Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to communicate to the Senate, if not inconsistent with the public interest, any information the Executive may have received respecting the firing into and seizure of the American steamship Prometheus by a British vessel of war in November last near Greytown, on the Mosquito Coast, and also what measures have been taken by the Executive to ascertain the state of the facts and to vindicate the honor of the country.

In answer to this request I submit to the Senate the accompanying extracts from a communication addressed to the Department of State by Mr. Joseph L. White, as counsel of the American, Atlantic and Pacific Ship Canal Company, dated 2d instant.

This communication is the principal source of the information received by the Executive in relation to the subject alluded to, and is presumed to be essentially correct in its statement of the facts.  Upon receiving this communication instructions such as the occasion seemed to demand were immediately dispatched to the minister of the United States in London.  Sufficient time has not elapsed for the return of any answer to this dispatch from him, and in my judgment it would at the present moment be inconsistent with the public interest to communicate those instructions.  A communication, however, of all the correspondence will be made to the Senate at the earliest moment at which a proper regard to the public interest will permit.

At the same time instructions were given to Commodore Parker, commanding the Home Squadron, a copy of which, so far as they relate to the case of the Prometheus, is herewith transmitted to the Senate.

MILLARD FILLMORE.

WASHINGTON, December 16, 1851.

To the Senate of the United States: 

In answer to the resolution of the Senate of the 9th instant, requesting information in regard to the imprisonment of John S. Thrasher at Havana, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State and the documents which accompanied it.

MILLARD FILLMORE.

WASHINGTON, December 16, 1851.

To the Senate of the United States: 

In answer to the resolution of the Senate of the 8th instant, requesting the communication of a dispatch[14] addressed to the Department of State by Mr. Niles, late charge d’affaires of the United States at Turin, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State, which is accompanied by a copy of the dispatch.

MILLARD FILLMORE.

[Footnote 14:  On the subject of a ship canal between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.]

WASHINGTON, December 23, 1851.

To the House of Representatives: 

I transmit to the House of Representatives a report from the Secretary of State, in answer to the first part[15] of a resolution of the 15th December, 1851, and also a report from the Secretary of the Navy, in answer to the remaining part[16] of the same resolution.