Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-01-26
sIial..eE q. nTszII;:.Tlhs !; Dinoaliy

Our Minister at nrazIl-s-TsIe Difficulty
with the British Resident.
The correspondence which has been pub
lished relative to the difficulty between
General J. Watson Webb, the United
States Minister at Rio JaneirO, and the
British Minister, Mr.. Christie, shows the
conduct Of the latter to have been any
thing but gentlemanly. It also shows that
Minister Webb, Is brother of Major Webb,
of Newburg, was not sverse to fighting for
his personal honor if need be. Mr.. Chris
tie having, on the fifth of November, ad-
dressed note to Mr.. Webb in which he
speaks Of an aample apology" which the
latter had made to him, General Webb
writes q caustic reply in which he reviews
the particulars of the difficulty, and en-
phatically denies having made any apollo
gy. The following extract from that re-
Div gives condensed statement Of the
difficulty, which viii be read with inter
est:
aBut, instead of disputing about terms,
let the simple facts Of the case speak for
themselves. At Mr. Glinka's, the Russian
Minister'S, on Thursday evening, Oct. 80,
in presenee Of the Russian and PrussIan
Ministers. the Russian Secretary Of Lega-
ton. and at least one lady, you used toward
me language far more fitting an English
groom than an English Minister. l prompt
" tdeclared it impertinence-said il was
my custom to punish imperlinence-a bad
custom perhaps, but habit upon which l
had always acted; and, by the God that
made me, if you ever again were imperu-
nent to me, I should punish you To this
YOU made no response, and after the lapse
| Of some time / withdrew. You and Mr..
Glinks and Mr. Eichmsn then had con-
sultation in relation to what had passed,
when they came to me and said the matter
must be Immediately arranged or q meet
ing take place in the morning and that
YOU had aqresd to challenge me unless it
was arranged at once, and that you had
placed the whole matter in their hands,
| sc. replied, that in regard to the meet
ing was ready to give it at sunrise, and
| in order to save unnecessary negotiations
1 might as well inform them at once that
under no conceivable circumstances would
1 make the slightest concession until you
had declared that when you said what you
did you intended no offence, regretting hav-
| ing used the language, and withdrew it
when should be most happy to withdraw
my language. And particularly request
| ed that they would not come to me with
any other proposition, as / certainly should
not listen to it.
HAfter aninterVal the gentleman return
ed to me and said: We are authorized By
Mr.. Christie, who has placed the affair il
our hands, to say to you, that when he used
the expression to which you took exception
he had no intention to offend-that he re.
erets having used If, and withdraws it.
| /, therefore, went directly to you, accom-
panied by the two gentlemen, and said: q
understand, Mr.. Christie, from these gen
tlemen, that when you used the expression
to which took exception, you did not in
tend to give offense, and that you regret
its use and withdraw it. By so doing yoU
make me very happy, and most oheerfUllJ
withdraw every word OF unkind expires
sion which used, and offer you my hanC
in reconciliation It is unnecessary Il
allude to some triAing discussions between
| you anu our lIl6uu5f Jul u pun III OsHstN
expressing his qualification that now o.
would be peace again in our small dipIo
matte circle, 1 said that l, too, rejoice
most sincerely at this agreeable termina
tien Of an unpleasant occurrence, and tina
with me the past was buried in oblivion
never again to de thought of. You reiter
ated the sentiment, and we all returned +
the house in good spirits at the happy ter
mination of a very disagreeable affair
Now, Sir, is this or is it not correct his
tory Of what occurred, emitting some par
be, where, let me ask, do you find warran
for the impudent and gratuitous sssump
ton that made you an ample. apology a
Mr. GEinkG'S.' If, in your judgment, thi
statement is not accurate, it becomes you
duty to procure from Mr.. Glinka and Nj
Eichman their version of the case; aad
their statement corresponds with mine. n
it most assuredly will, shall expect yo
to withdraw the offensive letter to whie
this is a reply, and which possibly shoul
have been returned to you unanswered
and permit me here to apprise you, that i
all future correspondence between us, you
letters must relate solely to the matter
under discussion, and that you must no
introduce new subjects, extraneous to tn
question at issue.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
| (Signed,l ]. WATSON WEBB.
| Il E. W D. CHRISTIE