The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-14


PHILADELIHLA, July IL, 1854
At the opening Of the court this morning al the
members. including Captain French Forrest, were
preseat .N
After the reading and approval Of the record. The
President called the aftentioa OF the court to the
net that Captain Forrest had resumed his seat q
member Of the court. and suggested that the court
be cleared for the purpose Of considering whether
he was competent to sit and vote during the trial.
The accused. Captain Downing, presented . pa
per waving all technical objections to the course
proposed, the evidence taken during his absence
being 6rst read to Captain Forrest.
The court was cleared. and on the doors being re
opened the President stated that the court had de-
cided That Captain Forrest should sit as member
Of the court, but not be allowed to vote.
The examination Of Mr.. Pendleton was resumed,
and be further explained the arrangements made
by him for supplying the shipping and North Ameri
can residents during the siege. As an evidence Of
the prices prevailing at that time he stated that
carcass of beef outside the city was selling at from
1920 to $l4o. in paper money, while inside
the Same commanded from $1,000 to $2,5OO
These rates in hard money were equal to $3.50 in
side and s. outside; 1t was desired that an officer Of
the jamestown should be engaged to make the pur
chcscs II was feared that any one else could not
be trusted; Midshipman Walker had been In the
habit Of attending the market for the supply Of the
ship, but 1t was all at once determined by Captain
Downing that his officers should NOT continue to
fulfil that duty; there were various applicants for
the job; one Canfeld, North American by birth,
and pilot On the river, and was disposed to em.
ploy him; another man, st. Clair, by birth also
North American, and pilot on the river, was very
strongly recommended by various persons; my
self had some repugnance to st. Clair, because the
American Consul, Col. Graham, informed me that
ST. Clair had offered him 10000 paper money, per
day to get him the privilege; Lieut. Mcintosh, Of
the jamestown, expressed very strong preference
Tor one Isaac Green, an EnglisLman, q boatman,
with whom he was acquainted; we ultimately con-
cluded to employ Canfed, and | requested Lieut..
Mcintosh and Mdshipman Walker to inform Capt.
Downir~ what our determination was, and to re-
quest his cooperation; gave the license, given by
Gen. Urquiza, to Garfield, which restricted US to
next day, and requested me to have the place chang
ed to La Boca; asked him for the original license,
but he said he had forgotten to bring it; not sus
pectiDg any trick, wrote short private note to
the license to La Boca Within few days
/ received an enclosure from Capt Downing of
correspondence between him and Admiral Zoe, In
which the latter complained Of great abuses by Mr..
provisions, obtained at Palermo, within the city,
and converting the same to the use Of the govern
ment; on the same day received communication
from General Urquiza, informing mo that 1t had
to me to bring boat load Of provisions in once a
day. and from place only, there were four boats
operating every day-two from Palermo, and two
from BARRACKS, or La Boca--and that the cargoes
were directly used for the garrison within the city,
and, of course, defeating the object of the siege;
proceeded Immediately to the headquarters of Gen.
Urquiza, and explained to him that was in no way
responsible for the abuses small boat from the
Jamestown carried me to BARRACKS, and, on my way
there, found that Capt. Downing had sent, not to
Palermo, where he was informed st. Clair was
smuggling, but to Barracks, where Garfield was
operating, and had given such information caused
Can6eld to be stopped; came to the conclusion
that he had done nothing wrong, as far as Garfield
was concerned, for found that he was just as ac-
lively engaged in smuggling az Clair my own con-
other way account for the license having been given
to st. Clair. On seeing Gen. Urquiza made an or
rangement which supposed would satisfy all con-
cerned and prevent the abuses. It was to employ
boat to go to the market, under the command Of
some one Of the young gentlemen Of the Navy, who
would see, a. responsible person, that there was no
abuse practiced. In this Twas disappointed. Al
though Mr.. Walker, the aid of Capt. Downing, who
was with me at the time, advised che arrangement,
and was willing to perform the duty himself, Capt.
Downing, believe, continued up to the departure
of the jamestown to employ st. Clair, who, under
the name Of being the boatman and in the employ
Of the jamestown, was VIGOROUSLY engaged in OK
tensve smuggling every day, delivering the csrgoes
in the city In the presence and knowledge Of thou
sands. OF this fact Capt. Downing was regularly
and fully informed BY mo in whiting. When / ar
rived ct Barracks found it necessary. to remain
ashore all light, and the boat was therefore return
ed to the Jamestown. sent q verbal meNsage by
the officer Of the boat to Capt. Downing, thanking
him for the use Of the boat, and saying to him thai
would be obliged II he would send the next morn
ing larger boat, that might be able to carry some
provisions into town with me. The next morning
whale boat came down with a note from Captain
Downing, in which he stated that he considered it
highly inexpedient to send boat belonging to the
ship, and had, therefore, employed whale boat for
his use, with alag sent BY Mr.. Walker
g. SHIP JAxysrowx,
ouTrR RoAps, BuEsos ArRss, June 2, 1858
Sm-I consider 1t highly inexpedient to send heavy
boat from this ship to the and have refused TO
do SO for and which acquire strength from
experience have directed that whale boat should be
hired for your USE and flag furnished for the OCCASION
which Mr.. Walker take Of and bring on board
on Saturday which trust will be all that you re-
qure. II Ia past o'clock, and my boat has
Just reached the ship.
have the honor to be- very respectfully, your ODE
Hon. J. s. Pendleton Charge dAfaires Of the United
States, Buenos Ayres.
Mr.. Middleton made formal reply at great length,
in which he narrates the measures taken by himself
demning the course taken By Capt. Downing. His
letter concludes with several spicy paragraphs
LEGATION OF -pE uvifrp srAnx, June 4, 1853
sTrI received, yesterday, at B.rracas, your note,
form me; and seems to have been written with the
studied formalty Of official communication viii
1t with precision and with the earnest hope that
my relations TO the subject having been distinctly aud
fully stated there win remain further presxt for
further discussion in respect oft.
The almost starving condition of several families cu
of the United States ut present residing In Buenos
Ayres represented to with such energy Of appeal
TO my sympsthies and Of duty, that | was made
very snxous to exert myself successfully for the alle
WALTON Of their distress. Mr. Schenck Mr. Graham and
Capt. Page, with whom have the advantage Of meet
ing and consulting occasionally in tho very difficult
cunetances by which surrounded,) were not at all
less interested than myself in regard these uniortu
nate but very respectable persons and upon free inter
change Of opinion, II concluded should 20 to the
camp Of the Provisional Director and get permission
for the daily allowance Of stipulated amount of
provisions to be furnished for the of Mr.
Scbenck my self Mr. Graham and the vessels of war In
the port OF Bucnos Ayres and out Of this amount We
hoped TO be able to spare TO the persoas in question
carcass more possible, two three times week.
for which they able and very willing 70 pay the out
side prices. went and obtained the rermssion after
digent inquiry found the general opinion TO indicate