relative to the persons conveyed on board, and find that the parties named in the mar gin' were seen on board at 1 o'clock on the morning of the 18th instant. (Signed) ALEXANDER MINTO, Forwarded to the officer in charge of the police, Williamstown. (Signed) FEBRUARY 22, 1865. [Inclosure 106 in No. 24.] HENRY HARVEY, Sergeant, Registered No. 526. Superintendent Lyttleton to POLICE DEPARTMENT, SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE, Melbourne, February 22, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that Mr. Collins, landlord of the All England Eleven Hotel, informed Sergeant O'Brien that some of the men employed by him had shipped on board the Shenandoah; he said he knew this was true; and also said that the Riley boat had put them on board. Nothing can be learned from Riley. George Washington Robbins says that he passed across the bay on Friday night last with a message from the American consul to the police to the effect that the Shenandoah was shipping men on board; on his way he saw a boat pulled by Jack Riley and a man, Muir; they had about twelve men in the boat; on his return, Riley and Muir being alone, pulled off from the Shenandoah. I hailed Robbins; Robbins did not reply. Muir and Riley pulled close to Robbins's boat, and Muir took hold of it, while Riley lifted an oar as if to strike Robbins, who immediately struck Riley and then Muir, and pulled away to the pier, Riley and Muir following him, having no one on board but themselves; the case of assault will be heard in the police court at Sandridge [554] to-morrow morning, when more facts may come out. Mrs. Penlington states that her son, who was in the naval brigade, joined the Shenandoah on Friday night and left in her. Cornelius Regan's sister--she thinks he (Cornelius Regan) went up the country; he also belonged to the naval brigade. They did not take their arms. as they had not possession of them. The pilot who took the Shenandoah to sea says that he has not yet posted any of the letters given to him when he left the ship; he says that one letter addressed to a person at Queenscliff was delivered by him; he declined saying to whom it was addressed; this may be the letter written by Harry Sutherland referred to in my former letter. The pilot says their guns were all loaded before the vessel went outside the Heads. I attach reports forwarded to me this morn ing by the officer in charge of No. 4 division. I have, &c., SIR: I have the honor to forward a further report from the detective police respecting the shipment of men for the Shenandoah, for the information of his excellency the governor. I have, &c., (Signed) FREDK. C. STANDISH, Charles McLaren, Harry Riley, Billy Kenmen, Ball's Ran, Scotty, Robert Browa, Jno. Hutchinsoa, Joseph Dain. [Inclosure 108 in No. 24.] Report of Constable Kennedy. RE THE SHENANDOAH WAR-STEAMER. SANDRIDGE, February 22, 1865. In continuation of report dated 21st instant, Detective Kennedy further reports that the bark Maria Ross sailed from here about a quarter past 8 o'clock on the morning of the 18th instant. The following statement will show that there were no men on board that vessel except the crew: Daniel Patrick Maloney, the detective's informant, states: "I was mate of the Maria Ross when she arrived last in this port. I applied for my discharge and got it. I subsequently arranged with the captain to act as watchman for the sum of £2 per week. I acted on board in that capacity up till the morning the vessel sailed. Previous to that I told the captain that a report had spread that eighty men were concealed on board. He said, 'The next time you are in Melbourne say there are 280.' I went with the vessel as far as Williamstown, and came on shore in the customs-boat. I was the last man who left the Maria Ross, and I am prepared to prove on oath that not a single man was concealed in any part of her, and there were no passengers from here, the vessel being bound for Portland, where she is to take six men on board and a number of sheep for Camden Harbor." Maloney appears to be an intelligent and respectable man, and he expresses himself willing, if required, to come forward and certify on oath to the truth of the foregoing statement, which is confirmed by the crew of Her Majesty's customs-boat, who searched the vessel prior to her departure. (Signed) D. L. KENNEDY, First-Class Detective, 634. [Inclosure 109 in No. 24.] Report of Superintendent Nicholson. For the chief commissioner's information. The boatmen, Riley, Clarke, and Nicholls, having been put upon their guard by the inquiries first made by the police, will not now give the information required, and which could have been obtained from them by Detectives Kennedy and Quinton in ordinary conversation. [555] *However, an assurance from the government to these men that "they woul”. not be prosecuted for their share in the offense in question" might have the desired effect. (Signed) FEBRUARY 22, 1865. C. H. NICHOLSON. [Inclosure 110 in No. 24.] Governor Sir C. H. Darling to Mr. Cardwell. GOVERNMENT HOUSE, Melbourne, February 23, 1865. SIR: I think it desirable to place you in possession of the accompanying correspondence with the American consul, relating to an allegation of insulting behavior having been exhibited to him by the Crown solicitor. I have, &c., [Inclosure 111 in No. 24.] C. H. DARLING. Mr. Blanchard to Governor Sir C. H. Darling. CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Melbourne, February 18, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to inclose to your excellency the affidavit of Andrew Forbes, relative to the intended departure from this port of certain persons named therein to join the Sea King, alias Shenandoah, in violation of Her Majesty's neutrality procla mation. Mr. Forbes came to my office at about 5 o'clock p. m. yesterday. Seeing the necessity of immediate action in the matter, I took him at once to the Crown law-officers to lay information before the Crown solicitor, where I had previously been directed in a communication from the office of the attorney general of February 11, 1865, to take a witness. It is with regret that I have to call your excellency's attention to the fact that, while there in my official capacity, I was most grossly insulted by language and manner, by Mr. Gurner, Crown solicitor, who positively refused to receive the information I was prepared to lay before that department of the Crown. In consequence of which, I conceive the ends of justice have been defeated and the neutrality of this port violated. It is hardly necessary to acquaint you that I deem it my duty to send to my Government a copy of this dispatch. I have, &c., WM. BLANCHARD, Consul of the United States of America. [Inclosure 112 in No. 24.] Declaration of Andrew Forbes. I, Andrew Forbes, residing in Murphy's Cottages, Sandridge, do declare ou oath that at about 4 o'clock this day, while on the railway-pier at Sandridge, I saw Thomas Evans, Robert Dunaring, Charles Bird, William Green, and Little Sam, all inhabitants of Williamstown, most, if not all, of them British subjects, standing on the pier dressed better than usual; that I said to Thomas Evans, "What are you all doing over here;" that, after some further conversation, said Thomas Evans said, “I suppose I need not be frightened to tell you." Said Evans then told me that he was going on board the bark Maria Ross, then lying in the bay ready for sea, with the others in his company, to join the Shenandoah. When the said Shenandoah got outside the Heads, that the boats from the Maria Ross was to come to take them on board at 5 o'clock. He also said that there were many more besides his party going the same way. (Signed) ANDREW FORBES. Subscribed and sworn to in duplicate before me this 17th day of February, 1865, as witness my hand and seal of office. February 17, 1865. [556] (Signed) *[Inclosure 113 in No. 24.] WM. BLANCHARD, United States Consul, Melbourne. Memorandum by Mr. Gurner CROWN SOLICITOR'S OFFICE, 192 COLLINS STREET EAST. Melbourne, February 21, 1865. One day last week (I believe Friday) I had occasion to come back to this office about half past 5 o'clock, and in going away met at the gate Mr. Lord and another person. They were addressing Graham, the messenger, and asked him whether the attorney general was within. Graham stated he was at the honse of assembly. Mr. Lord, or Graham, then said, "Here is the Crown solicitor." The person accompanying Mr. Lord said he was the American consul, and wanted to lay an information and get warrants against some persons who were going in a ship to join the Shenandoah outside the Heads. I said I could not take an information; I was not a magistrate; that they should go to a magistrate, which I believe they did, and a warrant was refused. The American consul does not state the language used. I am, therefore, unable to give more than a general denial, and I positively assert that neither in language nor manner did I insult him. I was in a hurry to catch the train, and may, perhaps, have left more suddenly that I otherwise should have done. (Signed) HENRY F. GURNER. [Inclosure 114 in No. 24.] Mr. Ward to Mr. Blanchard. FEBRUARY 21, 1865. SIR: I am desired by his excellency the governor to acquaint you that he received your letter of the 18th instant in the afternoon of that day, (Saturday,) and that on Monday, the 20th, he caused it to be referred, through the honorable the attorney general, to the Crown solicitor, for any explanation he might wish to offer. 2. After stating that it was only in consequence of his accidentally returning to his office at half past 5 p. m., after it had been closed for the day, that the interview between you and himself occurred at all, Mr. Gurner states that he informed you that, not being a magistrate, he could not take an information, and adds that he was in a hurry to save a railway train, and therefore left more suddenly than he otherwise should have done; but he positively asserts that neither in manner nor language did he insult you. 3. His excellency feels sure that the Crown solicitor's tone aud manner have been misapprehended, and confidently assures you that there was no intention on the part of that officer to fail in the respect due to your position as the consul of the United States of America. GOVERNMENT HOUSE, Melbourne, February 23, 1865. SIR: I have thought it desirable to put Her Majesty's government in possession of the inclosed confidential report upon the armament, speed, and other qualities of the Confederate States vessel Shenandoah. It proceeds from an officer of the Victorian volunteer staff, specially attached to the naval brigade, and who was formerly a lieutenant in Her Majesty's navy. I have every reason to think his opinion and statements may be relied upon. I have, &c., C. H. DARLING. [557] Inclosure 116 in No. 24.] Captain Payne to Colonel Henderson. [Confidential.] MELBOURNE, February 10, 1865. SIR: With reference to your memorandum, marked confidential, directing me to report upon the armament, speed, and other qualities of the confederate war-steamer Shenandoah, I have the honor to inform you that I have Report on cond taken every opportunity that presented itself for obtaining the information you desire, and beg now to report— tion of Shenandoah. 1st. That the armament (as far as I can see) consists of the following ordnance, viz: Two Whitworth rifle-guns, of 33 hundred-weight each. Four 8-inch smooth-bore guns, 55 hundred-weight each. Two 12-pounder smooth-bore guns, about 15 hundred-weight each. I have been unable to ascertain what amount of ammunition she has on board for these guns, nor have I been able to determine where her magazines are placed. I do not think they are abaft her engine-room, for her after-hold has been cleared, and there is no appearance of any magazine there. I observe that there were no smallarms, stands for small-arms, cutlasses, or pistols about any part of her decks, and, as far as I could see, there appeared to be a general unreadiness for action about her quarters. Shot-racks were not fitted, nor did I see any place I call the shell-room aloft; everything indicated that she was nothing more than an ordinary merchantship. I have used every exertion (but without success) to ascertain whether she has any larger guns stowed away below. I do not think she has, as her scantling would hardly allow her to carry more than I have already seen. There appears to be a mystery about her fore-hold, for the foreman of the patent slip, when asked to go down to that spot to measure her for the cradle, was informed that he could not get to the skin at that place. The hatches were always kept on, and the foreman states that he was informed they had all their "stuff" there. As to her speed, I have been informed by competent judges that, taking her boilerpower into consideration, she would not exceed an average of ten knots an hour under steam alone; while under sail she has every appearance of being very fast. There is nothing to protect her machines from shot and shell; in fact, her boilers and the principal parts of her machinery are above the water-line. Her bunkers certainly are between the machinery and the ship's side, but from their small dimensions they would offer but small resistance to shot. The most vulnerable part, viz., the boilers, is left quite unprotected. She can carry a great quantity of coals, but in her bunkers she can only stow about fifty tons. Her daily consumption under full steam averages about twenty-four tons. She is fitted with a smoke-consuming apparatus, which appears to answer well, for I remarked, when she first came up the bay, but little smoke was emitted from her funnel. In her other qualities I think she corresponds with the description given in Lloyd's Register of another vessel which has a similar number and the same tonnage marked on her main beam, viz: No. 4854 and 790 tons. built on the composite plan, having iron frames, with wood planking, and appears to have been strongly built, but not more so than is usual for ships classed on the first letter for thirteen years. She is The state of the vessel on deck, aloft, and in the engine-room, I think both slovenly and dirty, and does not reflect any credit upon her officers. There appears to me to be about forty to fifty men on board, slouchy, dirty, and undisciplined. I noticed also a great number of officers, and could not help remarking that the number appeared out of all proportion to the few men I saw on board. Without disparaging the confederate war-steamer Shenandoah, I am altogether of opinion that there is nothing in her build, armament, (with the exception of the Whitworth guns,) and equipment that should call for more special notice than that she is an ordinary merchant-vessel, armed with a few guns, I have, &c., CHARLES B. PAYNE. No. 25. Mr. Murray to the law-officers of the Crown. FOREIGN OFFICE, April 18, 1865. GENTLEMEN: I am directed by Earl Russell to transmit to you a letter from the colonial office, inclosing copies of dispatches from Governor Sir C. Darling, together with their several inclosures, relative to the visit to the port of Melbourne of the Confederate States [558] *steamer Shenandoah and the alleged enlistment of British subjects there to serve on board that vessel. I am to request that you will take these papers into your consideration and favor Lord Russell with any observations you may have to offer thereupon, and more particularly as to whether they seem to require any action on the part of Her Majesty's government. I have, &c., JAMES MURRAY. 1 No. 24. |