The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 24, July 1920 - April, 1921 Page: 195

Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar

MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR
A. K. CHRISTIAN
About the time Treat began his negotiations in Mexico, James
Hamilton, who had already been in Europe on a mission for Texas,
was appointed a commissioner to secure a loan of five million dol-
lars in Europe. He was to miss no opportunity of securing pa-
cification with Mexico, and was authorized to enter into any treaty
of amity, commerce and boundaries with Mexico, using money
already agreed upon by Congress and the President in settlement
of the claims of Mexican bondholders, with whom he was empow-
ered to enter into an agreement. After numerous delays Hamilton
arrived in London on September 27, 1840. He found no pos-
sible chance of treating with Mexico at that place. On November
13, 1840, he entered into a treaty of amity, commerce, and navi-
gation with Great Britain, which carried with it recognition of
Texan independence.02 The following day he signed a convention
providing for British mediation with Mexico. By this convention
Texas agreed that if by means of the mediation of Great Britain,
an unlimited truce should be established between Mexico and Texas
within thirty days after notice of the convention was communi-
cated to Mexico, and if within six months thereafter Mexico should
have concluded a treaty of peace with Texas, then the Republic
of Texas would take over five million dollars of Mexican bonds.68
These two treaties arrived in Texas and were communicated to
the Senate on January 25, 1841, and promptly ratified.4 As a
result of this, hoping that a recognition of Texan independence by
Great Britain and a formal convention providing for mediation
would influence the attitude of the Mexican government, Lamar
determined to send a third mission to Mexico, and this time his
choice fell upon James Webb, who had succeeded Bee as secretary
of state in February, 1839, and was at that time attorney-general.
Lamar was absent from the seat of government when these treaties
were ratified, and while unsuccessful efforts were being made to
secure the authorization of a force for offensive operations against
"Gammel, Laws of Texas, II, 880-885.
"Ibid., II, 886; British and Foreign State Papers, XXIX, 84.
"Secret Journals of the Senate, 195.

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