The Secretary to the Admiralty to Mr. Hammond. (Received March 19) Admiralty, March 18, 1862 Sir, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to send you herewith for the information of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, an extract from a letter, dated the 22nd February, from Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Maitland, with copy of one addressed by him on the same day to Sir Charles Wyke, pointing out that the Rear Admiral had then been waiting at Panama since the 30th of January, for a communication from Sir Charles Wyke as to the operations to be undertaken on the West Coast of Mexico, and that the movements of the British and French squadrons in the Pacific depend upon such communication. (Signed) W. G. ROMAINE Inclosure No.1 Rear Admiral Sir T. Maitland to the Secretary to the Admiralty "Bacchante", at Taboga, February 22, 1862. (Extract) I request that you will acquaint their Lordships, that I have as yet received no communication whatever from Sir C. Wyke or Sir Alexander Milne, at which I am much surprised, as the port can be communicated with from Vera Cruz by steamer in about seven days. The account of the allied forces having landed at Vera Cruz reached this [port] on the 10th instant. I forwarded copies of my letters to Sir C. Wyke; and, in compliance with their Lordships instructions, wil remain here until I hear from Sir Charles Wyke, as I do not deem it advisable to proceed to the Coast of Mexico without some specific object in view, there being great difficulty on that coast in keeping ships of war supplied with provisions and coals, which might be nearly expended before I knew what operations were to be undertaken. The "Termagant" arrived here on the 9th instant from Mazatlan, and the United States steam-ship "Saranac" on the same day from Acapulco, leaving the "Lancaster" at the latter port. The "Tartar" left this [port] for Acapulco on the 11th instant, to replace the "Termagant", for the protection of British subjects and those of our allies. The French Admiral has despatched the "Bayonnaise" to replace the "Galathée" at Acapulco, under similar orders. I have not yet heard of the arrival of the "Cameleon" on the Coast of Mexico, which vessel, with the "Mutine", will remain under the orders of Captain Hayes, of the "Tartar". Inclosure No.2 Rear Admiral Sir T. Maitland to Sir C. Wyke "Bacchante" at Taboga Island, Panama, February 22, 1862. (Extract) With reference to my letter of the 13th ultimo, I have the honour to acquaint you that I arrived here on the 30th January, and have now waited nearly a month in daily expectation of receiving a communication from you on the subject of the operations to be undertaken on the West Coast of Mexico, but none has yet arrived, although this port can be communicated with from Vera Cruz in seven days; and I understand that Sir A. Milne had been directed to make arrangements for my receiving your despatches. Accounts via New York, were received here on the 10th instant that the allied forces were landed at Vera Cruz about the 7th January. It is of the utmost importance that I should receive an early communication from you, as the movements of the whole of the ships under my command, as well as those of the French squadron, depend upon such a communication (Admiral Larrien being directed to act in concert). At present the French Admiral and myself are quite at a loss, what orders to give, or what measures to take, relative to operations on this side of Mexico; and consequently, the action of the whole of the allied force is, in a measure, suspended, all the ships, as far as possible, having been withdrawn from other parts of the station for this service. At present there are three British ships of war and one French on the West Coast of Mexico, but they have orders not to act hostilely, except in self-defence, and to protect the lives and property of the allied Powers. Two of these ships have been directed to remain at Acapulco, if the guns have been withdrawn from the fort, and the Mexicans do not attempt to molest them. Before I leave this for the Coast of Mexico, it is necessary to arrange for the conveyance of provisions and coals for the ships on that coast; and, as this will entail a very heavy expense on the British Government, I am anxious to have some idea of what operations are intended, to enable me to make the required arrangements, which take some time to carry out. I think it right to tell you that the season for operations on the West Coast of Mexico is fast advancing. It will be nearly a month before we can reach that coast from this anchorage, and after the end of May the wet and unhealthy season commences, and except Acapulco (which is very unhealthy in the wet season), there is no secure port for large ships. The ports on this side of Mexico may be taken possession of by the ships, but they cannot be held without a military force, if the Mexicans are determined to resist. The Secretary to the Admiralty to Mr. Hammond. (Received March 19) Admiralty, March 18, 1862 Sir, A am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to send you herewith, for the information of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a letter from Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Maitland, dated 23rd February, reporting his intention to proceed to Acapulco, in consequence of the receipt of a despatch from Sir Charles Wyke, of which a copy is also inclosed. (Signed) W. G. ROMAINE Inclosure No.1 Rear Admiral Sir T. Maitland to the Secretary to the Admiralty "Bacchante", at Taboga, February 23, 1862. Sir, With reference to my letter of yesterday's date, I request you will inform their Lordships that I have just received a despatch from Sir Charles Wyke, a copy of which I enclose; and that in compliance with the request therein contained, I shall immediately proceed off Acapulco (with the "Clio"), that being the nearest port from which communications may be forwarded to the city of Mexico. (Signed) T. MAITLAND Inclosure No.2. Sir C. Wyke to Rear Admiral Sir T. Maitland Vera Cruz, January 31, 1862. Sir, As there is a possibility that the negotiations in which the Representatives of the three Powers are at present engaged with the Mexican Government may end in a pacific solution of the differences now existing between our respective Governments and that of this Republic, we are unwilling to take possession of any of the Pacific ports until such negotiations shall be terminated. Under these circumstances, I have the honour to request your Excellency to proceed off that part of the said coast from which you can best communicate with the city of Mexico, whence the British Consul will forward to me any despatch announcing your arrival that you may send to his care, to be transmitted to this Legation. Should our negotiations fail in obtaining what we require, I will immediately inform you thereof, and will, at the same time, point out what steps it may then be necessary to take with a view of carrying out the original intentions of Her Majesty's Government in reference to this matter. (Signed) C. LENNOX WYKE Back to Table of Contents: Booklet No. 8, Mexico 1861-67 Back to El Dorado List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 2000 by The South and Central Military Historians Society This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com