Mr. Thompson to Mr. Bayard.
Port-au-Prince, Hayti, July 8, 1885. (Received July 29.)
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that, contrary to the expectations of my honored predecessor, Mr. Langston, the court has sustained the ordinance and act of accusation; and have decided to hold Mr. Alexander C. d’Almena and others confined in the common jail of this city.
Immediately after this news was published the English consul sent a special courier with a letter to Kingston, via Jacmel, asking that a war vessel be seat to this port to protect British subjects.
This affair has taken a very serious turn, since the lawyers have openly declared that so great an injustice has been done them and their clients that they find it will be useless to continue proceedings where such a determination is shown to overrule every question of right. In the case of our citizen, his lawyer, who seems to be a cool, clear-headed man, while not giving up the case, speaks of what he has been permitted by law to do thus far. * * *
Two British war vessels have just arrived in this port, having come in response to the call of the British consul. They are the Mallard and the Lily.
Presuming since these two vessels have arrived that some steps of importance will be taken, and judging from the action the minister plenipotentiary of France has taken (indeed it is even rumored that he, too, has sent for a ship of war), the British consul will find in him an ally, both appearing to be of the same mind, I await developments.
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I am, &c.,