J. Hamilton to Mirabeau Lamar, March 24, 1840

Summary: Hamilton informed Lamar about a plan to send a Texas warship to France for supplies and under a letter of marque. He said the ship, built in Baltimore by Henry Williams, would get much better rates for arms and munitions if it were fitted out in France. Such a move would also incline France to give Texas a loan and raise prospects of more aid later on.

CHARLESTON March 24th 1840

MY DEAR SIR

I find that Mr. Henry Williams a brother of Mr. Samuel Williams, has just arrived here from Baltimore, on his way to Texas. This gentleman has been a staunch friend of the Republic, and to his judgment, skill and zeal, we partly owe the successful construction of the vessels of war that were built at Baltimore. Mr Williams proposes suggesting to you, to allow one of the Brigs to go out to France as a letter of Marque. He proposes putting a cargo of cotton on board of her, and if she is kept in fine order, and makes a striking appearance at Havre, She cannot fail to have a very beneficial effect on Mr Burnley's and my negotiation. Her freight will more than pay expenses out and home, and we may load her with the munitions of war, arms, cannon, clothing and Military equipments which, I have suggested to the Secretary of War in a letter which accompanies this, had better be purchased in France, where they may be procured for 50 per cent less than in the United States, besides such a purchase pending the Negotiation of our loan, cannot fail to have a very beneficial influence on our success. I feel almost satisfied, that it will confirm the French Government in the disposition which they entertained last autumn, to advance us a Million out of their own coffers. I refer you to my letter to the Secretary of the Treasury for all that I have found it necessary to say in relation to the loan and our prospects. I will write you immediately on my arrival in France more fully on this subject, as I proximately, I trust, approach its consumation. I shall feel it my duty to write you on the political situation of Europe, more particularly as the destinies of Texas may be influenced by it. I still hope for a pacification with Mexico, and that your administration may be illustrated by the establishment of peace and the public credit of your country. I have been waiting here for the last month for the despatches for which I wrote from New Orleans on the 7th of January to the Secretary of the Treasury to wit: for the papers connected with the tariff, and the reduction of

duties on articles of French Merchandize. I cannot afford to wait here longer than a week or ten days more, as I must be in Paris before the adjournment of the Chamber of Deputies, as we may have to appeal to Legislative sanction for the aid France may be disposed to render us. I have however written to Dr. Starr to forward the papers with all possible dispatch, as they can follow me in the Great Western on the 9th May. I beg his special and prompt attention to this request, which I deem essential to our success.

With my best wishes, and the salutations of my great respect and esteem, I have the honor to remain, Your Most Obt. Servt and Friend

J. HAMILTON

His Excellency

MIRABEAU B LAMAR

P.S. If the Brig should go to France, be so good as to have her consigned to Lewis Rogers & Co.

Source Copy Consulted: J. Hamilton to Mirabeau Lamar, March 24, 1840, in 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: 1278-1279