[Enclosure 1 in No.
7.]
Rear-Admiral Sir L. Jones to
the Secretary to the
Admiralty.
“Hastings,” at Queenstown,
December 8,
1863.
Sir: With reference to my letter of
yesterday’s date, I enclose herewith, for their lordships’
information, a copy of the letter from Captain Winslow, of the
United States slocp Kearsarge, which Mr. Eastman, the United
States consul, read to me yesterday. Also a letter from Captain
Winslow to myself, reporting his arrival for the purpose of
landing sixteen men, said to have concealed themselves on board
the Kearsarge prior to that ship’s departure from Queenstown
[Page 437]
on the 5th of
November, with copies of the certificates of Captain Winslow and
Lieutenant Thornton, executive officer of the Kearsarge,
relating to the men in question.
2. Since my letter of yesterday’s date I find another man was
landed, which makes the number sixteen instead of fifteen.
3. On the United States consul informing me that he intended to
go on board the Kearsarge to communicate with Captain Winslow, I
requested him to state to that officer that I considered the
manner of landing the men in a pilot-boat, without having
previously communicated with the authorities of this place, was
irregular.
I am, &c.,
[Enclosure 5 in No.
7.]
Lieutenant Commander Thornton
to Captain Winslow, United States
navy.
“Kearsarge,” off Cork
Harbor,
December 7,
1863.
Sir: I beg leave to state, in
accordance with your request, that on or about the 3d November,
1863, several men from Queenstown came on board of this ship as
applicants for enlistment in the naval service of the United
States. In the absence of yourself, and of any definite
instructions in regard to such applications, I told the men that
if they were physically qualified for enlistment they might
remain on board until your return, when you would decide. Upon
your return, your instructions were not to enlist them; they
were accordingly sent out of the ship.
Many applications of a similar nature were made, but their
enlistment was in every case refused in accordance with your
instructions.
During the time we were at anchor, the ship was surrounded by
boats filled with men desiring to enlist; orders were given and
executed not to allow them alongside.
On the evening of the 5th, this was the case until after dark,
and until the ship was underway.
The ship went to sea on the evening of the 5th November; it was
stormy and blowing hard. In accordance with the usual custom of
the ship, and with the necessities of the case, (as I thought,)
before tripping the anchor all strangers were ordered out of the
ship; the master-of-arms, with the ship’s corporal, and others
of the police force, executed the order; finding men stowed away
in the hold, in the carpenter’s locker, and elsewhere, these men
were put out of the ship, in some cases by force. As soon as the
ship was reported cleared, the anchor was tripped, and the ship
went to sea.
On the next day several men were discovered who were strangers in
the ship; these men, probably with the connivance of the crew,
had been so securely concealed as to elude the vigilance of the
police force. Upon receiving this information you decided to
land these men at Brest, whither you were bound.
The men were sent out of the ship at Brest in accordance with
this determination, but pleading destitution, they returned and
were permitted to remain on board until this morning, when they
were landed in Queenstown by the pilot-boat Petrel.
I would add, that the names of these men, upon their return to
the ship while in Brest harbor, were placed upon the ship’s
books for the purpose of their support and comfort, they being
otherwise utterly destitute.
Very respectfully, &c.,
