With reference to my note of the 20th of October, and your reply of the
1st ultimo, and to my further note of the 26th ultimo, relative to the
case of the Night Hawk, I have now the honor to enclose the register of
this vessel, and other papers duly legalized by the United States consul
at Liverpool, for the purpose of setting at rest the question of
nationality, as raised by your note of the 1st ultimo.
In these papers you will see it distinctly stated that the Night Hawk was
a British paddle-steamship, registered in the shipping register at
Liverpool, and owned by Edward Lawrence, who appointed Captain Smiley, a
British subject, in command of the ship.
I hope that the Secretary of the Navy will take these documents into
serious consideration, with a view of modifying his assertion with
regard to belligerents and neutrals, and look upon the ship as a vessel
belonging to a neutral power, and the crew, a list of whom I had the
honor to forward in my note of the 20th of October, as neutral subjects
of that power.
I beg you to return me the original documents as soon as note has been
taken of their contents.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most
obedient humble servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
&c., &c., &c.
[Enclosure.]
I, the undersigned, consul of the United States of America for the
port of Liverpool and its dependencies, do certify and make known to
whom these presents shall come, that Edward Lawrence, esq., mayor of
Liverpool, having addressed a letter to me requesting my,
certificate to the annexed declaration, with copy of register of
steamer Night Hawk annexed and declaring that he is the sole
registered owner of said vessel Night Hawk, and that the sole object
for which my certificate is asked is to send it, with the
declaration and copy of register, to his agent at New York, to be by
him presented to the British consul, or the authorities there, to
show that the Night Hawk is an English vessel, and that her late
captain is a British subject, and not for the purpose of being used
to protect the vessel from United States cruisers, or to sanction
her running the blockade, or for any other purpose than that above
specified; I do, in compliance with such request, grant him my
certificate, and do certify that W. Henry Fletcher, before whom the
annexed declaration of Edward Lawrence has been made, and whose true
signature and notarial seal are subscribed and affixed, is a notary
public, duly authorized, admitted, and sworn, residing and
practicing in Liverpool, duly authorized to receive such
declaration.
Given under my hand and seal of office, at Liverpool, on the 17th day
of November, and year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.[SEAL]
THOMAS H. DUDLEY.
On this the 16th day of November, in the year of our Lord 1864,
before me, William Henry Fletcher, notary public by royal authority,
duly admitted, sworn, and enrolled, dwelling and practicing in
Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, in England, personally and
voluntarily came and appeared Edward Lawrence, of Liverpool
aforesaid, merchant, and did solemnly and sincerely say and declare
as follows: That he then was a natural-born subject of her Majesty
the Queen of Great Britain, and the owner of the paddle-steamship
Night Hawk, of Liverpool, which ship was registered in his own name
in the register of shipping at the custom-house at Liverpool, and
that the document hereto annexed, signed by the registrar of the
said port, and sealed with the seal of her Majesty’s customs, was an
official and true copy of such register; and he did further say and
declare that, at the time when the said steamship last sailed from
the port of Liverpool, in the month of August last, she was in
charge of Captain N. Smiley, a British subject, who was duly
appointed by him the master thereof.
EDWARD LAWRENCE.
In faith and testimony whereof, I, the said notary, have caused the
said copy register to be hereunto annexed, and the said appearer to
subscribe his name to these presents, and I have also hereunto
subscribed my name and affixed my seal notarial this 16th day of
November aforesaid.[SEAL]
W. HENRY FLETCHER, Notary
Public.
[Page 3]
Form No. 19. Copy register.
Official number of ship, 50,296. Name of ship, Night Hawk. Port
number, 353. Port of registry, Liverpool. British or foreign,
British built.
Whether a sailing or steamship; if steam, how propelled? Steamer,
paddle. Where built? Preston, in the county of Lancaster. When
built? In 1864.
Number of decks, one; number of masts, two; rigged, schooner; stern,
square; build, clench; gallery, none; head, none; framework,
iron.
Tonnage.
|
No. of tons. |
| Tonnage under tonnage deck |
536.51 |
| Break |
23.56 |
| Round-house |
|
|
560.07 |
| Deduct allowance for propelling power |
199.96 |
| Register tonnage |
360.11 |
Measurements.—Length, from the forepart of the
stem, under the bowsprit, to the aft-side of the head of the
stern-post, 245 feet — tenths. Main breadth to outside of plank, 26
feet 8 tenths. Depth of hold, from tonnage deck to ceiling at
midships, 12 feet 2 tenths.
Additional particulars for
steamer.
Deduction for space required for propelling power, 199.96 tons.
Length of engine-room, if measured, 65 feet 3 tenths. Number of
engines, two. Combined power, (estimated horsepower,) one hundred
and eighty.
Names, residence, and description of
the owners, and number of shares held by each owner.
Edward Lawrence, of Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, merchant.
64
CUSTOM HOUSE, Liverpool, November 15, 1864.
I hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy of the
particulars and ownership of the vessel Night Hawk, of the port of
Liverpool.
W. G. STEWART, Registrar.
Registry dated August 24, 1864.
[Customs, November 15, 1864, Liverpool.]
N. B. To be addressed in an envelope to the chief registrar of
shipping, custom-house, London.
No. 219. Copy of register for transmission to chief registrar of
shipping.
