Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
Mr. Haffner to Mr. Seward.
Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia,
March 17, 1866.
Honored Sir: It is with much reluctance
that I presume to trespass upon your attention? and will be as brief
as possible.
From the petulant manner that the Earl of Clarendon has closed the
correspondence respecting United States claims for depredations by
the Alabama with Mr. Adams, I would
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humbly call your attention to one important
item connected with the Rappahannock affair, in Sheerness dock-yard,
which, in my humble judgment, should be urged against the English
government.
It is a well-known fact, (for I traced it out myself,) that David
Partridge, the assistant chief engineer of Woolwich Steam Factory,
came down to Sheerness dock-yard, on the afternoon of the 24th of
November, 1863, and steamed the Rappahannock out of Sheerness
harbor, at eleven o’clock at night, as far as the Nore, and then
returned in the tug that towed her out. I minutely sent this
statement, with the names of the witnessing parties, to Mr. Morse,
the consul in London, who had it formally sent to the admiralty
solicitor at Chatham, who duly forwarded it in the depositions to
the chief solicitor at the admiralty in London, but (would you
believe it?) had it expunged, thus stifling a very important piece
of evidence against Rumble and the dock-yard officials at
Sheerness.
I hope, honored sir, you will see just cause to complain of the
manner the United States was trifled with.
In a collateral point of view, I would just call your attention to
another fact.
Rumble had two effective scouts in Sheerness dock-yard, named Jacob
Parkes, and Alfred Oysten, the former a leading man in the fitting
shop, the latter a draughtsman in said department. It is matter of
record, in the hands of Mr. Morse, the game that these vile men
played in stultifying witnesses, &c., &c., who were to give
evidence against Rumble. Well, after Rumble’s acquittal, these men
got promoted to higher situations, Parkes being promoted to Malta,
and Oysten to a foreman’s situation in Sheerness Steam
Factory—doubtless as rewards for their zeal in Rumble’s defence. And
now, honored sir, Mr. Morse can supply you with corroborations of
what I have stated to you, respecting the share that David
Partridge, the assistant chief engineer of Woolwich Steam Factory
took in the Rappahannock affair, and chief admiralty solicitor at
Whitehall expunging such damaging evidence from | the depositions.
My only apology for thus intruding upon you is simply because I am
grieved at the summary manner Earl Clarendon has disposed of Mr.
Adams; and again, lest you might not have known about the case of
Mr. David Partridge.
I am, honored sir, with much esteem, your humble servant,
