Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part II
Lord Lyons to Mr. Seward.
Sir: In a note which I had the honor to address to you on the 23d of January last, I enclose a copy of a despatch from her Majesty’s consul at New York, reporting, among other things, the arrival at that place of prisoners, said to be principally foreigners, a considerable number of whom had been taken on board a steam vessel called the Antonica. I, at the same time, observed that the information which had reached me concerning these individual prisoners was as yet so incomplete, that if the consul’s despatch had related to them only, I should not so soon have called your attention to it.
I have now the honor to transmit to you extracts from further despatches from the same consul, and copies of papers enclosed in them, from which it appears that the Antonica was a vessel belonging to the so-called confederates, but that a large number of the crew are British subjects.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
I have the honor to transmit, herewith enclosed, for your lordship’s information, a copy of a letter, dated the 20th, but received by me on the 26th ultimo, from James Barrett, one of the crew of the late steamer Antonica, complaining of the taking from him, and from another seaman of the above-mentioned vessel, named Thomas Jones, both British subjects, the respective sum3 of eighty-five and thirty-five dollars, being their own private property.
I transmit, likewise, a copy of a letter from Marshal Murray, to whom I applied for information, acquainting me that the money in question has been delivered into the custody of the prize court at Washington.
In my despatch of the 3d ultimo I informed your lordship that the Antonica was a Confederate States vessel belonging to Charleston, South Carolina, and commanded by an American citizen, but that the crew was composed principally of British subjects.
Mr. Barrett to Mr. Archibald.
My Dear Sir: I have to apply to you, as a subject of her Majesty’s government, to aid me in getting my money returned to me. It was my own private funds which was taken from me when I was captured on board the steamer Antonica, on the 20th of December last. I have been placed in the New York county jail without any means, and have been kept here two months. I cannot hear anything about getting my money returned; it was taken by force from me, but with the promise that it would be returned on my arrival in New York. The amount was eighty-five dollars in specie. If you can aid me in any way, or compel them to return it, I will feel under many obligations for your kindness. They took my purse with the cash, and also a small masonic square and compass breastpin which I set some value to. I am a stranger in New York, and have been advised to call on you for advice or aid. My friend and shipmate, Thomas Jones, is in the same situation, and requests me to present his case to you. He is from Wales, not far from Liverpool. He had only thirty-five dollars in specie, but it was his all, and he is much in need of it. I belong to Liverpool, but was born in Dublin.
Yours, &c., &.c, &c.,
E. M. Archibald, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
Mr. Murray to Mr. Archibald.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a note addressed to you by J. Barrett, one of the crew of the Antonica, and which communication has been referred to me for explanation.
In reply to the complaints made in that letter by Barrett, that his money had been taken from him, I have to state, that on the arrival of the crew of the Antonica at this port I addressed a letter to the Secretary of the Navy, calling the attention of the department to the fact that the various commanders of the blockading squadron had taken the money belonging to the men, and requesting that some action be taken in the matter. The department at once issued orders [Page 546] to the commander of the squadron to collect these funds and remit them to Washington. This was done, and the department, under date of the 20th instant, has informed me of the arrival of the money at Washington, and that it has been delivered into the custody of the prize court of that city. I have already informed Captain Adair, of the Antonica, of this fact, and suppose he has communicated the same to the men.
Very respectfully, &c., &c., &c.,
E. M. Archibald, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
Referring to my despatch of this date, I have the honor to report to your lordship that, of the crew of the steamer Antonica, who are now confined in the county jail, there are, in all, twenty-six British subjects, whose names will be found in a list herewith enclosed. The Antonica was wrecked on the Frying-pan shoals, on the 20th of December last, when the crew took to the boats and were picked up at sea by a United States gunboat. They have now been confined in the county jail since about the middle of January last.
These men complain of being constantly pestered by men to enlist in the naval or military service of the United States, and report that they are informed that this is the only way in which they will be able to obtain their liberty. I will communicate with the marshal on this subject, and report if any further action is necessary.
List of British subjects forming part of the crew of the late steamship Antonica.
| Name. | Age | Where born. | Class. |
| James Barrett | 38 | Dublin, Ireland | Seaman. |
| Thomas Jones | 28 | Wales. | Fireman. |
| Hugh Farley | 32 | County Cavan, Ireland | Do. |
| Edward Fortune | 32 | County Wexford, Ireland | Do. |
| John Murray | 23 | County Tyrone, Ireland | Do. |
| John Corbett | 37 | County Galway, Ireland | Do. |
| John Keefe | 20 | County Donegal, Ireland | Do. |
| W.G. Finnegan | 23 | Dublin, Irelnnd | Second steward |
| Robert McMillian | 23 | Londonderry, Ireland | Seaman. |
| George Briggs | 18 | Dublin, Ireland | Do |
| Dennis Coughlan | 28 | County Tipperary, Ireland | Fireman. |
| Michael Rohan | 30 | County Mayo, Ireland | Do. |
| John Carney | 33 | do | Do |
| James Gorman | 38 | County Kilkenny, Ireland | Do |
| John Cavanaugh | 30 | Dublin, Ireland | Steward |
| James Marsh | 28 | Bermuda | Assistant engineer |
| Michael Cavanagh | 27 | County Longford, Ireland | Cook |
| James Cunningham | 27 | County Down, Ireland | Fireman |
| Alex. Hutton | 21 | County Woxford, Ireland | Do |
| Cornelius Carmody | 17 | County Limerick, Ireland | Third steward |
| Joseph Poland | 25 | Dublin, Ireland | Seaman |
| Francis Farley | 22 | County Cavan, Ireland | Fireman |
| John Leddy | 27 | County Cavan, Ireland | Seaman. |
| Samuel Wallace | 20 | County Clare, Ireland | Do |
| John H. Murray | 29 | Dublin, Ireland | Watchman. |
| James Patty | 21 | Liverpool, England | Seaman |
| James Kelly | 14 | County Mayo, Ireland | Boy |