The New York herald., 1870-01-16
NASSAU.
The Seizures OF the Tweed and ViOhn-
How They Were Brought About-Ac-
tivity Of the English Officials.

NASSAU, Jan. 10, 1870.
The Governor Of the Bahamas, Sir James Walker,
appears to be very much alarmed since the arrival
mere OF tue nlibusters OF the Lillian expedition fear
ing that the movements OF the Cubans or Spaniards
VIII compromise him with ms government 80
great Is his fright hat he offered to defray the ex
penses OF the Cubans still remaining here 70 any
part OF the United States and In ac made arrange
ments with person duly authorized, by which the
Governor promised to pay for the neces.
sary provisioning and the charter of
vessel 10 carry said Cubans to Key West
or any other American port provided the
captain OF said vessel MS return produced GER
tdcase from the authorities OF having landed all his
passengers. InSconsequence OF this arrangement
the British schooner Tweed was chartered for $500,
gou, ana $500, gold, worth ot provisions put ON
board. The vessel was duly cleared and sailed for
Jacksonville Fla, with sixty-tws Cubans, Oh the
18th OF December last.
The British schooner Violin, loaded with arms ana
other war material, had cleared end sailed for 81.
Domingo on the previous day. On the 10th the
schooner Tweed came across the latter and the Gu
bans then forced their captain approach the vio-
lin near enough TO board her. OF which vessel they
took possession against the will and in spite or her
captain and crew. 1t Is Impossible at present to de-
eide whether the Cubans OH committing these acts,
intended to go st. Domingo, instead OF Jackson
VILE; whether they intended TO 20 10 Cuba In the
Volin or, as reported, TO 60 to some pl ace on the
south OF that island to JOIN o steamer with which
enect U landing on that COAST. Ine only thing
certain Is that her British Majesty's steamer lap
wing LETT this port ON the 18TH and returned
scbooners' which had peen capluged IN Inc vicinity
OF Southwest Reef. Notwithstanding the lorcible
possession OF the Violin after having compelled the
captain OF the Tweed also BY force, 70 cooperate,
tue passengers were released lew hours after the
arrival at TINS por, bur not before they had been
twice severely searched and every thing tat could be
called equipment taken them. Nearly month
has elapsed and not one Of the Cu0ans that took part
In these violent acts has been examined nor lDey
even under the surveillance the police. However,
this does not mean that the Britlsn authorities have
treated the affair with indifference. On the contrary
they have taken the severest measures, but instead
Of punlshlng the only ones tnat guilty. they have
belonging To British firm, ana legally cleared for
st. Domingo, ana the Tweed, also the property OF q
native Of tins CITY, sucn conduct on the part OF said
| authorities Is easily understood.
| This colony, since the end OF the confederated
war, does not offer any gains to certain officers OF
Great Britain, such AS the Receiver General OF The
Bahamas-gains to which they had naturally become
accustomed The Cuban revolution may satisfy
their desires, and the the steamer Saliva
dor, and, above all OF the Lillian by whicn they
| promised themselves good harvest, has opened
their appettes In March oi iast year the schooner
the steamer Yara allas Comsndlaro, TO which vesse
sue had carried load OF coal, with permit from
the authorities, schooner and goods were sold OF
| public auction; the saia steamers salvador and
Lillian. the schooners Exceed ana 1ryphena, which
Il
named steamers ana, finally, the uniortunate
| Tweed aud Violin. The Receiver General has
80 little disguised his intense desire o.
! In the Lapwing, and ordered the seizure OF the
Lillian lie was also In the same man. of-war the
| l9tn last, when the two schooners were captured.
| What has the Receiver General other onIeers to
do with the guilt Of the Cubans IN landing with
ut Nurse Cay or the act OF taking by force
| OF the Violins The only thing they cared about
those persons was TO take from them their private
| arms and other valuable articles, Of which they
|
cargo.
There are two circumstances which favor the
above officer In carry ing out his plans. The 1rst ~
| the weakness OF the Governor, Sir James Walker,
who has been completely upset by the events which
have taken place IN this Baratarla under his COVER
norship the breaking cut OF the Cuban revolu
ton. The second is the completely OF the Attorney
General, who possibly may nave nad a share in the
spois and who. In the aDselce from tnis colony OF
the Cnlel Justice, depends In great measure the
incompetence OF the one acting. This group OF small
officials take advantage OF the name and power OF
Great Britain to commit these acts OF vandalism.
Thus can all be explained, particularly the
scandalous release Of the steamer Lillian and the
peremptory order to proceed to sea- without coal,
with the refusal to allow nor to purchase the
sary fue to go away wtn-a disgraceful cOmblna-
ton, said to be arranged between the Receiver Gen.
eral and the Attorney General SO as 10 be able to
possess themselves OF the vessel and cargo and M
| which they have SO far succeeded.
| The Attorney General has dec ared the schooners
Tweed and Violin as legal prizes under the Foreign
| Enlistment act Both vessels and cargo have been
| Claimed by the owners, and no doubt, Will be re-
| leased In spite oil the efforts OF Commander Scharp.
| OF the LapwIng, who made the capture. and under
whose responsibility the prosecution had been es-
tablisied,
| The Spanish war steamer Conde de yenadtto ar
rived In this port the last day Of December, from
i Nuevtas. We have received no news by her OF the
War wnicn leads US 70 believe that 1t does not fare
This market Is dull. Everything seems depressed.
Cattle and sugar are very scarce. Very few Ameri-
In this CITY, where there Is splendid hotel but un-
| fortunately empty.