815

Mr.

The steamer Laurel, recently purchased for
the confederates, is now at Liverpool, en-
tered to load for Matamoras. She has taken
on board a number of cases containing
guns and gun carriages. She has twenty-
one seamen, more than is required for a
passenger boat. Her movements are sus-
picious. She will sail to-morrow.
Giving a description of the Laurel

Sailing of the Laurel from Liverpool....

316

316

317

Departure of the Laurel with Captain 318
Semmes, eight other confederate officers,
and about one hundred men on board. She
had six guns in her hold. It is reported
that the men and guns are to be transferred
to another vessel.
Refers to departure of Captain Semmes in
the Laurel on another piratical expedition.
Activity among rebel shipping agents con-
tinues.

319

319

The steamer Sea King, which sailed from
London for Bombay on the 8th instant, is
probably the vessel intended to meet the
Laurel and receive her men and armament.
As a privateer she will be most dangerous.
Showing the altogether English character of 320
the Sea King and Laurel.
The steamer Colibar, from Teneriffe, brings
back part of the crew of the Sea King,
who report that that vessel, now called
the Shenandoah, received her armament
and crew from the Laurel, at Madeira, and
started on a piratical cruise under the
confederate flag, Captain Semmes in com-
mand.

320

Moran to Nov. 12 Has received a letter from Consul Dabney, 321 Mr. Seward.

Mr. Adams to Nov. 18
Mr. Seward.

at Teneriffe, in reference to the proceed-
ings of Captain Corbett and crew after
leaving the Shenandoah.

Incloses copy of his note to Lord Russell, 322
covering a letter from Mr. Dudley, and
depositions of two of the Shenandoah's
crew in reference to the proceedings of
that vessel.

Has received information from Mr. Dabney 330
as to the meeting of the Laurel and She-
nandoah at Madeira. Calls Mr. Adams's
attention to the exclusively English char-
acter of both vessels and their crews and
armament, and directs him to protest
against such proceedings, and to inform
the British government that the United
States hold them responsible for damages
to American commerce committed by the
Shenandoah.

Has received No. 815. Mr. Adams's repre-
resentation of the case of the Shenandoah
is approved.

330.

Incloses letter from Mr. Gratton, English 331 consul at Teneriffe, detailing circum

850 Mr. Adams to Jan. 5 Mr. Seward.

1250

Mr. Seward to Jan. 27
Mr. Adams.

Captain Corbett has been arrested and held
for trial for violation of the foreign enlist-
ment act. Incloses Lord Russell's acknowl-
edgment of his note of November 18th.
Incloses letter from Consul Monroe, at Rio
de Janeiro, containing statement relative
to depredations by the Shenandoah. The
United States will claim redress from the
British government.

Feb. 16 Giving account of the sailing from Nassau
of the Laurel, now called Confederate
States, with confederate mails, &c., and
directing Mr. Adams to protest against
their receipt and clearance at Liverpool,
and to demand the detention of the vessel.
Incloses Lord Russell's note of the 1st instant,
showing that the sale of the Sea King, in
England, was made to a British subject.

Mr. Adams to Feb. 16
Mr. Seward.

do

332

334

334

334

335

336

336

Feb. 17 Desires, in view of all circumstances, to post- 337
pone presenting claims for damages done
by the Shenandoah until further instruc-
tions.

Feb. 28 Incloses extract from Mr. Dudley's dispatch,
announcing the arrival of the Laurel (now
the Confederate States) at Liverpool, and
giving information concerning the English
steamer City of Richmond.

337

Mar. 13 In view of activity of rebel agents in Europe, 339
thinks that representation in the case of
the Shenandoah ought to be no longer
postponed.

Adams to Mar. 16

Mr. Seward.

Incloses his note to Lord Russell, protesting 339
against the receipt and clearance of mails
by the Confederate States at Nassau, and
Lord Russell's reply, stating that the colo-
nial authorities at Nassau had intended to
detain the steamer, but had unavoidably
failed, and that her case should be inquired
into.

924 Mr. Adams Mr. Seward.

Mar. 25 Has been informed by Mr. Dudley that the
Shenandoah, having departed from Cape
Town, destroyed eleven merchant vessels
of the United States, and was then received
at Melbourne. Desires that the attention
of Earl Russell be called to this new ag-
gression, which involves nothing less than
the issuing of the pirate from one port of
the British realm and her reception in
another. Recent communications between
this government and that of Great Britain
have exhausted the argument of the Uni-
ted States upon the general subject of
piratical enterprises carried on from Brit-
ish ports.

342

April 5 Transmitting correspondence with the Brit- 342
ish legation in reference to the expected
re-enforcement of the Shenandoah at Ber-
muda.

April 13

952

344

to April 12 Incloses Lord Russell's note of the 7th, stat-
ing that the steamer Confederate States
had committed no offense against British
law.
Transmits his note to Lord Russell inclosing 344
letter from United States consul at Rio
Janeiro in reference to depredations of the
Shenandoah. Mr. Adams repeats the claim
of British responsibility for such proceed-
ings; shows the effect of the hostile policy
of English rebel sympathisers in transfer-
ring the United States mercantile marine
to British owners; acquits the government
of any design in furthering this policy, but
considers the evils flowing from it as due
to the precipitate recognition of rebel bel-
ligerency; expresses the hope of the Presi-
dent that that recognition will now be
revoked, in view of the capture of all rebel
ports, and asks for the removal of all re-
strictions upon United States war vessels
in British ports.

Mr. Adams to May 11
Mr. Hunter.

Incloses Lord Russell's note of the 4th, to
which he is drawing up a reply. Lord
Russell defends the recognition of rebel
belligerency on the ground of the Presi-
dent's proclamation of blockade; claims
that in the case of the Alabama, as in all
others, her Majesty's government faithful-
ly performed their obligations as neutrals
in carrying out municipal laws, and are
not, therefore responsible for the depreda-
tions of such vessels, and quotes American
authority in support of this position. Her
Majesty's government agree that United
States war vessels in British ports shall be
treated as British war vessels in United
States ports, excepting that they must not

350

Nov.

thorities at Melbourne after her illegal
character had been established; recalling
the total neglect of his former representa-
tions in regard to the operations of the
rebel naval bureau at Liverpool; alluding
to the reported recognition of Captain
Bullock as the chief officer of that bureau
by the government's becoming the medi-
um for the transmission of his orders to
the Shenandoah; expressing gratification
at the tardy measures adopted by the
goy-
ernment for her detention and capture,
and inclosing papers received, with in-
structions 1539, 1541, and 1551, in reference
to her depredations and reception at Brit-
ish colonial ports. Also transmits Lord
Russell's acknowledgment.

7 Announcing the arrival of the Shenandoah | 444
at Liverpool. The collector has asked for
instructions concerning her. Customs offi-
cers and men from her Majesty's ship Done-
gal have been sent on board, and no com-
munication is had with the shore except
by customs boats.

558 Mr. Dudley to Nov. 11 Mr. Seward.

9 Incloses his note to the Earl of Clarendon, 445
covering announcement of Shenandoah's
arrival, asking her seizure and delivery to
the United States authorities, and leaving
the course to be adopted in reference to
her crew to the discretion of her Majesty's
government. Also incloses Lord Claren-
don's reply, stating that the vessel had
been seized; and extracts from London
Times denouncing her recent outrages and
calling for the apprehension and trial of
her crew upon a charge of piracy; and
from London News setting forth the per-
nicious consequences of allowing vessels
to be equipped as were the Alabama and
Shenandoah, and asking the government
to avert these consequences by vindica-
ting the foreign enlistment act in the trial
and punishment of the crew of the latter.
Since Lord Clarendon's note Mr. Wilding
has received from captain of the Donegal,
and been instructed to accept, the offer of
a surrender of the Shenandoah.
Has accepted Capt. Paynter's inclosed offer
to surrender the Shenandoah. Has taken
possession, and advises that she be sent to
New York. Capt. Waddell and crew are
still in Liverpool.

Nov. 13 Has received No. 1074 with inclosures, and
approves Mr. Adams's representations to
British government in regard to the Shen-
andoah.

454

455

Nov. 14 Transmits dispatch from the United States 456
commercial agent at Antigua, with inclos-
ures, showing the measures taken by the
rebel agents in England and the British
government to arrest the Shenandoah.
Nov. 15 Transmits Lord Clarendon's note of the 11th
stating that the Shenandoah had been

460