Messrs. H. W. Peabody & Co. to Mr. Hay.
Dear Sir: We have before us two telegrams received from you within the past day or two relative to shipments forwarded by us on steamships Maria and Mashona for Delagoa Bay. We are so much in the dark as to what has been done with shipments by these steamers that we hardly know how to act or to reply to the questions contained in your telegrams now before us. Can you give us any definite information as to what has been done with the Delagoa Bay shipments on the steamers above mentioned? The latest reports which we have noticed in the newspapers are to the effect that the vessels have been allowed to go on to Delagoa Bay, and presumably that they will deliver immediately shipments at that port.
Referring to our previous communication on this subject we would call your attention to the fact that the only parcel of flour forwarded by us on either of these vessels is a small shipment by the steamship
| 444 | ||
| Maria, marked | Delagoa Bay, | valued only at £12 16s. 10d. |
Our other shipment by the Maria consisted of a parcel of lumber
| J H B | |
| and miscellaneous cargo (not food products) marked | N A C, |
| Delagoa Bay |
valued at £128 9s. lid., and a shipment of evaporated cream in tins,
| B G | ||
| marked | J H B, | amounting to £195 19s. 10d. |
| Delagoa Bay |
Our shipment on the steamship Mashona consisted of 230 bags white
| W | ||
| corn meal, marked | Delagoa Bay, | valued at $682.52. |
The lumber and miscellaneous cargo could not, we presume, in any event be considered as contraband of war, and we hardly imagine that our shipment of evaporated cream would be so considered. The white corn meal possibly would, and also the flour, but we would first ask whether you can inform us definitely what has been done with shipments by these steamers. In the present condition of affairs, rendering it impossible for us to communicate readily with Africa by cable, it is impossible for us to get any accurate information, so that we do not see how any action can be taken immediately; and we desire only to file statement to the effect that if our shipments have been delayed or interfered with by the British Government we want the United States Government to back up our claims for full indemnity. We should be glad to receive such information as you have in regard to shipments by the steamers in question; also any instructions which you may have to give us, considering the uncertainty of our present position and our lack of information as to the action which you wish us to take to place ourselves in line to receive the support of the United States Government.
Yours, truly,