prepared under similar circumstances to concede, and entertaining full confidence in the disposition of Her Majesty's ministers on their part to act to the utmost of their ability in the same spirit, I pray, &c., (Signed) CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS. [Inclosure in No. 8.] Mr. Dudley to Mr. Adams. UNITED STATES CONSULATE, SIR: The Oreto is still in, the river. A flat-boat has taken part of her armament to her. A part of the crew of the steamer Annie Childs, which came to this port loaded with cotton, have just left my office. They tell me that Captain Bullock is to command the Oreto, and that four other officers for this vessel came over with them in the Childs. The names of three are Young, Low, and Maffet or Moffit, the fourth was called Eddy; the two first are lieutenants, and the two last-named midshipmen. They further state that these officers during the voyage wore naval uniforms; that they came on the Childs at a place called Smithville, some twenty miles down the river from Wilmington; that it was talked about and understood by all on board that their object in coming was to take command of this vessel, which was being built in England for the southern confederacy. They further state that it was understood in Wilmington, before they left, that several war-vessels were being built in England for the South. As they were coming up the river in the Childs, as they passed the Oreto, she dipped her flag to the Childs. I have had this last from several sources, and the additional fact that the same evening, after the arrival of this steamer, a dinner was given in the Oreto to the officers who came over in the Childs. I understand she will make direct for Madeira and Nassau. I have, &c., THOMAS H. DUDLEY. The vessel to be and detained if any No. 9. Mr. Hammond to the secretary to the treasury. FOREIGN OFFICE, March 26, 1862. SIR: With reference to your letter of the 24th ultimo, I am directed by Earl Russell to transmit to you a copy of a further letter vigilantly watched, addressed by the United States consul at Liverpool to Mr. armament prohibited Adams, United States minister for foreign affairs, in which is dis- it is again affirmed that the Oreto is being fitted out as a vessel of war for the southern confederacy, and various statements are reported in support of that assertion. by the foreign en- I am to request that you will lay the letter of the United States consul before the lords commissioners of Her Majesty's treasury, and move their lordships to instruct the commissioners of customs to give directions that the Oreto may be vigilantly watched, and that if any armament prohibited by the foreign enlistment act is discovered, the vessel may be at once detained. It would appear certain that the Oreto is not intended for service either in Italy or Sicily. I am, &c., E. HAMMOND. 1 Inclosure in No. 8. [6] *No. 10. Earl Russell to Mr. Adams. FOREIGN OFFICE, March 27, 1862. Reply to Mr. SIR: Upon receiving your letter of the 25th instant I immediately directed that the treasury and customs department should be requested to take such steps as may be necessary to as Adams's representacertain whether the Oreto is equipped for the purpose of making war on the United States, and if that fact can be proved to detain the vessel. tions. The charge that nearly all the assistance now obtained from abroad by the persons still in arms against the Government of the United States, and which enables them to continue the struggle, comes from Great Britain and its dependencies, is somewhat vague. I believe the greater part of the arms and ammunition sent from this country to America during the struggle has gone to the United States. I agree with you in the statement that the duty of nations in amity with each other is not to suffer their good faith to be violated by ill-disposed persons within their borders, merely from the inefficacy of their prohibitory policy. But it is, at the same time, a duty not to punish persons on suspicion without any proof of their evil intent. It is not the custom of this country to deprive any person of liberty or property without evidence of some offense. If such evidence can be obtained the laws are sufficient to prevent the accomplishment of their evil designs against friendly nations. You have not yourself hitherto furnished me with evidence that any vessel has received a hostile or warlike equipment in British waters, which has been afterward used against the United States. The care that was taken to prevent the warlike equipment of the Nashville in British waters must be familiar to your recollection. With regard to co-operation with the policy of the United States in respect to the blockade, I must remind you that Great Britain has abstained, as far as possible, from complaints of the irregularity of the blockade which has been instituted. Her Majesty's government has been mindful of the suddenness of the danger with which the United States were threatened; of the inadequacy of the naval force then at the disposal of the Government, and of the great difficulty of blockading a coast of 3,000 miles. But beyond forbearance, and a liberal interpretation of the law of nations in favor of the United States, Her Majesty's government cannot go. If by co-operation with the policy of the United States is meant, either taking part is the civil war still raging, or imposing restraints on the Queen's subjects, unknown to international law, I cannot undertake that Her Majesty's government will adopt either of those courses. It would be an unheard of measure to prohibit merchants from sending ships to sea destined to the southern ports. Should such ships attempt to violate the blockade, capture and condemnation are the proper penalty of such attempts; no authority can be found for any other. Enlistment of Brit United States. But while these attempts are made on the one side, the United States Government have willingly received in the ranks of their Army British subjects who violate the Queen's proclamation is subjects in the in order to serve against the confederates. Nay, the law of the United States, by which parents can prevent the enlistment of their sons, being minors, has been set aside to the prejudice of British subjects, H. Ex. 282-16 the fathers and mothers of thoughtless lads of sixteen or seventeen years of age. These evils are, perhaps, inseparable from the unhappy contest now carried on in America. I can only trust it may have a speedy termination, suitable to the reputation of the United States, and conducive to the future happiness of all the inhabitants of a country so lately prosperous and united. I am, &c., RUSSELL. No. 11. Sir J. Hudson to Earl Russell. TURIN, March 25, 1862. (Received March 29.) MY LORD: M. Ratazzi informs me that, after making every inquiry, he can assure me that the Italian government know nothof ing whatever of the vessel Oreto, said to be fitting out at Liverpool. Italian government nothing know Oreto. I have, &c., (Signed) [7] * No. 12. JAMES HUDSON. Mr. Hammond to the secretary to the treasury. FOREIGN OFFICE, April 7, 1862. SIR: I am directed by Earl Russell to request that you will move the lords commissioners of Her Majesty's treasury to cause his lordship to be informed whether any report has been received from the commissioners of customs respecting the vessel Oreto, which was stated by the United States consul at Liverpool in a letter, of which a copy was inclosed in my letter of the 26th ultimo, to be fitting out at that port for the service of the so-styled Confederate States. I am, &c., E. HAMMOND. No. 13. Further report from customs. sel sailed on 22d of Mr. Hamilton to Mr. Hammond. TREASURY CHAMBERS, April 8, 1862. (Received April 8.) SIR: I am directed by the lords commissioners of Her Majesty's treasury to transmit herewith, for the information of Earl Yes Russell, with reference to your letters of the 26th ultimo March, 1862, having and 7th instant, copy of a report from the commissioners and Jamaica in bal- of customs, dated 4th instant, relative to the ship Oreto, stated by the United States consul to be fitting out at Liv erpool as a ship of war for the so-called Confederate States. cleared for Palermo last. I am, &c., GEO. A. HAMILTON. [Inclosure 1 in No. 13.] The commissioners of customs to the lords commissioners of the treasury. CUSTOM-HOUSE, April 4, 1862. Your lordships having referred to us the annexed letter from Mr. Hammond, transmitting, by desire of Earl Russell, copy of a further letter, addressed by the United States consul at Liverpool to Mr. Adams, the United States minister at this court, in which it is again affirmed that the Oreto is being fitted out as a vessel of war for the Southern Confederacy, and various statements are reported in support of that assertion, and requesting that your lordships would instruct this board to give directions that the Oreto might be vigilantly watched, and that, if any armament prohibited by the foreign-enlistment act should be discovered, the vessel might be at once detained, We report That, on the receipt of your lordship's reference, we directed our collector at Liverpool immediately to inquire into the further allegations made in regard to the Oreto, and to govern himself in accordance with the instructions contained in Mr. Hammond's letter, and, having received the report of the collector, we find that the vessel in question was registered on the 3d ultimo, in the name of John Henry Thomas, of Liverpool, as sole owner; that she cleared on the following day for Palermo and Jamaica in ballast, but did not sail until the 22d, the day on which the American consul's letter is dated, having a crew of fifty-two men, all British, with the exception of three or four, one of whom only was an American. She had no gunpowder, nor even a signal-gun, and no colors, saving Maryatt's code of signals and a British ensign, nor any goods on board except the stores enumerated on the accompanying copy of her victualing bill. No armament goods on board. or With regard to the statements in the letter of the consul, the collector further reports that it is clear the passengers brought by the Annie Childs, the vessel therein mentioned, which has recently arrived from one of the Southern States, were not intended to form any portion of the crew of the Oreto, inasmuch as they were still in Liverpool, and that the dipping of the ensign on board the latter vessel on the arrival of the Annie Childs, as far as the collector had been enabled to ascertain, was intended as a compliment to one of the Cunard steamers and another vessel which saluted the Annie Childs on her arrival, the masters of the several vessels being known to one another. Copy of customs No. 14. Earl Russell to Mr. Adams. FOREIGN OFFICE, April 8, 1862. Lord Russell presents his compliments to Mr. Adams, and, with reference to his letter of the 27th ultimo, has the honor to report forwarded to transmit to him the accompanying copies of a report and Mr. Adame. its inclosure, which have been received from the board of customs respecting the vessel Oreto.1 Mr. Hamilton to Mr. Hammond. TREASURY CHAMBERS, May 9, 1862. (Received May 10.) SIR: I am directed by the lords commissioners of Her Majesty's treasury to transmit herewith, for the information of Earl Russell, with reference to your letter of the 12th ultimo, the inclosed copy of a report of the commissioners of customs, dated 1st instant, further relative to the fitting out of the Oreto at Liverpool. I am, &c., GEO. A. HAMILTON. 1 No. 13. |