It states that Mr. Worth is still in prison at Versailles, and that the Prussian authorities have offered to liberate him on his parole to return immediately to England, but that, as Colonel Walker refused to guarantee this, he remains a prisoner. I would respectfully submit to your Lordship that a direct demand from Her Majesty's Government would obtain his immediate release. I have, &c. (Signed) A. BATSON JOYNER. No. 27. Earl Granville to Colonel Walker. (Telegraphic.) Foreign Office, November 18, 1870, 3.15 P m. "TIMES" correspondent from Versailles states on the 14th that Prussian authorities had offered to liberate Worth on his parole to return to England on your guarantee, which you had refused; and on the 15th that he had been sent to Meudon to be tried by court-martial. Let me know how the case stands as regards each particular. No. 28. Mr. Hammond to Mr. Joyner. Foreign Office, November 18, 1870. MR. HAMMOND presents his compliments to Mr. Joyner, and begs leave to acquaint him that it appears, by a letter from Colonel Walker dated the 14th instant, that Mr. Worth is sent to Minden, not Meudon, as stated in the letter published in the "Times" of to-day. No. 29. (Telegraphic.) Colonel Walker to Earl Granville.-(Received November 19.) Versailles, November 19, 1870. PRUSSIAN authorities made no offer to liberate Worth on my guarantee; I therefore could never have refused. The statement of the "Times'" correspondent is in this respect utterly devoid of truth. Worth, as I have reported to London and Berlin, has been sent to Germany. I hear now to Cologne. Minden was first named, for which Meudon has probably been mistaken. I request further particulars. No. 30. Earl Granville to Lord A. Loftus. (Telegraphic.) Foreign Office, November 19, 1870, 6 P.M. COLONEL WALKER telegraphs that Mr. Worth has been sent to Germany. Minden was first named, but he now hears he is sent to Cologne. No. 31. Earl Granville to Lord A. Loftus. My Lord, Foreign Office, November 19, 1870. WITH reference to my despatch to your Excellency, of the 16th instant, I transmit to you herewith copy of a further despatch and telegram from Colonel Walker,* relative to the case of Mr. Worth, who appears to have been sent to Germany as a prisoner of war. I am, &c. [175] (Signed) *Nos. 24 and 29. GRANVILLE. C No. 32. Mr. Hammond to Mr. Batson Joyner. Foreign Office, November 19, 1870. MR. HAMMOND presents his compliments to Mr. Batson Joyner, and begs leave to acquaint him that it appears, by a telegram dated to-day, received from Colonel Walker, that the Prussian authorities made no offer to liberate Mr. Worth on his guarantee. Colonel Walker says he has now heard that Mr. Worth's destination is Cologne. Any further particulars which may be received from Colonel Walker, will at once be communicated to Mr. Joyner. Sir, No. 33. Earl Granville to Colonel Walker. Foreign Office, November 19, 1870. I HAVE received your despatch of the 14th instant, relative to the case of Mr. Worth, the British subject who has been captured, after escaping from Paris in a balloon. I have to express to you my approval of the course pursued by you in the matter, and of the steps you have taken to afford Mr. Worth assistance. I am, &c. (Telegraphic.) Lord A. Loftus to Earl Granville.-(Received November 21.) Berlin, November 21, 1870, 4·10 P.M. I HAVE addressed official note about Worth, and can do no more. Thile says that he does not expect an answer yet, but his family need be under no apprehensions about him. Mr. Littlewood has gone to Cologne to try to find him. Why did not Mr. Worth come out with the other English, instead of taking flight in a balloon? Sir, No. 35. Mr. Otway to Mr. Joyner. Foreign Office, November 21, 1870. WITH reference to previous correspondence relative to the case of Mr. Worth, I am directed by Earl Granville to inform you that a telegram has been received from Her Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin, stating that he has addressed an official representation to the Prussian Government on Mr. Worth's behalf, but that an answer cannot yet be expected. He is assured, however, that no apprehensions need be entertained about him. Mr. Littlewood has gone to Cologne to try to find him. I am, &c. (Extract.) Colonel Walker to Earl Granville.—(Received November 22.) Versailles, November 19, 1870. I HAVE now lying before me your Lordship's telegraphic message dated 18th November, 3.17 P.M., received at midnight, and have the honour to report that I have just replied to your Lordship in the following words :— "Prussian authorities made no offer to liberate Worth on my guarantee; I therefore could never have refused. "The statement of Times'' correspondent is, in this respect, utterly devoid of truth. Worth, as I have reported to London and Berlin, has been sent to Germany. I hear now to Cologne. Minden was first named, for which Meudon has probably been mistaken. I request further particulars." Your Lordship must by this time be in possession of full particulars respecting Mr. Worth, as contained in my despatches dated respectively 8th, 9th, and 14th November. I cannot understand how my letter of the 14th failed to reach your Lordship as soon as the "Times'" correspondent's of the same date reached his employers. The persons with whom I communicated respecting Mr. Worth were Lieutenant-General von Blumenthal, Chief of the Staff of the IIIrd Army, whose answer to me on my first application respecting Mr. Worth was conveyed to your Lordship both by telegraph end despatch, the Commandant of Versailles, Major-General von Voigts Rhetz and his Adjutant, and with no other person whatever. Considering the frank and open manner in which these officers intimated to me that there was no opening for a favourable hearing of any request for Mr. Worth's release, I did not consider myself justified (in default of any instruction from your Lordship) in embarrassing Her Majesty's Government by demanding what would have inevitably been refused. Mr. Wodehouse, who is a member of the Diplomatic Corps, which I am not, and whom I gladly consulted in this matter, was, unless I completely misunderstood him, of the same opinion as myself. Mr. Wodehouse did not leave Versailles till eight hours after Worth's departure. Since Mr. Worth's removal, which took place early on the 14th instant, I have written three times to inform Lord Augustus Loftus-first, that he had started for Germany; secondly, that (as I was informed) he had been sent to Minden; and yesterday, that Cologne, and not Minden, was his destination. As the post travels very much quicker than trains with prisoners, I did not consider it advisable to draw more attention than was necessary to the fact of my having moved Lord Augustus Loftus in this matter by telegraphing. As your Lordship's telegraphic message contains all I know in this matter, it would be premature in me to take any immediate steps in denying a report which is as mischievous as it is false. I have, however, the fullest confidence that, on receipt of my telegram of this morning, which was at once ordered to be forwarded by LieutenantGeneral von Blumenthal, your Lordship will take the measures necessary for its repudiation. No. 37. Mr. Littlewood to Earl Granville.-(Received November 22, 9:16 P.M.) (Telegraphic.) Victoria Hotel, Cologne. MR. WORTH is not here or at Berlin. Will your Lordship kindly say where he is by telegraph here at once? No, 38. Mr. Otway to Mr. Littlewood. (Telegraphic.) Foreign Office, November 22, 1870. WE know no more than Colonel Walker's report that Mr. Worth was to be sent to Cologne. No. 39. Mr. Joyner to Earl Granville.-(Received November 22.) My Lord, 60, Cornhill, London, November 22, 1870. I HAVE to thank your Lordship for the communication of yesterday relating to the case of Mr. Worth (an Englishman in the hands of the Prussians), and also for the steps taken in the matter. I have just received a telegram from Mr. Littlewood in Cologne, in which he states he cannot find Mr. Worth, although he has been there a whole day. He also says that Lord A. Loftus had remarked that, if he could get to Count Bismarck, Mr. Worth would be released immediately. From this remark would your Lordship allow me to suggest that a verbal demand might be made of Count Bismarck by Mr. Odo Russell for his immediate release? Also a request that Mr. Worth's exact whereabouts may be made known, as his friends are very anxious about him and naturally ask what right have the Prussians to detain him. Foreign Office, November 24, 1870. I HAVE received your telegram of the 19th instant, and despatch of the same date, stating that there is no foundation for the assertion made by the "Times" correspondent, at Versailles, that you had refused an offer made to you by the Prussian authorities, to liberate Mr. Worth on his parole to return to England, under your guarantee. I have much pleasure in repeating to you my entire approval of the steps which you have taken on Mr. Worth's behalf, as reported by you in your several despatches on the subject. No. 41. I am, &c. My Lord, Mr. Littlewood to Earl Granville.-(Received November 25.) Victoria Hotel, Cologne, November 23, 1870. I CONFIRM my telegram of 21st and thank your Lordship for your reply, which, permit me to mention, I received late on the 22nd, although my telegram was dated Cologne, 12 o'clock on that day, the 21st instant. In your reply I am surprised to find that "Colonel Walker hears that Mr. Worth is sent to Cologne." To save further anxiety in this case, allow me to ask your Lordship, What is actually being done on the part of Her Majesty's Government in this case? and further, if he is sent here, who will defend him, as a British subject, there being no representative of our Government at Cologne? May I, as one of your subjects, ask the favour of your Lordship's reply by telegraph? I have, &c. HENRY BUCKNALL LITTLEWOOD. (Signed) No. 42. Mr. Littlewood to Earl Granville.-(Received November 25, 7.2 P.M.) (Telegraphic.) Victoria Hotel, Cologne, November 25, 1870, 2:35 P.M WORTH is here without any representative of the English Government. No. 43. Mr. Joyner to Earl Granville.-(Received November 25.) My Lord, 60, Cornhill, London, November 25, 1870. REFERRING to the case of Mr. Worth, I have to inform your Lordship that I have this morning a letter from Mr. Littlewood, at Cologne, in which he reports that the Commandant of that town had received the papers relating to Mr. Worth's case, and that he was expected immediately. I was officially informed yesterday that, after consulting legal authority, Her Majesty's Government found they had no power to stay the trial, but at the same time I would earnestly and respectfully entreat of your Lordship to dispatch a Mission to Cologne to represent Mr. Worth's case at the trial, he being an unprotected Englishman in the hands of an arbitrary people in a strange land, without the power to assist himself. And if I might further entreat of your Lordship a demand of the Prussian authorities to allow an interview between Mr. Littlewood and Mr. Worth. (Telegraphic.) Earl Granville to Lord A. Loftus. Foreign Office, November 26, 1870, 4 P.M. ASK that Mr. Littlewood may he allowed to see Mr. Worth, who is expected at Cologne, and also to obtain for him any legal assistance which he may require. No. 45. Sir, Mr. Otway to Mr. Joyner. Foreign Office, November 26, 1870. WITH reference to your letters of the 22nd and 25th instant, I am directed by Earl Granville to inform you that his Lordship has instructed Her Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin by telegraph to apply to the Prussian Government for permission for Mr. Littlewood to see Mr. Worth, and also to obtain for him any legal assistance which he may require. Mr. Odo Russell was provided on leaving this country with instructions to intercede in Mr. Worth's behalf if opportunity should offer. Lord Granville is, however, advised that Her Majesty's Government are not in the present state of the case entitled to deny the right of the Prussian authorities to bring Mr. Worth before a court-martial. I am, &c. (Signed) ARTHUR OTWAY. No. 46. Earl Granville to Lord A. Loftus. My Lord, Foreign Office, November 28, 1870. WITH reference to your telegram of the 21st instant, I transmit to your Excellency herewith copies of further correspondence relative to the capture and detention of Mr. Worth, who appears by the latest intelligence to be expected forthwith at Cologne. I have already instructed you by telegraph to apply for permission for Mr. Littlewood to see Mr. Worth, and to obtain for him any legal assistance which he may require. No. 47. I am, &c. Lord A. Loftus to Earl Granville.-(Received November 28.) (Extract.) Berlin, November 26, 1870. WITH reference to your Lordship's various telegrams concerning the arrest of Mr. Worth, I have the honour to report that I have done all in my power to obtain his release. I have spoken on several occasions to Baron Thile on his behalf, who stated that the note I had addressed to him had been immediately forwarded to Count Bismarck; that he had not yet received any reply to it, nor was he cognizant of the grounds on which *Nos. 37, 39, 40, 43, and 45. |