The Secretary to

1863. Sept. 26

the Admiralty
to Mr. Ham-
mond.

Sir B. Walker to Aug. 19
the Secretary

to the Admi

ralty.

Sir F. Rogers to

Mr. Hammond.

Inclosing letter of Rear-Admiral Sir B. 215
Walker relating to the proceedings of
vessels of war of the so-styled Confeder-
ate States at the Cape of Good Hope.
Proceedings at the Cape of Good Hope of 215
the Alabama, her reported tender, Tusca-
loosa, and the Georgia. Arrival in Simon's
Bay of the Tuscaloosa as a tender to the
Alabama, having still on board her origi-
nal cargo of wool, she never having been
condemned in a prize court. Correspond-
ence between Sir B. Walker and the gov-
ernor of the Cape of Good Hope concern-
ing the character of the Tuscaloosa.

Sept. 29 Inclosing dispatch from the governor of the 219
Cape of Good Hope reporting the arrival
at the cape of the Alabama, and request-
ing instructions on many questions that
have arisen from the state of affairs con-
sequent on the presence of that vessel in
the colony.

The Secretary to Oct. 21 Inclosing letter from Sir B. Walker relative 226
the Admiralty

to Mr. Ham-
mond.

Do.....

Do...

to the Tuscaloosa and the Sea Bride, cap-
tured by the Alabama, having visited
Saldanha Bay, and the question whether
the laws of neutrality prescribed by the
Queen's proclamation have not been
infringed by the proceedings of these ves-
sels.

Oct. 21 Inclosing letter from Sir B. Walker relative 227
to the movements of the Alabama and her
prizes.

Oct. 21 Departure of the Georgia for Simon's Bay on
the 29th August, and the arrival there on
the next day of the United States steamer
Vanderbilt.

228

229

Departure of the Alabama from the Cape of 228
Good Hope on the 25th of August.
Inclosing a dispatch from the Duke of New-
castle to the governor of the Cape of Good
Hope concerning the proceedings at the
cape of the Georgia, the Alabama, and her
reputed tender, the Tuscaloosa. The Ala-
bama, whatever may have been her pre-
vious history, must be treated as a ship of
war belonging to a belligerent power. In
regard to the case of the Tuscaloosa, a ves-
sel captured by the Alabama and brought
with her cargo into Simon's Bay, she did
not lose the character of a prize because
she entered that port in charge of an
officer and armed with two small guns.
If she was really an uncondemned prize,
brought into British waters in violation
of her Majesty's neutrality, all control
over the Tuscaloosa by her captors should
have been relinquished and the vessel
should be retained until restored to her
original owners.

Sir F. Rogers to
Mr. Hammond.

The Secretary to
the Admiralty

to Mr. Ham-
mond.

Inclosing a dispatch from the governor of
the Cape of Good Hope of the 19th Decem-
ber concerning the treatment at the cape
of the Alabama and her prizes.

Feb. 15 Detention by the British authorities at the
cape of the Tuscaloosa until she can be
transferred to her lawful owners, the ves-
sel being considered as an uncondemned
prize, captured by the Alabama.

229

230

Feb. 25 Inclosing two dispatches from the governor 236
of the Cape of Good Hope to the Duke of
Newcastle announcing the second arrival
at Simon's Bay of the Tuscaloosa, and her
retention by the colonial authorities, under
instructions of the home government, until
properly reclaimed by her original owners.
The rebel officer in charge of the Tusca-
loosa protests against this action of the
authorities, because on a former occasion
she was recognized as a ship of war. The
United States consul says he has no
authority from the owners to take charge
of the vessel; he therefore desires that the
colonial authorities will retain possession
of the vessel until he obtains such authority.
Feb. 25 Inclosing a dispatch from Rear-Admiral Sir 239
B. Walker reporting the action of the
British authorities in taking possession of
the Tuscaloosa. Inventory of the mova-
bles of that vessel made by the British
naval authorities in connection with the
United States consul. The rebel officers
in charge of the Tuscaloosa have sailed
for England.

Mr. Elliot to Mr.
Hammond.

Mar. 7

Inclosing dispatch, dated the 4th instant, 241
from the Duke of Newcastle instructing
the governor of the cape to restore the
Tuscaloosa to the lieutenant of the Con-
federate States who lately commanded
her, or, if he should have left the cape,
then to hand her over to some person who
may have authority from Captain Semmes,
or from the government of the Confed-
erate States, to receive her.

Mar. 11 Inclosing a further dispatch from the Duke
of Newcastle to the governor of the cape,
stating that the instructions of the 4th
instant were not founded on any general
principle respecting the treatment of prizes
captured by either belligerents, but on the
peculiar circumstances of the case. The
Tuscaloosa having been allowed to enter
and depart, the captain of the Alabama
was thus entitled to assume that he might
bring her into the same harbor a second
time. It is not necessary to discuss
whether she retained the character of a
prize or whether she lost that character
and assumed that of an armed tender to
the Alabama. Her Majesty's government
have come to the conclusion that the Tus-
caloosa, under the circumstances, ought to

242

Mr. Seward to
Mr. Stuart.

Nov.

3

Mr. Stuart to Mr.
Seward.

Nov.

Mr. Seward to

Mr. Stuart.

Mr. Seward to
Lord Lyons.

Transmitting protest of the master, mate,
and engineer of the Sunbeam, a British
steamer, captured by United States cruis-
ers off Wilmington, showing that the
Sunbeam, having met with considerable
damage, was obliged to make the nearest
port. Mr. Stuart states that as the United
States refuse to restore captured vessels
until after adjudication, he will not apply
for the restitution of the vessel, but calls
attention to the fact that she was unne-
cessarily fired into at point-blank range
while stationary by the State of Georgia,
and that although a great portion of her
stores had been lost in a hurricane, no
fresh supplies were placed on board for
the master and remaining members of the

crew.

243

Acknowledging the receipt of above note, 246
and states that the Secretary of the Navy
has been requested to institute an inquiry
into the alleged facts.

9 Inclosing further protest on capture of the 247
Sunbeam; calls attention to statement
that officers of the State of Georgia endeav-
ored to enlist a portion of the crew in the
service of the United States; requests that
such attempts may be prevented in fu-
ture.

Nov. 12 Acknowledges receipt of note of the 9th
instant, and states that the case as pre-
sented does not seem to warrant the com-
plaint that a pressure of any kind was
made upon the seamen of the Sunbeam to
enlist in the service of the United States.

Nov. 26 Inclosing report of the commander of the
State of Georgia to the Secretary of the
Navy, which states that the Sunbeam was
captured while attempting to run the
blockade; that three shots were fired at
the vessel before she stopped; that she had
sufficient supplies and stores on board to
last a week; and that there was nothing
in her condition requiring her to enter a
port of safety.

248

249

Page.

1863.

Lord Lyons to Feb. 17
Mr. Seward.

He is directed to state that her Majesty's 251
government regret the declaration con-
tained in Mr. Seward's note of the 12th
November, concerning the attempts made
to enlist seamen from the Sunbeam, and
regards it as being inconsistent with the
obligations of a belligerent toward a
neutral, and as being calculated to embar-
rass her Majesty's government in their
endeavors to observe a strict neutrality.

Mr. Seward to Feb. 19 States that on re-examining the decision of 251
Lord Lyons.

Lord Lyons to
Mr. Seward.

this government he has been unable to
discover that it was erroneous in view of
the facts and circumstances belonging to
the case as it was then stated. But it
would be doing injustice to this govern-
ment were he to acquiesce in the construc-
tion given to his note of the 12th Novem-
ber by Lord Lyons, namely: "You, then,
as it appears to her Majesty's government,
take up, in substance, the position that,
provided no violence be used, it is per-
fectly competent to the United States gov-
ernment to induce her Majesty's subjects
to act as belligerents, contrary to the laws
of Great Britain, and in direct opposition
to the principle of international law con-
tended for by the United States minister
at her Majesty's court in the case of the
Alabama." Has no doubt that if Lord
Russell should recur to his note he would
discover that Mr. Seward's language had
been unintentionally misconceived by him
in this particular.

April 22 Her Majesty's government having carefully 252
considered Mr. Seward's note, are unable
to alter the opinion which was expressed
in Mr. Stuart's note of the 17th February.

GENERAL APPENDIX No. XII.

Letters of Historicus relative to the Alabama correspondence, and letter of "C" on the American blockade and belligerent rights.

1865.

Mr. Vernon Har- Oct. 16
court.

Do.......

"C."

The Alabama correspondence. Letter of His- 253 toricus, published in the London Times, October 18, 1865.

Oct. 18 The Alabama correspondence. Letter of His- 255 toricus, published in the London Times, October 19, 1865.

The American blockade and belligerent 257 rights. Letter of "C," published in the

London Daily News, October 19, 1865.

II-A CVOL. IV

GENERAL APPENDIX No. XIII.

Correspondence between her Majesty's government and Messrs. Laird Brothers; and an appen dix, containing the correspondence between officers of her Majesty's customs and Captain Inglefield, R. N., and Messrs. Laird Brothers, respecting the iron-clad vessels building at Birkenhead.

No.

From whom and
to whom.

Date.

Subject.

Page.

Laird Brothers to
Mr. Edwards.

1863. Sept. 4

Stating that a week's notice will be given to
the collector of customs of their intention
to deliver the rams to the owners. The
first vessel will not be ready for a month
and the second for six or seven weeks.

Mr. Edwards to Sept. 5 Acknowledges the receipt of the note of the
Laird Brothers.

259

259

Mr. Layard to Sept. 4
Laird Brothers.

4th, and states the promise given will be satisfactory to the board of customs. Desires to be informed on whose account, and with what destination, the iron-clads have been built.

260

Laird Brothers to Sept. 5 States that the rams are intended for A. Bra-
Mr. Layard.
vay & Co., of Paris, and that they are to
be delivered in the port of Liverpool.

Laird Brothers to Sept. 8 Stating that it is the intention to take one
Mr. Edwards.

of the rams from their graving-dock for a trial trip within the usual limits, and that dependence may be placed in the return of the vessel into the Birkenhead float. Orders have been issued preventing the rams from leaving the Mersey until satisfactory evidence can be furnished of their destination.

There can be no trial trip of the iron-clad

ship until Earl Russell can be heard from.
States that his letter of the 9th has been
forwarded to Messrs. A. Bravay & Co., of
Paris, on whose account the vessels are
building. Refers Mr. Hamilton to them
for further information.
Permission given to try the iron-clad ship
provided she be returned.

Permission given for the trial of the iron-
clad ship provided that she be brought
back to Liverpool, and not leave that port
without a week's notice of the intention
to send her away.
Agreeing to the conditions imposed con-
cerning the trial trip of the iron-clad ship.
In view of the fact that an attempt may be
made to seize the iron-clad ship while on
her trial trip, it has been deemed expedi-
ent to place on board a sufficient force of
seamen and marines to defeat any attempt
to seize her. If this should not be satis-
factory, instructions will be given to detain
the vessel.

Receipt of the above letter; will answer it
to-morrow.

260

260

260

261

261

261

261

261

262

262

While unaware of any project to seize the 262
iron-clad ship on her trial trip, they will
avail themselves of the offer of protec-
tion made by the government. The trial
trip will be deferred for some days.
Instructions have been given to place on 263
board the vessel a custom-house officer,