Mr. Welles to Mr. Seward
Sir: The United States steamer San Jacinto, under the command of Captain R. W. Meade, having been recently wrecked on a reef near the island of Abaco, Bahamas, Captain Meade deemed it expedient to avail himself of the services of a police magistrate of Abaco, named I. Nibbs Brown, as an agent for supervising the affairs of the wrecked vessel, and taking charge of the property saved from it.
A despatch received by the department from Acting Rear-Admiral Stribling, commanding the east gulf squadron, to which the San Jacinto was attached, encloses a copy of a letter from Mr. Brown, in which he states that his excellency the governor of the Bahamas has [Page 328] directed him to relinquish the agency for the wrecked vessel. Mr. Brown further write to Rear-admiral Stribling in these words:
“The emergency or necessity connected with the wreck having ceased, it will not be practicable for me to permit one of your armed vessels to enter this port for the transmission of the articles in warehouse; you will therefore be pleased to arrange for their transport by a vessel of another description. Should you advise it, I may be able to procure a vessel here at a reasonable rate.”
I beg leave to call your attention to this proceeding on the part of the British authority in the Bahamas, which wears the appearance of an unnecessary departure from international comity.
I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.