The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-18

CAPTAIN JARVIS TO CON. n'NrosH.
UNITED STATE SHIP SAVANNAH, I
SAN JUAN NoKTT, Nov. 20, 1858.
Sui have the honor Of informing you that since
you this afternoon have the following .nforma
ton
Two officers from one OF the British ships the harbor
oarded the Washington within fifteen minutes after she
esme to anchor and asked Captain Churchill the following
have your" " How many days out from New York;
"lid you stop at any port on your way outi,
these questions answered They then wished to
look his passenger list. Capt Churchill referred them
TO his purser On looking over the list which they re-
gers have your He answered by stating the number.
"Are they all AmericansS ''No, they are OF various
nations Are they arncdSo "Not any TO my know.
examine your holdS' ono" Mr.. King, the frs, mate,
who present at the interview, remarked tina. they
might obtain by apply ing to Of the American ships
of war in the harbor They replied tha. their instruc
tons were to obtain their information direct
The above is ali the information have received and
shall await your further instructions upon tae subject
am respectfully os y1qI 0ofa aPVis Csns,
Flag officer JAMES Nc MCINTOSH, Commander in Chief
Home Squadron.
CAPT. ALpHAM TO COM M'INroSH.
No e.
Her MAJEnY's sar vALoRoUs,l
GRxYTowN, Nov. %, 1858. J
Sa-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt OF
your letter Of the 26th nst enclosing copy Of report
made 10 you by Capt Jarvis Of the United States ship
officers Of her Ma,esys ship under my command to the
American steamer Washington, which had Just anohored
at this port.
In reply, must express my great regret that you
should consider the act q visiting an American merchant
vessel within this port which is under the protection OF
Great Britain, for the purpose OF obtaining the inormi
ton which is usually required by all civilized nations
from vessels entering their harbors, or those under ther
protection, or in any friendly port, in the same light
the delaying, boarding, and examining OF an American
vessel on the high seas IN search OF slaves OF ana
still more deeply regret that my acting N accordanoe
with established usages in this respect should cause you
to apebend such grave danger as that 70 which you
! allude.
ing my aad intentions, and beg TO assure you
that carrying out my instructions, which are Of SIM
lar nature to those which you have received from your
government and which you have been KIND enough to
communicate to me, il will be my earnest eudeavor and
my most pleasing duty to acc in spirit OF perfect frank
ana cordalv With the flag officer, or any other Off
GERS OF the United States forces on the station
There are some circumstances which appear to have
escaped attention and which beg TO bring to your
| notice.
The Washington had been boarded by the United States
ship Savannah previous to my sending GOAT TO her, and
as she had been permitted to enter the harbor evi
dent, Judging from the declarations OF the United States
government against all iega! invaders that she was no,
employed by the fbrsters, for that case she would
| have been forbidden to enter the port
After the Washington had anchored in this port, the
obtain followed No prohibition Of all friendly
intercourse between American merchant passenger
vessels and her Maestys ships had been made known 20
me. Such intercourse Is Customary III times OF peace
among all civilized nations and is never objected to by
her Mcsty's officers when prac,isei by United States
| men Of war to English merchantmen.
beg point that such hostile prohibition would
have been the present highly ncony TO some
Of the passengers on board who are English Subjects one
of them indeed, British fuuctonary proceeding with
his family to Of her Majesty possess Oh the Pa
chc coast, and uncss in OF actual warfare such pro-
hbton OF intercourse appears quite unusual None such
on board her Maesys packets with spect to
foreign OF either IN this harbor elsewhere
have to thank you, sir, for mpartng to me the graft.
Tying nature OF your Instructors respecting the hubus
tiers, or others illegally attacking nations with whom
our respective governments are IN peaceful relation
Such an honorable course to be expected from the
well known disposition and declaration Of the United
States government and IS highly sasfacor, t. me 10
quaint you that nay instructions TO similar prport,
and are actua,ed by the spirit
In order 70 you of the perfect frankness and
cordalty with which am desirors 10 act towards you
viii, if you viii allow TO rcspass st further your
time, lay before YOU at once and without waiting ill
communicate to me formally the reports the subject
which, az YET have only reached yoG verbally clear
statement OF the circumstances under which directed
Captain Wainwright, OF her Majesty's ship Leopard, TO
proceed 10 the Colorado river.
Having received notification from authorities OF the
Nicaraguan aud Costa Rcan governments that hostile
force had Anaed wero about 10 land in the river Colo
RADIO, with request thai would aid preventing H.
Immediately despatched Captain Wainwright the leopard
TO ASCERTAIN i such was the case.
Captain Wainwright left this port late in the afternoon
OF TIE 18th instant, and, beng dark m stook the
trance OF tie river and ihored three miles 70 the
souilward OF H. At day GIT nc weighed and anchored
Of the river and in his boat accompanied by tso
Others pulled into the river, examining the banks
either side to see Il there were any traces Of binding
having taken place II proceeding up the he OBJ
served the Caharne Maria at anchor and as he nearcd
her perceived persons board with whom b.
acquainted He Immediately went alongside ia hrs own
Loaf only and going board requested to be informed
II they had heard or had seen ANYTHING resembling ma
RAIDERS hnbusters in the neghborhood aud being
swered In the negative, Captain Wanwr GIT LETT the Ca
harne Maria and returned 10 his own ship weighed and
was al ncnor sgan in this port by noon Of the lSh
trust sir, that this frank explanation OF the ci-cirn
stances 10 which your letter audes, will convince you
that have acted IN spirit Of interference with Amer
can merchant vessels and have arrogated 20 myself
any right which conceded by universal custom 10
tho command ny officer " the naval forces ia port be
longing TO, or placed under the protection o. his own
nation. have the honor 70 be, sir with great respect,
'''' W. ooRNwAIIIs aIDHAM Cap,an.
Flag oaicer JANE Nc. McIsroH,
Commander IN Chief Home squadron 4. s. Ships.
ooANoDoRL M'IsrosH TO cArTArs ALDM,s.
No. ..
FLAG SnP EoasoKn, or SAN JuAs Nosua
Nov. ~, 1853
Sal have the honor acknowledge the receipt u
your communication under date Of the 18th instant
As justification OF your act IN sending officers from
your ship 20 visit aud examine American merchant vessels
entering the port Of san Juan del Nofte, you inform
that "this port under the protection VI Great Britain
am not, however aware that my government has
acknow ledged such protection. On the contrary my COZ
crnmeni has always rCpudlicd H. The drs article q the
Clayton Dulwcr COW ont on dstnclv isayows H. I
quote therefrom- Agreeing that neither VII erect
OF ma ntsn any forthcions commanding the same,
the vicinity thereof, or occupy. ~ fory. " coonse,
assume, or exercise any dominion over Ncarsgai,
Costa Roa, the Mos quito coast or any part OF Centre
America "
n her Msjesiys vessels board our merchant vessels for
the purpose 81 examining the papers AMI cargo " those
which enter the port San Juan del Note as the Officers
from the Naorous did, then You "assume 70 exercise
dominion which The clayton BiNcr CONVENTION" rs
tnctly discams. Such construction cannot for
recognise Until further advised b. my gDyCrnmcat
and, consequently must act Under my present o'rue.
tons tue tenor 81 which was communicated 70 you IN
my o,ter ~ the 26th instant
beg express 70 you my entire satisfaction WITH your
explanation respect 10 the visit ~ Captain Wanwrgn'.
OF her Majesty frgate Leopard u the American sieocr
Catharino Maria, tie Coora river, and u which yst
stated you that but irnpcrfectly informed. BIT
which nnd, from frank and clear representation.
and for which tlalS you was very much exaggerated
regret however. 10 find that am ,sundcrstood ~
you Directing 10 friendly visit from o her Macs
ty's SHIPS Of war r. ar American vessel w this aUy
other port. such not my objection for am aware
that customary to MAKE such ys ts By the vessels Of
Of all nations and they are constantly made % her
Majesty mail packets by the ships Of my squadron but
simply acts Of courtesy, With oilers " services
SC The Washington had been boarded BY an officer from
the United states ship savannah, "a obeienoe a. ny
structons Captain JARVIS IN relation 10 al American
bound the river, that should appesf ~ this
port and she strictly examined, PARTICULAR, 10
Improper persops Who might be forcing themselves INTO