government. These pieces have been copied in the newspapers here, and the effect has been to make the people much more careful and guarded. It is now difficult to obtain information about this vessel. They will not admit any one except those connected with the yard to go in. I have obtained the following description of her, which is correct, so far as it goes. Her engines are 350 horse-power, oscillating in principle. She will draw 14 feet when loaded, and is 1,050 tons burdenhas one funnel or smoke-stack painted black, forward of the mainmast, two ventilators forward of the funnel, also painted black. The hull painted black; billet-head gilt, with a shield painted red. The stern is round, with black galley windows. The stern has carvings on it of gilt. She has three masts, bark-rigged; the masts and spars very bright. Her propeller is a screw, so arranged that it can be raised by steam from the water. The frame-work in which this screw or fan works is of solid brass, weighing from one and a half to two tons. The vessel is coppered, and has copper fastenings, and is calculated to run fifteen knots per hour. Her powder cases or cans are two hundred in number, all made of copper, with a patent screw in the top, which costs two pounds apiece. No pains or expense has been spared in her construction, and when finished will be a very superior boat of her class. Indeed, they say there will be no better afloat. Her trial trip was entirely satisfactory. She will be finished and ready for her armament in about ten days or two weeks. I have not yet learned what it is to be. The platforms for the guns that are being made are such that the gun can be used on both sides of the vessel. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedint servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, No. 179.] THOMAS H. DUDLEY, Consul. Secretary of State. Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, London, June 26, 1862. SIR: Notwithstanding the adverse news lately flowing in from America to the sympathizers with the rebels respecting the loss of their vessels and outfits, the effect of which has been to put an end to insurance on such risks, I continue to receive information of the preparation of such adventurers. One most flagrant instance has been presented to my attention by Mr. Dudley, the consul at Liverpool. I considered it so important that I have felt it my duty to make a representation of it to her Majesty's government. The uniform ill-success which has attended all my preceding remonstrances, especially in the very parallel case of the gunboat Oreto, makes me entertain little hope of a more favorable result now. But the record would hardly seem to be complete without inserting it. As Captain Craven, of the Tuscarora, has sent notice to this legation of his departure from Gibraltar and his arrival at Cadiz, I have taken the responsibility of asking him to come to Southampton for orders. Should it be possible to take any measures with prudence to break up the voyage of this vessel, I shall advise him of the fact. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Mr. Dudley to Mr. Seward. [Extract.] No. 86.] UNITED STATES CONSULATE, Liverpool, June 27, 1862. SIR: I have mentioned the gunboat now being built by the Messrs. Lairds & Co., of Liverpool, at their yard in Birkenhead, in two or three notes to the department. Being entirely satisfied in my own mind that this vessel was intended as a privateer for the rebel government, and that it was my duty to use every effort to prevent her sailing, I went up to London to confer with Mr. Adams. At his instance I drew up and addressed to him a note, a copy of which is inclosed, marked No. 1.* He inclosed a copy of this, accompanied with an energetic note from himself to Earl Russell. Mr. Adams thinks there is a better feeling on the part of the government towards us, and that they will now do what they can to conciliate us, and will stop the fitting out of this vessel. It is to be hoped that they will do it, as she would do much mischief to our commerce if she got out in some quarter distant from our cruisers. One of the Lairds, an active member of this firm, is a member of Parliament. This vessel is ready for sea, and if not prevented will sail before the end of next week. Captain Bullock will command her. She will enter upon the business as a privateer at once, and not attempt to run into a southern port. It is said that her armament will consist of eleven guns, all of heavy caliber. * * * * I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, * * THOMAS H. DUDLEY. Secretary of State. No. 87.] Mr. Wilding to Mr. Seward. [Extract.] UNITED STATES CONSULATE, SIR: I send you herewith a full description of the Laird gunboat, as it may be useful. To remove any possible doubt there may be as to the real destination of this vessel, I may inform you that a few mornings since, Captain J. D. Bullock entered, unquestioned, the private dock where she lies, and which is so zealously closed to others, went on board, was saluted by the workmen, appeared to give orders and be attended to as one in authority; also that all the cabin fittings and furniture were selected by him, and were subject to his approval, though paid for by Mr. Laird. Mr. A. Blain, of 35 Paradise street, Liverpool, fitted up the cabins, and has her entered in his books as No. 290. For a person sent there to inquire if he did fit her up, he wrote the number on one of his cards, along with the names of John Laird, esq., and Captain Bullock as refer ences. Her engineers and crew have been engaged but not regularly shipped. *For this note see inclosure to dispatch No. 184, July 9, 1862, from Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward, post. None of them are allowed on board, and are only to come on board when she sails. The Rosalind, belonging to Fraser, Trenholm & Co., and about which you are already advised, is still here. She took on board three more rifled cannons (32-pounders) this week, making nine she has, just sufficient for the armament of the gunboat, and of the most suitable kind. They are all Blakeley's guns. * * Very respectfully, I am, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, * * H. J. WILDING. She will carry three swivel guns. She has three double ports each side, forward, midships, and aft. She will carry sixteen guns with the swivels. She is in a confused state, and from her appearance will not be ready before the middle of next week. Is built of oak and coppered, about two hundred feet long and eighteen feet deep, will draw from ten to fourteen feet loaded, 1,050 tons, bark-rigged; has no name, but is called No. 290. Has two oscillating cylinders working almost at the bottom of the vessel. Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward. [ Extract.] No. 184.] * * * LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, * * * * * SIR: I forward copies of the correspondence, so far as it has gone, touching the preparation of the formidable gunboat at Liverpool for the use of the rebels. In accordance with the suggestion in Lord Russell's note of the 4th instant, I have directed the vice-consul at Liverpool, in the absence of Mr. Dudley, to prepare and send to the collector of customs there such further evidence as he may obtain of the true destination of that vessel. At the same time I have requested him to send me the same information with a view to take professional advice as to the practicability of proceeding against it in the courts, and, as a last resource, I have taken the responsibility of sending for the Tuscarora. Captain Craven has arrived at Southampton, and has been here to see me. I regard the case as so important that if the evidence shall prove in any way sufficient to justify the step, I shall authorize him to try to intercept her on her way out. This may have the effect of taking the vessel off of her present station and far over to the United States. I know nothing of the naval arrangements, but I presume that the Tuscarora can be replaced by some other ship of less power which would equally serve the purpose of the government as a safeguard against privateering in these waters. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS. Secretary of State. Mr. Adams to Earl Russell. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, MY LORD: Some time since it may be recollected by your lordship that I felt it my duty to make a representation touching the equipment, from the port of Liverpool, of the gunboat Oreto, with the intent to make war upon the United States. Notwithstanding the statements returned from the authorities of that place, with which your lordship favored me in reply, touching a different destination of that vessel, I have the strongest reason for believing that that vessel went directly to Nassau, and that she has been there engaged in completing her armament, provisioning, and crew, for the object first indicated by me. I am now under the painful necessity of apprising your lordship that a new and still more powerful war steamer is nearly ready for departure from the port of Liverpool on the same errand. This vessel has been built and launched from the dock-yard of persons, one of whom is now sitting as a member of the House of Commons, and is fitting out for the especial and manifest object of carrying on hostilities by sea. It is about to be commanded by one of the insurgent agents, the same who sailed in the Oreto. The parties engaged in the enterprise are persons well known at Liverpool to be agents and officers of the insurgents in the United States, the nature and extent of whose labors are well explained in the copy of an intercepted letter of one of them, which I received from my government some days ago, and which I had the honor to place in your lordship's hand on Thursday last. I now ask permission to transmit, for your consideration, a letter addressed to me by the consul of the United States at Liverpool, in confirmation of the statements here submitted, and to solicit such action as may tend either to stop the projected expedition, or to establish the fact that its purpose is not inimical to the people of the United States. Renewing the assurances of my highest consideration, I have the honor to be, my lord, your most obedient servant, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS. Right Hon. EARL RUSSELL, &c., &c., &c. Mr. Dudley to Mr. Adams. UNITED STATES CONSULATE, SIR: The gunboat now being built by the Messrs. Laird & Co., at Birkenhead, opposite Liverpool, and which I mentioned to you in a previous dispatch, is intended for the so-called confederate government in the southern States. The evidence I have is entirely conclusive to my mind. I do not think there is the least room for doubt about it. Beauforth and Cady, two of the officers from the privateer Sumter, stated that this vessel was being built for the Confederate States. The foreman in Messrs. Lairds' yard says she is the sister to the gunboat Oreto, and has been built for the same parties and for the same purpose; when pressed for a further explanation, he stated that she was to be a privateer for the southern government in the United States. The captain and officers of the steamer Julia Usher now at Liverpool, and which is loaded to run the blockade, state that this gunboat is for the confederates, and is to be commanded by Captain Bullock. The strictest watch is kept over this vessel; no person except those immediately engaged upon her is admitted into the yard. On the occasion of the trial trip made last Thursday week no one was admitted without a pass, and these passes were issued to but few persons, and those who are known here as active secessionists engaged in sending aid and relief to the rebels. I understand that her armament is to consist of eleven guns, and that she is to enter at once, as soon as she leaves this port, upon her business as a privateer. The vessel is very nearly completed; she has had her first trial trip. This trial was successful, and entirely satisfactory to the persons who are superintending her construction. She will be finished in nine or ten days. A part of her powder canisters, which are to number two hundred, and which are of a new patent, made of copper with screw tops, are on board the vessel; the others are to be delivered in a few days. No pains or expense have been spared in her construction. Her engines are on the oscillating principle and are three hundred and fifty horse-power. She measures one thousand and fifty tons burden, and will draw fourteen feet of water when loaded. Her screw or fan works in a solid brass frame casting, weighing near two tons, and is so constructed as to be lifted from the water by steam-power. The platforms and gun-carriages are now being constructed. When completed and armed she will be a most formidable and dangerous craft, and if not prevented from going to sea will do much mischief to our commerce. The persons engaged in her construction say that no better vessel of her class was ever built. I have, &c., THOMAS H. DUDLEY. Earl Russell to Mr. Adams. FOREIGN OFFICE, June 25, 1862. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23d instant, calling attention to a steam vessel which you state is now fitting out at Liverpool with the intention of carrying on hostilities. against the government of the United States, and I have to acquaint you that I have lost no time in referring the matter to the proper department of her Majesty's government. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, Esq., &c., &c., &c. RUSSELL. Earl Russell to Mr. Adams. FOREIGN OFFICE, July 4, 1862. SIR: With reference to my letter of the 25th ultimo, I have the honor to inclose a copy of a report from the commissioners of customs respecting the vessel which you have been informed is being built at Liverpool for the government of the so-styled Confederate States, and, in accordance therewith, I would beg leave to suggest that you should instruct |