nameless Alabama. That he had good reason to think so is not open to reasonable doubt. On the 23d of June he thought he had such proof. He wrote to Earl Russell that day,' recalling to his recollection the fact that notwithstanding the favorable reports from the Liverpool customs in regard to the Florida, there was the strongest reason for [367] *believing that she had gone to Nassau, and was there "engaged 66 in completing her armament, provisioning, and crew," for the purpose of carrying on war against the United States. He continued, “I am now under the painful necessity of apprising your Lordship that a new and still more powerful war-steamer is nearly ready for departure from the port of Liverpool on the same errand." "The parties engaged in the enterprise are persons well known at Liverpool to be agents and officers of the insurgents of the United States." "This vessel has been built and launched from the dock-yard of persons, one of whom is now sitting as a member of the House of Commons, and is fitting out for the especial and manifest object of carrying on hostilities by sea." He closed by soliciting such action as might "tend either to stop the projected expedition, or to establish the fact that its purpose is not inimical to the people of the United States." Earl Russell replied that he had referred "this matter to the proper department of Her Majesty's Government," and on the 4th of July, 1862, he inclosed the customs report on the subject, in which it [368] is stated that "the officers have at all times free access to the building yards of the Messrs. Laird, at Birkenhead, where the vessel is lying, and that there has been no attempt, on the part of her builders, to disguise, what is most apparent, that she is intended for a ship of war." It was further said that "the description of her in the communication of the United States Consul is most correct, with the excep tion that her engines are not constructed on the oscillatory principle. "With reference to the statement of the United States Consul that the evidence he has in regard to this vessel being intended for the so-called Confederate Government in the Southern States is entirely satisfactory to his mind," it was said that "the proper course would be for the Consul to submit such evidence as he possesses to the collector at that port, who would thereupon take such measures as the Foreign Enlistment Act would require;" and the report closed by saying "that the officers at Liverpool will keep a strict watch on the vessel." The point that the vessel was intended for a vessel of war being thus conceded, Mr. Adams thereupon, at once, relying upon the promise to keep watch of the vessel, instructed the Consul to comply with the directions indicated in the report of the Commissioners and furnish all the evidence [369] in his *possession to the Collector of Customs at Liverpool. 5 Mr. Dudley did so on the 9th of July, in a letter to the Collector of Liverpool, and the attention of the Tribunal of Arbitration is called to the fact that every material allegation in that letter has been more than borne out by subsequent proof. The Collector replied that he was "respectfully of opinion that the statement made was not such as could be acted upon by the officers of the revenue unless legally sub 1 Adams to Russell, Vol. III, page 5; Vol. VI, page 375. The Florida arrived at Nassau April 28, and the Bahama with her armament a few days later. These facts were undoubtedly known to Lord Russell and to Mr. Adams when this letter was written. 3 Russell to Adams, Vol. III, page 6; Vol. VI, page 376. 4 Vol. III, page 7; Vol. VI, page 379. Adams to Wilding, Vol. III, page 8; Vol. VI, page 381. stantiated by evidence." And again, a few days later, he said to Mr. Dudley, "The details given by you in regard to the said vessel are not sufficient, in a legal point of view, to justify me in taking upon myself the responsibility of the detention of this ship."2 Thus early in the history of this cruiser the point was taken by the British authorities-a point maintained throughout the struggle-that they would originate nothing themselves for the maintenance and performance of their international duties, and that they would listen to no representations from the officials of the United States which did not furnish technical evidence for a criminal prosecution under the Foreign Enlistment Act. *The energetic Consul of the United States at Liverpool was [370] not disheartened. He caused a copy of his letter to be laid before R. P. Collier, Esq., one of the most eminent barristers of England, who, a few months later, became Solicitor General of the Crown, under Lord Palmerston's administration, and who is now understood to be the principal law adviser of the Crown. * Mr. Collier advised that "the principal officer of the customs at Liverpool * be applied to to seize the vessel, with a view to her condemnation," and, "at the same time, to lay a statement of the fact before the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, coupled with the request that Her Majesty's Government would direct the vessel to be seized, or ratify the seizure if it has been made.”3 It was useless to attempt to induce the collector to seize the vessel. Mr. Dudley thereupon set about to get the direct proof required by the authorities as to the character of the Alabama or 290. There were men enough," he said, "who knew about her, and who understood her character, but they were not willing to testify, and, in a preliminary proceeding like this, it was impossible to obtain process to compel them. Indeed, no one in a hostile community like Liverpool, *where the feeling and sentiment are against us, would be a will. [371] ing witness, especially if he resided there, and was any way dependent upon the people of that place for a livelihood. At last Mr. Dudley succeeded in finding the desired proof. On the 21st day of July, he laid it in the form of affidavits before the Collector at Liverpool in compliance with the intimations which Mr. Adams had received from Earl Russell. These affidavits were on the same day transmitted by the Collector to the Board of Customs at London, with a request for instructions by telegraph, as the ship appeared to be ready for sea and might leave any hour. Mr. Dudley then went to London, and on the 23d of July laid the affidavits before Mr. Collier for his opinion. Copies of the affidavits will be found in Vol. III, page 21 to 28, and Vol. VI, page 391, et seq. It is not necessary to dwell upon the character of this proof, since it was conclusively soon passed upon by both Mr. Collier and by Her Majesty's Government. It is suflicient to say that it showed afirmatively that the 290 was a fighting vessel;" that she was "going out to the Government of the Confederate States of America to *cruise and commit hostilities against the Government and people [372] 66 1 Edwards to Dudley, Vol. III, page 19; Vol. VI, page 385. 2 Vol. VI, page 389. 3 Vol. III, page 16; Vol. VI, page 388. 4 Dudley to Seward, Vol. III, page 13. Dudley to Seward, Vol. III, page 13; Vol. VI, page 390. Collector to Commissioners, Vol. III, page 20; Vol. VI, page 395. 7 Vol. III, page 29; Vol. VI, page 398. of the United States of America;" "that the enlisted men were to join the ship in Messrs. Laird & Co.'s yard;" that they were enlisting men "who had previously served on fighting-ships;" that the enlistments had then been going on for over a month, and that there was need of immediate action by the British Government, if action was to be of any service in protecting its neutrality against violation. Mr. Collier said immediately, "It appears difficult to make out a stronger case of infringement of the Foreign Enlistment Act, which, if not enforced on this occasion, is little better than a dead letter. It well deserves consideration whether, if the vessel be allowed to escape, the Federal Government would not have serious grounds of remonstrance.” The 290 was at this time nearly ready for sea, and time was important. Mr. Dudley, through his counsel, in order that no time might be lost, on the same day laid Mr. Collier's new opinion before the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and before the Secretary of the Board of Customs. The Under Secretary "was not disposed to discuss the matter, nor did he read Mr. Collier's opinion." The Secretary [373] of the Board of *Customs said that the Board could not act with out orders from the Treasury Lords.3 The last of these answers was not communicated until the 28th of July. The additional proof and the new opinion of Mr. Collier were also officially communicated to Her Majesty's Government through the reg ular diplomatic channels. On the 22d of July copies of the depositions of Dudley, Maguire, DaCosta, Wilding, and Passmore were sent to Lord Russell by Mr. Adams; and on the 24th of July copies of the depositions of Roberts and Taylor were in like manner sent to Lord Russell. These were acknowledged by Lord Russell on the 28th. On that day "these papers were considered by the Law Officers of the Crown; on the same evening their report was agreed upon, and it was in Lord Russell's hands early on the 29th. Orders were then immediately sent to Liverpool to stop the vessel."5 Thus it appears that this intelligence, which Great Britain regarded as sufficient to require the detention of the 290, was communicated to Her Majesty's Government in three ways: first, on the 21st of July, [374] through the channel at Liverpool, *which had been indicated by Earl Russell; second, on the 22d by the solicitor of Mr. Dudley in person to the Customs and to the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at the Foreign Office; and thirdly, on the 23d and on the 24th by Mr. Adams officially. It also appears that the information communicated on the 21st was transmitted to London by the Collector, with the statement that the vessel might sail at any hour, and that it was important to. give the instructions for detention by telegraph; and it still further appears that notwithstanding this official information from the Collector, the papers were not considered by the law advisers until the 28th, and that the case appeared to them to be so clear that they gave their advice upon it that evening. Under these circumstances, the delay of eight days after the 21st in the order for the detention of the vessel was, in the opinion of the United States, gross negligence on the part of Her Majesty's Government. On the 29th the Secretary of the Commission of the Customs received a telegram from Liverpool 2 1 Vol. III, page 29; Vol. IV, page 398. Squary to Adams, Vol. III, page 29; Vol. VI, page 397. 3 Vol. III, page 31; Vol. VI, page 406 4 Vol. III, page 21; Vol. VI, page 397. A speech delivered in the House of Commons on Friday, August 4, 1871, by Sir Roundell Palmer, M. P. for Richmond, page 16. saying that "the vessel 290 came out of dock last night, and left the port this morning." Mr. Adams was justly indignant at the failure of the customs authorities to redeem their voluntary promise to watch the vessel.2 *On the 31st of July Mr. Adams had a "conference with Lord [375] Russell at the Foreign Office," at which "his Lordship first took up the case of the 290, and remarked that a delay in determining upon it had most unexpectedly been caused by the sudden development of a malady of the Queen's Advocate, Sir Jolin D. Harding, totally incapaci tating him for the transaction of business. This had made it necessary to call in other parties, whose opinion had been at last given for the retention of the gun-boat, but before the order got down to Liverpool the vessel was gone. He should, however, send directions to have her stopped if she went, as was probable, to Nassau." The judgment of Her Majesty's Government upon the character of the Alabama and upon the duty of Great Britain toward her was, therefore, identical with that of Mr. Collier. The departure of the 290 from Birkenhead was probably, it may be said certainly, hastened by the illicit receipt of the intelligence of the decision of the Government to detain her. 4 After leaving the dock she "proceeded slowly down the Mer- [376] sey." Both the Lairds were on board, and also Bullock. On the way down the river Laird settled with the paymaster for some purchases for the vessel, and paid into his hands a small sum of money.5 At the bell-buoy the Lairds and the ladies left by a tug, and returned to Liverpool. The 290 slowly steamed on to Moelfra Bay, on the coast of Anglesey, where she remained "all that night, all the next day, and the next night." No effort was made to seize her. During this time the tug Hercules, which had returned from the bellbuoy with the Lairds and the ladies, took on board at Liverpool a number of new hands for the 290. One account says there were as many as forty. The master of the Hercules admits that there might have been thirty. This was done publicly-so publicly that the United States Consul knew of it, and notified the Collector. The Collector had his orders to seize the 290, and had only to follow the Hercules to get the information which would enable him to obey those orders. He did cause the Hercules to be examined. The Surveyor who did that work *reported to him that there were a number of persons on [377] board, who admitted "that they were a portion of the crew, and were going to join the gun-boat," and yet he neither stopped the Hercules, nor followed it. In an emergency when, if ever, the telegraph ought to have been employed, he wrote a letter by mail to the Commissioners of Customs at London, which could not be received until the following day. When this letter was received the Commissioners took no notice of the admitted recruitment of men, but ordered inquiries to 1 Vol. III, page 36. 2 Adams to Russell, Vol. III, page 536. 3 Vol. III, pages 35, 36; Vol. VI, page 414. Semmes says in his Adventures, Fortunately for the Confederate vessel, tidings of the projected seizure were conveyed to Birkenhead." "Our unceremonious departure was owing to the fact of news being received to the effect that the customs authorities had orders to board and detain us that morning." Vol. IV, page 181. 5 Vol. III, page 147; Vol. VI, page 437. 6 Vol. VI, page 408. 7 Vol. VI, page 411. 8 Vol. VI, page 409. Vol. VI, page 410. THE ALABAMA AND HER TENDER. be made as to powder and guns. Before these inquiries could be commenced, the offender was at sea.2 Under the circumstances this hesitation and delay, and the permitting the Alabama to lie unmolested in British waters for over two days, is little short of criminal in the officials who were or should have been cognizant of it. When the Alabama left Moelfra Bay her crew numbered about ninety men. She ran part way down the Irish Channel, then round the north coast of Ireland, only stopping near the Giant's Causeway. She 378] then made for Terceira, one of the Azores, which she reached on the 10th of August.* On the 18th of August, while she was at Terceira, a sail was observed making for the anchorage. It proved to be the "Agrippina of London, Captain McQueen, having on board six guns, with ammunition, coals, stores, &c., for the Alabama." Preparations were immediately made to On the afternoon of the 20th, while emtransfer this important cargo. ployed discharging the bark, the screw-steamer Bahama, Captain Tessier, (the same that had taken the armament to the Florida, whose insurgent ownership and character were well known in Liverpool,) arrived, "having on board Commander Raphael Semmes and officers of the Confederate States steamer Sumter." There were also taken from this steamer two 32-pounders and some stores, which occupied all the remainder of that day and a part of the next. The 22d and 23d of August were taken up in transferring coal from the Agrippina to the Alabama. It was not until Sunday (the [379] 24th) that the insurgents' flag was hoisted. Bullock and those who were not going in the 290 went back to the Bahama, and the Alabama, now first known under that name, went off with "twenty-six officers and eighty-five men." If it be necessary for the Tribunal to ascertain and determine what was the condition of the Alabama when she left Liverpool on the 29th of July, 1862, the affidavits of various witnesses, printed in the accompanying Volume, (III,) will enable them to do so with accuracy. If any details are wanting, they can easily be supplied from the account which her commander has given of his Adventures Afloat. 8 It is clear from all these statements that when she left Liverpool she was even more completely fitted out as a man-of-war than the Florida, at the time of her departure. The Tribunal will recall what Captain Hickley, a competent expert, said of that vessel: "She was in all respects fitted out as a vessel of war of her class in Her Majesty's Navy." "As she now stands she could, in my professional opinion, be 1 Vol. IV, page 410. 2 Vol. IV, page 413. 3 Vol. III, page 46. Two crew-lists are in the accompanying volumes. One will be found in Vol. III, page 150; the other, in Vol. III, page 213. Vol. IV, page 182. 5 Journal of an Officer of the Alabama. See Vol. IV, page 182. 6 The Bahama cleared from Liverpool on the 12th of August. Fawcett, Preston & Co. shipped on board of her "nineteen cases containing guns, gun-carriages, shot, rammers, &c., weighing in all 158 cwt. 1 qr. 27 lbs. There was no other cargo on board, except five hundred and fifty-two tons of coal for the use of the ship." Vol. III, page 54; see also Vol. III, page 141, for further details, See particularly Younge's deposition, Vol. III, page 145; Passmore's deposition, Vol. III, page 25; and Latham's deposition, Vol. III, page 211. See also Vol. VI, pages 435 and 472. 8 I had arrived on Wednesday, [at Terceira,] and on Saturday night we had, by dint of great labor and perseverance, drawn order out of chaos. * * The ship having been properly prepared, we steamed out on this bright Sunday morning; the flag of the Confederate States was unfurled for the first time from the peak of the Alabama.-Semmes's Adventures Afloat, pages 408, 409. |