Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part I
Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I transmit herewith a copy of my note to Lord Russell concerning some depositions sent me by Mr. Morse, the consul for this place, in the case of the steamer Victor; his lordship has acknowledged the same.
Copies of all these papers are subjoined. I have just received another deposition on the same subject, which I propose to send in at once,
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.
[Enclosures.]
1. Mr. Adams to Earl Russell, December 5, 1863.
2. Mr. Morse to Mr. Adams, December 2, 1863.
3. Deposition of William Wynn, December 2, 1863.
4. Joint deposition of Joseph Murray and Thomas Kelly, December 2, 1863.
5. Deposition of Henry Barraclough, December 3, 1863.
6. Deposition of James Tucker, December 3, 1863.
7. Earl Russell to Mr. Adams, December 5, 1863.
Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.
My Lord: I have the honor to submit to your consideration a copy of a letter from Mr. Morse, consul of the United States at this place, and copies of the depositions of William Wynn, Joseph Murray, Thomas Kelly, Henry Barraclough, [Page 18] and James Tucker, in relation to the proceedings in connexion with the fitting out of the steamer Victor at Sheerness, for the use of the insurgents in the United States, and the enlistment of men for service in that vessel.
I pray your lordship to accept, &c., &c.,
Right Hon. Earl Russell, & c., &c., &c.
Deposition of William Wynn.
I, William Wynn, boarding-house keeper, at present residing at 22 Lower Berner’s street, Commercial Road East, do hereby truly, sincerely, and solemnly swear, that a boarder, named Charles Bennett, informed me that he had shipped on board a ship to run the blockade. Not liking the advance note, I applied to the broker’s, Robert Gordon Coleman, No. 28 Clement’s lane, Lombard street, respecting it. They satisfied me that it would be paid, and requested me to procure eleven seamen for the same ship, which, on the 26th of November, I supplied, and they went to the railway station, at London bridge, to meet a person calling himself Captain Brown, whom I first met at the broker’s, Robert Gordon Coleman, and tickets were purchased by the so called Captain Brown, for Calais, for them, (the men,) with about twenty-eight to thirty others, on Friday evening, the 27th of November. The men I supplied were to receive £3 15s. per month, in a ship called the Scylla or Stella, (pro tem.,) captain’s name, Anson, (pro tem.) The seamen, Joseph Murray and Thomas Kelly, were two of the eleven; Charles Bennett, named above, is still on board. The men were shipped to join the ship in the Downs for a voyage to Jamaica.
WILLIAM WYNN.
Sworn at my office, No. 5 White Hart Court, Lombard street, in the city of London, this 2d day of December, 1863, before me,
Deposition of Joseph Murray and Thomas Kelly.
We, Joseph Murray, at present residing at Mr. W. Wynn’s, 22 Lower Berner’s street, Commercial Road East, and Thomas Kelly, at present residing at Mr. Waters’s, 13 Ellen street, back Church lane, do hereby truly, sincerely, and solemnly swear that we were taken on Thursday, the 26th of November last, by Mr. Wynn, to No. 28 Clement’s lane, and there introduced to a gentleman called Captain Brown, who engaged us for a ship lying in the Downs, named Scylla or Stella, for a voyage to St. Thomas or Jamaica, for twelve months, at £3 15s. a month; but it was understood that, after we were on board, a new arrangement was to be made, and articles signed. We were told that the ship was an English ship going to run the blockade. On Friday evening, the 27th instant, we went to the railway station, London bridge, and were sent to Dover, with others, about forty in all. Upon arrival at Dover the so-called Captain Brown, and a gentleman called the owner, sent us to an hotel, and in the morning of the 28th of November we went to Calais in the packet. Upon arrival at Calais we went on board a ship then called the Rappahannock, and we were called aft, and the captain on board said that he was surprised that they (the men) should have been sent down, as he would not be ready for a fortnight, and that he had ordered Captain Brown to send him down [Page 19] one hundred able-bodied men, and that he did not wish that the men should come on board in the harbor, but had intended to have taken them off the packet before she had arrived, and that the ship was not in a condition to receive the crew, as the ship was undergoing repairs before going to sea. The captain on board in command, when he called us aft the first time, said to us: “Now you men know what you are engaged to do. You are now on your own hook, and whatever plunder you can make at sea the better for you. You are now going privateering, the same as the Alabama and the Florida. You men are going to fight for money, and I am going to fight for glory.” Words to this effect were repeated several times. As he saw that most of us were discontented, we objected to stay by her, and he said, He (the captain) only wished that he had us at sea, and he would show ns what discontent was. After several conversations, the master said he would not take the discontented ones, and that all that wished to leave might go. This was on Monday last, the 30th of November, and at 2 a. m., the 1st of December, twenty-one of us were sent back to London.
Witness to the mark of Thomas Kelly—Joshua Nunn.
Sworn by the deponent, Joseph Murray, at my office, No. 5 White Har Court, Lombard street, in the city of London, this 2d day of December, 1863, before me,
JOHN J. ANDREW, A London Commissioner to administer Oaths in Chancery.
Sworn by the deponent, Thomas Kelly, at No. 5 White Hart Court, Lombard street, in the city of London, this 2d day of December, 1863, the witness to the mark of the deponent being first sworn that he had truly, distinctly, and audibly read over the contents of the above affidavit to the said deponent, and that he saw him make his mark thereto; before me,
Affidavit of Henry Barraclough.
I, Henry Barraclough, of King’s Head alley, Sheerness, fireman and boiler-maker, late in her Majesty’s dockyard, Sheerness, do hereby solemnly swear that about two months since, I and others heard hands were wanted for the Scylla, of London, late her Majesty’s steamer Victor. I went to Mr. Rumble, the chief inspector of machinery afloat. He promised to speak for me to the mate of the Scylla, Mr. Ramsey. I saw Mr. Ramsey near the Fountain hotel last Tuesday week in the morning; he said to me, “Mr. Rumble has been speaking to me about you,” and said, “if you come on board at one o’clock this afternoon I will ship you.” I did go on board, and he said, “Here you are, my lad;” I said “Yes,” and he said, “I will ship you as a fireman at £8 per month for the trial trip, which is not to exceed fourteen days; but it may be only three days, and I will send you home at the owner’s expense to Sheerness in case you do not like to ship for voyage, or our articles.” I said, “Very well;” and he told me to go forward and tell the cook to give me anything to eat there was on board. I remained on board until I landed in Calais on Friday last. There were hammocks, blankets, and bedding provided for the crew. On Tuesday [Page 20] week night we left about midnight. The Scylla was anchored off Westminster. The mate gave the order to weigh anchor, which was done. Mr. Rees, the master rigger, was on board, but he left in the tug when we had been about three hours at sea; therefore he did not go to Calais with us. I have received all the money due me, and am satisfied with the treatment I received, When I was called (on board by the captain) aft to sign articles, he told us all that the ship was a confederate man-of-war; that the same rules would be observed as in any other regular man-of-war, but the lash would not be used.
In my opinion she is as good a ship as any I ever worked upon in her Majesty’s service, but the boilers are out of repair. The riggers on board were working in the dockyard, and had leave of absence, which was sanctioned by the captain of the yard. The ship left Sheerness very suddenly, and no guns or munitions of war were received on board in the Downs.
HENRY BARRACLOUGH.
Sworn at my office, No. 5 White Hart Court, Lombard street, in the city of London, this 3d day of December, 1863, before me,
[Untitled]
I, James Tucker, of King’s Head alley, Sheerness, do solemnly swear that I was present with Henry Barraclough during the whole time he remained on board the steamship Scylla, late her Majesty’s steamer Victor, and I do hereby swear to the truth of the above affidavit of Henry Barraclough in every particular. I am well satisfied with the treatment I received; have been paid; and have no objection to go in the ship.
JAMES TUCKER.
Sworn at my office, No. 5 White Hart Court, Lombard street, in the city of London, this 3d day of December, 1863, before me,
Earl Russell to Mr. Adams.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day’s date, transmitting copies of depositions relative to the fitting out of the steamer Victor, otherwise Rappahannock, at Sheerness; and I have to state to you that the same shall be considered by her Majesty’s government.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
C. F. Adams, Esq., &c., &c.