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: Mr. Dudley, the consul at Liverpool, has sent me several depositions of men who have been engaged and paid by a commercial house in Liverpool to [Page 21] make war on the United States. I have sent copies to Lord Russell, with a note dated the 7th instant. His lordship has acknowledged the reception of it. Copies of all these papers are transmitted herewith.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.
My Lord: I have the honor to submit to your consideration a copy of a letter from Mr. Dudley, consul of the United States at Liverpool, covering a number of depositions, all going to establish in the clearest manner the existence of a regular office in the port of Liverpool for the enlistment and payment of British subjects, for the purpose of carrying on war against the government and people of the United States. The persons concerned in these illegal transactions appear to be themselves all British subjects, knowingly engaged in violating the neutrality of their country, and, so far as it may be in their power, laboring to involve it in a war with a friendly nation with which it is at peace.
It is now some time since I first had the honor to call your lordship’s attention to the fact of the systematic manner in which the insurgents of the United States have conducted a plan to violate in her own kingdom the neutrality proclaimed by her Majesty at an early period in this contest. Every day that has since passed has only contributed more thoroughly to expose the various forms in which it is carried forward. I trust that the extraordinary character of these proceedings, as well as the hazardous consequence to the future peace of all nations of permitting them to gain any authority under the international law, will not fail to fix the attention of her Majesty’s government. I pray your lordship to accept the assurances of the highest consideration with which,
I have the honor to be, my lord, your most obedient servant,
Right Hon. Earl Russell, &c., &c., &c.
Mr. Dudley to Mr. Adams.
Sir: You will doubtless recollect that the pirate steamer Georgia, now at Cherbourg, was built upon the Clyde, sailed from Greenock, Scotland, under the English flag, and with an English crew, about the 3d of April last. At the time of her sailing she was called the Japan, afterwards the Virginia, and now the Georgia. Her crew was partly shipped in Liverpool, and partly at Greenock. She sailed towards Brest, off which port she received her armament from the British steamer Alar, from New Haven, and at once entered upon her cruise. The vessel was fitted out and the crew shipped by Jones & Co., No. 28 Chapel street, Liverpool. I have in my possession one of the original notes given to one of the crew by this firm at the time he was shipped. The signature, “Jones & Co.,” to the note, I am told, was written by Thomas Hyatt, one of the firm. I am informed the firm consist of Thomas Bold, John Jones, and Thomas Hyatt, all Englishmen. At the time the vessel sailed she was owned by Thomas Bold, one of the members of this firm, as will appear by her register [Page 22] at the customs in Liverpool. He continued the owner up to 23d of June, 1863 at which time he parted with the vessel to a foreigner, as appears by a certified copy of said register, furnished me by the collector; John Jones, another member of the firm, went out to the Japan, or Georgia, in the channel, on the steamer Alar, at the time she carried out the armament, and superintended the shipping of the armament from the Alar to the Georgia, and aided in re-enlisting the crew for the cruise; promised the men who had wives should have half pay of the wages earned by their husbands on the vessel. Francis Glassbrook and John Stanley, two of the crew, sent their bounty money, amounting to £10, to their wives, and Benjamin Conolly, another of the crew, sent all or a part of his to his father by Mr. Jones. All this money so sent was afterwards paid by Jones & Co., at their office, in Liverpool, to the parties to whom it had been sent. This firm have paid, and still continue to pay, the wives of the men on board this vessel the one-half of the wages earned by their husbands. The payments are made once a month. I enclose you copies of the affidavits of John Stanley, Francis Glassbrook, and Benjamin Conolly, three of the crew from this vessel, now in Liverpool, establishing the facts relative to their shipment, &c.; and copies of the affidavits of Mrs. Stanley and Mrs. Glassbrook, showing the payment of the half pay by this firm to them during the cruise of the vessel, the last payment of which was made so late as Saturday, the 21st of November last; also a copy of Daniel Conolly’s affidavit, proving the payment to him by Jones & Co. of the money sent by his son.
I have also to inform you that I am told the firm of Jones & Co. are now engaged in procuring and shipping men from Liverpool for this same vessel, the Georgia.
On the 21st of November, last Saturday week, Glassbrook and Conolly called at Jones & Co.’s office; they were asked if they belonged to the steamer Florida; they answered no, that they belonged to the Georgia. The man then told them he had news for them, and wanted them to go back to the ship. He told them they would pay their passage back, and requested them to be at the Havre boat on the next Monday morning. They both went to the Havre boat on the morning of the 23d of November last, were met by a man from Jones & Co.’s office, who paid them each £3, taking a receipt for the same, to return and serve on said vessel, the Georgia, now at Cherbourg. The affidavits of Conolly and Glassbrook above referred to prove these facts. You will also find a copy of Eliza Conolly’s affidavit corroborating the same.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. Charles Francis Adams, United States Minister, &c., &c., &c.
[Untitled]
Ten days after the ship Japan sails from the river Clyde, the undersigned do hereby promise and agree to pay to any person who shall advance two pounds, ten shillings, —pence, to Edward Davies, on this agreement, the sum of two pounds, ten shillings, —pence, provided the said Edward Davies shall sail in the said ship from the said river Clyde.
JONES & CO.
Payable at 28 Chapel street.
On the back:
EDWARD DAVIES.
[Page 23]I, John Stanley, of No. 26 Court, in Ovid street, Vauxhall road, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, cooper, make oath and say as follows:
On the 27th of March last I saw Mr. Barnett, a shipping agent, who informed me that he wanted several coopers to join the Japan, bound to Singapore, and he requested me to try and find one or two coopers to go with me, and to take them to Jones’s office, 28 Chapel street. I went to several of my friends, but they all declined going. I then went to Mr. Jones’s office, and saw a tall gentleman with a black moustache, and informed him, as directed by Mr. Barnett, that I could not get any one else to go with me, and I agreed to go myself. The gentleman then took down my name, and I afterwards went back to the Sailors’ Home, and Mr. Barnett introduced me to Captain Hitchcock, who told me that he wanted some coopers for his vessel, the Japan, going to China. I then asked him what wages he would give me, when he said £4. I told him that I could not go for these wages, and said that the ordinary wages of coopers was £6 10s. Captain Hitchcock then said to me that it was not wages alone that I should get. I should get something else, which would make up for the voyage. He at length agreed to give me £4 10s, which I accepted, and I then signed articles for two years. After signing articles I received a ticket, which I took to Jones’s office, and I then received an advance note for £4 10s. I went to a great many places the same day, trying to get the note cashed, but no one would cash it for me. I went to Mr. Jones’s office and took my wife with me, and saw the same gentleman, and told him that no one would cash it for me, and unless he cashed it I would not go in the ship. He then paid me £2 on account, and said he would pay my wife the difference when I got to sea. He then told me to bring my clothes down to his office, which I did, and he then told me to be at the Greenock steamer the following Monday night, the 29th March, at 5 o’clock.
I did attend at the Greenock steamer as ordered, and there saw the same gentleman and Captain Hitchcock, who were superintending the shipping of our clothes. Each man’s clothes had a number on it, and the gentleman from Jones’s office called out our numbers as we went on board the steamer.
We left Liverpool that night, and arrived at Greenock on the 31st. We were then taken on board of a tug-boat, which took us to the Japan. About the 3d of April we left Greenock, as was reported, upon a trial trig. After we had been out a few days, we fell in with a small steamer which we towed to Brest, where we came to an anchor in the harbor. The small steamer then came alongside of us, and we took in a large number of cases of arms and ammunition. Myself, the carpenter, and the joiner opened the cases, and I saw that they contained arms and ammunition. Mr. Jones superintended the shipping of the cases, he having come on board the Japan from the small steamer.
A fresh captain then came on board the Japan from the small steamer, dressed in a gray uniform, and called us all aft, and said that his vessel was going to sail under another name and flag; that her name was the Georgia, and we were going to cruise under the confederate flag; that he would pay the seamen £4 10s. a month and £10 bounty. He said he would pay me £5 a month. Mr. Jones was standing close to him at this time. One of the men asked him if we should get prize money, when the captain said, that if the Alabama’s crew received it we should. Mr. Jones then said, “Of course we should get prize money.” Those who had agreed to join were then taken into the cabin. Mr. Jones, Mr. Chapman, the first lieutenant, and Captain Maury being present, when we signed articles to serve for three years, or during the war, and we were each paid £10 on signing the articles. I then told Captain Maury that I was married and would require half pay, when Mr. Jones called me to him and said, that I should have it, and I gave him the address of my wife. I then gave my £10 bounty money to Mr. Jones, who said he would send for my wife when he got home and pay it to her, and make arrangements with her for the half pay.
[Page 24]We left Brest about the 9th of April, and about the 25th we met the Dictator, which we burnt. We then went to the Western islands, where we found an American man-of-war lying at anchor. We then ran out again and went to Bahia, where we landed the Dictator’s crew. Several of her crew agreed to join us. We also took in coals there from the bark Castor, but we were stopped by the authorities, and got the remainder of our coals from shore. We met the Alabama at Bahia, and several men who had been prisoners on board her joined us. We then went on our cruise, and soon afterwards fell in with the George Griswold, which was ransomed. We afterwards met with the bark Good Hope, which we burnt. On the same day we fell in with the J. W. Sever, from Boston, which we ransomed. We put the Good Hope’s crew on board of her. We then went to the island of Trinadi to coal. We waited there some time for the Castor, when we sighted a ship. We then got up steam and ran after her, and she proved to be the Constitution, laden with coals. We loaded our vessel with coal from her, and took all her small arms out, and then burnt her. We fell in with the City of Bath the same day, which we boarded, and her captain gave a bond. We put the Constitution’s crew on board of her, except five, who joined us. We soon afterwards fell in with the Prince of Wales, which was ransomed. We then went to Simon’s bay, Cape of Good Hope, where we got the decks calked. We stayed at Simon’s bay about a fortnight, and on the first night after leaving there we met the John Wart, which we ransomed. We then steered northward, and about the 8th or 9th of October we fell in with the Bold Hunter, which we burnt. We put her crew ashore at Teneriffe, where we coaled, and then proceeded to Cherbourg, in France. Whilst we were lying at Cherbourg I got 24 hours’ leave of absence. The paymaster gave me £1 as liberty money. I went ashore, and having got some drink, I came back to the yard where the Georgia was lying, when I changed my mind and went back again into the town, where I met the carpenter, who gave me some money to pay my fare to Havre, and I then came to Liverpool in the Havre steamer.
On the Sunday before I left Cherbourg the captain of the Georgia called us aft, and said that he was sorry to hear that some of us were dissatisfied with the ship, but that he had two fighting ships coming over, and we might join either of them, and that we should have as much fighting as we liked. The captain said this to the crew upon two occasions.
On the 26th of November instant I called at Mr. Jones’s office with my wife, and saw the same gentleman, and asked for Mr. Jones. He asked me what I wanted with him, and whether I was one of the men belonging to the ship. I told him I belonged to the Georgia, and he asked me whether I was going to join the ship again. I told him that I was, and asked him for something on account of my wages. He told me that he could not pay it to me then, but requested me to call the following morning. I then asked him whether he could not give me something then, when he said, “No, you must call to-morrow.” He then asked me whether I had seen any of the men belonging to the ship in the town, and I told him that I had, and he desired me to look them up, and bring them with me to his office to-morrow.
his
JOHN + STANLEY.
mark.
Sworn at Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, this 26th day of November, 1863, the affidavit having, in my presence, been previously read over to the deponent, who appeared perfectly to understand the same, and made his mark thereto in my presence.
J. PEARSON, A Commissioner to administer Oaths in Chancery in England.
[Page 25]I, Francis Glassbrook, of 53 Upper Hill street, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, able seaman, make oath and say as follows:
On the 27th March last I heard that some men were wanted for a steamer going to China, and I went to the Sailors’ Home, Liverpool, and shipped in the screw steamer Georgia, under the name of Francis Rivers, for a voyage to Singapore and back to the United Kingdom; not to exceed two years. After I signed articles, a tall gentleman with a black moustache and an imperial, whose name I have been informed and believe is Robert Hyatt, told me to take my clothes to Mr. Jones’s office, 28 Chapel street, which I did. I then received orders to call the following morning at his office, which I did; and the same gentleman told me to be at the Greenock steamer on the following Monday night, at 5 o’clock. I went to the Greenock steamer as ordered, and there saw Captain Hitchcock and Mr. Jones, who was superintending the shipping of our clothes. We sailed for Greenock that night, and arrived there on the 31st; we were then taken on board of a tug-boat, which took us to the Japan, or Georgia. On the 3d of April we left Greenock, as was reported, upon a trial trip. During the time we were upon the supposed trial trip, we fell in with a small steamer which came alongside of us, and we towed her to Brest, where we came to anchor. Whilst we were lying at anchor at Brest, the small steamer dischaged a large number of cases, containing arms and ammunition, into the Japan, under the superintendence of Mr. Jones, who came aboard the Japan from the small steamer. I saw several of the cases opened, which contained arms. The captain of the Japan then put on his uniform, and several officers came on board from the small steamer. The captain then called all hands aft, and told us that his vessel was going to sail as a confederate cruiser, and told us that those who wished to join should have £4 10s. a month, and £10 bounty. One of the men then asked him if we should have our share of prize money, when the captain told him if the crew of the Alabama received any prize money we should get it. A great many of the men refused to go; but I and about thirty others agreed to join, and we were then taken into the cabin, and signed articles again to serve in the Japan, and were each paid £10 on signing, Mr. Jones being in the cabin at the time taking down the addresses of our wives. I signed articles the second time in my right name. We all signed for three years, or during the war. After I signed articles I asked Captain Maury whether he would give me half pay, as I was married? when he took down the address of my wife, and said that he would leave instructions for my half pay to be paid to her. Mr. Jones was still in the cabin when I asked Captain Maury about my half pay. I enclosed my £10 bounty money in a letter which I sent to my wife by Mr. Jones, and told her that she must call and see Mr. Jones, and inquire if he had received orders to pay her my half pay; and my wife called at his office and received the money; and she has since called regularly every month at Mr. Jones’s office, and he has paid her my half pay. I also gave my advance note to my wife, and it was cashed at Mr. Potter’s, 8 James street.
We left Brest on the 9th of April, and about the 25th we fell in with the Dictator, from Liverpool, bound to Hong Kong; we ran close up to her and hove to, and sent a boat aboard of her; we then brought her crew on board the Japan and burnt her. We were flying the English ensign from leaving Brest, but when we got alongside the Dictator we hoisted the confederate flag. We then went to the Western islands, where we found an American man-of-war at anchor, which had arrived before us; we then went to Bahia, where we landed the crew of the Dictator, except six, who had agreed to join the Japan; we there met the bark Castor, and took in coals from her; whilst we were taking in the coals we were stopped by the authorities, and we had to get the remainder of our coals from shore; after we finished coaling, several men who had been prisoners on board the Alabama joined us, and we then went on our cruise.
We fell in with the George Griswold, from Liverpool to Rio Janeiro, and sent [Page 26] a boat to her; we did not burn this vessel, her captain having given a bond; we then fell in with the bark Good Hope, from Boston to the Cape of Good Hope, which we burnt. On the same day we fell in with the J. W. Sever from Boston, which was ransomed; we placed the crew of the Good Hope on board of her; we then proceeded to a desolate island called Trinadi, where we expected to meet the Castor; after lying there a week, the Castor not having made her appearance, we sighted a ship, which proved to be the Constitution from New York, laden with coals; we filled our vessel with coals from her, and then burnt her. During the time we were taking in coals from the Constitution we fell in with the City of Bath, which we boarded, and ransomed; several of the crew of the Constitution also joined the Japan, and we put the remainder on board of the City of Bath; we then cruised about, and in about a week we fell in with the Prince of Wales, which was also ransomed; we then went to Simon’s bay, Cape of Good Hope, where we got the decks caulked, and coaled; after staying there about a fortnight, we left and steered towards England, and on the first night after leaving we fell in with the John Watt, which we learnt had been previously boarded by the Vanderbilt; we did not burn the John Watt, her captain having given a bond. We then steered northward, and on the 9th of October we fell in with the Bold Hunter, which we burnt on the 10th; we put her crew ashore at Teneriffe; we coaled at Teneriffe, and then proceeded to Cherbourg in France, where we remained about a week; I left the Japan at Cherbourg, having got leave of absence for a week; I got £10 from the purser as liberty money.
On the Saturday previous to my leaving Cherbourg for Liverpool the captain of the Japan, Mr. Maury, called all hands aft, and said, “Well, my men, I hear that a great many of you are dissatisfied with the vessel, and I am sorry to hear that some of you want to leave her; I do not wish to part with any of you, being such a good crew; I have stuck to my bargain with you, and I hope you will all stick to yours.” One of the men then said to the captain, that we did not wish to leave the service; we were all dissatisfied with the ship, and wanted to be on board of a ship more able to fight. The captain then said that we should have two fighting ships before very long, and we should have as much fighting as we could do with. Several of the men then spoke about leaving for Liverpool, when the captain said he had no orders yet to grant leave to any of us, but that he was going to Paris that night to see his superior, and on his return he would give us further information. On his return from Paris, he again called us aft, and said that he had got very good news from Paris; that he could give us leave for a short time, but that he could not part with any of us; but that if any of us could not agree among ourselves, we might join either of the two vessels which he had coming.
On my return to Liverpool I went to Mr. Jones’s office, in Chapel street, and asked him how I was to get back to the Japan; but he denied all knowledge of the vessel, and advised me to write to the captain.
On the 21st day of November, instant, I again called at Mr. Jones’s office in company with Benjamin Conolly, and saw the gentleman with the moustache. I asked for Mr. Jones, and the gentleman then asked me if I belonged to the Florida; I replied, no, I belonged to the Georgia; he then said that he had news for us, and wanted us to go back to the ship; I then asked him if he could give me my half pay, when he said that my half pay was waiting, in the office, for my wife, and that he would not pay it to any one but her; I then informed him that my wife was ill, and asked him if I got her to sign a receipt for the money, whether he would pay it to me; when he said he would, and he directed the boy to make out the receipt for the half pay; I took the receipt home to my wife, and she made her mark to it in the presence of my mother, and I afterwards took it to Mr. Jones’s office, and the clerk paid me the money. The same clerk then told me to call at the office again at 3 o’clock, and I did [Page 27] call at that time, when he requested me to be at the Havre boat on the following Monday morning, at 8 o’clock, as he wanted me to join the ship again, and he would then pay my passage to Cherbourg.
I went to the Havre boat, as directed, on Monday morning, the 23d of November, instant, and saw there Frank Barron, the yeoman of the Georgia, or Japan, who introduced me to a strange clerk from Jones’s office; he was a young man, about five feet seven or eight inches high, without any whiskers, and whose name I have been informed and believe is John Welding. The clerk said to me that he did not think I was going to come, as it was late; I then asked him if I was to go back to the Georgia, and he said yes; I then asked to whom was I to report myself, when Barron answered that I was, of course, to report myself to one of the deck officers when I reached Cherbourg.
The clerk then asked me to sign two papers, which I thought were receipts for the £3 which he then gave me to pay my passage round to Havre; I signed the papers on a bale of goods on the dock quay; the clerk then asked me to go on board the Havre steamer, but I made an excuse, that I wanted to get a glass of grog before leaving; the clerk objected to my going away, but as I insisted upon going, he at last consented.
In the schedule I have given a list of the officers and crew of the Georgia. The schedule referred to is as follows:
L. Maury, captain, and Chapman, 1st lieutenant, left us at Cape Town; Mr. Evans, 2d lieutenant; Mr. Smith, 3d lieutenant; Mr. Ingram, 4th lieutenant or sailing-master; Mr. Walker, passed midshipman; Mr. Morgan, midshipman; Mr. Curtis, paymaster; Wm. May, master-at-arms; George Stevenson, sergeant; Henry J. Jones, doctor’s assistant; Mr. Pearson, chief engineer; Mr. Butler, 2d engineer; Smith, 3d engineer, left us at Cape Town; Mr. Hannon, 4th engineer; Mr. Naylor, gunner; Mr. Morton, boatswain; Thos. Williams, chief boatswain’s mate; Thos. Williams, 2d boatswain’s mate; Thomas Monk, 4th boatswain’s mate; Thos. Call and Frank Mills, captains of forecastle; John Benson, captain of foretop; Robert Rodway, captain of maintop; Felix Morgan and Wm. Williams, captains of after-guard; Thomas Hiley, James Hendry, and Wm. Jackson, quartermasters; Wm. Dunn, acting gunner; John Williams, gunner’s mate; Wm. Price, cook; Freeman, ship’s steward; Fleming, ward-room steward; W. Bassell, armorer; John Stanley, cooper; Joseph Seymour, lives at 33 Bedford street, Liverpool, seaman; Matthews, painter; R. Neil, carpenter, and Mr. Ewen, joiner; Jerome Ebrio, sailmaster; Alex. Crozier, Alex. McDonald, Thompson, Robinson, W. Hays, Neilson, Smith, Y. James, Fitzgerald, Peterson, John Lyons, Wm. Lloyd, Hinds, and Murray, seamen; W. Cox, Ford, McThien, and J. Clayton, boys; Joseph Hobbs, captain of the hold; Frank Barron, ship’s yeoman; James Wilson, Wm Cullen, John Allstone, and Smith, seamen; John Brown, No. 1, and John Brown, No, 2, seamen; Bernard Allen, John Dollan, Thos. Jones, seamen; T. McChee, A. Ellis, A. Pantee, John McCarthey, Michael Droomy, Wm. Davitt, Benjamin Conolley, 17 Temple Buildings, Liverpool; Gordon, Curtis, Thurston, Michael Conner, Walter Owen, James Wilson, John Williams, firemen; Thompson, wardroom cook; Antonio Bass, captain’s cook; Mr. Hunt, master’s mate, J. Williams, gunner’s mate.
FRANCIS GLASSBROOK.
Sworn at Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, this 24th day of November, 1863, before me,
JUSTLEY PEARSON, A Commissioner to administer Oaths in Chancery in England.
[Page 28]Benjamin Conolly, of No. 17 Temple Buildings, Liverpool, in the county of. Lancaster, fireman, makes oath and says as follows:
On the 27th of March last I was at the Sailors’ Home, Liverpool, when I met Mr. Barnett, a shipping agent, who informed me that I had a chance of going in a steamer which was bound to Singapore. Mr. Barnett then introduced me to Captain Hitchcock, who told me that he would take me. I then signed articles, and a gentleman, with a black moustache and an imperial, whose name I have been informed and believe is Robert Hyatt, came up to me and told me to take my clothes down to Mr. Jones’s office, 28 Chapel street, Liverpool, which I did, and there saw the same gentleman. On the following morning (Saturday) I called at Mr. Jones’s office, as requested, and received my advance note. I then received orders to be at the Greenock boat on the following Monday, at 5 o’clock. I went to the Greenock steamer, as ordered, and there saw Captain Hitchcock and Mr. Jones, who was superintending the shipping our clothes. We sailed for Greenock that night, and arrived there on the 31st. We were taken on board of a tug-boat which took us to the Japan, or Georgia. On the 3d of April we left Greenock, as was reported, upon a trial trip, and whilst we were on the supposed trial trip we fell in with a steamer which brought us several more hands, provisions, and clothing. We afterwards fell in with another small steamer which we towed to Brest, and she there discharged a great many cases containing arms and ammunition into the Japan, under the superintendence of Mr. Jones, who came on board of the Japan from the small steamer whilst we were lying at anchor at Brest. I know the cases contained arms and ammunition, because I assisted in opening several of them. Both the arms and ammunition cases were marked Alderney, and the muskets were marked Blakeley. After we got the cases on board, the captain of the Japan came aft, dressed in uniform, (a gray uniform,) with the letters C. S. N. on the buttons, and called all hands to him, and told us that we were going to sail under the confederate flag; that we should have £10 bounty, and £4 10s. per month wages if we joined. He also said we should have prize money if the Alabama’s crew received it. Whilst the captain of the Japan was addressing us, Mr. Jones was standing close to him, and he afterwards came among us endeavoring to induce us to join. Mr. Jones came to me and asked if I would join, but I refused, and Mr. Jones told me that I was throwing a good chance away; that it was an excellent chance for me to make my fortune; that I should have plenty of money, and he at last induced me to join. Those who agreed to join them went into the cabin of the Japan. Mr. Jones was in the cabin and taking down the addresses of the men’s wives who received half pay. I was paid £10 bounty upon signing articles. We joined for three years, or during the war with the north. We left Brest on the night of the 9 th of April, and about the 25th we fell in with the Dictator, from Liverpool, and boarded her, and then brought the crew on board the Japan and burnt her. We then went to the Western islands, where we found an American man-of-war lying at anchor. The name of which, I think, was the Mohican. We then went to Bahia and landed the crew of the Dictator there, except a few who had agreed to join us. We met the bark Castor at Bahia, and took in coals from her. Whilst we were taking in coals we were stopped by the authorities, and got the remainder of our coals from shore. Several men, who had been prisoners on board the Alabama, joined us at Bahia, and we then went on our cruise. We soon afterwards fell in with the George Griswold, which was ransomed, her captain having given a bond. We also fell in with the bark Good Hope, from Boston, which we burnt. On the same day we boarded the J. W. Sever, from Boston, which was ransomed. We put the crew of the Good Hope on board of her. We then proceeded to the island of Trinadi, where we had arranged to meet the Castor to coal. After lying there about a week, waiting for the Castor, we sighted the Constitution, [Page 29] from New York, laden with coals, which we boarded, and after filling our vessel with coals from her we burnt her. During the time we were taking in coals we fell in with the City of Bath, which was also ransomed. We placed the Constitution’s crew on board of the City of Bath, except about six, who agreed to join us. In about a week afterward we fell in with the Prince of Wales, which was ransomed. We then went to Simon’s bay, where we got the decks calked; after leaving Simon’s bay, we fell in with the John Watt, which we also ransomed. We then steered northward, and about the 9th ot October we fell in with the Bold Hunter, which we burnt the following day. We put her crew ashore at Teneriffe, where we coaled. We then started for Cherbourg, in France, where we arrived about the 28th of October last. I left the Japan in Cherbourg, (government dockyard,) and arrived in Liverpool on the 30th. I got a week’s leave of absence, and received £20 liberty money. On the Sunday previous to my leaving Cherbourg for Liverpool, the captain of the Japan, Mr. Maury, called all hands aft and said, “Well, my men, I hear that a great many of you are dissatisfied with the vessel, and I am sorry to hear that some of you want to leave her. I do not wish to part with any of you, being such a good crew. I have stuck to my bargain with you, and I hope you will all stick to yours.” One of the men then said to the captain, “We did not wish to leave the service; we were all dissatisfied with the ship, and wanted to go on board of a ship more able to fight.” The captain then said, “That we should have two fighting ships before very long, and we should have as much fighting as we could do with.” Several of the men then spoke about leaving for Liverpool, when the captain said “He had no orders yet to grant leave to any of us, but that he was going to Paris that night to see his superior, and on his return he would give us further information.” On his return from Paris he again called us aft, and said “That he had got very good news for us from Paris; that he could give us leave for a short time, but that he could not part with any of us, but that if any of us could not agree among ourselves we might join either of the two vessels which he had coming.”
On Monday last, the 16th of November, I called at Mr. Jones’s office, in Chapel street, Liverpool, and asked him how I was to get back to the Japan, when he told me to call again in a day or two and he would pay my passage to France. Upon signing articles, I received an advance note for two pounds, which was signed Jones & Co., 28 Chapel street, Liverpool. I got the note cashed at Jacobs’s, Paradise street. None of the crew of the Japan received any half-pay notes, the captain having given instructions for the half pay to be paid by his agents in England to the men’s wives, whose addresses the captain took at the time we signed articles.
On the 21st of November, instant, I again called at Mr. Jones’s office, in company with Francis Glassbrook, and again saw the same gentleman, who asked us if we belonged to the Florida. We told him no, we belonged to the Georgia. He then said he had news for us, and wanted us to go back to the ship. I asked him if he could allow me half pay, when he asked me if I was married. I told him I was not married, and he then said he could not give me half pay. He then told me to call again at 3 o’clock, and I did attend at that time, when he gave me orders to be at the Havre boat on the following Monday morning at 8 o’clock to join the ship again, and he would pay my passage money to Cherbourg. I went to the Havre boat, as directed, Monday morning, the 23d of November instant, and saw Frank Barron, the yeoman of the Georgia, who introduced me to a strange clerk from Jones’s office. He was a young man, about the middle height, without a beard, and whose name I have been informed and believe is John Welding. The clerk then said to me that he did not think I was coming, as I was so late. I then asked him if I was to go back to the Georgia, and he said yes. I then asked him to whom was I to report myself, when Barron answered that I was, of course to report myself to [Page 30] one of the deck officers when I reached Cherbourg. The clerk then asked me to sign two papers, which we thought were receipts, for £3, which he gave us to pay our passage round to Havre. I signed the receipt on a bale of goods on the dock quay. The clerk then asked me to go on board the steamer, when I made an excuse that I wanted to get a glass of grog with Glassbrook before I left. The clerk objected to our leaving, but he at last consented.
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I, Catharine Stanley, of No. 26 Court Ovid street, Vauxhall road, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, wife of John Stanley, of the same place, cooper, make oath and say as follows:
I called at Mr. Jones’s office about the 12th of April last, as directed by my husband, for the balance of his advance note, when I saw a gentleman with a moustache, who paid me the money. My husband had previously taken me to Jones’s office and informed this gentleman I was his wife.
About the 9th of April last I received a letter from my husband, then cooper of the steamer Georgia, which letter is hereunto annexed, marked A, informing me that he had shipped in that vessel for three years, and that he had sent £10 for me by Mr. Jones, and desiring me to call upon him and receive it; and make arrangements about the half pay. I went to Mr. Jones’s office the day I received the letter, and saw an elderly gentleman, with a reddish face, whom I have since been informed was Mr. Jones. He asked me what I was going to do with all that money; that it was quite unexpected for me to get it, and told me that if my husband stopped with the ship until the end of three years I should be independent. He then said that he had not sufficient money in the office to pay me then, and told me to call the next day. Mr. Jones also told me that I should get half pay. I called the next day, and saw a tall gentleman with a moustache, who paid me the £10, and I signed a receipt for it. The gentleman then told me to call on the 13th of June for half pay. I did call on the 13th of June, and saw the same gentleman, who paid me the money himself. I have called at Jones’s office regularly every month up to the 13th of October last, and have been paid the half-pay; the same gentleman sometimes paid it to me, and sometimes the boy paid it.
I called, on the 14th November instant, as usual, for the half pay, when I saw the same gentleman, who told me he had no orders yet to pay me. He said that he had sent a telegraphic message about the matter, and he had no reply yet. He told me to call next day, which I did, but did not get any money, and I called daily up to the 18th November instant, on which day the boy paid me the money.
A.
Dear Wife: I write this from a by-port in France, where we are taking in stores, and I am going in the ship, and I am sending you £10 to Jones’s office, and I want you to go and receive it when you get this, and half pay, £2 10s. I have shipped for three years, and you must not think the time long. God bless you and the little children, and give them a kiss forme. Good-night, and God bless you. Give my love to my sister and all inquiring friends. No more at present, from your affectionate husband,
JOHN STANLEY.
This is the letter marked “A,” referred to in the annexed affidavit of Catherine Stanley.
Sworn before me this 26th November, 1863.
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I, Cecilia Glassbrook, of 53 Upper Hill street, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, wife of Francis Glassbrook, of the same place, able seaman, make oath and say as follows:
About the 10th of April last I received a note from my husband, Francis Glassbrook, then a seaman on board the steamer Georgia, which letter is hereunto annexed, marked A, desiring me to call at Mr. Jones’s office, 28 Chapel street, Liverpool, and receive from him £10, and to make arrangements for receiving my husband’s half pay.
On the 13th April the wife of a seaman on board the Georgia, who had been to Mr. Jones’s office for her money, called upon me and told me to call at Mr. Jones’s office, which I did the same day, and received the £10 from a tall gentleman with a black moustache and an imperial. The same gentleman then told me to call in two months from that day to receive my husband’s half pay. I asked the gentleman whether he could not give me a half-pay note, when he replied, “No; you won’t want a note when you receive the money here.”
I called at Mr. Jones’s office on the 13th day of the first month after my husband sailed for my husband’s half pay, having heard that the wife of another seaman on board the Georgia was receiving her half-pay that day, when I saw the same gentleman, who informed me that he did not think I would get it then, as they had received no news from the ship, and requested me to call on the 13th of the next month.
I did accordingly call on the 13th day of the second month after my husband sailed, and again saw the same gentleman, and he directed the boy to pay me my half pay, which he did. I then asked the same gentleman whether I could see Mr. Jones, as I had a letter to send to my husband, but he said he could send it without troubling Mr. Jones. There was an elderly gentleman with grey hair and whiskers standing close to him at this time, whom I have always been led to believe was Mr. Jones.
I have called regularly every month at Mr. Jones’s office, and have received my husband’s half pay, the gentleman whom I saw on the first occasion having each time directed the boy to pay it to me.
On the 13th day of November, instant, I called, as usual, at Mr. Jones’s office for my husband’s half pay, when the boy informed me I could not get it that day, and must call on the following Monday. I did attend on the following Monday between 12 and 1 o’clock, and the boy informed me that he could not [Page 32] pay me until he had received a reply to a telegraphic message which had been sent to London. I waited at the office until nearly five that evening, when the boy informed me that they closed the office at six, and that I had better call early next day. On the following day I was taken ill and unable to go.
On Saturday last my husband brought a receipt for the last half pay, and told me that Mr. Jones would not pay it to him unless I signed the receipt, and I made my mark to such a receipt in the presence of my mother-in-law.
The letter marked B, hereunto annexed, I received from my husband whilst he was in Greenock, and the letter marked C, also hereunto annexed, I received from him whilst he was on board the Georgia.
A.
Dear Wife: I could not get a chance to write to you before. I did write one letter to you. I hope you got it. Dear Celia, I have shipped in this ship and got £10 bounty, and £4 10s. per month, and I have left you half pay. When you receive this go to Jones’s office and you will receive £10, and he will give you half pay, and ask him how you are going to write to me. Dear Celia, when you get this money start in some kind of business. Give my love to father and mother, Stephen and uncle, and tell them I hope I will be soon home again. I have shipped for the war in my own name. I have not got time to say more, but good-night and God bless you. I remain your ever-loving,
FRANCIS GLASSBROOK.
This is the letter marked A, referred to in the annexed affidavit of Cecilia Glassbrook.
Sworn before me this 24th day of November, 1863.
B.
Dear Wife: I have arrived safe on yesterday about 3 o’clock after a good passage. We have not heard where we are going to yet, but we think we are going to Nassau, or else to meet the Alabama. I never got ashore yet, so I did not get the money, nor did I see Lizzie. I can’t tell when we are going to sail. Give my love to father, mother, Stephen, and uncle.
I remain your loving husband,
F. GLASSBROOK
This is the letter marked B, referred to in the annexed affidavit of Cecilia Glassbrook.
Sworn before me this 24th day of November, 1863,
C.
Dearest Celia: You must be very anxious to get a few lines from me to know how I am getting gn, but you can make yourself at ease, for I am very well, and could be very happy if I could hear from you, or even to know you are well and comfortable. Dearest Celia, I hope you had no trouble to get the money from Jones. You know that you was to receive £3. 10s in the name of Frank Bivers, and £10 in that of Francis Glassbrook, and likewise £2. 5s a month half-pay. Dearest Celia, I am afraid we will not do so well as the Alabama, but we must be content. I should like to hear how the war is getting on, or when it is likely to-be over. We shall be discharged as soon as it is done. You need not fret about me being taken by the Yankees, for your half pay goes on still. Dearest Celia, I wish you to go to Jones and ask him how you are to write to me, and he will put you in the way of writing to me. I hope my father and mother, Stephen and uncle, are well. I dare say my poor mother is fretting about me. Remember me to your sister Anne and her children, and I hope she has heard good news from her husband. I hope Stephen is a good boy and keeping steady. If anything should happen to him, I hope you will look to my mother as long as you have a shilling, for if you love me you are sure to be kind to my mother. I don’t see as I have any more to say at present, only that we are all well, and ready to take the first Yankee ship that comes in our way. I dare Bay there is a great talk in England about us, but the newspapers can tell you more than I can.
I shall conclude, by remaining still your ever-loving husband,
FRANCIS GLASSBROOK.
This is the letter marked C, referred to in the annexed affidavit of Cecilia Glassbrook, sworn before me this 24th day of November, 1863,
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I, David Conolly, of 17 Temple Buildings, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, porter, make oath and say as follows:
About three weeks after my son, Benjamin Conolly, sailed in the steamer Japan, I received a letter through the post office from Messrs. Jones & Co., 28 Chapel street, Liverpool, requesting me to call at their office, as my son Benjamin had sent £9 for me, and desiring me to call for the money. I called at Jones’s office the day after I received the note, and saw a gentleman with a moustache, and showed him the letter, when he paid me the money, a £5 note and £4 pounds in gold, and I signed a large sheet of paper containing the names of many persons. I signed under my son’s name. I believe this paper was a list of the crew of the Japan. The note had the name Jones & Co. written on the back of it. I got the note changed in Dale street. The gentleman took the letter from me and put it on the file.
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I, Eliza Conolly, of 17 Temple Buildings, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, spinster, make oath and says as follows:
On the 27th day of November; instant, I called at Mr. Jones’s office, 28 [Page 34] Chapel street, Liverpool, to inquire whether he could tell me where I could find my brother, Benjamin Conolly, who had joined, the steamer Japan, when I saw a gentleman with a moustache, and asked him if that office was Mr. Jones’s, when he said it was. I then asked him whether he could tell me if my brother, Benjamin Oonolly, had joined his ship any day this week, when he said he had not; and he then asked what was my reason for inquiring, when I replied that I was his sister, and thought it very strange that he had not written to us, and I also told him that my brother had promised to leave my father half pay. I then told him that my brother had left home between 6 and 7 o’clock on the morning of Monday last to join his ship, when the gentleman said he knew that he had, and that he had sent one of his clerks down to the Havre steamer to see him and Glassbrook on board, and that they got £3 each from his clerk and then they both bolted. He then called an elderly gentleman, and said to him that I was inquiring for those two vagabonds who had run away on Monday. He then asked me whether I knew Glassbrook, when I replied that I did not, and he said I had better go to Glassbrook’s house and see if my brother was there. I asked for Glassbrook’s address, and he began to write it down, when the elderly gentleman stopped him and said he was not to give it to me.
Sworn at Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, this 30th day of November, 1863, before me,
J. PEARSON, A Commissioner to administer Oaths in Chancery in England.
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Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant, enclosing a copy of a letter from the United States consul at Liverpool, covering a number of depositions, which you state all go to establish in the clearest manner the existence of a regular office at Liverpool for the enlistment and payment of British subjects, for the purpose of carrying on war against the government and people of the United States; and I have the honor to state to you that the papers shall be considered by her Majesty’s government.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.