MY LORD LONDON April 10th. 1838. The Undersigned Agent of the Republic of Texas has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the letter of the Rt. Honble. Lord Viscount Palmerston of the 6th. Inst. communicating to him the decision of Her Majesty's Govt. upon the proposition which he had the honor to make on the part of the Govt. of Texas on the 29th. December last to open a direct trade between the Ports of Great Britain and Texas. By referring to the communication of the Undersigned of the 29th. Decr., Lord Palmerston will see that the Undersigned therein proposed to Her Majestys Government that all vessels coming from Texas, sailing under the Texian flag and having clearances from a Custom house of the Republic of Texas should be adImitted into the Ports of Great Britain etc. Lord Palmerston will also see by referring to his letter of the 6th. Inst. to the Undersigned, that no express answer is given to the above proposition, that it is only stated therein in general terms, that until Texas is recognized as an Independent Nation by Her Majesty's Govt., she will be treated as a part of Mexico, and that a Texian ship coming from Texas with Texian Goods on board will be received into the Ports of Great Britain under the scope of the stipulations of the treaty between Great Britain and Mexico. When Lord Palmerston recollects that Texian Vessels hereafter coming from Texas to the Ports of Great Britain will have registers from the authorities of the Republic of Texas and clearances from her Custom houses, he will readily see that difficulties might occur with Texian vessels claiming to enter British Ports under these circumstances. Therefore to prevent any future misunderstanding upon this subject, the Undersigned begs Lord Palmerston to inform him whether or not under the decision of Her Majestys Govt., as communicated to him by Lord Palmerston on the 6th. Inst., he is to understand that vessels coming from Texas, with Texian Goods and with registers under the authorities of the Republic of Texas and clearances from her Custom houses, will be received in the Ports of Great Britain in the manner and upon the terms therein specified. The Undersigned begs leave to remind Lord Palmerston that he leaves London on Friday Morning. The Undersigned begs Lord Palmerston to accept of the assurance of his high consideration. J. PINCKNEY HENDERSON The Rt. Honble. Lord Viscount PALMERSTON Her Majestys principal Secty of State for Foreign Affairs To which he returned this answer SIR FOREIGN OFFICE April 11, 1838 In reply to the enquiry contained in your letter of the 10th. Inst. I have the honor to state in further explanation of my letter of the 6th. Inst. that a Texian Ship would be admissable into the Ports of Great Britain as a Mexican Ship according to the stipulations of the Mexican Treaty, notwithstanding that the Documents issued for the use of such ship should bear upon their face that they were the avowed acts of a Govt. in Texas, assuming the style of a republic independent of Mexico. The view thus taken of this subject by Her Majestys Government so far as relates to the commercial intercourse between Texas and Great Britain would be changed only in the two following cases, namely either if Mexico were to declare the independence of Texas and thus to effect a formal separation between the two countries by the consent of both; or if Great Britain were to acknowledge Texas as an Independent State. In either of these cases, the commerce between Texas and Great Britain could no longer be carried on under the provisions of the Treaty between Great Britain and Mexico; and a separate Treaty would in either of such cases become necessary between Texas and Great Britain I have the honor to be Sir Your Most Obt. humble St Genl. PINCKNEY HENDERSON Which leaves no room for future misunderstanding upon the subject. I had hoped from Lord Palmerstons and my own understanding of the nature of the report of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majestys Treasury as reported to you heretofore, that I would have been able to have made a commercial arrang[e]ment with the British Govt. founded on the Independent position of Texas, and I still entertain the opinion that Texas is entitled to such an arrangment. The arrangment which I have made you will readily see, secures to Texas all the practical benefits of trade and intercourse with Great Britain in as extensive a sense as though England had recognized her Independence. On the occasion of my last interview with Lord Palmerston I said to him, that inasmuch as I was going to leave England in a few days, I wished him to inform me whether under all the circumstances it would be worth my time to return to England during the approaching summer or fall with the hope of procuring the recognition of the Independence of Texas-that I was anxious to be informed upon that subject, in order that I might report to the Govt. of Texas upon the prospects, and ask their instructions to guide me in my future course, that if I was informed that England would probably recognize even as early as 12 or 18 months, I had no doubt but that I would be instructed to await the expiration of that time; But if Her Majestys Govt. had determined to delay the matter indefinitely, and there was no prospect of being recognized within that time, they might instruct me to return. He observed in reply that he could not answer me satisfactorily upon these points, as he would be speaking for the whole Government, and that they had already informed me that they could not pledge themselves to that effect. I then rejoined that I did not ask him to give any pledge to do an act-that I only wished an intimation of the probable future course that the British Govt. was likely to pursue towards Texas-that I would not regard any thing which he might say on the subject as official, or binding upon the Government of England-that Texas would regard it as an especial favor, if they did not intend to recognize within a reasonable time, to be candidly informed of the fact-that I wished to introduce Mr. McIntosh before I left, who would have charge of the business during my absence, if I could have any assurance which created a hope of success. He then said he would advise me to take a letter from himself to Earl Granville the British Minister in Paris, who would enable me at all times to learn the disposition of the British Govt. upon the point in question. This course I thought plainly indicated the disposition of the British Govt. and that it was resorted to as a polite and easy method of avoiding any further importunity on the subject, and I consented to take that course. I leave England for Paris tomorrow Your Most Obt. humble Servant J PINCKNEY HENDERSON IRION TO HENDERSON." SIR, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, City of Houston, May 20th. 1838. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No 5, dated January 30th. The President regrets to see so much reluctance manifested on the part of the British Government to enter into commercial relations with us. The pendency of the proposition of annexation, the revolutionary movements in Canada, abolitionism and fanaticism, and the unjustifiable acts of the Brutus and Invincible during their cruise of last summer in the Gulf of Mexico, have doubtless had a tendency to make impressions on the statesmen and politicians of England ad a A. L. S. See Irion to Henderson, August 23, 1837. verse to the interests and character of this Republic. It is now gratifying to reflect that these causes of delay are disappearing. The Minister of Texas near the Government of the U. States has been instructed to withdraw the proposition of annexation should the present session of the Congress of that Republic adjourn without having acted definitively on the said proposition. Under these circumstances it may be regarded as withdrawn, for there is no prospect of success in the U. States' Congress. The question will be either rejected or postponed. To us it is of no moment which takes place in either event the consequences will be the same to Texas. It will never be renewed by this Government until the dismemberment of that Power occurs. Should that happen, as many suppose it will, a Southern Confederacy may be formed and Texas constitute an integral part thereof. The excitement occasioned by the Canadian disturbances has subsided. * Congress is now in session and no exciting subjects have as yet come up, and I believe none will during this session. The country is tranquil and the greater portion of the population are industriously engaged in the cultivation of corn. Emigration creates a great demand for this article, and consequently but little cotton is planted. Our currency is at par with the Mississippi Bank notes. The experiment of issuing the promisory notes has succeed[ed] far better than the most sanguine advocates of the measure anticipated. They are the circulating medium of the country. The news from the interior is of the most favorable kind for Texas. One of our most confidential spies arrived a few days since from Mexico. He reports that country to be in a state of general commotion. Gen. Urea is in Durango at the head of a formidable force contending for the re-establishment of the federal Constitution of $24. The troops have been withdrawn from the line of the Rio Grande on account of these disturbances. Santa Anna is still at his Hacienda in the State of Vera Cruz, and is supposed to exercise a secret, but powerful, influence over the federalists. It is generally believed that Bustamente will fall during the present convulsion, and that Santa Anna will succeed him. The Blockade of the Mexican ports by France has increased the embarrassments of that miserable nation.c * See Tiffany, Relations of the United States to the Canadian Rebellion of 1837-38, pp. 32-37. For the paragraphs omitted, see Calendar under the title of this letter. Our Indian relations are on a favorable footing. The tribes generally are disposed to peace, and manifest a desire to establish a friendly intercourse with the Texians. With regard to subjects connected with your mission to England and France, no further instructions at the present time, are considered necessary. Your intimate knowledge of our political organization and of the foreign policy of the Government, will enable you to pursue the line of conduct best adapted to effect the objects contemplated by your appointment. Your course heretofore has been highly satisfactory to the Executive. The boundary line between the U. States and Texas is still undefined, and a controversy now exists between the two Governments on this subject, which may possibly terminate in a serious dispute; in which case this Government will request its reference to an Umpire, and the European Government that first acknowledges our independence will be solicited to perform this friendly office. I have the honor to be, with great respect your obt. Servant Hon. J. P. HENDERSON, Agent R. A. IRION and Minister of Texas near the Govmts of G. Britain and France IRION TO HENDERSON." DEPARTMENT OF STATE, City of Houston, June 6th. 1838. SIR, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch, No 7. All your previous ones have been received. The President is gratified to learn that you have consummated the commercial Arrangement with Great Britain. Your suggestions relative to the subject will be properly observed. It is hoped that France will not be so hard to satisfy in respect to the capability of Texas to maintain her independence. My two last dispatches (one dated March 21st., which I presume you have received ere this) will inform you respecting our relations with Mexico. That nation is now prostrate and can never again even annoy Texas to any extent. It is distracted by partizan leaders and selfish polititians. Its Government is destitute of that energy, and moral rectitude which are indispensable to preserve republican institutions. a A. L. S. This is evidently an error; the date should be the 20th. |