I beg to recommend to consideration the request of the passengers, that
they may be allowed to leave the vessel, with their personal effects, in
order to have free access to the consul.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most
obedient humble servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
Mr. Archibald to Lord Lyons.
British Consulate, New York,
March 30, 1863.
My Lord: Referring to my despatch of the
24th instant, and its enclosure, respecting the capture of the
steamship Peterhoff, I have the honor to acquaint your lordship of
the arrival of that ship at this port on Saturday last.
I have to-day received from Mr. Samuel J. Redgate, agent for Lloyds
at Matamoras, and from Robert Bowden, two passengers on board the
Peterhoff, letters, signed also by the master, of which I transmit,
herewith enclosed, copies for your lordship’s information.
[Page 540]
Your lordship will perceive by these letters that the passengers
desire to be permitted to land with their personal effects, in order
that they may have free access to me to protest against the seizure
of the vessel, present their claims for compensation, and attend to
their duties connected with the cargo which they represent, its
owners and insurers, free from naval control and supervision.
They likewise complain of being prevented from communicating with me
by letter, being willing to submit their communications to the
perusal of the officer in charge of the ship.
I have, &c.,
Right Hon. Lord Lyons, &c., &c., &c.
[Untitled]
British Screw-Steamer
Peterhoff, New
York, Saturday evening,
March 28, 1863
Sir: Mr. Redgate, of Matamoras, and
myself, had written the enclosed letter of this date, and I gave
it to Mr. Moyles, United States navy, one of the engineers of
the Vanderbilt on board, to put in the post office. It was taken
from him by Ensign A. K. Jones, United States navy, who was
temporarily in charge of the Peterhoff, Acting-Master Lewis
being on a visit to the admiral, who said it was contraband, and
he would not allow it to be sent. I told him to whom it was
addressed, and offered him a perusal of it, which he
declined.
During the time we were detained at Key West, Admiral Bailey
allowed us to communicate personally and by letter with the
British vice-consul, Mr. Butterfield, and Ensign Jones was fully
aware that Mr. Lewis facilitated us in this respect.
May I request on the part of Mr. Redgate and myself, as well as
of Captain Jarman, and all who are confined to the Peterhoff,
that you will report officially to his excellency the British
minister at Washington, and to the naval authorities of the
United States government, this harsh and uncalled for
interference on the part of Ensign Jones against the rights and
liberties of British subjects, who are temporarily in his
power.
I remain, &c., &c.,
ROBERT BOWDEN, Late of Melbourne
and London, passenger to Matamoras.
The above is a correct statement of facts.
STEPHEN JARMAN, Master.
H. BOUND, Mate.
SAMUEL J. REDGATE, Agent for Lloyds at
Matamoras, passenger.
G. W. ALMOND, passenger.
E. M. Archibald, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
[Untitled]
New York,
March 28,
1863.
Sir: We have to inform you that we are
passengers, in charge of a large portion of the cargo of the
British screw-steamer Peterhoff, Stephen Jarman, late master,
which was seized by an armed party of the United States steamer
Vanderbilt, on the 25th February, off the island of St. Thomas,
while proceeding on a lawful voyage from London, via Plymouth and Falmouth, in England,
and the Danish island of St. Thomas, to the port of Matamoras,
in the republic of Mexico. We learn that this act was committed
by the express order of Rear-Admiral Wilkes, United States navy,
who was then at St. Thomas.
The Peterhoff was taken to Key West, where she arrived on the 7th
instant,
[Page 541]
and remained
till the afternoon of the 19th, when she left, with orders to
proceed to Boston, in consequence of the prize court at Key West
being closed, and our later orders having been received from
Admiral Wilkes.
The greater part of the British crew of the Peterhoff were
transferred to the Vanderbilt on the 25th February; and those
who were left on board, including Captain Jarman, his mate, and
others, and seven passengers, have since been kept as prisoners
of war, and forcibly deprived of arms and other means of
defence. All papers of the ship, and all invoices, bills of
lading, consul’s certificates, &c., in our possession, have
also been given up under that of a forcible search.
Owing to an accident to one of the engineers of the Vanderbilt
the day we left Key West, the Peterhoff called at Port Royal, in
South Carolina, for surgical assistance, and the same necessity
has compelled Acting Master Lewis, United States navy, to make
for this port in place of Boston.
Captain Jarman has duly extended his protest at Key West, and we
are most anxious that we should have our personal liberty to
leave the ship with our personal effects, in order that we may
have free access to you to protest against this unnatural act of
the United States government, and to present our claim for
compensation, as well as to attend to those duties connected
with the cargo which we represent; its owners are insurers, free
from naval control and supervision.
We therefore apply to you, as the nearest representative of the
British government, hoping that you will procure our liberation;
and, if you judge advisable, that the case of the Peterhoff be
adjudicated in the prize court of New York, in place of
undergoing the risk and delay and further expense to be incurred
by sending her to Boston.
May we also request that you will communicate the contents of
this letter to the British minister at Washington.
We have the honor, &c., &c.,
SAMUEL J. REDGATE, Agent for Lloyds at
Matamoras,
ROBERT BOWDEN, Late of Melbourne and
London, passengers per Peterhoff to
Matamoras.
British Consul, New York.
