Mr. Seward to Mr.
Adams.
No. 892.]
Department of State, Washington,
April 4, 1864.
Sir: Your attention is invited to the
accompanying extract from a despatch of the 16th ultimo, No. 244, from
Mr. Dudley, the consul of the United States at Liverpool, respecting the
small steamer Alexandra, recently launched by the Messrs. Laird &
Brothers at Birkenhead.
I will thank you to give proper notice to her Majesty’s government in
regard to this vessel, and to support your representation by such
corroborative evidence of her character as you may be able to
obtain.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
C. F. Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
[Extract.]
Mr. Dudley to Mr. Seward.
No. 244.]
United States Consulate,
Liverpool,
March 16, 1864.
Sir: * * * * * I have called your attention
to a small steamer recently launched from the yard of Laird &
Brothers, at Birkenhead, called the Alexandra. She is being built
very strong, and supplied with powerful engines. I am much bothered
about this vessel. All that I can learn is that she belongs to
Fraser, Trenholm & Co. She has no carrying capacity, and is
built strong enough, and has power enough, for a gunboat. She has
two portholes on each side, but what seems to militate against the
supposition that she
[Page 561]
is
for war purposes is her smallness, and the fact that she has
paddle-wheels instead of a screw. None of the men who work on her,
or any one about the yard, seems to have any knowledge about her or
the purpose for which she is intended. I think she has been built
for a privateer, but up to the present moment have not a particle of
evidence or any information that proves her to be for that
purpose.
Lieutenant Low, who commanded the Tuscaloosa, formerly the bark
Conrad, that was detained by the British government at Cape Town—the
same who was on the steamer Alabama—is now here in Liverpool with
some of his men and officers. I have not much doubt but what he
intends to fit out some vessel here in England as a privateer.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
