518
TEX.AS STATE LIBRARY
Tod that he had been directed to turn over his instructions in reference to getting a Vessel prepared to take· me fo Vera Cruz, together with the funds sent down for that purpose, to Comr l\Ioore, & as there ex- isted an unpleasant misunderstanding between them, he did not like to assume the authority of acting untill the Commodores return- The consequence 1 sas, that nothing was done towards affording me the means of getting off untill Sunday morning last, at which time the Comr. got back- Such is my great anxiety to bring this l\Iission to a close as early as possible, that I should certainly have gone to New Orleans for the purpose of getting a passage, had there been any ves:;el up at that place for Vera Cruz; but as there was none, I had no alterna- tive but to wait- I regret that the original intention of sending the Ship down was altered by substituting one of the Schooners in her place; not because I have any choice as far as perrnnal comfort is con- cerned, but because the Ship (as I am assured by all the Officers) could have been prepared for sea in a shorter time & at less expense than either of the Schooners; and becaus~, the effect which would be produced upon the public mind in Mexico qy the appearance of a large vessel of war would be much better than that which will be produced by a small Schooner- Every person that I have heard mention the subject, says, ''by all means go in the Ship-" as to manning her there would have been no difficulty, as I could have got enough Volunteers in Galveston in one day to ,have answered the purpose- Besides, should the Com- mandant at Vera Cruz have recd no instructio:os to permit me to land on my arrival, & should I meet no Brittish Vessel in the harbor, my situation will be exceedingly embarrassing, as I cannot remain there untill despatches can be sent to the City of l\Iexico & answers recd without incurring great risk of Capture, whereas if I were in the Ship, they would not have the temerity to attempt it- I have told Comr. Moore I was satisfied that you would approve the Act, if under the Cir- cumstances, he sent the Ship down, but he declined taking the responsi- bility, & suggested my sending an express to Austin to get an Order authorizing it- this however I declined, as it would detain me several days longer- Since I came here, I have met Col. Mayfield, & he fully concurs with me in the propriety of taking the Ship, & says he will use his exertions with Comr. Moore to send her- Should he succeed, I will be at Sea in four days from this time, as she requires nothing but water & men to be ready, both of which can be had immediately- If you approve of this course ( & I have no doubt you will) I would be glad if you would have an Order sent down by the return of the l\Iail justifying it, as Comr. Moore will feel uneasy in having departed from his instructions, should he consent to do so- · From all the information I have been able to get, I feel some- confidence in the success of the Mission- The instructions from Lord Palmerston to Mr. Packenham I understand, are possitive to demand his pas8ports & return home in the event of Mexico's refusing to recog- nize Texas, or promptly to pay the Brittish debt- The one she can do, the other she cannot. & less than a moiety of the prudence which should characterize a Nation would induce her to adopt the only alterna- tive in her power. Since we know the loan has been had, I feel more anxious than eve-r to bring my own mission to a speedy termination, in order that if the War is to be renewed, you may have the opportunity of
Powered by FlippingBook