Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-02-10
OFFER or british PROTECTION

orFFRor BRITISH PROTECTION.
By John Eiphaston Erskine, Esq, Captain Of
Her Majesty'S ship orion, and Senior oFcer
Of her Majesty's Ships and pesseis employed
on the Coasts Of C.ntrai America
Representation having been mnde To me that
there are at present at lunta Arenas among
body of armed men landed from tho American
steamer Texas, (which had been represented To
me emigrants waiting an opportunity to pro-
coed to their destination, but whom Mr. Joseph
y. Scott has since stated to the l. States Com
mtroal Agent, be has employed to protect his
property. and who hive not been recognized rs
citizens of the United States,) several British sub
iect, who a,o detained, and forced 10 hfar arIns
against their will; YOU will proceed 10 the place
where these mon nro Mt present qnaftered; aud,
having ascertaincd who is the officer commanding
the party, you will require from HIM list Il all
the men under his nominal command, and IN the
event of your obtaining such II list, Neu viii call
the men together and read II them this my order
to YOU. should any nftho party in question CHM
protection AZ British subjects, aud Their clalms
appear to yon to hc we'll founded. you will nc
quaint the officer commanding that these men
must be permitted to withdraw from their present
position; and YOU will i'm the event Of his acqul-
escencrl either give these men passage 10 Grey
town. or take them on board Her Maiesty'5 ship
under your command, to await my decision as 10
their disposal Is they may desire. In tho event
of thc nfurrsn d officer resisting such n course az
have pointed out. yuu will inform him that in
the first place no person whatever under his com
maud will be permitted To leave thel present Pc
sitiun to proceed up the river OF elsewhere until
my demands shnil lo complied with. and, sec
ondly, that will adopt such measures 10 enforce
the lights of British subjects rs may think best
adapted to the purpose.
Given on board the Otion,oif Grcytown,this 10th
day of January. l151.
(SirncdI .JouN L. ERsKINE.
To james H. Cockburn, Esq, Captain OF Her
Maicsty's ship Cossack.
The number Of men at punta Arenas eompos-
ing the party in question was stated to be about
10, of whom 800, or Whereabouts, are fit for duty
lhr remainder being sick.
The Times correspondent adds:
.Nou can nmagine the feeling the reading of
the nbov" created. Many were indignant ut
such interference. and others did not very well
know now to regard IT, The right Of those WHO
claimed ii to British protection appearing sut
cicnt to Captain Cockhurn, the men were moved
down to the boat and the others were further in
f rmcd of the perils that awaited them, should
they remain in their present position.
Captain Lockrijge has seii nn indignant pro-
test to Captain Erskiue, IN which be states that
he Yields to his demand because be is oyerrawed
by superior force but that had he one third OF
the force of the British he would not yield.
Tho steamboats, which the ZEN grants" are
getting in readiness 10 carry them up the San
Juan is not yet completed. The black smiths md
carpenters, under direction of Col. ckbridge
have been busy making carriages for the cannon
named above and they are now nearly ready.
1t is believed, here. hat there is an understand
ing between the British Government and the u.
States which accounts for the non appearance of
an American man of war.