Lord Lyons to Mr.
Seward.
Washington,
December 29, 1862.
Sir: At the request of Vice-Admiral Sir
Alexander Milne, commander-in-chief of her Majesty’s naval forces on the
North American and West India stations, I beg leave to call the
attention of the government of the United States to a proceeding which
appears to be at variance with the rule of courtesy usually observed
towards each other by the naval officers of friendly powers.
It appears that a United States man-of-war, bearing, it is believed, the
flag of Rear-Admiral Wilkes, would not communicate with a boat belonging
to her Majesty’s ship Barracouta, which approached her with the British
ensign displayed, close to the entrance of a British port in the Bahama
islands.
The copy, which I have the honor to enclose, of a despatch from Sir
Alexander Milne will make you acquainted with the particulars of the
affair.
I have the honor to be, with high consideration, sir, your most obedient,
humble servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
Vice-Admiral Milne to Lord Lyons.
Nile, at
Nassau,
December 16, 1862.
My Lord: I have the honor to transmit to
your excellency the following extract of a letter, received from
Commander Malcolm, of her Majesty’s ship Barracouta, dated the 24th
ultimo, who has been the senior officer at Nassau since October
last:
“On the 20th instant two United States men-of-war were perceived to
the westward, steaming along close to the shore of New Providence.
As they neared we observed one was a screw bark-rigged vessel,
bearing a rear-admiral’s
[Page 478]
flag, and the other a paddle-wheel vessel. The former carried the
flag of Rear-Admiral Wilkes, and, I believe, was the Wachusetts.
“A boat from this ship, with her ensign up, was sent out to board
her. Lieutenant Cochrane tells me that when the boat got about one
hundred yards off, though there were a number of officers on the
poop, or stern gratings, looking at the boat, they steamed quietly
to the eastward, within half a mile of Hog island, with just
sufficient steam to allow the boat to keep up to them, and then made
sail and stood away to the northward.
“The vessel was boarded by a pilot from this place, named Lloyd, who
informed me that the flag-officer was Rear-Admiral Wilkes, and that
the admiral had asked him to land a Bahama pilot, whom they had on
board. This information was given to the governor in my
presence.”
This want of the usual courtesy on the part of an officer in command
of a foreign ship-of-war, in refusing communication with a boat of a
British ship-of-war, close to the entrance of a British port, is so
unusual, and so entirely at variance with the custom in such cases,
that I feel it to be my duty to submit it to your excellency’s
consideration whether the subject should not be brought to the
notice of the higher authorities of the United States government.
Such a proceeding on the part of any officer under my command, of
refusing to communicate with the boat having her colors flying of a
ship-of-war of the nation off whose port the ship may have been then
passing, would receive my severe censure.
ALEX. MILNE, Vice-Admiral, and
Commander-in-Chief.
Lord Lyons, J. C. B., &c., &c., &c.
