Messrs. W. M. Grossman & Bro. to Mr. Hay.
Sir: We take the liberty of handing you herewith a memorandum of the shipments made by us to Delagoa Bay, for account of several South African clients, per the steamers Maria, Mashona, and Beatrice, all of which have been seized by the British Government because of certain shipments of flour held to be for the use of the South African Republic, none of which have we had any interest in or connection with.
To the best of our knowledge and belief, none of the items shipped by us have ever been considered contraband of war, and being consigned to a neutral port, we are addressing you with the hope that representations may be made through the proper channels to Her Majesty’s Government (such as we understand through the daily press is being done on behalf of our neighbors in similar plight) that may secure the release of the merchandise in question and its delivery to Delagoa Bay as per bills of lading.
As a matter of fact we are not by any means clear as to our rights or status in the matter; hence we are unable to respond intelligently to the request of consignees, who are calling upon us for information in the premises.
We should therefore esteem as a great favor any advice you may be able and pleased to give us for our guidance under the circumstances.
We are, etc.,
Shipments to Delagoa Bay per steamship Mashona.
| Marks. | Total value invoices. | |
T N Z ASM Crossman 
Delagoa Bay |
1,000 cases lubricating oil (consigned to Netherlands So. African Ry). | $2,895.95 |
1/30 Delagoa Bay |
30 bolts duck (consigned to order). | 367.34 |
1549/58 Delagoa Bay |
10 cases hatchets, 100 coils barb wire (consigned to order). | 447.90 |
B Delagoa Bay |
513 bags corn meal, 1 case “Cracker-jack” machine; 5 pckgs., each 2 cases, sausage and sauerkraut (consigned to B. Elsasser). | 1,008.11 |
| HS ACR Lourenço Marquez |
50 cases corned beef (consigned to order). | 253.17 |
| 4,972.47 |
Shipments to Delagoa Bay per steamship Beatrice.
| Marks. | Total value invoices. | ||
|
Delagoa Bay |
} | $279.48 | |
| 1516/3 | 20 cases succotash. | ||
| 1649/50 | 2 cases pick handles. | ||
| 1724/48 | 25 cases brawn. | ||
| 1749 | 1 case catalogues. | ||
| 1701/3 | 3 bdls., each 10 single sash. | ||
| 20 pes. yellow pine. (Consigned to order.) | |||
Delagoa Bay |
447 pieces white pine, 6,797 feet (consigned to order). | 459.29 | |
|
B |
} | 610.15 | |
| Delagoa Bay, 381 | 1 bale overalls. | ||
| 437/41 | 5 cases Vienna sausages. | ||
| 442/511 | 70 cases corned beef. | ||
| 512/31 | 20 cases brawn. | ||
| 732/23 | 2 packages, each 3 “Jackport” machines. | ||
| 736 | 1 case pain killer | ||
| 737/741 | 5 cases Vienna sausages. (Consigned to B. Elsasser.) | ||
| S NZASM Crossman
Delagoa Bay |
1,000 cases lubricating oil (consigned to Netherlands, So. African By.). | 2,808.00 | |
| HS ACR 1/25 Lourenço Marquez Delagoa Bay |
25 cases salmon (consigned to order). | 128.12 | |
| 4,285.04 |
Shipments per steamship Maria to Delagoa Bay.
| Marks. | Total value invoices. | ||
| R N Z ASM Crossman
Delagoa Bay |
1,000 cases lubricating oil (consigned to Netherlands So. African Ry.). | $2,856.64 | |
N Z ASM Crossman 1/84 
250/69Delagoa Bay |
84 cases picks, 20 cases handles (consigned to Netherlands So. African Ry.). | 1,258.26 | |
|
B |
} | 368.87 | |
| 261 | 1 bale sack coats | ||
| 262/67 | 6 cases hatchets. | ||
| 343/47 | 5 cases pork and beans | ||
| 348/52 | 5 cases veal loaf | ||
| 353/65 | 13 bundles window frames. | ||
| 376/80 | 5 cases turpentine | ||
| 366/75 | 10 cases Quaker oats | ||
| 25 cases kerosene | |||
| 16049 | 1 bale overalls | ||
| 386/93 | 8 cases lard (Consigned to B. Elsasser.) | ||
Delagoa Bay |
2 wheel scrapers (consigned to order). | 87.82 | |
| H S ACR I/125 Lourenco Marques Delagoa Bay 26/75 |
25 cases Aurora salmon, 50 cases corned beef (consigned to order). | 377.76 | |
| Rebate B M B W Delagoa Bay |
25 bundles white pine, 5,332 feet, covering 1,068 feet (consigned to order). | 290.10 | |
|
S Delagoa Bay |
528 pieces shelving, 8,448 feet (consigned to order). | 372.15 | |
Delagoa Bay |
} | $1,569.8 | |
| 1137 | 1 case plumbs and levels | ||
| 1220/22 | 3 cases picks | ||
| 1223–72 | 50 cases corned beef | ||
| 1323 | 1 case saws | ||
| 1332/35 | 4 bundles each 10 headlights. | ||
| 1336/75 | 40 bundles each 5 doors | ||
| 1376/85 | 10 cases lard. | ||
| 1386/1435 | 50 cases lubricating oil | ||
| 1436/45 | 10 cases corn | ||
| 1446/65 | 20 cases peas | ||
| 1466/85 | 20 cases peaches | ||
| 1486/1505 | 20 cases apricots | ||
| 1536/38 | 3 cases brooms. | ||
| 1539/48 | 10 cases salmon. | ||
| 1599 | 1 case St. Charles cream | ||
| 20 pieces yellow pine, 998 feet. | |||
| 100 pieces white pine, 2,400 feet. (Consigned to order.) | |||
| 7,181.40 |