Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1854-06-17
E AFFAIR AT THE FALKLAND is
LAND - COMMANDER LYNCH AND THE
BRITISH GOVERNMrNr

, 'oS'Su NEWS Dy Inc last steamer |
mere was garbled and unfair accoun, from
'ne English papers Of a difficulty which had
occurred at the Falkland Islands. between
'he commander Of the United States sloop of |
war Germantown and the British Governor
IN which the American Commander was rem.
resented as assuming position which he did
ao' sustain, the inference being that he was
!" 'he wrong. The chief officer OF the Ger.
"hah'own is Commander William f. Lynch.
an ao'e and experienced officer, the same
who undertook some twelve or fonr,eo, ro..,
oack me expedition TO the Jordan, and after.
wards published very interesting accoun, of
MS journey. The character of this gentleman
Tor prudence and intelligence, is sufficient
guarantee against his acting with any kind of
bravado, or indiscreetly involving himself in
disputes with foreign officials. Fully impress
sed with his responsibilities as defender of
his coun,ry's flag and the rights of her cli-
zens abroad, he may be expected 10 act al
ways with decision when the emergency re-
quires it, but at the same time within the
strict letter OF his instructions and the proper
bounds of his authority, as an officer OF expe-
rience and good sense would do.
The original cause of the difficulty at the
Falkland Islands. group of over hundred
small island lying in the South Atlantic,
about 24o miles N. f. of Terra del Fuego.
was the arrest of several American merchant
vessels for some alleged misdemcanor, one
~ tafi hat. :
the fishery rights of Great Britain, and
another, that j, was in consequence of some
Americans shooting pigs on one of the is
lands 1t appears, according TO this latter
statement that for the accommodation of
seamen in that quarter the island had origi.
nally been stocked with pigs by Yankee
whaler, and that ever since the whalers of
all nations have had kind of prescripiive
right 10 supply themselves with fresh mea,
from this source. Whatever be the true
statement Of facts in regard TO the cause of
quarrel, we are left in no doubt as 10 the
facts in regard TO Commander Lynch's course
towards the British Governor. We have an
account oil the matter from one who was an
ele-WllHesS Ol Inc occurrences.
Shortly after the Germantown reported TO
| the Commodore on the Brazilian station, a
letter was received from the United States
Consul at the Falkland Islands, stating tha,
| British war vessel had been sent for by the
Governor for the purpose of arreslng the
captains OF two American vessels, on account,
of alleged misdemeanors. The American
Commodore ordered the Germantown to the
Islands TO make the necessary inquiries and
to report to the Commodore. The very day
OF the arrival of the Germantown at the Falk-
land Islands, an American schooner passed
in, and was going rapidly by the German.
town without suspicion, when the officers ot
the Germantown recognized an English Lieu
tenant of the Navy on her deck They i'm.
mediately understood that the schooner had
been seized by the British authorities
Captain Lynch felt justified in taking posses.
sion of the schooner till the matter should be
investigated, and did so. Al the same time
it was reported that ship and brig, one OF
them a man-of.war, were at the mouth o!
the harbor. Captain Lynch Immediately
prepared his vessel for maintaining the posi-
tion he had assumed, in case the brig of.w
should attempt 10 interfere. He therefore
beat TO quarters and shoted his guns. Whel
the vessel came up, they proved to be al
American whaling ship in charge Of Bri
tish man-of-war, the ship and schooner hav
ing been seized for an alleged violation o
the colonial laws, and civil officer being OF
board the ship. Captain Lynch took posses
sion of the ship also until the investigator,
should be made. He then called upon tn,
Governor, who talked imperiously about th,
heavy responsibility of interfering with
legal process. Rut few words from III,
captain brough, the Governor from his hiel
horse, and he then consented TO the condi
tiuns offered him by Commander Lynch, Il
disavow the seizure and give reparalion Il
the owners Of the vessels.
Commander Lynch then returned TO hi
vessel intending 10 meet the Governor mex
day, but in the meantime, he had learne
some aggravated circumstances ailempln
the seizure of the American vessels, whic
evinced malicious design of breaking n
r the American fisheries in those waters simia
to the attempts OF The British authorities o
the Banks Of Newfoundland, which hav
, been productive Of so much bad feeling =
, The Commander in consequence determine
, no, to meet the Governor, and sen, an off
, Ger on shore TO apprse the Governor Of hi
determination and its cause, The GovenC
notwithstanding sent word that he would :
on board The Germantown, and Capt. Lyncl
in the presence OF his officers, gave him
formal reception, but made no allnsion TO n
pending dispute. While on board the Cove
nor twice made oyeFluies TO the commando
aud eoneliale him offered 10 show him HI
various euriosilles OF the Island, but the.
a oilers were declined. Captain Lynch ne
day addressed the commanding officer OF ii
British ship Of war communication upon II
: subject OF the seizure Tho British olIie'
justified bis course on the ground that
only acting under oIders Of tho GosefnoI'
i Captain Lynch again addiessed lbe Govefn'
a 10 know the authority BY which he had aeis
= ia tho aggravated manner represented, b
4 The Governor proved eVasive, and acted I
,hufhinsy that Commander llnsh ~oal