February 5, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
For fifteen months, or since the MUIR business, the esequatur of Mr. ROBERT BUNCH from the United States Government has been withdrawn. HE has been the Consular Agent of her Britannic Majesty at this port, and is now permanently withdrawn by his Government. We learn that, both from the British Minister to the United States, Lord LYONS, and from his Government itself, he has assurances that his course in Charleston is approved, with the promise of promotion to a more important diplomatic post. It is said that under the prospect of a formidable attack on Charleston, it would not be proper to expose the obnoxious Mr. BUNCH, deprived of his official position, to the hostility of the Yankee forces, should they succeed; therefore, the Cadmus has been sent to remove him out of the way of any such unpleasantness. It seems more probable, however, that the real motive of his withdrawal is a desire on the part of Lord LYONS and of the British Administration to gratify the United States Government in the removal of Mr. BUNCH, whose views and course has been more unprejudiced and just to the Confederate States than their own. Yet, while proceeding to do so, it accords with British custom to avoid sacrificing an officer who has done his best for his county, and, at the same time, also to avoid, as far as practicable, the appearance to the Confederate States of removing an officer because of his fairness and supposed friendly bias. The danger to Mr. BUNCH of remaining longer in Charleston, may be a mere diplomatic reason on the part of Lord LYONS for his immediate transfer to London.
We throw out these views which occur to us for whatever they may be worth. Every one must judge for himself.