Mirabeau B. Lamar to Edwin W. Moore, June 20, 1840 - Page 1
The Treat Mission
In 1839 and 1840, James Treat worked in Mexico City to try to obtain a formal peace treaty between Texas and Mexico and Mexican recognition of the independence of Texas. Despite high hopes, the mission ultimately failed. Treat's health was also broken, and he died on board the San Antonio on the return trip to Texas.
As shown in this letter, Lamar was interested in the Yucatán rebellion taking place and ready to make common cause against Mexico if Treat's negotiations failed.
Copy
Commodore E.M. Moore Galveston 20th June 1840
Texas Navy
Sir:
You will with all convenient
dispatch, proceed with all of the vessels under your command, which
are manned and equipped for service, to some safe anchorage
not far from Veracruz. You will avail yourself of the first safe
opportunity of sending in the dispatches committed to your
care, for Richards Pakenham Esqr Her Brittanic Majesty’s
Minister at Mexico to the care of the British Consul at Veracruz.
You will cause one of the vessels under your command, to stand
off, an[d] [wait?] on Point Maria-Andrea, for thirteen days after the
dispatch has been delivered at Veracruz, for the purpose of
receiving such communications as may be sent out to you
from Mr Treat the Agent of this Govt in Mexico. Should
these despatches [sic] be for this Government, you will forward
them immediately by one of the best sailing vessels under
your command. Should you receive a dispatch [sic] from Mr
Treat informing you that he had failed in his negotia-
tions, you will in that event be authorized to cruise against
the Mexican vessels, and make prizes of them, taking care to
avoid all collision with neutral powers; always respecting
the principle, that a Neutral Flag protects the cargo.
You will be particular to avoid all offensive means
and not shew yourself before Veracruz or any other
Mexican Port, until after you have heard from Mr
Treat. Should you not hear from Mexico, after waiting
the term before mentioned, you will wait at some safe
and convenient place, and send to this Government for
further instructions. You will not commence hostil-
ities unless you should be informed by Mr Treat, of the
failure of his negotiations. If you should be attacked,
you will of course be at liberty to defend yourself, and
the honor of your Flag, by destroying, or capturing the enemy’s
vessel, whether public or merchantman. It is the object of
this
Mirabeau B. Lamar to Edwin W. Moore, June 20, 1840. Texas Navy Papers, Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, 401-1311.