Hon. William H. Seward,
&c., &c., &c.
Mr. Graham to Mr. Adams.
United States Consulate,
Cape Town, Cape of Good
Hope,
July 20, 1864.
Sir: Your despatch of May 9, containing
three enclosures, has been received.
On the 18th of June I sent a letter to the governor of this colony,
then and now at Graham’s Town, 600 miles distant, informing him that
I had received documentary evidence of ownership of the Tuscaloosa
from the Atlantic Insurance Company, New York, and a power of
attorney to act for the company, and was prepared to take over the
vessel in their behalf. I also inquired whether I should transmit
the papers to him or submit them to the inspection of some one here
delegated by him to examine and report upon them.
On the 30th of June I received from his excellency a communication
replying that it rested with me which alternative to choose; but
that if I had any further “representation” to make on the
subject-matter of my despatch, I might send the documents to the
colonial office in Cape Town to be copied, and the copies to be
transmitted to him.
On July 1 I sent the documents as required, accompanying them with
the remark that I had no further representation to make in regard to
the Tuscaloosa; that I still adhered to the claims advanced by me in
my correspondence with his excellency last August; that as I had
been informed by him, last December, that the Tuscaloosa was held
subject to her American owner’s order, and as I had received no
official notification that the then decision of her Majesty’s
government had been receded from, I deemed it unnecessary to make
any “further” representation.
On the 18th instant I received another letter from his excellency,
replying that, on account of the great publicity given to the case
of the Tuscaloosa by the debates in Parliament, he had lost sight of
the necessity of acquainting me officially that her Majesty’s
government had directed the restoration of the vessel “to the
officers of the confederate navy,” but that, as I had no doubt been
fully informed by the officers of my own government, he hoped that
no serious inconvenience bad arisen.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
WALTER GRAHAM, U. S.
Consul.
Hon. Charles F. Adams,
U. S. Minister, London.
