mation from you, in relation to a vessel in this port, supposed to be engaged in a violation of our neutrality laws. I called this morning at 9 o'clock at your office, with the marshal of this district, but the office was not open.. Will you do me the favor to call at once at my office, or send to me the information, so that I may act? With great respect, I remain, your obedient servant, JOHN MCKEON, U. S. District Attorney. No. 5. SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, U. S. District Attorney's Office, October 13, 1855. SIR: You will please send at once on board of a vessel called the "Maury" an inspector, and examine into her cargo. She lies at Dover-street dock. You will please delay her clearance until a report is made to me of her cargo. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN MCKEON, U. S. District Attorney. H. J. REDFIELD, Esq., Collector, &c. No. 6. ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, October 13, 1855. SIR: Yesterday I telegraphed you concerning the ship "Maury," said to be fitting out in New York, in violation of the statutes of the United States. I now enclose to you a copy of a despatch from Mr. Crampton, the British minister, dated the 11th instant, to which I there referred. With this document before you, and the information which Mr. Barclay may impart, you will be able to understand what further it may proper for you to do in the premises. be I am, very respectfully, JOHN MCKEON, Esq., United States District Attorney. C. CUSHING. No. 7. BRITISH LEGATION, Washington, October 11, 1855. SIR: I have the honor to call your attention to the enclosed depositions, which have to-day been forwarded to me by Mr. Barclay, her Majesty's consul at New York, in regard to a vessel called the "Maury," which is now fitting out at that port, and which, it appears, is evidently intended for warlike purposes. Mr. Barclay further informs me that he has good reason to believe that this vessel is intended for the service of Russia in the present war, and also that a plan exists for fitting vessels of a similar description in other ports of the United States, with the express design of committing hostilities against her Majesty's government, and more particularly of intercepting and capturing the British mail steamers plying between Liverpool and Boston. However this may be, the circumstances stated in the enclosed affidavits are of so positive a nature, and bear so suspicious an appearance, that I feel it to be my duty to call the attention of the United States government to the matter, with a view to an inquiry into the facts; and if these shall be confirmed, to the adoption of such measures on the part of the United States authorities as may defeat the hostile intentions which appear to be entertained by the persons engaged in fitting out the vessel or vessels in question. I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to you, sir, the assurance of my high consideration. The Hon. Wм. L. MARCY. JOHN F. CRAMPTON. City, County, and State of New York: Anthony Barclay, her Britannic Majesty's consul for the State of New York, being duly sworn, doth depose and say: That from information given to him, he verily believes, and expects to be able to prove, that a certain new vessel, now in the port of New York, called the "Maury," has been built, fitted out, and armed, with intent that such vessel should be employed by the Russian government to cruise and commit hostilities against the subjects and property of the Queen of Great Britain, with whom the United States are at peace, and this deponent stands ready to bring forward his proof thereof; and he respectfully claims that proceedings be had and taken, whereby the said vessel, with her tackle, apparel, and furniture, together with all material, and ammunition, and stores, which may have been procured for this building and equipment thereof, shall and may be forfeited. ANTHONY BARCLAY. Sworn to this 10th day of October, 1855, before me, GEORGE W. MORTON, City, County, and State of New York: John N. Cornell, of New York city, police officer and dock-master of the eleventh ward, being duly sworn, maketh oath and saith: That his suspicions have been excited for several weeks past by the appearance of a new three-masted, square-rigged schooner, which was lying at the foot of Stanton street, New York, up to Monday evening, the 8th of October, when she moved down to Dover-street dock, and is there now; that she has the name of the "Maury" upon her stern, but has never yet been out of port, and deponent has ascertained at the custom-house of the port of New York that she has not at present got her register; that this.deponent is well acquainted with the build of vessels, and he has no hesitation in deposing that this vessel, named the "Maury," is built, rigged, and equipped for warlike purposes, and has not the construction of a vessel for the merchant service; that his suspicions were particularly aroused from the nature of her cargo she has taken on board, which consists of war cannon, cannon balls, small arms, coals, sixty or eighty extra spars, and other mercantile articles; that this deponent, within a few days last past, has been over the whole of the said vessel; at the bottom of the said vessel, and just above what appears to be intended as ballast, are from two hundred to three hundred square boxes, containing cannon balls; also, there are from eighteen to twenty cannon intermingled with the said boxes, apparently so that they may pack well; on the top of the cannon is a large quantity of coal, while on top of the coal is a lot of lumber and the aforesaid extra spars; in the lockers of the cabin is a very large quantity of guns, pistols, swords, and other implements of war; and this deponent verily believes that she is so fitted out for warlike purposes; her cannon are all mounted, and she has port-holes for cannon. And this deponent further says, that a person who assumes to act as first mate of the vessel showed her to deponent, and remarked she had a curious kind of cargo, and the manner of the mate was such as to make deponent believe that the vessel was going on a warlike voyage; the said mate told deponent that some of the aforesaid cannon were for eighteen and twenty pound ball, and that the cannon on the main deck were for nine pound ball caliber; deponent saw the mark "23" upon one of the cannon, and the mate said that was the number of the cannon; and this deponent further saith, that from all he knows and has been informed, and has observed, he believes that the said vessel, the "Maury," has been built, and armed, and equipped as aforesaid, by the Russian government, or its agents, to be used for war purposes against Great Britain; and he hereby informs against her and her equipment accordingly. JOHN N. CORNELL. Sworn at the city of New York, second circuit, the 10th day of October, 1855, before me, GEORGE W. MORTON, United States Commissioner. City, County, and State of New York: Charles Edwards, of the city of New York, counsellor at law, being sworn, maketh oath and saith, he verily believes the new vessel Maury" has been built, equipped, and loaded by and for the Russian government, to be used in the present war against the vessels and subjects of Great Britain. That a person, who deponent believes has been in the pay of Russia, gave him a full explanation of the armament on board the said vessel, which tallies with the statement contained in the affidavit of John N. Cornell, hereto annexed, except that the explanation to this deponent was much more minute. Also, this deponent gathered from the person referred to, that the said vessel, the "Maury," when outside of port, would ship a new crew of about eighty men, and she would be employed at first more particularly in attempting to overhaul some one or more of what are known as the "Cunard steamers," (British vessels,) and take them as prizes, put additional coal on board, and guns, and then go in company; while there were also other vessels built and fitted out by the Russian government similar to the "Maury," who were ready to join her on a similar errand, with an ultimate destination against British possessions in the eastern hemisphere. CHARLES EDWARDS. Sworn at the city of New York, second circuit, the 10th day of October, 1855, before me, G. W. H. MARTIN. City, County, and State of New York: William D. Craft, of New York, first lieutenant of police, of the eleventh district of police for the city of New York, being duly sworn, doth depose and say: That on the 6th day of October, instant, he went on board a new vessel called the "Maury," then lying at the foot of Stanton street, New York, and was shown over her. On her upper deck were six cannon, all mounted, and port-holes for the guns, and between-decks were ten cannon, all mounted; also, deponent saw a quantity of horse-pistols in the cabin; there was coal on board, and deponent was informed that there were a number of guns underneath the coal. Deponent also discovered boxes between-decks. The between-decks were all clear fore and aft, with the exception of pumpwell and chain-box. She was painted white between-decks, with the exception of the lower side of the deck-beams, they being of yellow pine. And this deponent also saith, that he was a ship-carpenter by trade, and from his observation of the particular build, furniture, and apparel of the said "Maury," he believes she is a vessel of war. WM. D. CRAFT. Sworn at the city of New York, second circuit, the 10th day of October, 1855, before me, G. W. H. MARTIN, M. Cir. No. 8. SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, U. S. District Attorney's Office, October 16, 1855. SIR: I have prepared a libel against the ship or vessel called the "Maury," upon the facts laid before the government by her Britannic Majesty's envoy at Washington. Å verification of the pleading is required to be made by some party officially recognised as representing her Britannic Majesty's government at this port. I am, very respectfully, JOHN MCKEON, United States District Attorney. CHARLES EDWARDS, Esq. No. 9. CUSTOM-HOUSE, NEW YORK, Surveyor's Office, October 15, 1855. SIR: I enclose report of district officers who examined the barque "Maury," pursuant to instructions. This barque is new, and has not yet taken out her register; said to be owned by Low & Brothers, whose vessels are all, I believe, engaged in the China trade. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. L. BENEDICT, Deputy Surveyor, for Surveyor. H. J. REDFIELD, Esq., Collector. No. 10. NEW YORK, October 15, 1855. DEAR SIR: Pursuant to instructions, we have been on board the barque "Maury," and find her laden on her ground-tier with coal, and naval stores above the coal. She was taking on board, on Saturday last, the 13th, cases of goods, casks of hardware, scales and beams, pickles, preserves, and catsups. She has on her lower deck ten, and on her upper deck four cannon, all mounted. The dock clerks say she is loading for Shanghae, to go in the opium trade. Yours, respectfully, JACOB BITTEL, JOHN COCHRANE, Esq., Surveyor of the Port. |