§ ADMIRAL WALCOTTasked the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Whether he can give any information respecting the treatment to which Lieutenant Johnson, of the Royal Navy, has been subjected on the south-east coast of America? It appeared that one evening Lieutenant Johnson was on shore when his attention was attracted to two men, one of whom appeared to be murdering the other. He rushed forward and wrenched the pistol or knife from the assailant, who, having dealt him a blow, made his escape. After this, the police came up and seized Lieutenant Johnson, considering that he was the party who had murdered the other man. In spite of his protestations to the contrary they carried him off to prison, and ten hours elapsed before he was liberated.
§ MR. LAYARDsaid, the facts of the case were not exactly as the gallant Admiral had stated them. The occurrence took place in the Argentine Republic, not at Rio. Lieutenant Johnson was returning home late one night when he heard screams issuing from a house. He endeavoured to enter by the front door, but found it locked. He went round to the back, and thus gained admission. He then saw two men in mortal conflict. He interfered and wrenched the pistol from one of the men, who then escaped. Some watchmen came in, and seeing a man dangerously wounded, they seized Lieutenant Johnson and severely beat him. They then carried him off to prison, where he was locked up for many hours, and only released when he explained who he was. Mr. Thornton, the British representative in that county, brought the subject under the consideration of the Argentine Republic, and an apology was made for what had been done, and the watchmen had been apprehended and would be tried for the offence of which they had been guilty. The representative of the Argentine Republic in this country had also expressed his regret to Earl Russell at the circumstance which had taken place.