the burning at sea by the steamer Alabama of the ship Brilliant and other vessels, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted, to wit: Resolved, That this chamber has heard with profound emotion the graphic account given by Captain Hager of the burning of the ship Brilliant, on the 3d day of October instant, a portion of which is in the following words: "At sunset the Brilliant was fired-at 7 p. m. was in flames fore and aft, the E. F. lying about a mile from her. The ship continued to burn all night. In the morning the steamer was close at hand, and the ship seen the afternoon before had worked up to the burning wreck during the night, probably with the expectation of saving life, but at daylight found herself in the clutches of her destroyer! It continued calm during all day, and but a light air during the night. Towards midnight a bright light was seen in the direction of the steamer, and it is more than probable it was from the third ship." Resolved, That in view of this atrocity, it is the duty of this chamber to announce, for the information of all who are interested in the safety of human life-the life of shipwrecked passengers and crews-that henceforth the light of a burning ship at sea will become to the American sailor the signal that lures to destruction, and will not be, as in times past, the beacon to guide the generous and intrepid mariner to the rescue of the unfortunate. Resolved, That henceforth self-preservation will be the first dictate of prudence, as it is the "first law of nature," and, consequently, that the destruction of the Brilliant can be only characterized as a crime against humanity; and all who have knowingly and willingly aided and abetted must be considered as participators in the crime. Resolved, That this chamber has not failed to notice a rapid change in British sentiment, transforming a friendly nation into a self-styled "neutral" power-the nature of which neutrality is shown in permitting ships to go forth with men, and in permitting an armament to follow them, for the detestable work of plundering and destroying American ships; thus encouraging upon the high seas an offense against neutral rights, on the plea of which, in the case of the Trent, the British government threatened to plunge this country into war. Resolved, further, That the outrage consigning to destruction by fire, without adjudication, British and American property together, is an aggravation of the offense against the rights of neutrals, and ought to be denounced as a crime by the civilized nations of the world. Resolved, That this chamber has heard with amazement that other vessels are fitting out in the ports of Great Britain to continue the work of destruction begun by the Alabama-an enormity that cannot be committed on the high seas without jeopardizing the commerce and peace of nations. Resolved, further, That it is the duty of this chamber to warn the merchants of Great Britain, that a repetition of such acts as the burning of the Brilliant, by vessels fitted out in Great Britain, and manned by British seamen, cannot fail to produce the most wide-spread exasperation in this country; and hence they invoke the influence of all men who value peace and good will among the nations to prevent the departure of other vessels of the character referred to from their ports, and so to avert the calamity of war. Resolved, That it is the desire of this chamber, as it is the interest of all its members, to cherish sentiments of amity with the people of Great Britain, to maintain those cordial relations which have led to profitable intercourse, and to strengthen the ties that knit them together in mutual courtesy and respect. Resolved, That copies of the foregoing preamble and resolutions be sent to the Hon. Secretary of State of the United States, and to the Boards of Trade of London and Liverpool, and that the Secretary of State be requested to transmit copies of the same to the diplomatic agents of the United States for distribution in other commercial countries. I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the resolutions from the minutes of the chamber. JOHN AUSTIN STEVENS, JR., Secretary. No. 384.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 30, 1862. SIR: I send herewith a communication which has been received at this department from the Secretary of the Navy, giving information of a breach of international obligations by the commander of her Britannic Majesty's gunboat Bull Dog, in July last, by transporting from Nassau to Bermuda one Peagram and seven other persons, who were proceeding from this country to England to take commands in the gunboat 290, a steam war vessel then being built, manned, and equipped in, and since dispatched from, a British port, and since engaged in committing depredations on American commerce on the high seas, equally in violation of the treaties existing between Great Britain and the United States, the law of nations, and the laws of Great Britain. The President desires that you will bring the subject to the notice of Earl Russell, and ask that an examination of the case may be instituted, and that such redress may be thereafter afforded to the United States as the result of the investigation shall give them a right to expect. I am, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD. CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, Esq., &c., &c., &c. Mr. Welles to Mr. Seward. NAVY DEPARTMENT, October 29, 1862. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a communication received from Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes, commanding the West India squadron, reporting the infraction of the neutrality regulations by the commander of her Britannic Majesty's gunboat Bull Dog, in transporting officers from Nassau to Bermuda, in July last, on their way to England to take charge of vessels about to fit out there under the rebel flag. Very respectfully, GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy. Secretary of State. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, No. 4.] Rear-Admiral Wilkes to Mr. Welles. FLAG STEAMER WACHUSETT, SIR: I have to communicate to the department the infraction of the neutrality regulations by the commander of her Britannic Majesty's gunboat Bull Dog, in transporting Captain Pegram and seven officers from Nassau to Bermuda, in July last, on their way to England to take charge of the 290, or other vessels about to fit out there under the secesh flag, and that I have but little doubt that the officials, both at Nassau and Bermuda, were aware of and assented to the violation. This information I have from most reliable authority-those who knew Captain Pegram and Lieutenant Bennett well, and witnessed their arrival at Bermuda and embarkation on board the mail packet for Halifax. They staid but a few hours at Bermuda. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, CHARLES WILKES, Rear-Admiral, Commanding West India Squadron. Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. No. 385.] * * Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams. [Extract.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, * * Washington, November 3, 1862. * * * SIR: The telegraph announces the destruction of another half dozen American vessels on the high seas by the steamer 290. The President is obliged to regard these destructions as being made by British subjects in violation of the law of nations, after repeated and ample notice, warning, and remonstrances had been given by you to the British government. It is presumed that you have already brought the subject in that light to the notice of her Majesty's government. The legal proofs in support of a claim for indemnity will be collected and transmitted to you as speedily as possible. No. 390.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 4, 1862. SIR: Your dispatch of October 16 (No. 242) has been received. The President regrets that he is unable to find in the proceedings of her Majesty's government satisfactory evidence that it proposes to render redress to the United States for the injuries sustained by their citizens in the arming, fitting out, and dispatch of the 290 on her errand of commercial devastation, or to prevent injurious enterprises of the same character from being carried into execution. Nevertheless, still trusting that the government of Great Britain may come, after careful consideration, to think the subject worthy of a revision, the evidence in the case of the 290, as it shall be received, will be transmitted to you to be laid before Earl Russell. You will, in the meantime, communicate the effect of this dispatch to his lordship. I am, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD. CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, Esq., &c., &c., &c. Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward. No. 257.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: From representations made by Mr. Dudley, the consul at Liverpool, which lead to the belief that the pirate 290 is about to return to its old cruising ground off the Western Islands, I have been induced once more to call the attention of the officers of the Tuscarora and Kearsarge to the necessity of protecting the trade from India. I fear that. neither of them separately, nor indeed both together, are any match for the shrewdness and enterprise of Captain Semmes, who has a vessel very capable of escaping from every risk of encounter. The exploits of this vessel by no means give rise to a feeling of entire satisfaction on this side of the water. A strong proof of this is to be found in the proceedings of the Chamber of Commerce at Liverpool, where is the greatest sympathy with the rebellion. Mr. Dudley will undoubtedly furnish you with a copy of them. The leading newspapers in London have discussed the subject according to their biases; but not without betraying a good deal of misgiving as to the position of their government in respect to it, although they are evidently without the knowledge of all the facts. I am told, though not by authority, that some parties who yet hold an interest in her, from not having been paid, have taken advice as to the extent of their responsibility in case of reclamations being made. Having myself considered, from the outset such a proceeding probable, I have shaped my course in my correspondence with Lord Russell mainly to the preparation of a record to sustain it. The activity in forwarding supplies of all sorts to the British islands continues unabated. I learn that orders from Charleston to procure Armstrong and Whitworth guns, at any cost, are in process of execution in anticipation of an expected attack on that point. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS. Secretary of State. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, No. 396.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 10, 1862. SIR: Your dispatch of the 23d of October (No. 244) has been received. The President regrets that her Majesty's government has not more favorably considered our complaints against the violations of municipal and international law, committed by British subjects under the British 5 A C-VOL. III flag, in the case of the steamer 290, or Alabama. It is to be apprehended that attempts by the same and similar vessels to repeat the same injuries will ultimately require a more deliberate consideration of the subject than the government now seems willing to accord. I am, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD. I addressed a note yesterday to Mr. Squarey, my lawyer, on the subject of the 290, and my efforts to arrest her. I inclose you, marked Nos. 2 and 3, copies of my note and his answer. He agrees with Mr. Collier that the case made was sufficient, and confirms the report which I made at the time to the department, that I had done everything I could do to stop her. * It is understood here that the Lairds still have an interest in this vessel, the Alabama. I am inclined to believe it is true, but there is no way to get at the fact. She sailed without register or papers of any kind, consequently there is no record or anything of a public nature showing her owners. All the married men on her receive half pay to their families. The payments, I understand, are made by Fraser, Trenholm & Co. It would not surprise me to learn that she was entirely owned by Englishmen. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, * THOMAS H. DUDLEY. Secretary of State. Mr. Dudley to Mr. Squarey. UNITED STATES CONSULATE, SIR: At the time we made the fruitless effort to stop the sailing of the steamer 290, now called the Alabama, I understood from both you and Mr. Collier that the case we made before the collector was quite sufficient for him to detain this vessel, and that in your opinions it was his duty to do so. My instructions, as you will remember, to you and Mr. Collier were to arrest her sailing, if possible, without regard to costs or expense, and I understood from both of you at the conclusion of the matter that everything had been done that could be on our parts to stop her, and that I, as consul, could do no more. You will recollect I put the question directly to you if there was anything more that I could do, to which you answered, there was not. Will you do me the favor to state whether my understanding of this matter is correct, and obligeVery respectfully, your obedient servant, THOMAS H. DUDLEY. A. T. SQUAREY, Esq. |