The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 9, July 1905 - April, 1906 Page: 24

Texas Historical Association Quarterly.

ternational law involved were discussed at some length, and in
which considerable tartness was developed on both sides. Smith
of course accomplished nothing in regard to the vessel itself, since
it had sailed long before the correspondence was more than well un-
der way; but he hoped that by reiterating his protests on the sub-
ject until the British government was, as he said, thoroughly tired
of the matter, he might at least impress his objections very
strongly on the government's memory and make it very cautious
in regard to repeating the offense of which he complained.
Through James Reily, the Texas charge d'affaires at Washington,
the matter was brought to the attention of President Tyler, who
undertook to send the United States frigate Mississippi into the
Gulf for the protection of Texas. Throughout this whole affair,
the attitude of the English government was that of defending
English commerce above everything else. It would not, to the
detriment of this commerce, forbid the fitting out of Mexican
vessels in England or the purchasing of supplies by Mexico for
use against Texas so long as any color of legality could be found
to justify its doing otherwise. Apparently it had no desire to be-
friend Mexico against Texas nor any to continue the war between
the two countries. As Lord Ashburton and Fox, the English min-
ister to the United States, told Henry Clay in the spring of 1842,
England would be as likely to aid Spain in reconquering the Low
Countries as to aid Mexico in reducing Texas, and in the relations
between Texas and Mexico her first desire was for peace. And
yet the building of the vessels in England was likely to encourage
the early renewal of active hostilities on the part of Mexico. Eng-
land's desire for peace at this time was by no means so acute as
it afterwards became, and just now it was easily overpowered by
considerations of commercial gain.1
(3) Suspension of hostilities with Mexico.-On January
31, 1843, Jones directed Smith to protest to the Eng-
lish and French governments against the uncivilized war-
fare waged against Texas by Mexico. On June 10 Jones
1Kennedy to Brower, May 6, 1842; Smith to Jones, May 17, June 3,
June 18, July 12, Aug. 13, Oct. 19, and Dec. 30, 1842; Russell to Smith,
June 4, 1842; Aberdeen to Smith, Sep. 27, and Nov. 8, 1842; Smith to
Aberdeen, June 14, July 1, Sep. 14, Sep. 19, Oct. 10, and Dec. 12, 1842;
Reily to Jones, Apr. 14, and July 11, 1842.