Office of the Historian

Her Majesty’s Treasury to Laird Brothers.

Treasury Chambers, September 19, 1863.

Gentlemen: On the 13th instant the lords commissioners of her Majesty’s treasury directed the board of customs to inform you that their lordships would allow a trip to be made by the iron-clad vessel referred to in a letter written by you on the 8th instant, in reliance upon the honorable engagement which had been given by your firm, that the vessel should, after the usual trial trip, be brought back again to Liverpool, and should not leave that port without a week’s notice to her Majesty’s government of the intention to send her away.

I am now commanded by the lords commissioners of her Majesty’s treasury to inform you that since that permission was given, circumstances have come to the knowledge of her Majesty’s government which give rise to an apprehension that an attempt may be made to seize the vessel in question while on her trial trip.

I am to state to you explicitly that her Majesty’s government are convinced that it is your intention, as far as it is in your power, to fulfil honorably the engagement into which you have entered; and that if any such attempt were made, it would be entirely without the privity of your firm, in whose good faith they place perfect confidence.

Inasmuch, however, as such an occurrence, in whatever method it may be brought about, would be contrary to the determination expressed by her Majesty’s government that the iron-clad vessels should be prevented leaving the port of Liverpool until satisfactory evidence may be given as to their destination, I am to state to you that this board feel it their duty to apprise you that they cannot permit the trial trip except under provision against any forcible abduction of the vessels.

With this view authority has been given to Admiral Dacres, who is now in the Mersey with the channel fleet, to place, with the concurrence of your firm, on board the iron-clad ram about to be tried, a sufficient force of seamen and marines in her Majesty’s naval service, to defeat any attempt to seize her. And I am to request that you will inform their lordships whether you accept such assistance.

In the event of your refusing it, I am to inform you that the board of customs will be instructed to detain the vessel.

I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant,

H. BRAND.

Messrs. Laird, Birkenhead.