The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-12-25
Aittmond nispatrh,
SATURDAY. .....DECEMBER %, 1850.
THE CIRCULATION OF THE "DISPATCH,
t LARGER THAN TIE COMBIHED CIRCtJ
. ALTON OF ALL THE OTaER DAILY News
+ APERs OF THIS CITY.
The Alabama C)aims-EOrd ClnreI-
John Bull Sharp Oh Brother Jona-
FOREIGN OFFICE. J
10Hn

Sir,-Mr. Motley called on inc at the Fo-
| reign Office on Friday the 10Th October and
read to me a dispatch from Mr.. Fish on the
| -ilabama claims. When hc concluded, said
| that although l had not imtcrposcd any OBJ
| crTations, and should not then, in compli-
ance with the wish he had expressed, enter
INTO any discussion on the subject. vet
| hoped that my silence would moi be con-
| Strucd 10 indicate that the dispatch did not
! admit OF a complete reply. l requested
: that he would have the goodness to give me
a copy Of the dispatch, az | could not un-
dcrtskc from memory accurately TO report
TO NY colleagues the contents of the long
and important document he had Just "a
pidly read to me.
Mr.. Motley agreed to do so if ! would
ask him for it officially, and | accordingly
addressed TO him, the same afternoon, the
/ letter Of which | enclose acopy, and re
/ rciVcd from him on the afternoon of the
| 18th instant copy of NIr. FiSh's dispatch,
Of which ] now also enclose to you copy.
have rccited at length the concluding
| passages Of Mr.. FisiI's dispatch, because
they express many sentiments which her
! NaicSty's Government most cordially and
| iuccrclv rcciprocatc. The Government of
| her Majesty. equally with the Government
| f the United States, earnestly desire that
| II differences between the two nations
| lnav be- adjusted amicablv and c0mpatibly
| with the honor Of each. and that all causes
of future difference between them NAV be
prevented and they would heartily CO.
operate with the Government Of the United
states in laying down as between them
| selves. and recommending for adoption by
other maritime nations, such principles of
maritime law as might obyiate the r2cl!r-
renee Of similar causes Of difference be-
| tween them.
| And it is because they earnestly desire to
| hasten the period at which these Important
objects NAV be accomplished that her Ma
! ie$ty's Government have determined not TO
follow Mr.. Fish through the long recapitu-
| !ation Of the various points that have been
| discussed III the voluminous correspondence
that has taken place between the two Gov
| ernmcutS for several years.
Her Nacsty's Government had, indeed,
! hoped that, by the conventions which,
under the instructions Of her Government,
| and with their full and deliberate concur
me on the 18th Of January Of the present
| wear. MI the correspondence between the
| two Governments hud been brought 10 an
| end, and that al matters in dispute would
be referred for 4 settlement 20 Il Glspa>sion-
ale tribunal.
! With view TO that result, her Najcsty'S
! Government had. III some degree, departed
| from their deliberate convictions and de-
| ciarcd resolves. They agreed TO the mode
Of settlement proposed by the United states
! Government, which Was more tlan once IN
| the course Of that negotiation modified to
! meet lie wishes Of that Government: but
| they did 30 willingly because they Thought
| the restoration Of Il GOOD understanding be-
tween Great Britain and the United states
might well be purchased by concessions
| kept within bounds, and not inconsistent
with the honor OF this country.
Her Maic>ty's Government learned with
! deep concern that The Senate Of the United
! states. in the exercise of the powers tln-
| que$ionablv conferred upon it by the Eou-
sttution, repudiated the acts ot the Co.
vernm"nt under whose authority the con-
venti0n WAS concluded. and by rejecting ii
| had left open the whole controversy be-
| tween The tWo countries, and mad IndcG-
nitcly prolonged the uncertainty attendant
upon such a state of things.
Her M0ic>ty'$ Government regret no less
| sincerely that the President Of the United
states concurS with the Senate III dl>appro-
,ing that treaty, but their regret would III
some dc2rcc be diminished if Mr.. Fish had
! been authorized 10 indicate some other
means Of adjusting the questions between
| the two countries, which, as long rs l!le!
remain open, cannot be favorable TO Il cor
| dial good understanding between them.
| Tbs, however, Mr. Fish has net been
| empowered to do; but lie expresses the
| readiness of the President TO consider any
proposal emanating from this country. II
is obvious. however, and Mr.. Fish Will pro-
badly. Oh reflection, admit that her Malc>-
| tvs Government cannot make any new pro-
position or run the risk Of another unsuc-
ccsgful ncmotiuton until they have Informs
ton more clear than that which is contained
| in Mr.. Fi~h'S dispatch respecting the basis
| States would he disposed TO negotiate.
But her Maiestv'S Government fully agree
with Nr. Fish in considering that it would
| be desirable 10 turn the difficulties which
| have arisen between the two Governments
TO good account 10y making the solution OF
them subscryient to The adoption, aS be-
| tween themselves in the first instance, OF
such changes in the rules Of public law as
NAV prevent the recurrence between ma
tions that may concur in them OF similar
difficulties hereafter.
You may assure Nj. Fish that her Najcs-
| tvs Government Will be ready to cooperate
! with the Government Of the United States
| for Il Salutary result which would rebound
! To the mutual honor of both countries, and,
| if accented by other maritime nations, have
! on iuDortant influence towards maintain
| ing the peace Of the world. You viii read
| this dispatch to Mr.. Fish, and give him =
COPY Of it if he should desire to have one.
am, etc., CLARESDoE.
Edarard Ihornt0n, Esq, etc.
,r.,, IN Nrpvv Cur,cr,,,c (? ,v-