Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-02

with is transmitted copy of my letter. marked
A. received no official reply-the town be-
ing without political organization. The infor.
nation which reached me through private
sources was to the effect that the people of the
town were fully determined to make no pecu-
MARY redress, either to the Transit Company
or to the government of the United States, for
any obnoxious acts they might have commit
ted. In the matter OF the personal assault up
on our minister, Mr.. Borland, they were espe.
cially insulting in their remarks, and regretted,
to use their own language, that they had not
kept him prisoner at San Juan, and made
him answerable for the act alleged to have been
committed by Captain Smith, of the Transit
Company's steamer "Roath."
The instigators and perpetrators of the out.
rage were suffered to hold exclusive possession
OF the town, its arms and ammunition, and this
extraordinary state of things continued until
the people were driven from the place by the
decisive measures of Commander Hollins
Immediately upon the arrival of Commander
Hollins, received from him letter. a copy Of
which herewith transmit marked b." asking
for information as to the existing state of affairs
at San Juan.
In the personal interview which followed twas
decided as expedent to renew the demand al.
ready made, and in such a manner as to i'm.
press the people of the town with the idea that
satisfaction for their past injuries and insults
towards the American citizens must and would
be had. Thereupon | proceeded at once to
Point Arenas to agree with Mr.. Scott, agent of
the Transit Company, as to the sum Of money
proper to be demanded for the losses and dam
ages suffered by the company in the case pre-.
sented in my dispatch of May 10. He, Mr..
Scott, assured me that he could not consent TO
accept less amount than sixteen thousand
dollars, and, together with Mr.. Hutchinson,
clerk of the company at this place, showed to
my satisfaction that the actual damages to the
company had been much greater.
This amount being fully approved by Com
mander Hollins as proper and just in the mat
ter, on the same evening acting upon my in
structions contained in your dispatch Of the
9th ultimo, and the request Of Commander
Hollins, ] made the demand, of which the
document marked &C." herewith transmitted,
is copy. To this the same reply substantial.
y, was given as to the. previous, but couched in
more insolent language. ! will here mention
that the British war schooner I" Bermuda was
at that time in our harbor, and am of opinion
that this fact had an influence upon the con.
duct of the people Of the town on that occa-
sion. nsses ast sGe
On the 18th instant replied officially to the
communication of Commander Hollins, a COPY
of which letter | transmit herewith, marked
ID" The documents therein spoken of as
marked ga" and "Bo are above described rs
"a" and CO..
On receiving my letter, Commander Hollins,
after due deliberation and consultation, decided
to give to the offenders twenty-four hours fur.
Their notice to render satisfaction; and if such
was not afforded at the expiration of that time,
to lombard the town. He accordingly, on the
morning of the 18th instant issued procla-
nation to that effect, which, together with his
letter in reply to mine of same date, herewith
transmit, marked &c land Of" Three copies
of this proclamation / caused to be posted in
the three most conspicuous parts of the town,
where they were universally read.
On the afternoon of the 18th instant, Com
mander Hollins landed party of marines and
seamen, under command Of Lieutenant Picker
ing, for the purpose of removing the arms and
ammunition from the station-house, which was
duly effected.
/ regret to say that the proclamation of
Commander Hollins produced no effect upon
the people of the town. Not one of its inhabit.
ants paid to him the courtesy of a visit, and no
word of explanation of affairs, or remonstrance
against the proceedings of the United States
government, was forwarded either to Com
mander Hollins or myself, except brief pro-
test from James Geddes, esq.,. acting vice.
consul OF her Britanic Majesty at Greytown,
" Mosquito" / will here mention, however,
that on the occasion of the outrage committed
by the town, presented in my dispatch Of the
18th Of May, protest from the house of A. de
Barwell d Co., French merchants, against the
: authorities" was duly deposited in the ar.
chives OF this agency, and that on the occasion
Of the subsequent outrage upon the person of
Mr.. Borland, protest Of the same tenor was
received from the house of F. s. Wood & Son,
amencan merchants at San Juan.
Finding that no intention was manifested on
he part of the people Of the town to explain,
furnish redress, or apologize for their past mis-
conduct and that all demands and notices
served upon them by the United States govern
nent were treated with derision and contempt,
Commander Hollins prepared bis ship for &C.
ION on the morning OF the 18th instant, and
opened the bombardment according TO notice,
It o'clock, a. m. The report of the engage.
nent &c, will be found in his dispatches to the
Navy Department.
The considerate and generous course of Mr..
Joseph N. Scott, agent of the Accessory Tran.
1T Company, from the time the proclamation
u Commander Hollins was posted until the
present moment, is truly worthy Of mention.
invitations we're extended by him, on the part
# the company, to the old and infirm, the wo.
men and children, as well MS to all who are
Wiling to declare themselves to be friendly dis.
'osed towards the United States, TO repair on
'oard of the river steamers ofthe Transit Com.
ANY with their most valuable effects. Two
teamers we're sent to San Juan for this pur-
'ose, the latter on the morning preceding the
at which time she remained two
'ours at the wharf. Some twelve persons only
vailed themselves Of this kind provision.
In view of the present condition of affairs at
IAN Juan del Norte, which seem to render my
urther presence at that port inexpedient for
ne time being, and with the hope Of being ser-
iceable to my fellow citizens by proceeding to
be United States with Commander Hollns, /
ave asked and obtained that officers permits.
ion to remove with the archives of my agency
nd personal effects to his ship, and hope to
ave the honor Of reporting myself to YOU at
Washington soon after the receipt Of this dis
atch.