No. 3.
Acting Consul Cridland to Earl
Russell.—(Received August 30.)
My Lord: I had the honor to report to your lordship
that I had arrived in this city, and, after getting possession of the seals
and archives of this consulate, had entered on my duties as acting
consul.
On the 2d of June, according to the desire of Lord Lyons, M. Portz, French
vice-consul, introduced me to the naval and military authorities here,
having jurisdiction in this department, and exhibited to those officers a
despatch from Lord Lyons, dated April 30, which I had presented to M. Portz
on my arrival, informing that gentleman of my acting appointment, and asking
him to deliver to me the archives and seals of office, and to introduce me
to the authorities.
The general commanding informed me that he would issue orders in regard to my
official acts at Mobile. Her Majesty’s consulate remained open from the 29th
of May to the 7th instant, and my official acts were evidently respected. On
the 7th of June, however, a letter was left at this office from the military
headquarters of this district, dated that day, informing me that the orders
issued on the 2d June, recognizing me as acting British consul, had been
revoked, and requesting me to suspend the exercise of all consular
functions.
I have the honor to enclose a copy of that letter, dated June 7, and of my
answer thereto, dated June 8.
On Saturday, the 13th instant, Colonel Garner, chief of the staff of the
major general commanding in Alabama, delivered to me a letter dated June 7,
addressed to me by Mr. Benjamin, secretary of state at Richmond, a copy of
which I beg to enclose for your lordship’s inspection, and also a copy of my
answer to Mr. Benjamin, dated June 13.
In that despatch your lordship will see that I was not only informed by Mr.
Benjamin that I could not be permitted to exercise consular functions at
Mobile, but that I was further requested to remove from the State of
Alabama.
I beg to inform your lordship that at the unofficial interview with Mr.
Benjamin on the 18th of May he remarked to me, alter what I stated to him,
and which I have recapitulated in my reply to his letter, that he was
perfectly aware that as acting consul to Mobile I did not require a
commission, and consequently could have no exequatur, all of which he seems
to have since forgotten, and desires to convey the idea that he was not
aware of my appointment as acting consul.
I felt that I had no authority to show Mr. Benjamin Lord Lyons’s letter
addressed to M. Portz.
In a private note to Mr. Benjamin I have asked permission to remain at Mobile
till I can hear from Lord Lyons in regard to the disposal of the seals and
archives of the office, and I am now awaiting a reply.
I have the honor to state that I have reported the entire case to Lord Lyons,
and enclosed copies of the correspondence.
Requesting instructions from your lordship.
I have, &c.,
[Enclosure 1 in No. 3]
Colonel Garner to Acting Consul Cridland.
Headquarters Department of the
Gulf,
Mobile, Alabama,
June 7, 1863.
Sir: The major general commanding directs me to
revoke the letter from these headquarters of the 2d instant, addressed
to G. M. Parker, provost marshal, [Page 827] Mobile, Alabama, recognizing you as acting British
consul, and as such entitled to all the privileges enjoyed by Mr. James
Magee.
You will please, therefore, suspend the exercise of all consular
functions.
Very respectfully, &c.,
GEO. G. GARNER, Chief of
Staff.
[Enclosure 2 in No. 3.]
Acting Consul Cridland to Colonel Garner.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the
7th instant, informing me that the major general commanding has directed
you to revoke the letter issued from your headquarters on the 2d
instant, addressed to the provost marshal of Mobile, Alabama,
recognizing me as acting British consul; further, directing me to
suspend the exercise of all consular functions.
Due notice is taken of the major general’s instructions and request.
I am, &c.,
[Enclosure 3 in No. 3.]
Mr. Benjamin to Acting Consul Cridland.
Department of State,
Richmond,
June 8, 1863.
Sir: Having been informed through Admiral
Buchanan that you have been introduced to him as acting English consul
at Mobile, and have shown him an official document, signed by Lord
Lyons, appointing you to that office you are informed that you cannot be
permitted to exercise the functions of that office under that
appointment.
As you informed this department that you were going to Mobile to look
after British interests unofficially, and failed to communicate the fact
that you were bearer of an appointment from Lord Lyons, it is deemed
best to avoid any misunderstanding on the subject by requesting you to
select some other residence within the confederacy than the State of
Alabama.
I am, &c.,
[Enclosure 4 in No. 3.]
Acting Consul Cridland to Mr. Benjamin.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your communication of the 8th instant, stating that you have
been informed, through Admiral Buchanan, that I had been introduced to
him as acting English consul at Mobile, and had shown him an official
document, signed by Lord Lyons, appointing me to that office, and
informing me that I cannot be permitted to exercise the functions of
that office under that appointment.
Stating further, that as I had informed your department that I was going
to Mobile to look after British interests unofficially, and had failed
to communicate the fact that I was the bearer of an appointment from
Lord Lyons, it is deemed best to avoid any misunderstanding on the
subject, by requesting me to select some other residence within the
confederacy than the State of Alabama.
[Page 828]
In reply to the above I beg to state that, according to the request of
Lord Lyons, I did on my arrival here deliver a letter to M. Portz,
French vice-consul and late acting British consul, stating that her
Majesty’s government had directed me to take charge of her Majesty’s
consulate at Mobile, with the character of acting consul, and asking M.
Portz to be so kind as to present me to the local authorities, and to
assist me in entering upon my functions as her Majesty’s acting consul
at Mobile.
With regard to the last paragraph of your communication, I am under the
impression and belief that at the interview with yourself on the 18th of
May, I informed you that as the Richmond papers had stated that I was
going “to Mobile with a full consul’s commission in my pocket, and an
exequatur from the United States government,” I came to deny that
statement, and to inform you that I was going to Mobile to do what Mr.
Magee had previously done as acting consul, and that I had a letter to
M. Portz from Lord Lyons, asking that gentleman to deliver the archives
of the consulate to me. As the letter of Lord Lyons was not addressed to
me I did not call it a commission.
Your request for me to select some other residence within the confederacy
than the State of Alabama will of course be duly attended to.
I am, &c.,
