CO885-(10-11) — Page 678

13112.

No. 541.

(TRINIDAD.)

PUBLIC

RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

PLC.O. 885

ALL

11 PU

SIB,

FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

Foreign Office, November 27, 1868. I AM directed by Lord Stanley to state to you, for the information of the Secre- tary of State for the Colonies, that his Lordship has had under his consideration and has referred to the proper law adviser of the Crown the claim made upon the Vene- zuelan Government by Dr. Bakewell, the particulars of which are contained in your letter of the 24th instant.

It appears from Dr. Bakewell's letter that he landed at Cumana on the 14th of July last upon a medical mission of inquiry authorised by the Governor of Trinidad, and that after completing his inquiry he prepared to return to that island by a steam vessel which plied between Caracas and La Guayra, calling at Cumana. Unfortunately, however, for Mr. Bakewell Caracas was at war with Cumana, and the steamer not being allowed by the authorities of Caracas to touch at Cumana passed that port on the 10th of August without calling for passengers. Dr. Bakewell thereupon obtained a passport for himself from the Prefect of Cumana for Barcelona, but was unable to obtain a license for a boat and crew to take him to that place. No reason seems to have been given by the Prefect for the refusal of the license, but it appears that Cumana had been declared by Caracas to be under blockade, and that the crew of the boat were themselves afraid of being captured by the Caracas flotilla.

It further appears that on the 29th of August Dr. Bakewell obtained a passage in a schooner from Cumana to Carupano, and that the schooner narrowly escaped capture by the enemy's cruisers.

Under these circumstances Dr. Bakewell proposes to claim 2,000l. from the Vene- zuelan Government in compensation for his detention at Cumana and for the great inconveniences and dangers to which he was exposed in consequence of Cumana having been twice in a state of siege.

I am to request that you will inform his Grace the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos that Lord Stanley is of opinion that Dr. Bakewell has made out no case which would justify the interference of Her Majesty's Government in support of his claim.

The refusal of a license for a boat to leave Cumana may have been a proper precau- tion on the part of the Prefect for the protection of the boatmen, whilst Dr. Bakewell appeare merely to have undergone mental alarm, and to have suffered no personal violence or ill-treatment during the state of siege..

The original papers which accompanied your letter are returned herewith.

I am, &c.

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

(Signed) E. C. EGERTON.

n 16278-119.

95.-5/66.

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

BE

CORD OFFICE, LONDON

PRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- NOUT PERMISSION OF THE