Lennox to Under-Secretary of State
24 June 1867
Sir,
With reference to previous correspondence relating to the claims made by the Officer Commanding the Royal Marines at San Juan upon the Officer Commanding the United States Detachment on that Island for the restitution of a Deserter, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to send you herewith for the information of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, a letter from Rear Admiral Hastings dated the 12th Ultimo No 49, with its enclosures on this subject,fromManuscript image from which it appears that an amicable feeling has been maintained throughout the correspondence respecting this Deserter, and that the Rear Admiral considers no blame attaches to Captain Bazalgette for having requested his restitution.
I am Sir,
Your obedient servant,
Henry G. Lennox
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Elliot
We have already recd General Halleck's despatch of the 21 Jany last which brought this little tho' it might have been unpleasant affair to an amicable termination. See Govrs despatch 3752. I think it onlyManuscript image remains to send the Govr & the F.O. for information a copy of this letter & such of the enclosures as they have not already had.
CC 27 June
CBA 28/6
The Admiral points out that Captn BazalgetteManuscript image only requested restitution of the deserter, and did not make a formal demand for him as appears to be assumed in the censure pronounced upon him by HM's Govt. This censure was contained in the letter from this Office to the Admiralty dated the 22nd of March which is annexed.
Probably it will be enough to send copies of the present papers, as proposed by Mr Cox, to the Governor and to the Foreign Office.
TFE 27 June
CBA 28/6
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Capt. Bazalgettes words are, "I now request you will cause this deserter to be turned over to me."
The contention that this is not a demand is not worth discussing, and the matter being settled now it seems unnecessary to send on copies. I shd think we may put by.
B&C 30/6
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Duplicate, Rear Admiral Hastings to Secretary of the Admiralty, 12 May 1867, defending the actions of Captain Bazalgette.
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Copy, Captain Oldfield to Vice Admiral Denman, 12 January 1867, outlining events leading up to the demand for the deserter at San Juan.
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Copy, Halleck to Oldfield, 21 January 1867, advising of the course to be taken by the Americans with respect to the incident.
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Copy, Oldfield to Denman, 8 March 1867, reporting on visit from Brigade General Steele of the American army to institute a final settlement of the case.
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Schedule of enclosures contained in letter from Hastings to Secretary of the Admiralty, 12 May 1867.