Being prompted by motives of humanity to send my crew on shore, in small detachments, for exercise and recreation, after a long confinement on shipboard, my enemy, the United States Consul, sends his agents among them, and by specious pretences persuades them to desert their ship, and take refuge under his Consular flag.

This Has been done in the case of the following seamen:--Everett Salmon, John G.Jenkins, Thomas F.Kenny, and perhaps others.

Here is an act of war perpetrated against me in neutral territory, and the consular residence, or office, has become _quoad hoc_ a hostile camp.

And this conduct is the more objectionable in that the nationality of most of these men is not American.

His Excellency, as a soldier, knows that no crime is regarded with greater detestation in the present civilized age of the world, than the one here described.