Year: 1869

SOUTHAMPTON, May 27, 1860.
To THE EDITOR OF THE NEw YORK HERALD:-


SUBTLE New York tribune OF the Sd instant con.
tanned an article on the consular appointments OF
President Grant In this country, which, so far as
those appointments relate to Southampton, abounds
with assertions that cannot be allowed TO pass un-
conrradcted I have nothing whatever to do with
the political bearings OF the change In the consulate
here, with the relative qualifications OF Captain
Brltton and Mr. William Thompson to Ill the post Of
United States Consul at this port but the official
representative of the town or southampton cannot
permit the statements made by the T'f6une's CORE
spondent respecting the conduct OF this community
during the great civil war In which your country
was involved TO work out, unhindeset, the mischief
they are calculated, and. may have been designed TO
produce.


which that contest extended II was my privilege to
occupy the position now hold as chief magistrate
Of the borough OF Southampton am, therefore,
enabled to speak authorltatvely as to the action OF
the community IN reference to incidents associated
with the struggle with winch they were brought
into contact; and can only express my surprise
that assertions which are entirely without founda
ton and which profess to descEibe occurrences that
never had any existence except IN tae inaglnatlon
OF for interested purposes to excite meaningless
prejudices In America against the people OF south


The writer may or may not be competent to dis
cuss the political character of the Presidents ap-
p0intments: but In doing that there can be no pos
sOe justification for bringing 10 the support OF his
argument inc dental statements which are nothing
better than pure Inventions or Tor asserting the pre-
at this distant PERIOD would intensity into one
OF rancorous hostility to the United States.


II was OF course inevitable that there should have
been diversity OF opinion in this country as there
was In your own, with respect TO the character OF
and for m the whole world to DO remembered only as
q thing OF the past. That diversity OF opinion was
necessarily common to southampton as It was TO
every other British community. But 1t Is simply a
grntuitous and an exaggerated aspersson TO say
that the town iran over with rebel sympathles,u
while the cIrcumstantla statements made IN support
OF this assump ion only deserving OF being desg
mated as collection or substanceless fabrcations,
tSs no % sod nc or peav ea serving 10
promote no other object tbsn tile obviously Interested
motive Of the writer.


stoned by the nconvenient presence Of the Southern
war steamer Nashville In our port and by the move
ments OF the United States bockading cruiser Tus-
carora, then watching her from the mouth OF our
harbor, that excitement was essentially general IN
relation to tnese excepto1al 30 occurrences, rSa a
utious Incidents TO which the correspondent
OF the Tfbvne mas endeavored to give a color
able and imaginary existence. The office OF the
United states Consul here was never attacked by
mobs, as described and therefore the flag was not
eesled. TO those acquainted with the true state or
the ts denial Is, OF course, unnecessary; but
calculated as such worthless statements are, 70 pro.
duce erroneous Impressions throughout the United
states with respect to the attitude observed by this
community towards your country, think II incuni-
bent ON me, as the official representative OF the mi.





contradiction.


The Inhabitants of Southampton, so far as I know
them-and that knowledge IL bounded only by the
limits OF a ifetime-have always entertained the
warmest sentiments OF respect and the sincerest
feelings OF attachment to tho people OF the United
States, apart altogether from the question as to
whether they belonged to any particular section OF
the great republic; and the hosptable receptions
corded to many OF your most distinguished citizens
upon their arrival ut this port afford conclusive evi
uence OF disposition to regard the representatives
OF the American nation with the most cordial sympa
thy end the most honorable consideration.


need hardly remind you, In corroboration OF this
assertion, OF the magnificent entertainments given
by the municipality to the admirals OF the various
American squadrons which have occasionally visited
our waters OF the hospftabe welcome extended TO
Commodore Vanderbilt and his family. or OF the
spendid testimonial presented by the townspeople
TO Mr. Croskey, former United states Consul at
this port all OF which have afforded occasions for
tire Interchange OF the most friendly sentiments and
for the observance OF very pleasant and gratifying
international amenities. SO recently as the summer
of last year. as you are doubtless aware the hospl-
tally OF the town was rendered with equal hearti-
noes and cordiality to Admiral Farrsgut and the on
GERS OF tue United states squadron then visiting the
nrncipal European seaports. The presence OF that
snnadron in our waters excited the hveiest interest
emonr the inhabitants OF the town, and az a COM
plimet 10 the great country II represented, my pre-
Jecessor In once, Mr.. Alderman stebbing, caused
the American nag TO be hoisted over the ancient
barQate OF the borough, the summit OF which had
hitherto been held sacred to the anfurling OF our
oSa vrSums,anoos of yet more recent date win propa.