The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-17
Iitt' VIIINUF VFtHIt1a lfU- NININIObIfi
Commander-in-c Home Squadron.
No. q.
Her MAJEsTY's SHIP g VALoRous,"
GrcytoWn November 2S 1873

No. 2.
Her MAJEsrY's SHIP {" VALoRous'
Greytown, November 2S, 1858.
SIR have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter of the 26th instant enclosing copy Of
port made you by Captain Jarvis of the United States
ship Savannah relating to the visit, on the 18th
instant, of two officers of her Majestys ship under my
command to the American steamer " Washington"
which had just anchored at this port,
In reply, must express my great regret that You
should consider the act of visiting American merchant
vessel within this port which is under the protection of
Great Britain for the purpose OF obtaining the inor
nation which is usually required by all civilized nations
from vessels entering their harbor those under their
protection or in any friendly port in the light
the delaying, boarding, and examining of American
vessel the high in search of slaves pirates and
still deeply regret that my acting in accordance
with established usageS in this respect should you
to appehend any such grave danger that to which you
allude.
trust to remove from your mind any misunderstood
ing as to my acts and intentions, and beg to you
that in carrying out my instructions, which are of
similar nature to those which you have received from
your government and which you have been kind
enough to communicate to me- it will be my earnest
deavor and my most pleasing duty to act in spirit of per-
feet frankness and cordiaty with the flag oicer any
other officers OF the United States forces the station
There circumstances which appear to have
escaped your attention, and which beg to bring to
your notice
The Washington had been boarded by the United
States ship Savannah" previous to my sending boat
to her and she had been permitted to enter the har
bor it was evident judging from the declarations of the
United States government against all illegal aies,
that she not employed by the flibustcrs for in
that she would have been forbidden to enter the
port.
After the Washington" had anchored in this port
the usual and natural of sending make inqui
ries and obtain followed. No prohibition Of
all friendly intercourse between American merchant or
passenger vessels and her Mestys ships had been made
known to such intercourse is customary in times of
peace among all civilized nations, and is objected
Majesty
States men-of- war to English merchantmen.
beg to point out that such hostile prohibition would
have been in the present highly inconvenent to
some of the passengers board who English sub
jects, one of them, indeed, British nctionary proceed
ing with his family to of her Maestys possessions
the Pacific coast and unless in case of actual warfare
such prohibition of intercourse appears quite unusual
None such exists board her Majesty packets with
respect to foreign menofwar either in this harbor
elsewhere.
have to thank you SIR imparting to me the graf
flying nature of your instructions respecting the bus-
crs, or Others illegally attacking nations with whom
respective governments in peaceful relation such
honorable to beexpected from the well known
disposition aud declaration of the United States govern
ment and it is highly satisfactory to to acquant
you that my instructions to similar purport and
are aotuated by the spirit.
In order to convince of the perfect franSness and
cordiaty with which desirous to act towards YOU
WILL if you will allow to trespass still further your
time, lay before you at once and without waiting Till
you communicate to formally the reports the sub
ject which, yet, have only reached you verbally a
clear statement of the circumstances under which d-
rected Capt. Wainwright of her Majesty's ship .Leop-
ard to proceed to the Colorado river.
Having received notification from the authorities Of
the Nicaaguan and Costa Rcan governments that hos
tile force had landed about to land in the river
Colorado, with request that would aid in preventing
it, Immediately despatched Captain Wainwright in the
leopard, to ascertain if such the
Captain Wainwright left this port late in the afternoon
of the 18th instant, and it being dark mstook the
trance of the river and anchored three miles to
he hyyar of laV he had and
chored off the river and in his boat accompanied
by two Others pulled into the river examining the banks
ON either side to see if there any traces Of landing
having taken place In proceeding up the river he OBJ
served the 'Catharne Maria at anchor and he
cd her perceived some persons on board with whom he
was acquainted. lie Immediately went alongside in his
own boat only, and going board requested to be in
formed If they had heard had any thing rescm-
bling marauders fllibuseis in the neghborhood and
being answered in the negative Captain Wainwright left
the "Catharne Maria and returned to his own ship,
weighed and at anchor again in this port by Of
the 10Th.
trust sir, that this frank explanation Of the crcum
stances 70 which your letter alludes will convince you
that have acted in spirit of interference with Amer
can't merchant vessels and have not arrogated to myself
any right which is not conceded by universal custom
the commanding officer of the naval forces in port
longing to- or placed under the protection of his own ma
ton.
have the honor to be- sir, with great respect your
most obedient servant,
W. coRNwALLIs ALDHAM.
Captain.
Flag Officer JAMES Nc. McISTosu
Commanders in. chief Home Squadron U. s. ships
No g.
FLAG-Sm 'RoANoKE,' orr SAN JUAN DEL NonrE
November 20, 1858.
SIR / have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
your communication under date OF the 2sth instant
AS justification Of your act in sending officers from
your ship 10 visit and examine American merchant
sells entering the port of San Juan del Nore you inform
that 'this port IS under the protection of Great Br-
tain. am not, however, that my government
has acknowledged such protection. On the contra.
ry my government has always repudiaed it, The first
article of the "Clayton-B Bulwer convention distinctly
disayows it. quote thercfrom agreeing that neither