"No. 290.” LIVERPOOL, July 29, 1862. SIR: We telegraphed you this morning that the above vessel was leaving Liverpool. She came out of dock last night, and steamed down the river between 10 and 11 a. m. We have reason to believe she has gone to Queenstown. GENTLEMEN: I am desired by the commissioners of her Majesty's customs to acknowledge the receipt yesterday of your telegraphic message, apprising me of the departure from Liverpool of the gunboat stated to have been fitted out for the so-called Confederate States of America; also your letter of yesterday's date stating that you have reason to believe that the vessel in question has gone to Queenstown; and I am to acquaint you that, by direction of the board, the substance of your telegram was, immediately on its receipt, communicated to the lords commissioners of her Majesty's treasury, and that the same course has been adopted in regard to your letter received this morning. I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant, GEORGE DICKINS, No. 4. [From "Liverpool Daily Post," of August 1, 1862.] NEW STEAMER FOR THE CONFEDERATES. Some time since the steamship Oreto left the Mersey ostensibly for the Mediterranean, but her destination was Nassau, where she was to be fitted out as a man-of-war for the confederate service. Later advices from Nassau now show that she has been seized by order of the court of admiralty for alleged infringement of the foreign enlistment act. Not deterred by this mishap, another new steamship, "290," so she is called, left the Birkenhead docks this week, either for Nassau or Havana, and waited off Tuskar for the steam-tug Hercules, which left Liverpool for the "290" with fifty men. The Laird gunboat appears to have gone from Point Lynas' steering north on Friday or Saturday. A person sent down to Holyhead on Sat urday has returned, and stated that she was seen from the Stack lighthouse as late as eight o'clock on Saturday evening. It is possible, however, that the light-house keeper may have mistaken the Tuscarora for her, as she was in that neighborhood on Saturday. The statement in one of the slips I inclose, (No. 4,) of her being off the Giant's Causeway, originated with a Mr. Beasley, (secessionist,) who said some captain had told him. Like the previous report of her being in Holyhead, I have no doubt it is untrue.* * Captain Bullock who left here in her has returned. It has been stated by a person in the confidence of these plotters that she is within 300 miles of this, getting her armament. This is not likely, but shall be followed up. A statement made by Mr. Barnett, who engaged the crew, to a boarding-house keeper who furnished some of the men, would seem to indicate an intention of trying to run the blockade. He said all the men who did not want to remain by her when she got to Nassau or Savannah, would be sent home again with Captain Butcher, who would return home. * * * * * I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, * Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward. Vice-Consul. No. 203.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: In my dispatch (No. 199) of the 30th July I brought down the narrative of the proceedings in the case of the gunboat No. 290 to the morning of the 29th. Later in the day I sent another telegram to Captain Craven, giving further intelligence from Liverpool, urging his departure from Southampton, also that he should let me know his next movements, and cautioning him about the line of British jurisdiction. To this message the captain immediately replied, announcing his departure at 8 o'clock, and his intention to touch at Queenstown for further information. On the 30th of July I wrote to Captain Craven, by mail to Queenstown, giving fuller details, received at half-past eleven o'clock from Mr. Dudley, touching the movements of the gunboat off Point Lynas on that day. Early on the morning of the 31st I sent a telegram to Captain Craven, at Queenstown, apprising him that 290 was said to be still off Point Lynas. At about 10 o'clock p. m. of that evening I received a telegram from Captain Craven, dated at Queenstown, announcing his reception of my dispatch and his intention to await further instructions. This was answered by me early the next morning in the following words, by telegram: "At latest, yesterday, she was off Point Lynas; you must catch her if you can, and, if necessary, follow her across the Atlantic.” On the same day I received by mail a note from Captain Craven, dated *It appears that she did pass the Giant's Causeway, landing Captain Bullock and the pilot. See statement from the private journal of one of her officers. General Appendix, No. 7. the 31st, announcing the receipt of my dispatches and his decision to go to Point Lynas at noon on the 1st instant. Captain Craven seems to have sailed up St. George's channel. This last movement must have been made in forgetfulness of my caution about British jurisdiction, for, even had he found No. 290 in that region, I had in previous conversations with him explained the reasons why I should not consider it good policy to attempt her capture near the coast. In point of fact, this proceeding put an end to every chance of his success. On the 5th instant I received a letter from him, dated the 4th, at Queenstown, inclosing a report of his doings, addressed to the Secretary of the Navy, left open for my inspection, which I forward by this steamer, and at the same time apprising me of his intention to go round to Dublin and await a letter from me prior to his return to his station at Gibraltar. To this I sent the following reply: "LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, "SIR: I will forward your letter to the Secretary of the Navy. Having in my hands sufficient evidence to justify the step, I was willing to assume the responsibility of advising you to follow the boat No. 290 and take her wherever you could find her. But I cannot do the same with other vessels of which I have knowledge only from general report. I therefore think it best that you should resume your duties under the general instructions you have from the department, without further ref erence to me." It may have been of use to the Tuscarora to have obtained repairs at Southampton to put her in seaworthy condition. But had I imagined that the captain did not intend to try the sea, I should not have taken the responsibility of calling him from his station. I can only say that I shall not attempt anything of the kind again. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS. Secretary of State. No. 105.] * Mr. Dudley to Mr. Seward. [Extract.] UNITED STATES CONSULATE, * * SIR: There are many rumors afloat about the gunboat No. 290. Some say that she is still in the channel, others that she has gone to sea and is to meet one of the steamers in mid-ocean and there receive her armament, but there are none that I think reliable. I am now inclined to think that she will run into one of the southern ports, but have nothing definite or certain about her. I have one of the notes given to the crew at time of shipping. It is inclosed, marked No. 3. In this note she is called the Enrica, which I presume is to be her name. I procured this note, thinking it might be of some service in case of her capture. * * I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, THOMAS H. DUDLEY. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. £2 10s. Od. Agreement made at Liverpool, this 28th day of July, 1862. Ten days after the ship Enrica sails from the port of Liverpool, the undersigned do hereby promise and agree to pay to any person who shall advance two pounds, ten shillings, pence to James Daw on this agreement, the sum of two pounds, ten shillings, no pence, provided the said James Daw shall sail in the said ship from the said port of Liverpool. MATTHEW J. BUTCHER, Master. Payable at Cunard & Wilson, London and Liverpool chambers, Exchange. No. 108.] Mr. Dudley to Mr. Seward. [Extract.] UNITED STATES CONSULATE, SIR: I understand that Lairds' gunboat 290 is somewhere either on the coast of England or Ireland, and that they are shipping to-day fifty more men, who are to be taken to her to-night on a steamer. I have written and telegraphed this information to Minister Adams, and also written to Mr. Craven, the captain of the United States ship Tuscarora off of Kingston, in Ireland. * * * ** * I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. THOMAS H. DUDLEY. Secretary of State. No. 109.] Mr. Dudley to Mr. Seward. UNITED STATES CONSULATE, SIR: I wrote you yesterday that they were shipping men for the gunboat No. 290, and that there were reasons to suppose that she was somewhere in the channel, &c. The men were placed on board of the steamer Bahama, which arrived at this port a few days ago loaded with cotton. This is the same steamer that sailed from Hamburg some months ago, loaded with arms and munitions of war intended for the rebel government. She took on cannon, shot and ammunition, and her coal yesterday, and shipped her crew and the men intended for the gunboat last evening, and went out of her dock at three o'clock this morning. I cannot see her in the river. She has no doubt sailed; where, I do not know, but no doubt to some place agreed upon to meet the gunboat. The cannon and ammunition, as well as men, are intended for this vessel. There has been as yet no entry at customs of the Bahama to load, much less to clear, but she is one of the class that seems to be privi leged by the authorities in this country. She is a large vessel, over seventeen hundred tons burden, commanded by Captain Tessin. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. THOMAS H. DUDLEY. N. B.-I have learned that she (the Bahama) entered yesterday to load for Nassau. I have written to Mr. Adams, United States minister at London, and to the consul at Dublin, all the particulars, and from time to time sent telegrams of the movements here. The Tuscarora was yesterday in Dublin harbor. [From British Blue Book, "North America," No. 1, 1863, p. 16.] He [Mr. Seward] also alluded to the case of the other steamer* which had lately escaped from Liverpool, and I explained to him that, in that case, as well as in that of the Oreto, her Majesty's government had done all which they legally could do, and that they would do the same in future, whenever proofs could be furnished that vessels were being equipped in British ports in violation of the foreign enlistment act, or of the Queen's proclamation of neutrality. After some conversation on his side upon the difficulty of producing proofs in such cases, and on mine upon the impossibility of acting on mere suspicions, Mr. Seward gave me the assurance that the idea of letters of inarque was at any rate suspended for the present; and he added that he hoped that the great additions which are being made to the United States navy would soon be sufficiently completed to render the measure altogether unnecessary. No. 113.1 * Mr. Dudley to Mr. Seward. * [Extract.] UNITED STATES CONSULATE, * * * SIR: There is now not much doubt but what the steamer Bahama, which cleared here in so much hurry, is to meet the gunboat 290 at some place agreed upon. She has the armament and men for her. I doubt now whether she will make the attempt to run the blockade. There is no necessity for her to do it. She has gone out without clearing, and her armament and men are on the Bahama, and as soon as she gets them she is ready to commence her operations as a privateer. She will make the attempt to capture one of the California steamers; at least this has been *The Alabama. |