The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-01
No. 2.
The Eart " Haimesbury 10 Earl Coriey.

Ny Lord You will take the earliest opportunity Of
assuring Count Walcwsk that her Majesys advisers,
their accession to office earnestly desirous of main
tanning in their integrity those close and friendly ela
tons which. since the restoration of the empire, have
marked the alliance between France and Great Britain
the great benefit of both countries.
Convinced that these sentiments shared by the gov
ernmen of his Imperial Majesty, and that both govern
ments will concur In the opinion that such friendly rela
ons best maintained by frank and unreservcd inter
course her Majesty government appeal with confidence
to that of his Imperial Majesty to aid them in their
deavors to of misapprehcnson which
it cannot be denied have produced and if suffered to
main unexplained must continue to produce painful eff
fects upon the public mind Of England.
Your ortlship will Count Walcwsk that her
Majesty government entertain the fullest conviction that
his eYcellcncy in his despatch of the 10th January writ
ten when the Just Indignation Of France and
of the world had been excited by the late atrocios and
cowafdly attempt upon the life of his Imperial Majesty,
and under the impression that the laws OF England
insufficient to protect his Imperial Majesty against rope
tton Of such attempts upon the part Of foreign refugees
resident in Great Britain, had other intention than
that of pointing out to her Majesty government what
appeared to be of danger to France, and inviting
their attention to the supposed defect
If such has been from the first the hope of her Majesty
government that hope has been completely realized by
the full and frank which Count Walewsk has
spontaneously given reported in your despatch Of the
Esd Of February Of his asonishment aud regret at the
interpretation put upon certain phrases in his despatch
Count fersguy of the goth Of January, astonishmcnt
that hi meaning could have been misunderstood and
gret that he should be believed with his knowledge OF
England, capable of applying generality impu-
ation which the context OF his despatch ought he thinks
to have proved could only have been intended for def
init class of strangers
hough her Maicsys government have, from the first,
entertained the belief that construction had
ben put Count Walewskis despatch, they receive
with the highest satisfaction the voluntary rcpuation
sohonorabe to his excelenCy of the meaning which he
believes to have been attributed to him and in the
tnfra "
expressions which rcaly have produced uniavoablc
impression on the public opinion of this country.
Your lortshp will therefore remark to Count Waew-
ski that his cxcelency in stating that the attempt
which has just provdenally filed like others which
have preceded it, devised in England in speaking
with reference to the odses Ia deage established
in England of assassination elevated to doctrine preached
openly practised in repeated attempts and in asking
whether the right of asylum should protect such state
of things contribute to favor their designs and their
plans" has not unnaturay been understood to imply
imputatons, not only that the offences enumerated
not recognised such by the English law and may be
committed with mpunty but that the spirit of English
legislation is such desgnedy TO shelter and the
offender from punishment
Her Msjcstys government are persuaded that had
Count Waewsi known, when his excellency held with
your lorship the conversation to which have adverted
above TINT such construction put upon certain por
tions of his despatch of January 2O he would have had
difficulty in adding 70 the then given the
further that nothing could have been further
rious alike to the morality and the honor OF the British
nation All the offences which his cxcellency cnumerates
being proved to the satisfaction of jury subject the
person convicted to the infction of penalties
less and ii have been brought to the notice
of the government Of his Imperial Majesty which may
appear to have been overlooked by her Maesys govern
ment II is be doubted but that the advisers of
Majesty in atainng to prosecute have been influenced
by motives of discretion quite consistent with earnest
desire to repress such offences.
subsequently, however to the late atrocious attempt
proceedings have been instituted in two for
completely in the late mrerous attempt another for
publication 'elevatng assassination to doctrine and
another similar Is under the consideration of the
law officers Of the crown
1t is hoped that these considerations will satisfy Count
Walewsk that either his expressions have been greatly mis-
understood that they have been made under
apprehension of the state Of the law in this country
and that in either case his excccncy will not hesitate
with that fankness which has characterized his conduct
to offer explanation which cannot fail to any
existing misconeepton
Your orlship will read this despatch to Count Waew
ski, and leave copy with his excelcncy.
i am, &c, MALMESBURY.