Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-ninth Congress

Mr. Burnley to Mr. Seward

Washington, December 28, 1864.

Sir: With reference to your note of the 20th of October, relative to the British steamer Mary, formerly the Alexandra ram, and her supposed connexion with the so-called confederate government, I have the honor to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch, and of its enclosures, from the governor of New Providence, stating that he has ordered the seizure of the steamer Mary, for violation of the 7th clause of the foreign enlistment act.

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

J. HUME BURNLEY.

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

Governor Rawson to Mr. Burnley

Government House, Nassau, December 15, 1864.

Sir: I take the earliest opportunity of informing you that on the 13th instant the British steamer Mary, formerly the Alexandra ram, was seized in this port by my orders, for a vio-ation of the 7th clause of the foreign enlistment act.

Before my arrival here on the 9th instant, the United States consul had called the attention of this government to the existence of guns and munitions of war on board of this vessel, which had lately reached this harbor. A search was made, and nothing was found but a 12-pounder gun, and a case supposed to contain shell. Upon this, the lieutenant governor, acting upon the advice of the attorney general, informed the consul that there was not sufficient ground for detaining the vessel, after this gun and case were landed, which their agents professed their willingness to do.

The consul had at first supposed this search to have been a seizure, and he was much disappointed at this last communication, and protested urgently against it. The attorney general saw him personally, and was not satisfied with the proofs offered, and finally he was informed that the government could not proceed upon conflicting communications made to him by persons who could not be produced in court to support a prosecution. This was the state of the case when I arrived.

I mention what occurred with the consul, in order that you may be cognizant of it, in the event of the American government adverting to it in any communication which it may make to you.

Upon examining the correspondence, and making inquiry of the officer who searched the vessel, I found that there were suspicious facts bearing upon the case which did not appear in the papers, and that certain packages which were shipped at Bermuda had not been opened, ñor were their contents known. I therefore directed that they should be landed and opened. The result is shown in enclosure No. 1, which, among other things, proved the continued connexion of the Mary with the Mr. Hamilton, an officer of the Confederate States, whose name was brought forward by the attorney general on the occasion of the trial in England, as one of the proofs against the parties who owned the Alexandra.

Upon the discovery of this further evidence, and receiving the opinion of the attorney general, I ordered the vessel to be seized, and she is now in charge of the customs, moored opposite the ordnance wharf for protection. The attorney general will commence legal proceedings without delay, and I have received a letter from the United States consul thanking me for my proceedings in this case.

I am, &c,. &c.

RAWSON A. RAWSON, Governor.

J. Hume Burnley, Esq., &c., &c., &c.

Mr. Dumaresq to Governor Rawson

Receiver General’s Office, December 13, 1864—1 p. m.

Sir: I have the honor to report for your lordship’s information that this morning, immediately on the landing of the cargo ex. Mary, late Alexandra, I directed all the packages to be opened in my presence, and found the marks, numbers, and contents of each to be as follows:

P. H. One cask containing scrubbing brushes, tin cans, &c.

J. R. ½. Two cases containing iron hammock racks.

J. R. 3. One case containing iron hammock racks and handles for screws of side lights.

O. C. 1. One case containing a gun and carriage, with appurtenances complete, designed by Messrs. Fawcett, Preston & Co., of Liverpool, with flat iron tray or slide for the gear and body of carriage to traverse on.(This gun is the subject of a former report.)

O. C. 2. One case containing shell.

O. C. 3. One case of grape-shot.

J. R. H. 3. One case containing six trap wheels, about six inches in diameter, apparently handles such as are used for working the screw of a gun.

J. R. H. ½. Two cases of stationery.

H. H. 2. One case containing confederate flags, brig, ship, and boat ensigns and pendants, log lines, bolts of canvas, &c.

S. D. H. 2. One case of drugs, lint, &o.

J. R. H. One case (partially examined) of private effects, consisting of military and naval books in relation to the confederate service, having the name of Hamilton on the fly leaves, forty-eight packages of tourniquets, one blank confederate commission, charts, a case of surgical instruments, &c, one bundle of hammocks—about sixty; also two small iron carronades and carriages, belonging to ship.

With reference to the cases marked J. R. 1 to 3, I have respectfully to state that the hammock racks are all of a size, and that I have had one of them placed in the staples on the bulwarks of the Mary, which it exactly fits.

It is my duty further to add, that since the date of my last report of the 7th instant, four new berths have been completed in the after hold, where the gun and carriage above referred to were found, and sixteen additional ones in the forecastle, so that, independent of the after-deck berths for the officers of the ship, she has now thirty-two berths for seamen, besides the sixty hammocks.

I have, &c., &c.,

J. A. DUMARESQ, Receiver General.

Ais Excellency Governor Rawson.