Daw on this agreement the sum of £2 108. Od., provided the said James Daw shall sail in the said ship from the said port of Liverpool. MATTHEW J. BUTCHER, Payable at Cunard & Wilson, London and Liverpool Chambers, Exchange. Master. No. 108.] Mr. Dudley to Mr. Seward. [Extract.] UNITED STATES CONSULATE, SIR: I understand that Laird's gunboat 290 is somewhere either on the coast of England or Ireland, and that they are shipping to-day fifty more men, who are to be taken to her to-night on a steamer. I have written and telegraphed this information to Minister Adams, and also written to Mr. Craven, the captain of the United States ship Tuscarora, off Kingston, in Ireland. SIR: I wrote you yesterday that they were shipping men from the gun-boat No. 290, and that there were reasons to suppose that she was somewhere in the channel, &c. The men were placed on board of the steamer Bahama, which arrived at this port a few days ago loaded with cotton. This is the same steamer that sailed from Hamburg some months ago, loaded with arms and munitions of war intended for the rebel gov ernment. She took on cannon, shot, and ammunition, and her coal yesterday, and shipped her crew and the men intended for the gun-boat last evening, and went out of her dock at 3 o'clock this morning. I cannot see her in the river. She has no doubt sailed; where, I do not know, but no doubt to some place agreed upon to meet the gun-boat. The cannon and ammunition, as well as men, are intended for this vessel. There has been as yet no entry at the customs of the Bahama to load, much less to clear, but she is one of the class that seems to be privileged by the authorities in this country. She is a large vessel, over 1,700 tons in burden, commanded by Captain Tessin. I am, &c., THOMAS H. DUDLEY. N. B.-I have learned that she (the Bahama) entered yesterday to load for Nassau. I have written to Mr. Adams, United States minister at London, and to the consul at Dublin, all the particulars, and from time to time sent telegrams of the movements here. The Tuscarora was yesterday in Dublin harbor. There is now not much doubt but what the steamer Bahama, which cleared here in so much hurry, is to meet the gunboat 290 at some place agreed upon. She has the armament and men for her. I doubt now whether she will make the attempt to run the blockade. There is no necessity for her to do it. She has gone out without clearing, and her armament and men are on the Bahama, and as soon as she gets them she is ready to commence her operations as a privateer. She will make the attempt to capture one of the Californian steamers; at least, this has been said by some of the leading men here. Edwin Haigh, the same man who pretends to own the Bermuda, pretends to own the Bahama. The register is in his name, but the vessel belongs to Fraser, Trenholm & Co. I am, &c., THOMAS H. DUDLEY. No. 329.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 25, 1862. SIR: Your dispatch of August 7, No. 203, has been received, and I have laid a copy of it before the Secretary of the Navy. It is to be hoped that Captain Craven will be able to obtain the approval of his proceedings by that Department. The escape of the 290 is especially vexatious, in view of all the judicious and almost successful efforts you had made to prevent it. I am, &c., (Signed) WILLIAM H. SEWARD. had made was to the effect merely that he had, on a previous voyage, taken stores to the Alabama. I expressed to him my opinion that he had acted most improperly on that occasion, and I warned him of the consequences that might follow the repetition of any such illegal proceedings. No longer feeling assured of the veracity of his protestations, and hearing that a sloop was about to sail for St. Vincent, I addressed a letter to the senior officer of the station, in the hope that it might find him there and procure for me the benefit of his advice. [258] * On my return to Saint Pierre, finding everywhere the same ru mors afloat concerning the Agrippina, I thought it proper to write to the master to repeat the observations I had already made to him verbally. Herewith I have the honor to inciose copies of both these letters. I was obliged to return to Fort de France the next day to end the inquiry began the previous day with regard to another vessel, and I was about leaving again when the master of the Agrippina came to tell me he had a confidential communication to make. I answered that I would not refuse to hear any statement he might wish to make, but that I reserved to myself complete freedom of action as to the course I should adopt afterward, particularly if the communication had reference to the report in circulation concerning his vessel. He still persisted in making a statement to the effect that his cargo was, in truth, for a steamer that he had expected to find at Fort de France, and which he had reason to believe was a confederate cruiser. I again pointed out the illegality of such a line of conduct, but the sequel showed that my remonstrances proved of no avail. I next deemed it proper to acquaint his excellency the governor of what I had just learned. He did not seem much surprised, and observed that, if the Alabama came into port, he would act exactly as he had done on a former occasion, in the case of the Sumter, when the French government had altogether approved of the measures he had taken in regard to that vessel. Arrival of the Ala 1862. Nothing new occurred until the morning of the 18th instant, when a black, rakish-looking screw-steamer was seen approaching bam, November is, the land, steering for Fort de France. As she passed close before this town, she showed a British blue ensign and pennant, but no one was deceived by the character she had thus assumed. She was at once put down as the Alabama, and such in effect she proved to be. On his arrival at Fort de France, Captain Semmes sent a message to the governor to request permission to land fifty-three prisoners whom he had on board. On the return of the officer they were landed and sent to the United States consul at this port. On the same afternoon the Agrippina, whose master had gone on board the Alabama, as soon as she came in sight, got under way, having taken a clearance for Demerara. Agrippina clears for Denierara. Arrival of the The Alabama appeared to be still well provided with fuel, and her commander said that he would leave during the night. But he was still at anchor on the morning of the 19th, when, about 7 a. m., a Fede ral war steamer suddenly made her appearance, which proved to be the San Jacinto, Captain Ronckendoff, from Barbados and Federal ship San Ja Trinidad, on a cruise in search of the Alabama. The latter hoisted the confederate flag on perceiving the Federal vesauthorities, sel, whose commander declined to receive the government pilot, or enter the harbor on learning that, in such a case, he would have to remain in port twenty-four hours after the depar cinto, November 19. Proceedings of the French Twenty-four hours' rule. |