LIZARDI & Co. TO PALMERSTON." HENDERSON TO PALMERSTON. HENDERSON TO PALMERSTON." PALMERSTON TO HENDERSON. PALMERSTON TO HENDERSON. HENDERSON TO PALMERSTON. HENDERSON TO IRION." Legation of Texas Despatch No. 5 LONDON, January 30th. 1838 To the Honorable R. A. IRION Secty, of State SIR In despatch No. 4. I mentioned that I had addressed a communication to Lord Palmerston upon the subject of opening the Ports of Great Britain to all vessels beloning to Citizens of Texas, or having clearances from her Customhouses-which was as follows MY LORD LONDON, No. 166 ALBANY ST. REGENTS PARK The Undersigned Agent of the Republic of Texas, has already had the honor in a personal conference to express to Lord Palmerston Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the wish of the Government of Texas to open without further delay, a direct trade between the two Countries; and having received from Lord Palmerston an intimation of the propriety of submitting such a January 5, 1838. See Calendar. See Henderson to Irion, January 30, 1838. proposition in writing, the Undersigned has the honor to make the following proposal. He requests that the Ports of Great Britain be opened to all vessels sailing under the flag of the Republic of Texas, and which shall have clearances from any of her Customhouses; and also that the vessels of all other Nations in amity with Texas and Her Majesty's Government, and having clearances from any of the Customhouses of Texas, be admitted into the Ports of Great Britain, upon such terms as are consistent with the laws and regulations of Her Majestys Government in such cases. The Undersigned has been influenced to make this proposition on the part of his Government to open the trade between the two Countries, during the pendency of the consideration of the request which he has heretofore had the honor to make of Her Majestys Government to recognize the Independence of Texas, by the sincere desire which the Government and People of Texas entertain in this regard, and which is strengthened by the conviction of the great advantages which [would] result to the People of both countries from such a measure. Lord Palmerston is aware, that the principal article which Texas now has for exportation, is Cotton. This materiel is at this time ready in that Country for market. The Merchant and Planter cannot as things now are, dispose of it in any other Market than the United States, where they are compelled to pay a heavy duty; and in return for which they purchase in the United States and carry to Texas goods chiefly manufactured in England, upon which the consumer in Texas is compelled to pay the double duty of Texas and the United States in addition. to the Commissions and profits of each Merchant and Carrier through whose hands the goods pass. It is not without feelings of anxiety and gratification that the Undersigned looks forward to the opening of this intercourse between the People of the two Countries, heightened by the just expectation, that such a measure will be the means of speedily convincing the People of England, that it is their interest to cultivate a friendly intercourse with Texas; and of satisfying the Government, that Justice demands that they should recognize her Independence, by exhibiting to the one her immense resources, and to the other, her ability to maintain her present Independent position. The Undersigned deems it unnecessary to accompany the above request with a statemnt of the grounds upon which Texas founds. her claim to recognition by other Nations, inasmuch as they have been fully set forth in the communication which he had the honor of addressing to Lord Palmerston on the 26th. of October last; and for the better reason, that the question of Independence is not necessarily involved in the present proposition. The Undersigned regards it as sufficient for the present purpose to remind Lord Palmerston, that the present Government of Texas has been in possession of the sovereignty of that Country for more than two years that during the whole of that time (with the exception of a few months in its commencement) they have remained undisturbed by Mexico. While Mexico could reasonably entertain the expectation of maintaining the War with Texas and Re-establishing her authority in that country, She might have had some reason for objecting to other Nations recognizing the Independence of that country; but even then after she had lost all authority and control over the revolted country, and left it in the hands of those who had assumed the reins of the Government, she could not reasonably object to other countries carrying on a trade with Texas. The Undersigned takes pleasure in informing Lord Palmerston, that British ships are now admitted by the laws of Texas into her Ports on the same terms as the most favored Nations. Lord Palmerston will remember that Texas not only asserts her right to be regarded as an Independent Nation, but she has been acknowledged as such by one of the most powerful and prudent Governments on Earth-A Government too which from its situation is better able than any other to judge correctly of the ability of Texas to maintain her Independence. Some respect is due to the opinion of that Government, which the Undersigned feels assured Her Majestys Government will readily yield. The Undersigned flatters himself that Lord Palmerston will see the necessity of giving the above request his earliest attention, and of communicating to the undersigned, the determination of Her Majesty's Government upon the subject, in order that he may forthwith inform his Government of the same, and in order that the People of Texas may take advantage of the measure, during the present season. The Undersigned takes this opportunity of again renewing to Lord Palmerston the assurance of his high consideration J. PINCKNEY HENDERSON To the Rt. Honble. Lord Viscount PALMERSTON, Her Majestys principal Secty of State for Foreign Affairs. At the time the above communication was made, Lord Palmerston had left London for a short time during the Christmas Holydays. He returned to Town on Saturday (13th. Inst.), and not having answered the above letter, I deemed it my duty to urge an immediate answer, inasmuch as the request was one which did not Require much consideration. Accordingly on the 16th. inst. I addressed him the following note MY LORD LONDON NO. 166 ALBANY ST. RTS. PARK, The undersigned Agent of the Republic of Texas had the honor of addressing to the Right Honorable Lord Viscount Palmerston, Her Majestys principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on the 29th ultimo, a communication upon the subject of opening the Ports of Great Britain to Texian Vessels etc. etc. The Undersigned has now the honor to request Lord Palmerston to inform him of the disposition that Her Majestys Government has made of the same. The Undersigned takes this opportunity to renew to Lord Palmerston the assurance of his high consideration J. PINCKNEY HENDERSON. To the Rt Honble. Lord Viscount PALMERSTON, Her Majestys principal Secty. of State for Foreign Affairs. On the 22d. Inst, not having received an answer from Lord Palmerston to either of my two last communications, and being anxious to complete the business to which they allude, before I proceed to France and also having learned from a Foreign Minister at this Court, that such delays are very common with Lord Palmerston, I deemed it necessary to follow up my last letter with the following. MY LORD LONDON NO. 166 ALBANY ST. REGENTS PARK January 22d. 1838 The Undersigned Agent of the Republic of Texas, begs leave again to call the attention of the Rt. Honble. Lord Viscount Palmerston, Her Majestys principal Secty. of State for Foreign Affairs, to the communication which he had the honor to make to Lord Palmerston on the 29th. ultimo, upon the subject of opening the Ports of Great Britain to vessels sailing from any of the Ports of Texas, and having clearances from her Custom-houses etc and again requests of Lord Palmerston an answer to the same. When Lord Palmerston is reminded that the Undersigned did heretofore in a personal conference inform him, that it had now become incumbent upon the Undersigned to leave England for a time, to discharge duties with which his Government has intrusted him in another Country, he feels assured, that Lord Palmerston will no longer delay answering the communication alluded to. Nor will the Undersigned, when he recollects that Her Majestys Government is well informed of the present and past situation of Texas-that she has now for nearly two years maintained her declaration of Independence that notwithstanding she is only separated from Mexico by an imaginary line, Mexico has made no attempt to re-establish her authority in that Country since the capture of Genl. Santa Anna and the expulsion from Texas of the whole army of Mexico in April 1836.-And that the Government of the United States has for twelve Months recognized Texas as an Independent Nation, has received the Minister of Texas at Wash ington and has now her representative residing near the Government of Texas, permit himself for a moment to believe that the delay of Lord Palmerston in answering his communication, is caused by a wish or determination on the part of Her Majestys Government to refuse to comply with the request therein contained. The Undersigned avails himself of this opportunity to assure Lord Palmerston of his very high consideration J. PINCKNEY HENDERSON. To the Right Honorable Lord Viscount PALMERSTON Her Majestys principal Secty. of State for Foreign Affairs. To which I received on the 24th. this reply SIR FOREIGN OFFICE January 23d. 1838 I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th. ultimo, containing a proposal for opening a direct commercial intercourse between Texas and Great Britain, and also of your letters referring thereto dated the 16th. and 22d. Instant. I regret that by an accidental oversight your letter of the 29th. Ultimo should have remained so long unacknowledged; and that I am not yet enabled to give you a definitive answer upon the subject of which it treats. But I have referred the matter to the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, and to the Privy Council for the Affairs of Trade, and so soon as I receive the answers of those Boards, I will not fail to make you acquainted with the decision of Her Majestys Government upon this subject I have the Honor to be Sir Your Most Obedient Humble Servant Genl. PINCKNEY HENDERSON PALMERSTON I have determined in pursuance of the discretionary power vested in me by the instructions from the department of State accompanying my commission, to proceed to France, after waiting a reasonable time upon Lord Palmerston for an answer; but will first introduce to Lord Palmerston Mr. McIntosh," in whose charge I will leave the affairs of Texas at this Court during my absence. His Excellency the President will readily perceive the difficulty of the situation in which I am placed by the delay of this Government. The question now under the consideration of this Government of entering into a commercial arrangement with Texas, is one in my humble opinion, of vast importance to her, both in a commercial and political point of view. It would indeed be but little less important than an absolute recognition of her Independence, and would very Geo. S. McIntosh, Secretary of Texan Legation for Great Britain and France 18371839; acting chargé d'affaires 1839-1841; and chargé d'affaires 1841-1842. |