25
PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR
met about the 15th of Nov. I waited according to Lord Palmerstons request with patience until about the 20th Ult.; during which time I held many interviews with him & he at all times expressed the kindest feelings on the part of this Govt for Texas About the, time alluded i;o I addressed Lord P- a note enquiring what disposition the Govt had made of my proposition To which he gave me no answer until I- addressed him a second time & urged more strongly a decision & answers; he as I ·had anticipated answered my last by requesting another personal conference, which I wished to avoid in order to force from him a written answer to my application but being rather deli- . cately situated I deemed it most prudent to yield to his desire. 'When I met him he said to me that the Cabinet were not prepared to give a decisive answer at that time and asked further time to consider. I of course urged an immediate answer. Lord P- then intimated that if I urged them to decide at that time they would be compelled to deny my request, for said he this is about the season of the year when Mexico must invade Texas if she dose again invade her & that perhaps a few months might not make much difference to me. I took this for an intimation (as it certainly was intendended) that they would recognize in the spring if Mexico made no move; and I said that I was disappointed in my expectations but that I would wait that event with patience if this Govt would pledge themselves to recognize under those circumstances. He answered that he could not undertake to say yea or nay but that he would take the advice of the Cabinet. He did so & when I next saw him he said they declined binding them- selves in anticipation of coming events but assured me they would !l'ecognize as soon as they could do so in justice to all the parties. Lord P- expressed his individual confidence in Texas & intimated that if all moved well this Govt would soon recognize. I am disposed to believe that they have other reason than the• doubt of the ability of Texas to mantain herself or I think they fear the Opposition who are opposed to slavery in Texas. I shall in a short time proceed tel France leaving things here with McIntosh. I anticipate much less difficulty in France than I have met with here. You can judge how much of the above is confidential.
Your humble servt etc
J Pinkney Henderson
[Addressed]
[Endorsed] J Pinkney Henderson
His Excellency M. B. Lamar
Jany 15th 1838 London Offi'cial
Brazoria Tex[as] Care of J Brent Clarke N. Orlean [s]
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