The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-17

received Ii with private note 10 Sir William
Gore ouseley sent in that afternoon by my secretary
Mr. ZantzDger in which stated to Sir William that he
might be conhded in he had stated in his note " he
would have been glad we should have met, he would
have been pleased 20 have had little chat subjects OF
mutual interest 10 both of US.
would here inform you that from the moment Of
my anchorng up TO the time when lett san Juaii del
Norte it blowing norther. with heavy sea heav
ing in the ship rolling the muzzles of her gundec guns
deeply in the water requiring the officers aud mel u
get into and out of the boats by ropes and ladders and
the selection of the active 10 do it in that way
II attended with great danger and in my weak
state precuded the possibility of my doing II, which
was the only reason did not wait on Sir William.
Mr. Zmtzinger returned TO the ship about G. p.
bringing with him Captain Aldham, of the 'valorous
and who upon my invitation, at consented in con
sequence of the roughness of the weather. tn remain with
me for the night short period after his arrival, Mr.
Synge Sir Williams secretary of legation came ON board
intending also to spend the night. had determined
when sent Mr. zantzinger in with my second letter to
Captain Adham TO leave the anchorage as he
turned for could not remain longer there with the ship
stranipg in every direction the oaum starting from her
seams and the danger of inurng portion of her
engines ! therefore concluded, as | was obliged to
leave and as thought it necessary you should receive
the very earliest information to all the facts TO return
to Aspinwa to meet the steamer of tomorrow.
requested Mr.. Zantznger to inform Sir William and Capt
Aldham that should proceed to Aspnwall when left,
and would be pleased to take communications they
might desire to send. r..
To this, most probably and to great desire, Cap
tain Aldham declared, to have an interview with me,
indebted for the unceremonious visit of both him
and the secretary of legation the latter doubt being
sent by Sir William puposely to all unfavorabe
impressions and talk over, rather than write further
upon the subjects at issue which, in truth, did not
regret for not nsensibe Of the fact that in such
correspondence Capt. Aldham would have the benc-
fit of the advice and experience of Sir William Captain
Aldham and myself conyersed most frankly upon the
subject of the Washington" He declared his having
intention of interference with American vessels
in will
TO prevent the landing of ''fbusters " that he could
not possibly the slightest for the apprehension
OF any difficulty and that 80 far as he was concerned
there should be
With Mr.. Synge the conversation equally frank.
He however, distinctly declared that England had
abandoned the protectoate but that he believed before
the LIST of January next the whole matter would be finally
settled that to boarding and searching American
ses they had already abandoned it, not from fear
pusllanmity but because England felt she could do
honoaby and ought do it, and it not probable it
to be revived that there certainly nothing
secret mysterious in Sir Williams mission, it
well understood in Washington and that officer in
her Britannia Maestys service would be less likely to do
any act which could be construed offensive
interference with u.s. than Captain AlJham In this
versation had little to say, for my position had been
taken in my correspondence and desired there to leave
it.
do not pretend to give you the precise words of these
free and frank Conversations but have endeayored
far my memory me- to give you their meaning
literally and if there sincerity in them, of which
have not the slightest doubt am happy to say
at present cause of apprehension part for
currence of the proceeding / much pleased with
both the gentlemen and everything done by Captain
Gardner and myself which hospitality kindness could
dictate to make them comfortable and at home. They
left the ship fully so impressed .a...r..a
Sir William Gore Ouseley is expected to reach this
on Monday next in the British mail steamer.
have to state to you the utter mpossibilty of this
ship remaining at anchor off San Juan del Norte during
the blowing OF norher. She has been strained
in the four days there in hull nasts and rigging
than she could have been in dozen winter voyages
across the Atlantic These winds blow in squalls, and
when they moderate the from the river is running
out with such velocity to the ship to lay directly
in the trough of the sea- and to roll most heavily
tainly endangerng her masts and stranug her engines
1t is bad anchorage in the regular trades for then
as was the in the wabash when she landed her
men, the ship rolling guns UNDER but in norther,
and this is the for their recurring every few days
it is simply impossible without the utmost danger No
ship with too great draught to enter the river should
be kept there from November to March Mr. Burton the
pilot informs that he has recently sounded
thoroughly the bar, and, constant thing twenty
throe feet is all that be ound but that occasionally
as tho time since when the Z" Savannah
entered the river twenty-five feet found in two in
stances Such variation makes it too precarious for
this ship ever to enter the river,
The Jamestown, regret to say left here with
mails before my arrival but she has had fair winds,
and ordered her Immediately back, hope to receive
any dispatches she may have for in few days. and
shall await here her arrival
[ herewith also transmit the petition of q town meet
ing held San Juan del Norte the 18th ultimo ad-
dressed to Sir William Gore 0useley and the response of
Sir William. These papers only received from Mr. Cot
re commercial agent just previous to getting under
way from that place. mos. 4, D. 6.)
have the honor to be, sir very respectfully, your obe-
dent servant, JAS. Nc. MCINTOSH,
Flag Officer, Comman !er-in- chief Home Squad'a.
Hon ISAAC ToUcEY,
Secretary of the Navy