seizure of that vessel at Brazoria, in Texas, and of outrages upon their persons by the authorities there. The signatures were affixed to a separate slip of paper, which has been mislaid. Although the statement of the writers is ex parte, and is not made under oath, yet, as it substantially agrees with several other narratives of the transaction that have appeared in the public prints, and is not improbable in itself, the Department deems itself warranted in instructing you to inquire into the affair, and to demand such reparation of the Mexican Government as the facts, when ascertained, may be found to call for. You will also endeavor to convey a strong sense of the President's great dissatisfaction at the frequency of such occurrences in the Mexican territories, and of his expectation that effectual measures will be taken to put a stop to them. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, ANTHONY BUTLER, Esq., ASBURY DICKINS, Chargé d'Affaires of U. S., Mexico. Acting Secretary. No. 101. Mr. Dickins to Mr. Butler. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 28, 1835. SIR In a letter from this Department of the 9th of April, 1834, you were informed that as the case of the Robert Wilson, charged with having introduced spurious coin into Mexico, was before the judicial tribunals of that country, the interference of this Government was not deemed advisable at that time. You were also directed to communicate to the Department the result of the judicial proceedings against the vessel. In this, however, you have been anticipated by the attorney of the Union Insurance Company, of New York, who, in the letter, a copy of which is here with enclosed, states that the vessel has been condeinned in all the Mexican courts; that the company has in vain endeavored to procure a copy of the proceedings and of the law under which she was condemned; and that, as they are necessary to the defence of the company in an action against them by the owners of the vessel, he requests the good offices of this Government with that of Mexico towards procuring the proof desired. You will accordingly request of the Mexican Government that an authenticated copy of the proceedings and of the law referred to be delivered to the agent of the company at Vera Cruz, on payment of the usual fees. It is presumed there will be no objection to comply with a request so reasonable in its nature, especially as the papers are necessary to settle questions affecting the interests of individuals arising out of the acts of the Mexican authorities. If Mexican citizens can lawfully demand copies of judicial proceedings, in cases like that of the Robert Wilson, it would seem from the 14th article of the treaty that a similar right is secured to citizens of the United States. In your application you will inform the Mexican Government that copies, such as those requested, of proceedings in the courts of the United States, may always be obtained by Mexican citizens equally with citizens of the United States. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, ANTHONY BUTLER, Esq., ASBURY DICKINS, Acting Secretary. Chargé d'Affaires of U. S., Mexico. No. 102. Mr. Forsyth to Mr. Butler. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 27, 1835. SIR: Mr. Chauncey Bush having been appointed consul of the United States for the ports of San Blas and Mazatlan, in Mexico, I herewith trausmit his commission, in order that you may request of the Mexican Government an exequatur for him, which, when received, you will forward with his commission to Mr. Bush, at San Blas. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, JOHN FORSYTH. No. 104. Mr. Forsyth to Mr. Butler. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 16, 1835. SIR: I am directed by the President to inform you that, as the time prescribed for your return to the United States with the result of your negotiation with the Mexican Government has elapsed, he has determined A nomination will acupon the immediate appointment of a successor. cordingly be made to the Senate to-morrow. I have also to acquaint you that Mr. Castillo having recently called on me to request, by direction of the Mexican Government, that you should be recalled, but in a manner the least disagreeable to your feelings, he was apprized that your mission would terminate at the commencement of the present month; and as he expressed his opinion that this measure would be satisfactory to his Government, the application for your recall was not formally made. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, ANTHONY BUTLER, Esq., Chargé d'Affaires of the U. S., Mexico. Mr. Forsyth to Mr. Ellis. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 8, 1836. SIR: I have the honor to acquaint you that your nomination, as chargé d'affaires of the United States to Mexico, has been confirmed by the Senate. Your instructions will be prepared immediately, and will be sent to you at New Orleans, to which city you will proceed without delay, and await their arrival. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, POWHATAN ELLIS, Esq., Winchester, Miss. JOHN FORSYTH. No. 2. Mr. Forsyth to Mr. Ellis. Department of State, Washington, January 29, 1836. SIR: In a letter to this Department, dated the 1st of July last, Mr. Butler states that, on his departure from Mexico, he had left the archives of the legation in the apartment where the office had been kept during the two last years of his mission; that the apartment was in the house where he resided, which, during his absence, was occupied by William Maclure, a citizen of the United States; that the doors of the office were locked, the keys enclosed in paper sealed with his private seal, and this paper, together with his plate, deposited in a box secured with nails and seals. This box was placed in an iron chest, under care of his banker, Mr. Jacinto Riba, also a citizen of the United States; that he had officially apprized the Mexican Government of the place where he had left the archives of the legation, had placed them under its protection, and that the charge was accepted. On the 2d of July last, Mr. Butler was instructed that, whenever the chargé d'affaires of the United States leaves his post, the archives of the legation should be left in the care of the highest officer of his own Government at the place of his representative residence. It is presumed, therefore, that, if Mr. Butler should have left Mexico previously to your reaching there, you will find the archives of the legation in the custody of Mr. Parrott, our consul there, from whom intelligence has just been received of the arrival of Mr. Butler, on his return from his late visit to this country. Herewith you will receive the following documents and books, which, together with those left by your predecessor, you will find necessary or useful in the discharge of the duties of your mission: 1. Your commission as chargé d'affaires of the United States to the Mexican republic. 2. A letter of credence to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a copy for your perusal. 3. Printed personal instructions, and the supplement thereto, with which you will strictly comply. 4. General instructions. 5. A letter addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and referred to in your general instructions. 6. The Biennial Register for the year, 1836. 7. Gales & Seaton's folio State Papers, (Naval Affairs, Military Affairs, volume 2.) 8. Two reams of despatch-paper, upon which you will write your communications to this Department. 9. Three blank books, in which you will record your letters to this Department, to the Mexican authorities, and to consuls and others, on public business. 10. A special passport. Unless the consent of Congress shall have been previously obtained, you will not, under any circumstances, accept presents of any kind whatever from any king, prince, or foreign state. To facilitate the transaction of business at this office, you will send with your despatches translations as well as copies of such documents in foreign languages as may relate to the affairs of your mission. Your salary, as fixed by law, is at the rate of four thousand five hundred dollars a year, and will begin from the time of your leaving your residence in Mississippi, to proceed on your mission. You will also be entitled to an outfit equal to one year's salary, and to a quarter's salary for your return. For your outfit, Congress has not yet made any provision. You will draw on this Department for your salary and for the contingent expenses of the legation, which must not exceed twelve hundred dollars a year, without special authority. The form of the oath prescribed by the constitution is here with transmitted to you. Before leaving the United States, you will cause the oath to be administered by some competent magistrate, in whose presence you will subscribe the paper, and will then return it to this office. Your presentation to the Executive of the Mexican republic, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, will afford you an opportunity (which you will embrace) to assure him of the friendly dispositions of the United States towards that country, and to express the expectation that they will be reciprocated by the Mexican Government and people. You may add any other remarks that may appear to you to be proper on the occasion. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, POWHATAN ELLIS, Esq., Chargé d'Affaires of the U. S. to Mexico. JOHN FORSYTH.. No. 3. Mr. Forsyth to Mr. Ellis. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 29, 1836. SIR: The mission to which you are appointed, at all times of great responsibility and importance, is particularly so at this juncture, and will require the vigilant exercise of your best discretion, and of the experience in public affairs which you have gained by a long service in the national councils. On all the subjects in the relations between the two countries that demand special or detailed instructions, you are referred to the correspondence between this Department and your predecessors, which you will find in the archives of the legation. Your particular attention is invited to the copious letters of Mr. Van Buren to Mr. Butler, of the 10th of October, 1829, and the 1st of April, 1830. You will follow up the exertions which Mr. Butler was therein directed to make towards undeceiving the Mexican Government and people in regard to the views and intentions of this Government relative to that country. The suspicions. and apprehensions which, it is believed, are not only still cherished by well-informed and well-disposed citizens of the Mexican republic, but have been aggravated by recent events in Texas, are not only wholly unfounded, but their absurdity is manifest from the uniform conduct and settled policy, founded upon the obvious interests of the United States. You will herewith receive my answer to a late communication of the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Mexican republic, complaining of the co-operation of citizens of the United States with the insurgents in Texas, and of the capture of the Mexican public armed schooner Correo by the United States merchant schooner San Felipe. You will deliver this letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and, that you may understand the matters to which it relates, you are here with furnished with a copy of it, and of the correspondence between this Department and Mr. Castillo concerning them. You will apply to Mr. Carleton, at New Orleans, for any additional papers and information he may have to elucidate the case of the Correo and San Felipe, in order that you may be prepared to offer such further explanations as may be necessary to convince the Mexican Government that, in the course the President has pursued, he has been actuated by the most scrupulous regard for justice and good faith. As you will be in Mexico to receive any representations the Mexican Government may desire to make to this Department, it is expected that, if further correspondence is deemed necessary, it will address itself to you; and it would be well for you to apprize the Minister of Foreign Affairs that you are instructed to this effect. The commercial relations between the United States and the Mexican republic are regulated and defined by the treaty of amity and commerce, the ratifications of which were exchanged here on the 5th of April, 1832. You will make yourself familiar with its provisions, and will watch over its faithful observance. Owing to a failure on the part of the Mexican Government to provide a commissioner and surveyor to meet those of the United States within the stipulated time, the treaty of limits has not yet been carried into effect. A convention, negotiated by Mr. Butler, to extend the time for the appointment of the commissioners and surveyors, has been approved by the SenIt has already been ratified by the Mexican Government, and, when ratified by the President of the United States, the ratifications will be exchanzed in this city. ate. The claims of citizens of the United States on the Mexican Government for injuries to their persons or property by the authorities or citizens of that republic, are numerous, and of considerable amount; and, though many of them of long standing, provision for their payment is pertinaciously |