No. 5.
[Extract.]
Mr. Stuart to Earl Russel.—(Received
September 14.)
Washington,
August 29, 1863.
I have the honor to forward to your lordship the accompanying copies of five
despatches from Mr. Cridland, reporting his arrival at Mobile, and the
subsequent refusal of the confederate authorities to permit him to exercise
his consular functions or even to reside in the State of Alabama.
Your lordship will perceive that Mr. Cridland eventually succeeded in
obtaining permission from the secretary of state at Richmond to remain at
Mobile until her Majesty’s government shall have had time to consider the
whole subject—a month or two from the 3d of July being the time within which
Mr. Benjamin supposed that Mr. Cridland might receive instructions from your
lordship.
The question having been referred to your lordship, Lord Lyons considers it
unadvisable that any instructions should be sent from hence to Mr. Cridland.
His lordship has, however, observed to me that he has always been most
anxious that his name or that of this legation should not be employed in any
communications made to the confederate authorities by her Majesty’s consular
[Page 829]
agents in the south, and in
instructing Mr. Consul Moore to send Mr. Cridland to Mobile he expressly
desired that the letter of appointment should be made out by Mr. Moore as
emanating from her Majesty’s government, instead of from Washington.
[Enclosure 1 in No. 5.]
Acting Consul Cridland to Lord Lyons.
My Lord: I have the honor to report to your
lordship that I arrived at the port of Mobile on the 27th instant, and
entered on my duties as British acting consul this day.
I delivered your lordship’s letter of the 30th April to M. Portz, who at
once made over to me the archives and the seals of the office.
Not having as yet had the occasion to communicate with the local or
so-called confederate authorities, I cannot now report to your lordship
whether my requests will meet with a favorable consideration or not at
their hands.
I have, &c.,
[Enclosure 2 in No. 5.]
Acting Consul Cridland to Lord Lyons.
My Lord: On the 28th of May I had the honor to
report to your lordship that I had entered on my duties as British
acting consul at this port.
On the 2d instant, in accordance with your lordship’s request, M. Portz,
French vice-consul, introduced me to the naval and military authorities
here, having jurisdiction in this department, and exhibited to General
Maury and Admiral Buchanan your lordship’s despatch dated April 30,
which I had presented to M. Portz on my arrival.
The interviews were quite pleasant, and General Maury informed me that he
would issue orders in regard to my official acts at Mobile.
Her Majesty’s consulate remained open all last week, and my official acts
were evidently respected.
Yesterday a communication was left at the consulate from the military
headquarters of this department, dated 7th June, a copy of which I beg
to enclose herewith, and also of my answer thereto dated this day.
General Maury has informed me unofficially that the orders had come from
Richmond.
By the communication received yesterday, your lordship will perceive that
my consular functions are now suspended. I continue to attend as usual
in the office, and inform British subjects of the fact.
Awaiting instructions from your lordship for my future guidance, I have,
&c.
[For enclosure 3 in No. 5, Colonel Garner to Acting Consul Cridland, June
7, 1863, see enclosure 1 in No. 3.]
[For enclosure 4 in No. 5, Acting Consul Cridland to Colonel Garner, June
8, 1863, see enclosure 2 in No 3.]
[Page 830]
[Enclosure 5 in No. 5.]
Acting Consul Cridland to Lord Lyons.
My Lord: I have the honor to place before your
lordship the copy of a letter dated 8th instant, addressed to me by Mr.
Benjamin, secretary of state of the so-called Confederate States, and
which was delivered to me this morning open, by order of General Maury,
military commandant of this department, informing me that I cannot be
permitted to exercise consular functions at Mobile, and further
requesting me to remove from this State.
In my despatch to your lordship dated June 8 I reported all that had
taken place on my being introduced by M. Portz to the authorities, and
of what had occurred up to the date of that despatch.
I have also the honor to enclose herewith a copy of my reply to Mr.
Benjamin’s communication dated to-day, and have only further to state
that at the unofficial interview with that gentleman on the 18th of May,
he remarked to me, after 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
him your lordship’s letter to M. Portz.
I have addressed a private note to Mr. Benjamin, requesting permission to
remain here till I can hear from your lordship in regard to the disposal
of the seals and archives of the consulate, and now await his reply,
which I will also place before your lordship.
I have, &c.,
[For enclosure 6 in No. 5, Mr. Benjamin to Acting Consul Cridland, June
8, 1863, see enclosure 3 in No. 3.]
[For enclosure 7 in No. 5, Acting Consul Gridland to Mr. Benjamin, June
13, 1863, see enclosure 4 in No. 3.]
[Enclosure 8 in No. 5.]
Acting Consul Cridland to Lord Lyons.
My Lord: In my despatch dated 13th instant I
had the honor to inform your lordship that with my reply to Mr.
Benjamin’s letter of the 8th of June I had in a private note requested
permission to remain in Mobile till I could obtain instructions from
your lordship with regard to the disposal of the archives of this
consulate.
Mr. Benjamin has replied to my note, but unfavorably, so that I am
packing up the papers of this office, and will place them in the hands
of one of the most respectable and discreet persons in this city, M.
Wauroy, the Dutch consul.
The following are Mr. Benjamin’s words in reply to my request:
“You need not hurry at all to leave Mobile, but it is desirable that your
stay there should be limited, as the local authorities may be misled by
your remaining there, and difficulties may arise. It is solely to avoid
such difficulties that you were requested not to continue your residence
there.”
I have, &c.,
[Page 831]
[Enclosure 9 in No. 5.]
Acting Consul Cridland to Lord Lyons.
My Lord: In a despatch dated the 26th June last
I had the honor to inform your lordship that the authorities at Richmond
had refused me permission to remain here till I could receive
instructions from your lordship with regard to the disposal of the
archives of this consulate.
On that same date, however, I again asked for the permission, stating
that, foreseeing the difficulty of obtaining instructions in the case
from your lordship, I had applied for the same to Earl Russell.
I have received a reply from Mr. Benjamin, a copy of which I have
forwarded to Earl Russell, and now submit the same to your lordship.
I have, &c.,
[Enclosure 10 in No. 5.]
Mr. Benjamin to Acting Consul Cridland.
Dear Sir: Under the circumstances mentioned in
your private letter of the 25th ultimo, just received, your continued
residence in Mobile will not be disturbed until your government has had
time to make such disposal of the whole subject as may seem best to
it.
I doubt not that instructions will arrive in a month or two.
Yours, &c.,
