New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-23

the honor he, with fhc highest consideration. your
obedient. humble servant. CLARENDON.
- o. 49, MR. NOTIFY f1H; TO no LORD CLARENDON
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES
LONDON, Oct. l6, 1862
My LORD Ihave the honor transmit herewith. in
with the request contained IN Ecr nSe
OF State OF the United States which read TO your Lord
Renewing the assurance of my highest consideration,
have the honor to be- my Lord y9nr hordsRps most
To the Right Honorable. the Earl of Clarendon
LORD CLARENDON TO MIR. THORNTON
SIR: Mr. Motley called upon at the Foreign Office
Tuesday, the 18th Of October. and read 10 me ds
patch from Mr. Fish on the Alabama claims When he
had concluded said although Ihad not nterposed any
observations, and should not then in compliance with
the wish be had expressed enter into any discussion on
the subject yet hoped that silence would not be con-
sdered to indicate that the dispatch Of con-
pte reply requested that he would have the goodnesso
give a copy of the dispatch, rs could not undertake
from memory accurately To report to colleagues the
contents Of the long and important document he had J
rapidly read to me. Mr.. Motley agreed to do so II
would ask him for 1t officially, and accordingly al.
dressed him the afternoon the letter OF which
ncose copy and received from HIM on the afternoon OF
the 18th inst copy OF Mr. FisRs dispatch OF which now
also lhcloSe 10 you copy rms ulspatcn' US you WI
recaptulaes at great length the causes OF dssats
faction which the Government VI the United States
sderS itself emitted to ee Win the cOhduet Oh Tue rs
Government during the late civil war; but does not
make any proposition as 10 the manner III whSn ,nt
the difficulty, On the contrary Mr. FiSh distinctly SAYS
GSS the se Sssson Of not Syss he nS
due by Great Britain to the individual citizens
property by the Rebel cruisers fitted out in the ports OF
Great Britain neither Is he prepared TO speak OF the
reparaOu which he thinks due by the BRUSH Govern
ment for the larger account OF the vast nat0nal injuries
IL has inflicted the United States neither does he
attempt to the relative causes OF injury as
whether by untimely recognition OF Dengereney hy me
suffering OF the hitting out OF Rebel cruisers or ny the
Coufederates, or otherwise; neither does it fall
within the scope Of his dispatch to discuss the important
which had been demonstrated by the incidents OF tho
last few years. now under considerations and which, IN
the United States t would beft them to mature aud pro-
pose to the other States of ChrsteudOm All these sub:
TO consider hereafter. with a sincere and earnest
desire that all differences between the two nations may
be adjusted amcaby aud cOmpatiby with the honor OF
EACH and BY the promotion Of future concord between
them, to winch end he will spare no effort within the
OF the United States. The objects of his dis
patch Mr.. Fish goes, on TO say, Is ITO TO
Government Of the United Ltates seriously consider to
be the injuries it has suffered. tits not written in the
demand against Her Maesys Government on account of
the injuries they feel they have sustained Although the
aud comprehensive basis Of all the questions which
now interfere with the entirely cordial relations
which they desire should exist between the two Govern
ments yet they do not propose desire 10 fix any
time for the settlement They prefer to leave that and the
more important questions OF the means and the method
of removing the causes OF complaint OF restoring the
much desired relations Of perfect cordially and the pre-
S SSnGe no of GST Mqesys
Government shall think the proper time has come for re-
newed negotiations to entertain any propositions which
that Government shall think proper to present and to
apply TO such propositions their earnest sincere wishes
ana endeayOrs for solution honorable ana satisfactory
both countries. have recited at length the eonend
ing passages Mr. Fshs dispatch because they express
many sentiments which Her Majestys Government most
cordially ana sincerely recprocae The GOVERNMENT OF
States earnestly desire that all differences between the
two nations may be adjusted, amlcaDy and eOmptDly
with the honor Of each, and that all causes OF future
difference between them may be prevented ana they
would heartily cooperate with the Government OF the
ed Il
and recommending for adoption by other maritime
the recurrence OF similar causes OF difference between
them aud il is because they earnestly desire 10 hasten
the period at which these Important objects may be &C
cOmpshed that Her Maicstys Government have deter
mined not to follow Mr. iIsh through me
have been discussed, tho volumnious correspond
ence that has taken place between the TWO
ment had indeed hoped that by the Conventions which,
under instructions from his Government ana win their
fu and deliberate concurreuces Mr. Reycrdy johnson
signed with me, on 18th OF January OF the present
year. all correspondence between the two Governments
had been brought to an end, and that all matters dis
u dlspassionate tribunal with O. view TO that
departed from their deliberate convictions ana declared
resolves. They agreed to the mode OF settlement pro.
posed by the United states Government which more
than once in the course Of that negotiation modified 10
meet the wishes OF that Government, but they dd 80
willingly, because they thought the restoration OF good
understanding between Great Britain and the
United States might well he purchased by
concessions kept within bounds, and not
inconsistent with the honor OF this country. Her
Maesty's Government learned Win Cecp concern thdt
the OF the United States, IN the exercise OF the
powers unquestOnaby conferred upon by the COnsi
tuton Tepudiated the acts Of the Government under
whose authority the convention was concluded
and by rejecting It had left open the
whole controversy between tho two countries,
and had indefinitely prolonged the uncertainty
attendant upon such state OF things Her MaJcstys
Government regret less sincerely that the President
of the United States with the senate Ia dsap
gree be diminished if Mr. Fish mad been authorized TO
Indicate some OF adjusting the questions
between the countries which, long as they remain
open cannot be favorable To cordial good understand
inc between them Tins however MI. Fish ha, not been
empowered do but he expresses the readiness OF the
President TO consider any proposition enanatihg IRON
this country. IL obvious, however, aud MI FISH VIII
ernment cannot make any proposition, or run tile
risk OF another unsuccessful negotiation until they nave
information clearly than that which Is contained IN
Mr. FShs dispatch respecting the basis upon WACh the
Government would be disposed 10 negotiate .
But Her Maiesty's Government fully agree with MT
Fish IN considering that IL would be desirable 10 turn the
difficulties which have arisen between the two Govern
Ipcnts to good account by making the solution Of them
subservieut the adoption as between themselves IN
the first instance Of such changes In the rules OF public
law as may prevent the recurrence between ma
lions that may concur IN them of similar difficulties
hereafter You may Mr.. Fish that Her M1esiys
Government will be ready to cooperate with the Govern
nent OF the United States for sautary result which
would rebound to the mutual honor OF both countries,
and II accepted by other maritime nations, have an I'M
pOrtant Influence toward maintaining the peace OF th0
world You will read this dispatch 10 Mr. Fish, ana give
him "A copy of u II he should desire To nave one am
Edward Thornton, esq, DC, &c, CLAHl.NbON'
------