JULY 31, 1862, at about 7.30 p. m. Liverpool, Cork, Beaumaris, and Hoshould she put Telegrams were sent to the collectors at Liverpool and Cork, pursuant to treasury order, dated 31st July, to seize the gun-boat Telegrams sent to 290, should she be within either of those ports. Similar telegrams to the officers at Beaumaris and Holy-shead to seize the head were sent on the morning of the 1st August. They into those ports. were not sent on the 31st July, the telegraph offices to those districts being closed. [206] *And on the 2d August a letter was also sent to the collector as Cork, to detain the vessel should she arrive at Queenstown. Mr. Edwards to Mr. Gardner. CUSTOM-HOUSE, Liverpool, July 31, 1862. SIR: With reference to the telegram which I received to-day from you, directing me to examine the master of the steam-tug Hercules, I have the honor to state that the master cannot be found to-day, but I hope I may be able to get his deposition to-morrow. I may state, however, that he said yesterday to Mr. Morgan, the surveyor, that he had not taken any guns to the ship No. 290, nor had he seen any on board. I am, &c., (Signed) S. PRICE EDWARDS. Mr. Edwards to the commissioners of customs. CUSTOM-HOUSE, Liverpool, August 1, 1862. HONORABLE SIRS: The master of the Hercules has attended this morning, and I beg to inclose his examination taken on oath, whereby it will be seen that the statement in the letter of the American consul, forwarded with my report of the 30th ultimo, is not borne out. The board will see that the vessel has left the port. Should opportunity, however, offer, she shall be seized in accordance with the directions of the board, as contained in the telegram of yesterday's date. (Signed) S. PRICE EDWARDS. The examination of Thomas Miller, taken on oath by the collector. Affidavit of master No1 true that he took out supplies I am the master of the steam-tug Hercules. I accompanied the new gun-boat built by Mr. Laird (No. 290, I believe she is distinguished by) to sea on Tuesday last. I kept in sight of of Hercules. her, in case the services of the steam-tug should be re- gaus or other warlike quired, until she lay to about a mile off the Bell Buoy, and about fourteen miles from the Canning dock. The vessel left her anchorage about 10 a. m., and I left her between 4 and 5 p. m. I saw nothing on board the ship but coals. I returned from the vessel in the evening, and got into the river about 7 p. m.; there were some of Mr. Laird's workmen and riggers on board; all of these, I believe, I brought back. The next day, Wednesday, I left the landing-stage in the river, and took with me from 25 to 30 men, who, I believe, were to be employed on board as part of the crew; they appeared to be all sailors or firemen. I found the vessel about 3 o'clock that afternoon in Beaumaris Bay. I put the men on board, and lay alongside till midnight. We were from three to four miles from the shore; it was a fine day. Besides the men, I put on board an anchor-stock, a piece of wood about 15 feet long, and two pieces of brass belonging to the machinery. I neither carried guns, powder, or ammunition of any kind to her, nor did I see anything of this description on board nor yet being put on board. There was no vessel of any description came near the vessel while I was by her. I have never seen the American consul to my knowledge. I never told him or any one else they were taking powder on board the new vessel. I never was told what she was for, or what was her destination. The piece of wood which I have mentioned was not in any way fit for a gun-carriage. I thought it was intended to rest the ship's boat upon; it was planed and cut out for some purpose, if not to rest the boat upon. (Signed) THOMAS MILLER. Sworn at the custom-house, Liverpool, 1st August, 1862. Mr. Smith to Mr. Gardner. CUSTOM-HOUSE, Beaumaris, August 1, 1862. SIR: I duly received your telegraph message at 2.10 p. m. I have communicated with the principal coast officer at Holyhead, and [207] I am proceeding immediately to Amlwch, and from thence to Point Lynas; and if the steamship 290 is off there, I hope to be on board her soon after dark this evening. In haste. I am, &c., W. H. SMITH, Collector. Mr. Cunnah to the secretary to the customs, London. CUSTOM-HOUSE, Holyhead, August 1, 1862. SIR: Your telegram respecting the iron steam-vessel 290 is duly to hand. The vessel is not at present within the limits of this creek. I have arranged that constant watch shall be kept, so that immediately upon her entering either of the harbors or the roadstead she will be seized, and I am now leaving (to go along the coast) to Point Lynas and Almwch to make further inquiries. I beg also to state that I have forwarded a copy of the message to the collector of customs, Beaumaris, and the principal coast officer at Amlwch. I have, &c., E. B. CUNNAH, Principal Coast Officer. Mr. Smith to Mr. Gardner. CUSTOM-HOUSE, Beaumaris, August 2, 1862. SIR On receipt of your telegram on the 1st instant, directing me to seize the steamship 290 reported to be off Point Lynas, I immediately proceeded to Amlwch and instituted inquiries, but could get but little satisfactory information. I heard Report of customs officer as to proceed ings off Point Lynas. that there had been a suspicious crew-bark in Moelfra Roads on Wednesday last; that the shore boats would not be allowed alongside. I called on Mr. Pierce, chief officer of the coast-guard, and consulted with him; I requested that he should order his boat, with four hands armed, to be at Point Lynas by five o'clock the next morning to meet us; I took a car at Amlwch, accompanied by Mr. Pierce and my principal coast officer, and proceeded to Point Lynas light-house, and made every inquiry of the keeper. I then proceeded to the telegraph station, and on inquiry there found that the suspected vessel had not been seen by either party since Wednesday evening, when she was riding in Moelfra Roads. We then got into the coast-guard boat and proceeded to Moelfra, and found that a large black screw bark, or three-masted topsail yard screw-steamer, with black funnel, and no name or port on her, had arrived at Moelfra Roads at 7.30 p. m. on Tuesday evening last, and came to anchor; that a fishing-boat was going alongside, and asked if they wanted any fish; the answer from the steamer was, "No, keep off." On Wednesday they appeared to be washing the decks and cleaning her, and about 5 p. m. a tug-boat, supposed to belong to the Old Tug Company of Liverpool, went alongside with what was supposed to be an excursion party, the passengers going on board the screw-steamer; there was music on board. The tug-boat remained alongside until about 10 o'clock p. m. the same evening, when she left; the shore people could not say whether she took the party she brought back again, because it was too dark. At 3 o'clock a. m. the following morning, viz, Thursday, the screw-steamer got under way and proceeded to sea, and has not since been seen by any parties on the shore along the whole part of that coast. They held no communication whatever with the shore during her stay in Moelfra Roads. [208] I am, &c., W. H. SMITH, Collector. * Mr. Cassel to the secretary to the customs. Gun-boat 290, the subject of telegram from the secretary of customs, 31st ultimo, and board's order, 89, 1862. CUSTOM-HOUSE, Cork, August 4, 1862. SIR: Immediately on the receipt of your telegraphic message, steps were taken for the detention of the above-mentioned vessel, should she put into this port, but up to the close of this letter, 4 p. m., she has not made her appearance. I am, &c., F. CASSELL, Collector. Mr. Stuart to the commissioners of customs. CUSTOM-HOUSE, Liverpool, September 3, 1862. HONORABLE SIRS: With reference to the collector's report of the 1st ultimo, I beg to transmit, for the information of the board, Equipment at the the annexed reports from the surveyor and assistant sur-Azores. veyor, detailing some information they have obtained respecting the gun-boat No. 290. I also inclose a specification of the cargo taken out by the Bahama, and which, there appears no reason to doubt, was transferred to the gun-boat. Respectfully, W. G. STUART, Assistant Collector. Mr. Hussey to Mr. Stewart. LIVERPOOL, Nelson Dock, September 2, 1862. SIR: I beg to state that a steamship called the Bahama arrived here last evening from Angra, (the capital of the island of Terat Liverpool from ceira, one of the Azores,) having previously cleared from Arrival of Bahama Terceira. Liverpool for Nassau. In consequence of a paragraph which appeared in the newspaper of this morning, in reference to the above vessel, I deemed it expedient to send for the master, Tessier, and to inquire the nature of the cargo shipped on board in Liverpool. He states that he received sixteen cases, the contents of which he did not know, but presumed they were arms, &c., and after proceeding to the above port, transferred the sixteen cases to a Spanish vessel, and returned to Liverpool with a quantity of coals. The master also states that when off the Western Islands he spoke the confederate gun-boat Alabama (No. 290, built in Mr. Laird's yard at Birkenhead) heavily armed, having a 100-pounder pivot-gun mounted at her stern, which he believes is intended to destroy some of the seaport towns in the Northern States of America. The above case having excited much interest in the port, I deemed it expedient to report the facts for your information. [B] ОР [B] ОР [B] P SOL [B] B SOL Respectfully, J. HUSSEY, Assistant Surreyor. Specification of shipment per Bahama, August 11, 1862. Cwts. qrs. lbs. 1.-1 case containing 1 cast-iron gun, weighing..... 49 1 14 2.-1 case containing 1 broadside-carriage, weighing. 12 0 14 3.-1 case containing rammers, sponges, handspikes, &c., weighing.. 2 1 14 1.-1 case containing 1 cast-iron gun, weighing..... 49 1 14 0 14 2 0 10 1 20 1 to 6.6 cases containing 50 cast shot, weighing.... 13 1 to . 6 cases containing 50 cast shot, weighing... 17 1.-1 case containing brass vent-covers, weighing... 0 2 6 [209] * Mr. Morgan to Mr. Stewart. SURVEYOR'S OFFICE, September 3, 1862. SIR: I beg to report for your information that the British steamship Bahama, Tessier master, which vessel cleared out for Nassau, and sailed on the 13th ultimo with nineteen cases, contents as per specification annexed, has returned to this port, and entered inwards in ballast from Angra. The master of her is not disposed to enter very freely into conversation upon the subject, but from others on board there appears to be no doubt that the cases above referred to were transferred to the gunboat No. 290. Captain Semmes, formerly of the confederate steamer Sumter, took passage in the Bahama, together with some fifty other persons, and they are described as being the permanent crew of the 290, now known as the Alabama. Respectfully, E. MORGAN, Surveyor. No. 33. Mr. Adams to Earl Russell. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, LONDON, September 4, 1862. (Received September 5.) sentation of the equipment of the MY LORD: I have the honor to transmit the copy of a letter received from the consul of the United States at Liverpool, to- Mr. Adams's repregether with a deposition in addition to the others already submitted with my notes of the 22d and 24th of July, vessel at the Azores. going to show the further prosecution of the illegal and hostile measures against the United States in connection with the outfit of the gun-boat 290 from the port of Liverpool. It now appears that supplies are in process of transmission from here to a vessel fitted out from England, and now sailing on the high seas, with the piratical intent to burn and destroy the property of the people of a country with which Her Majesty is in alliance and friendship. I pray your lordship's pardon if I call your attention to the fact that I have not yet received any reply in writing to the several notes and representations I have had the honor to submit to Her Majesty's government touching this flagrant case. Renewing, &c., CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS. Inclosure 1 in No. 33. Mr. Dudley to Mr. Adams. UNITED STATES CONSULATE, SIR: I have just obtained the affidavit of the boatswain's mate who shipped in and went out on the No. 290, now called the Alabama. I inclose it to you, with bill for his services, signed by Captain Butcher. He returned on the Bahama. He states that the Alabama is to cruise on the line of packets from Liverpool to New York; that Semmes told them so. This may have been said for the purpose of misleading |