James Hamilton to G. B. Lamar, December 3, 1840

Summary: Hamilton updated Lamar on the likelihood that Britain would soon compel Mexico to recognize Texas independence. Hamilton asked to be appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to Britain until Texas and Britain could exchange ambassadors. Also reported on a Col. Edwards, who was demanding that Texas return 200 slaves that Edwards claimed were sold to him and then emancipated under the Slave Treaty. He promised to look into the matter.

LONDON Dec 3d 1840.

(Private and confidential

MY DEAR SIR--

I beg leave to refer you to my Letter to the Secy of State and Mr Burnleys Letter and mine to the Secretary of the Treasury for

a full statement of our proceedings plans and movements up to the present time.

I feel confident that G.B. will now compel under her recognition Mexico to make peace with us. The more promptly therefore the Treaty is ratified by Texas the better.

I feel the utmost confidence in the probability of our effecting an arrangement for the Loan by the 1st. January to enable Mr. Burnley to go out.

With a view to have the Govt. introduced to the Court of her Majesty I would respectfully ask you to [have] me nominated as Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to the Govt of her Brittannic Majesty. I do not wish a Secy of Legation and as soon as the Exchange of the ratification is made in London I will come home and you can appoint a charge which I suppose will be the grade the British Govt will send. But until the Ratifications are exchanged in London I think it best to remain with my present rank. It will be necessary now to have my name sent in.

I subjoin a Letter I had to address to the celebrated Col. Monroe Edwards who has appea[r]ed here and made an application to the British Govt to demand of Texas the surrender of 200 Africans which he alledges were fraudulently sold to him, as they were emancipated and apprenticed under the Slave Treaty between Spain and England. I have checked him I believe altho' he has brought two of the negroes over here to tell their own Story and applied to Lord Brougham and the ant[i]slavery Society to aid him. I will watch him and endeavour to act with firmness and moderation.

Having now got through with my Diplomatick affairs I shall leave for Holland tomorrow and hope to do something on the Loan

I am My Dear Sir with great esteem and respect,

J HAMILTON

Lord Palmerston has requested that his dispatches for Mr. Pakenham with our mediation Treaty should be sent by a fast sailing vessel to Vera Cruz from Galveston if there is no vessel from New Orleans. I have written to the Naval Commander at Galveston to despatch a fast sailing schooner in this event--which I hope will meet your approval.

I enclose you Copy of Lord Palmerston's note respecting the Despatches.

His Exy.

G.B LAMAR

Source Copy Consulted: James Hamilton to G. B. Lamar, December 3, 1840, George Garrison, ed., Diplomatic Correspondence of the Republic of Texas, Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1908, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1911), 3 vols., 3: 914-915