as it appears to me, than
that Of rendering himself object Of interest with
his owners, from the hardshps he would make it ap
pear he has had to contend WITH but which, be-
heve, he would have paused before consgning to
paper, had he known they were afterwards destined
to appear in print.
was present ct the interview alluded to by Capt.
Russell, on the 3Oth Of September, when, having de-
tailed the circumstances Of the loss of his vessel
Capt R. noted his protest. he states, and the Con-
sui having informed him Of the arrangements for the
disposal Of his crew, who were provided with a
bssrding house forthwith, next questioned Captain
Russell respecting his vie and wishes a. to himself
personally, and was informed by Capt B., in reply,
that he already had funds placed at his disposal by
thorized him to draw upon him, (Capt. DID, for such
amount o. he might stand in need of, to meet his
necessities. Wishing to avail himself of this per-
mission, Col Aspinwall, upon his request consented
70 make him the requisite advance on his draft-n0t
reluctantly, however, as Capt. R. states, but most
readily, leaving the amount at Capt Russell's own
discretion, and not even asking to see Capt Dag
gets letter, which Capt. r. held in his hand; and
having mentioned the sum he required, then showed
the letter to the Consul Of his own accord, and
having received q check for the amount and in ad-
ditiOn letter to tailor, requesting him to supply
suls responsibility for payment he then left the Of
fee, appal emily quite satisfied and thankful for the
attention shown him.
As to Capt. Rusell's statement that the Consul
W..
would observe that he certainly did not make such
advance nor in fact did he refuse to make it, Capt.
r. did not even make the request, as his letter
would infer that he did. He merely threw out
suggestion to that effect as if submitting it for toe
Consuls approval; but on Col. Aspinwall remarking
that as the crew had all their necessities provided
for, and might therefore, without Inconvenience,
wait the return OF post, when Capt. R. could re-
ceceive cash remittance which he expected from
Capt. Daggett-wh0m he had already written to on
the subect-he readily assented to the justice Of the
remark and remained, to all appearance, quite
satisfied.
I shall next allude to Captain Russells
statement ss to his protest, which, he says,
after strong persuasion he got the Consul to
extend" Here the interruptions nature Of Capt.
Russelrs assertions manifest in the extreme, for
was the person whom he conferred with on the
subject the extension Of protests falling within my
line of duties-and, if any one was to blame in the
matter, it must have been myself. Had he found
reason to be dissatisfied with any want Of diligence
on my part, the proper course would have been for
him to have laid his complaint before the consul,
and, a. he did not do 80, show any sign Of dis
satisfaction from first to last it to be presumed that
he was satisfied, in spite of his pretence to appear
toned in the first part Of this letter.
would state, that on the Sd of October Capt r.
placed in my hands written statement he had
drawn ND of the circumstances attending the loss of
the Southerner, after much hesitation and once
tking away the paper, before he could make up his
mind vhether to have the protest extsnded here or
in the United States with request to have the same
forthwith reduced to protest. as he DESTROYS Of
leaving Lordon on the following day for Glasgow.
to avail himself Of an offer he had made him of
passage thence to the United States. This offer had
been communicated to him at the same time he
received Cspt. Daggett's letter; and he announced
his intention to avail himself OF it on his first appli
cation at the consulate the 30th of Septem Der.
1t at time of great pressure of business in the
Office when this request was made, and 1t was i'm
possible to bave the protest prepared the same day.
In order however, to meet Capt Russell's Wishes
far as possible by waiting long after Office hours the
protest was got ready for signature by the following
to swear to the protest, and at the same time to re-
ceive payment OF their wages from Capt. Russell,
who attended, accordingly, with his mates and
crew; and after some delay, occasioned by the un
willingness OF the crew to join in the protest. (Which
they finally refused to do,) the same was to by
the captain mates, and carpenter only, and o copy
delivered to the captain the same afternoon, when,
having settled with his men, and despatched all his
other business, he left the office the same afternoon
after taking cordial farewell of the consul and
clerks as thoroughly satisfied with the attention
he had met with and which was certainly extended
to the utmost, to meet his necessities and wishes.
The only portion Of Capt. Russell's statements
which contains the smallest particle of TRUTH is that
which refers to delay occasoned in the supply of
clothing to his men; and this, it will be SEEM arose
from circumstance which the consul could not be
expected to have foreseen, viz: the unusual demand
Of outfits for twenty persons, which composed the
Southerner's crew, for which the cothier employed
by the consul happened unfortunately, TO be UMPIRE
pared The deficiency, however, was supplied too
promptly to occasion any serious inconvenience to
the men, whs themselves evinced no such dissatis-
faction as that expressed by Capt. Russell but bore
themselves Cheerfuly as men satisfied that every
THU possible was being done for their comfort
As to Capt. Russells statement, that while here
he had no one to advise with and therefore had to
proceed according to his own Judgment, &C., can
only say that whenever he came, (and that was
very frequently and at all hours, even after the Office
closed for business) he always found the consul
ready to receive him, and to afford him the same
been distinguished in his treatment of his country
men, and which an experience Of more than six
teen years in the consulate has afforded the writer