the United States consul at Liverpool to submit to the collector of customs at that port such evidence as he may possess tending to show that his suspicions as to the destination of the vessel in question are well founded. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, Esq., &c., &c., &c. RUSSELL. CUSTOM HOUSE, July 1, 1862. Your lordships having referred to us the annexed letter from Mr. Hammond, under-secretary of state for foreign affairs, transmitting, by desire of Earl Russell, copy of a letter from the United States minister at this court, calling attention to a steamer reported to be fitting out at Liverpool' as a southern privateer, and inclosing copy of a letter from the United States consul at that port reporting the result of his investigation into the matter, and requesting that immediate inquiries may be made respecting this vessel, and such steps taken in the matter as may be right and proper, we report: That immediately on the receipt of your lordship's reference we forwarded the papers to our collector at Liverpool for his special inquiry and report, and we learn from his reply that the fitting out of the vessel has not escaped the notice of the officers of the revenue, but that as yet nothing has transpired concerning her which has appeared to demand a special report. 100 We are informed that the officers have at all times free access to the building yards of the Messrs. Laird, at Birkenhead, where the vessel is lying, and that there has been no attempt on the part of her builders to disguise, what is most apparent, that she is intended for a ship of war; and one of the surveyors in the service of this revenue, who had been directed by the collector personally to inspect the vessel, has stated that the description of her in the communication of the United States consul is correct, with the exception that her engines are not constructed on the oscillatory principle. Her dimensions are as follows: length 211 feet 6 inches; breadth, 31 feet 8 inches; depth, 17 feet 8 inches, and her gross tonnage, by the present rule of admeasurement, is 68231 tons. The surveyor has further stated that she has several powder canisters on board, but as yet neither guns nor carriages, and that the current report in regard to the vessel is that she has been built by a foreign government, which is not denied by the Messrs. Laird, with whom the surveyor has conferred; but they do not appear disposed to reply to any questions respecting the destination of the vessel after she leaves Liverpool, and the officers have no other reliable source of information on that point; and, having referred the matter to our solicitor, he has reported his opinion that at present there is not sufficient ground to warrant the detention of the vessel or any interference on the part of this department, in which report we beg to express our concurrence. And with reference to the statement of the United States consul that the evidence he has in regard to this vessel being intended for the so-called confederate government in the southern States is entirely conclusive to his mind, we would observe that inasmuch as the officers of customs of Liverpool would not be justified in taking any steps against the vessel unless sufficient evidence to warrant her detention should be laid before them, the proper course would be for the consul to submit such evidence as he possesses to the collector at that port, who would thereupon take such measures as the provisions of the foreign enlistment act would require; without the production of full and sufficient evidence to justify their proceedings, the seizing officers might entail on themselves and on the government very serious consequences. We beg to add that the officers at Liverpool will keep a strict watch on the vessel, and that any further information that may be obtained concerning her will be forthwith reported. THOS. F. FREMANTLE. GRENVILLE C. L. BERKELEY. The LORDS COMMISSIONERS of her Majesty's Treasury. Mr. Adams to Earl Russell. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, MY LORD: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 4th instant, covering a copy of the report from the commissioners of customs, respecting a vessel presumed by me to be in course. of preparation at Liverpool to carry on hostile operations against the United States. In accordance with your lordship's suggestion, I shall at once instruct the consul of the United States to submit to the collector of customs at that port such evidence as he possesses to show that the suspicions he entertained of the character of that vessel are well founded. I pray your lordship to accept the assurances of the highest consideration with which I have the honor to be, my lord, your most obedient servant, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS. Right Hon. EARL RUSSELL, &c., &c., &c. Mr. Adams to Mr. Wilding. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I transmit herewith a copy of a note received by me from Lord Russell, in reply to my representation, founded on Mr. Dudley's letters of the 21st of June to me, respecting Mr. Laird's gunboat. In accordance with his lordship's suggestion, I pray you to furnish to the collector of customs, so soon as may be, any evidence which you can readily command in aid of the object designated. I should be glad likewise to have such evidence made in duplicate, and one copy forwarded to me at the same time for possible use in another way at this point. I have the honor to be, &c., HENRY WILDING, Esq., CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS. United States Vice-Consul, Liverpool. No. 88.] Mr. Dudley to Mr. Seward, [Extract.] UNITED STATES CONSULATE, Liverpool, July 9, 1862. SIR: In my dispatch of June 27 I mentioned the fact that Mr. Adams had applied to the British government to prevent the sailing of the gunboat now being fitted out by the Messrs. Lairds & Co., at Birkenhead. Yesterday I received a note* from him, inclosing a copy of Earl Russell's reply, requesting me to furnish evidence of the character of this vessel to the collector of customs at Liverpool. I shall during the day write a note to the collector and communicate all the facts I can without violating confidence reposed in me by persons from whom I obtained them. I do not think the British government are treating us properly in this matter. They are not dealing with us as one friendly nation ought to deal with another. When I, as the agent of my government, tell them from evidence submitted to me that I have no doubt about her character, they ought to accept this until the parties who are building her, and who have it in their power to show if her destination and purpose are legitimate and honest, do so. It is a very easy matter for the Messrs. Laird & Co. to show for whom they are building her, and to give such information as to her purpose as to be satisfactory to all parties. The burden of proof ought not to be thrown upon us. In a hostile community like this it is very difficult to get information at any time upon these matters, and if names are to be given it would render it almost impossible. The government ought to investigate it and not call on us for proof. I understand if she is not arrested she will endeavor to capture some of the California steamers with specie for New York. The Rosalind, referred to in previous dispatches, sailed on Saturday last. She has on her nine cannon, rifled, which I think are intended for this gunboat. They are thirty-two-pounders. I am sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, THOMAS H. DUDLEY. Secretary of State. No. 89.] Mr. Dudley to Mr. Seward. [Extract.] UNITED STATES CONSULATE, SIR: Inclosed, marked Nos. 1, 2 and 3, find a copy of the communication by me addressed to the collector of customs at this port, relative to the gunboat now being built by the Messrs. Lairds for the rebel government, a copy of the most extraordinary answer of the collector, and a copy of a note sent to Minister Adams upon the receipt of this * For this note see inclosure to dispatch No. 184, July 9, 1862, from Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward, ante. answer inclosing him a copy thereof. These papers explain themselves, and do not require further remark by me. Richard Brougan, a shipwright, now in the employ of the Messrs. Lairds, states that on the day this vessel was launched Captain Bullock and wife with a number of American gentlemen were there; he says Captain Bullock is at the yard and on the vessel every day, and gives orders to the men and seems to have command or at least charge of the vessel, and thinks he owns her, or at least that she is being built for him. He says Bullock represents himself as a commissioner for the southern States, and that this vessel is a privateer, the same as the Oreto, and that she and the Oreto are to cruise together on the American coast for the confederate government. A man by the name of Butcher is to go out nominally as her captain. This man as captain is now shipping the crew, and applied to Brougan to go out as carpenter. A man by the name of Barnett is the acting shipping master. Her stores are all on board. It is now stated that her armament will consist of twelve thirty-two-pounders and three large swivel guns. I understand if she succeeds in getting out, that it is her intention to capture some of the California steamers on their road to New York. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, THOMAS H. DUDLEY. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. N. B.-This vessel (the gunboat) has not yet been named. Her number is 290. [Inclosure Nos. 1 and 2 are printed with Mr. Adams's dispatch to Mr. Seward, No. 196, July 25, 1862, post.] No. 3.] Mr. Dudley to Mr. Adams. UNITED STATES CONSULATE, SIR: I inclose you a copy of the communication received from the collector of customs at this port, in reply to the one by me addressed to him on the 9th instant, a copy of which was sent to you by mail yesterday. The collector seems disposed to hold our government to as strict a rule as if we were in a court of justice. We are required to furnish legal evidence, (I take it this is his meaning, though it is involved in some obscurity,) that is, that the onus is upon us to prove and establish by legal evidence that this vessel is intended as a privateer. If this is to be taken as the answer of the government, it is hardly worth spending our time in making further application to them. They show that their neutrality is a mere pretense, and that the United States cannot expect anything like impartiality and fairness at their hands. When the United States government, through its acknowledged representatives, say to the British government that it is satisfied that a particular vessel, which is being built at a certain place in the kingdom by certain parties who are their own subjects, is intended as a privateer for the rebel government, it is the duty of that government to call up the parties who are fitting out the vessel, tell them what the charge is, and require them to state for whom and what purpose she is being built, and if the charge is admitted or shown to be true, to stop her sailing. Our government has a right, it seems to me, not only to expect but to require this much of another friendly government. And if there was any disposition to do right and act honestly, this much at least would be accorded. I inclose a description of the inside of this vessel. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, THOMAS H. DUDLEY. No. 90.] * United States Minister. Mr. Dudley to Mr. Seward. [Extract.] UNITED STATES CONSULATE, * * * * * * * SIR: I have learned a few more particulars this morning about Lairds' gunboat No. 290. Captain Butcher, who is now acting as the captain, and will continue in that capacity until after they clear, is a British subject, and was, if he is not now, second officer on one of the Cunard line of steamships, which ply between Liverpool and the United States. He has been in the service of this company for a number of years; has been second officer on the Africa and Arabia, and is well known in New York. Barnett, who is shipping the crew, I am informed is also in the employ of this company. After they get out to sea Butcher will turn over the command of the ship to Captain Bullock and take his place as second in command. This is the present programme. I have procured the dimensions of the vessel; they are as follows: With high regard, I am, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, THOMAS H. DUDLEY. No. 299.] Secretary of State. Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, July 12, 1862. SIR: Your dispatch of June 26 (No. 179) has been received. You inform me that Mr. Dudley, our consul at Liverpool, has brought to your notice a new and flagrant violation of neutrality which is being attempted in some British port, and that you have remonstrated against it with the British government, and also have called Captain Craven to Southampton to defeat the enterprise. You, however, do not inform me of the name of the vessel, her particular character or purpose, or of any circumstances of the case. I have communicated the imperfect information thus received to the Navy Department, in the hope that it may be able to render it useful. This transaction will furnish you a suitable occasion for informing Earl Russell that since the Oreto and other gunboats are being received by the insurgents from Europe to renew demonstrations on our national |