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....
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.
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.
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.
Incloses letter from Mr. Gratton, English 331 consul at Teneriffe, detailing circum
850 Mr. Adams to Jan. 5 Mr. Seward.
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.
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.
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.
April 5 Transmitting correspondence with the Brit- 342 ish legation in reference to the expected re-enforcement of the Shenandoah at Ber- muda.
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
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.
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
« ՆախորդըՇարունակել » |