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.

Washington, April 1, 1864.

Sir: I hasten to submit to you the following papers which have been sent to me by Vice-Admiral Sir James Hope, commander-in-chief of her Majesty’s naval forces on the North American and West Indian stations :

1. Copy of letter from the British vice-consul at Matamoras to Captain Von Donop, of her Majesty’s ship Jason, dated February 13, 1864.

2. Copy of pass to enter the harbor of Brazos Santiago, given to the British vessel Scylla by Major General F. J. Herron, dated January 24, 1864.

3. Copy of statement of Francis Denty Hamilton, master of the Scylla, dated February 15, 1864.

4. Copy of letter from Captain Von Donop to Major General Herron, dated February 15, 1864.

5. Copy of letter from Major General Herron to Captain Von Donop, dated February 17, 1864.

6. Copy of letter from Captain Von Donop to Major General Herron, dated February 20, 1864.

You will see with great pain that there is too much reason to fear that the United States military authorities in the Rio Grande have had recourse to a device involving a direct breach of faith, for the purpose of entrapping and seizing the Scylla. In sending me the papers, Vice-Admiral Sir James Hope expresses his conviction that immediate redress will be given by the United States government when the circumstances are brought to its notice, and I am myself confident that the United States government will be prompt in taking measures to vindicate the honor of its army, and to make reparation for the injury inflicted on the subjects of a friendly sovereign.

I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

LYONS.

Hon. William H. Seward. &c., &c., &c.

Vice-Consul Zurn to Captain Von Donop.

British Vice-Consulate, Matamoras, February 13, 1864

Sir: I have to communicate to you, that, under pretext of buying her cargo of provisions, and by means of a permit of General Herron, original of which is in my possession (copy No. 1,) the military authorities in Brownsville have enticed the British brigantine Scylla, of Liverpool, Francis D. Hamilton, master, into Brazos harbor and then seized her and taken away $13,000 in specie.

The statement of the master appears to me of so serious a nature, that I have ordered him to make his deposition before you immediately. At the same time you may see fit to ask him minutely in regard to certain threats the said master will have heard from the commander of a United States gunboat now stationed off Brazos harbor, referring to the intended seizure of the British ship Herbert, which is now on her way from Liverpool to this port, with a considerable sum of money on board, and with a cargo which I have been credibly informed does not contain a single article of contraband merchandise.

I have, &c., &c.,

PAUL ZURN, Her Majesty’s Acting Assistant Vice-Consul.

Captain Von Donop, Her Majesty’s Ship Jason, off the Rio Grande.

Major General Herron to Captain Loud.

Headquarters United States Forces on the Rio Grande, Brownsville, Texas, January 24, 1864.

Permission is merely granted the brigantine Scylla, Captain Loud, master, to enter the harbor of Brazos Santiago to discharge the stores purchased from her by Roult, assistant quartermaster for the United States.

She will also be permitted to remain in the harbor to reload, should there be any cotton or other property there to ship.

F. J. HERRON, Major General.

Statement of Francis Deuty Hamilton, master of the British schooner Scylla.

Her Majesty’s Steamer Jason, Off the mouth of the Rio Grande, February 15, 1864.

Francis Deuty Hamilton, British subject, and master mariner, certificate of the first class, states:

We left Liverpool 26th September, 1863, with a few tons of ballast, consisting of stones and four hundred bags of salt, bound to New York, where we arrived the 7th December. I was there shown a letter from the owners by W. Y. Loud, directing me to be guided by the said Loud’s directions.

Loud purchased a cargo of provisions of various kinds, chiefly beef, pork, and bread.

The Scylla cleared for Havana on the 19th December, and left, with Mr. Loud on board as supercargo, for that port on the 22d-; arrived at Havana on the 3d January.

Not being able to dispose of the cargo, we left on the 5th for Matamoras, where we arrived on the 16th, and anchored—the mouth of the river bearing west by north two miles.

During the last ten days we sold a small portion of the cargo to various vessels here, and in the mean time the supercargo sold the remainder to the federal government to be delivered at Brazos, receiving at the same time an order from General Herron, the commandant at Brownsville, for permission to enter Brazos, there discharge the said cargo, and reload the schooner.

I left this on the 26th January, and anchored the same evening off Brazos. On the 28th the federal steamboat General Banks towed us over the bar and into the harbor. On the 30th, Colonel Hodge, commandant of the federal army at Brazos, came on board with a guard of six soldiers, seized the vessel, made myself and crew, consisting of seven altogether, prisoners on board. Colonel Hodge then demanded the specie that was on board, amounting to $13,000 in gold, which I delivered to him, and received a receipt for it from him. Colonel Hodge refused to assign any reason for these proceedings.

On the 1st February Colonel Hodge came on board again and released myself and crew, but took away the supercargo, who has not since returned. The vessel is at present detained at Brazos with a guard on board; we are allowed perfect freedom, either to go on board or remain on shore.

On the 3d instant I waited on General Herron at Brownsville, and on my asking the reason why the vessel was seized, he told me that they had proof that a certain Mr. Adams was connected with the vessel who was a blockade-runner, and that they had had their eyes on him for the last two years. I told him I knew nothing of Mr. Adams, and that my vessel had always been legally employed.

The general also told me that the seizure would be decided in a few days by orders from New Orleans, and in the event of the vessel being confiscated, he would see that the crew were paid their wages.

This statement was made before me on board her Majesty’s steamer Jason, off Rio Grande, on the 15th February, 1864.

E. P. B. VON DONOP, Captain.

Captain Von Donop to Major General Herron.

Her British Majesty’s Ship Jason, Off the mouth of the Rio Grande, February 15, 1864

Sir: Herewith I beg to enclose the statement of Francis D. Hamilton, master of the British schooner Scylla, detained at present by the federal government at Brazos, and as the vessel had permission from you, by an order dated the 24th January, to enter Brazos for the purpose of discharging her cargo, which was sold to the federal government, I shall feel obliged by your informing me the reasons for seizing the vessel, and the specie found on board of her.

I have, &c.,

VON DONOP, Captain and Senior Officer in the Gulf of Mexico.

General Herron, Commanding Federal Forces at Brownsville.

Major General Herron to Captain Von Donop.

Headquarters United States Forces on the Rio Grande, Brownsville, Texas, February 17, 1864.

Sir: Your communication under date of the 15th instant, covering statement of Captain F. D. Hamilton, of the schooner Scylla, is at hand. The cause of detention of said schooner is this: Mr. C. W. Adams, the owner of the cargo and specie, (if not of the schooner,) has been for the past two and a half years engaged in purchasing and supplying to the rebels, through Matamoras, arms, ammunition, and other supplies. His movements have been known and watched by my government for some time, and upon his arrival in American waters I placed Mr. Adams and the schooner in a position that they may be held responsible for their conduct.

The case has been submitted to Major General N. P. Banks, at New Orleans, and I am expecting instructions in regard to it by the next steamer. I have, &c,

F. J. HERRON, Major General.

Captain Von Donop, Her British Majesty’s Ship Jason.

Captain Von Donop to Major General Herron.

Her Majesty’s Ship Jason, OffMatamoras, February 20, 1864.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th instant respecting the seizure of the British schooner Scylla and the specie on board that vessel. I have to inform you that. I consider the fact of the federal government having purchased the cargo, and your giving the vessel a pass into Brazos, appears to have been done solely with the intention of enticing that vessel into American waters, for the purpose of seizing her when there, which you could not have legally done while she was in Mexican waters.

I consider the whole proceeding to be unjustifiable and unparalleled among civilized nations.

I may much regret having to bring such facts to the notice of Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Milne, the commander in chief, but in the mean time it is my duty to protest, in the name of her Britannic Majesty’s government, against the seizure under such extraordinary circumstances of the vessel, her cargo and specie, together with the temporary detentions of her crew; and,

I have, &c., &c.,

E. V. B. VON DONOP, Captain and Senior Officer in the Gulf of Mexico.

Major General F. J. Herron, Federal Headquarters on Rio Grande.