[Extracts.]
Mr. Adams to Mr.
Seward.
No. 184.]
Legation of the United States,
London,
July 9, 1862.
Sir:I have to acknowledge the reception from
the department of despatches numbered 274, 275, and 276.
* * * * * * *
I likewise forward copies of the correspondence, so far as it has gone,
touching the preparation of the formidable gunboat at Liverpool for the
use of the rebels. In accordance with the suggestion in Lord Russell’s
note of the 4th instant, I have directed the vice-consul at Liverpool,
in the absence of Mr. Dudley, to prepare and send to the collector of
customs there such further evidence as he may obtain of the true
destination of that vessel. At the same time I have requested him to
send me the same information with a view to take professional advice as
to the practicability of proceeding against it in the courts, and, as a
last resource, I have taken the responsibility of sending for the
Tuscarora. Captain Craven has arrived at Southampton, and has been here
to see me. I regard the case as so important that if the evidence shall
prove in any way sufficient to justify the step, I shall authorize him
to try to intercept her on her way out. This may have the effect of
taking the vessel off of her present station and far over to the United
States. I know nothing of the naval arrangements, but I presume that the
Tuscarora can be replaced by some other ship of less power which would
equally serve the purpose of the government as a safeguard against
privateering in these waters.
I have not yet taken advice in regard to proceedings at law to recover
the Emily St. Pierre, for the reasons already given. After the
experience had in the case of the Nashville, I have not the smallest
confidence in their utility. Should you, however, persevere in your
wishes after receiving my despatch of the 18th of June (No. 175,) I
shall readily comply. So much time has already elapsed since the event,
that a little more delay will make no difference.
Strange as it may seem, Lord Russell has written to me to inquire the
date of the claim made by the British government on that of the United
States for the restoration of the three vessels rescued from their
officers. The note of Mr. Liston, advancing the claim, was published in
the last Observer, a newspaper of Sunday morning. It makes a very
awkward record. The newspapers which previous to its appearance were
disposed freely to comment on my share of the published correspondence
in the case of the Emily St. Pierre have since been silent.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.
Legation of the United
States,
London,
June 23, 1862.
My Lord: Some time since, it may be
recollected by your lordship that I felt it my duty to make a
representation touching the equipment, from the port of Liverpool,
of the gunboat Oreto, with the intent to make war upon
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the United States.
Notwithstanding the statements returned from the authorities of that
place, with which your lordship favored me in reply, touching a
different destination of that vessel, I have the strongest reason
for believing that that vessel went directly to Nassau, and that she
has been there engaged in completing her armament, provisioning, and
crew for the object first indicated by me.
I am now under the painful necessity of apprising your lordship that
a new and still more powerful war steamer is nearly ready for
departure from the port of Liverpool on the same errand. This vessel
has been built and launched from the dock-yard of persons, one of
whom is now sitting as a member of the House of Commons, and is
fitting out for the especial and manifest object of carrying on
hostilities by sea. It is about to be commanded by one of the
insurgent agents, the same who sailed in the Oreto. The parties
engaged in the enterprise are persons well known at Liverpool to be
agents and officers of the insurgents in the United States, the
nature and extent of whose labors are well explained in the copy of
an intercepted letter of one of them, which I received from my
government some days ago, and which I had the honor to place in your
lordship’s hand on Thursday last.
I now ask permission to transmit, for your consideration, a letter
addressed to me by the consul of the United States at Liverpool, in
confirmation of the statements here submitted, and to solicit such
action as may tend either to stop the projected expedition, or to
establish the fact that its purpose is not inimical to the people of
the United States.
Renewing the assurances of my highest consideration, I have the honor
to be, my lord, your most obedient servant,
Right Hon. Earl Russell,
&c., &c., &c.
Earl Russell to Mr. Adams.
Foreign Office,
June 25, 1862.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 23d instant, calling attention to a
steam vessel which you state is now fitting out at Liverpool with
the intention of carrying on hostilities against the government of
the United States, and I have to acquaint you that I have lost no
time in referring the matter to the proper department of her
Majesty’s government.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your
most obedient, humble servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
Earl Russell to Mr. Adams.
Foreign Office,
July 4, 1862.
Sir: With reference to my letter of the
25th ultimo, I have the honor to enclose a copy of a report from the
commissioners of customs respecting the vessel which you have been
informed is being built at Liverpool for the government of the
so-styled Confederate States, and, in accordance therewith, I would
beg leave to suggest that you should instruct the United
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States consul at Liverpool
to submit to the collector of customs at that port such evidence as
he may possess tending to show that his suspicions as to the
destination of the vessel in question are well founded.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your
most obedient, humble servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq.,&c., &c., &c.
[Untitled]
Custom-House,
July 1,
1862.
Your lordships having referred to us the annexed letter from Mr.
Hammond, under secretary of state for foreign affairs,
transmitting, by desire of Earl Russell, copy of a letter from
the United States minister at this court, calling attention to a
steamer reported to be fitting out at Liverpool as a southern
privateer, and enclosing copy of a letter from the United States
consul at that port reporting the result of his investigation
into the matter, and requesting that immediate inquiries may be
made respecting this vessel, and such steps taken in the matter
as may be right and proper, we report:
That immediately on the receipt of your lordship’s reference we
forwarded the papers to our collector at Liverpool for his
special inquiry and report, and we learn from his reply that the
fitting out of the vessel has not escaped the notice of the
officers of the revenue, but that as yet nothing has transpired
concerning her which has appeard to demand a special report.
We are informed that the officers have at all times free access
to the building yards of the Messrs. Laird, at Birkenhead, where
the vessel is lying, and that there has been no attempt on the
part of her builders to disguise, what is most apparent, that
she is intended for a ship-of-war; and one of the surveyors in
the service of this revenue, who had been directed by the
collector personally to inspect the vessel, has stated that the
description of her in the communication of the United States
consul is correct, with the exception that her engines are not
constructed on the oscillatory principle. Her dimensions are as
follows: length, 211 feet 6 inches; breadth, 31 feet 8 inches;
depth, 17 feet 8 inches, and her gross tonnage, by the present
rule of admeasurement, is 682 31/100 tons. The surveyor has
further stated that she has several powder canisters on board,
but as yet neither guns nor carriages, and that the current
report in regard to the vessel is that she has been built by a
foreign government, which is not denied by the Messrs. Laird,
with whom the surveyor has conferred; but they do not appear
disposed to reply to any questions respecting the destination of
the vessel after she leaves Liverpool, and the officers have no
other reliable source of information on that point; and, having
referred the matter to our solicitor, he has reported his
opinion that at present there is not sufficient ground to
warrant the detention of the vessel or any interference on the
part of this department, in which report we beg to express our
concurrence. And with reference to the statement of the United
States consul that the evidence he has in regard to this vessel
being intended for the so-called confederate government in the
southern States is entirely conclusive to his mind, we would
observe that inasmuch as the officers of customs of Liverpool
would not be justified in taking any steps against the vessel
unless sufficient evidence to warrant her detention should be
laid before them, the proper course would be for the consul to
submit such evidence as he possesses to the collector at that
port, who would thereupon take such measures as the provisions
of the foreign enlistment act would require; without the
production of full and
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sufficient evidence to justify their proceedings, the seizing
officers might entail on themselves and on the government very
serious consequence.
We beg to add that the officers at Liverpool will keep a strict
watch on the vessel, and that any further information that may
be obtained concerning her will be forthwith reported.
GRENVILLE C. L. BERKELEY.
The Lords Commissioners of her Majesty’s Treasury.
Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.
Legation of the United
States,
London,
July 7, 1862.
My Lord: I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your note of the 4th instant, covering a copy of the
report from the commissioners of customs, respecting a vessel
presumed by me to be in course of preparation at Liverpool to carry
on hostile operations against the United States. In accordance with
your lordship’s suggestion, I shall at once instruct the consul of
the United States to submit to the collector of customs at that port
such evidence as he possesses to show that the suspicions he
entertained of the character of that vessel are well founded.
I pray your lordship to accept the assurances of the highest
consideration with which I have the honor to be, my lord, your most
obedient servant,
Right Hon. Earl Russell,
&c., &c., &c.
Mr. Adams to Mr. Wilding.
Legation of the United
States,
London,
July 7, 1862.
Sir: I transmit herewith a copy of a note
received by me from Lord Russell, in reply to my representation,
founded on Mr. Dudley’s letters of the 21st of June to me,
respecting Mr. Laird’s gunboat. In accordance with his lordship’s
suggestion, I pray you to furnish to the collector of customs, so
soon as may be, any evidence which you can readily command in aid of
the object designated.
I should be glad likewise to have such evidence made in duplicate,
and one copy forwarded to me at the same time for possible use in
another way at this point.
I have the honor to be, &c,
Henry Wilding, Esq., United States Vice-Consul, Liverpool.
