I think that with this I have done all that falls within my province to
prevent the government here from permitting this injurious act. The
responsibility for the consequences of it must now, rest on them. From
the terms of a leading article in The Globe of
last evening, as well as the printed answer of Lord Russell to the
memorial of the Union and Emancipation Committee, I much fear that they
have fallen on the feeblest policy.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.
Legation of the United
States, London,
September 4, 1863.
My Lord: I have the honor to transmit
copies of several papers transmitted to me by Mr. Dudley, the consul
of the United States at Liverpool, relating to the preparation for
immediate departure of the steam-vessel fitting out at that place
for the purpose of carrying on war against the government and people
of the United States.
Begging your lordship’s permission here to record, in the name of my
government, this last solemn protest against the commission of such
an act of hostility against a friendly nation, I pray your lordship
to accept the assurances of the highest consideration with which I
have the honor to be, my lord, your most obedient servant,
Right Hon. Earl Russell, &c., &c.
Mr. Dudley to Mr. Edwards.
United States
Consulate, Liverpool,
September 3,
1863.
Sir: Referring to my application made
to you so long since as the seventh day of July last, to detain
a steam iron-clad ram built by Messrs. Laird for the
confederates, and launched on the fourth of July last, I have
now to inform you that intelligence on which I place full
reliance has reached me that the vessel is taking coal on board,
and I apprehend that she may go to sea at any time unless
detained.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
S. Price Edwards, Esq., Collector.
[Page 413]
Messrs, Duncan, Squarey &
Blackmore to Mr.
Edwards.
10 Water
Street,
September 2,
1863.
Sir: We beg to hand you herewith
another affidavit of Thomas Sweeney in reference to the
iron-clad ram launched by Messrs. Laird & Co., on the fourth
of July last, from which we submit, it appears clearly that
there is the greatest risk that the vessel may go to sea at any
time. On behalf of the United States government, we beg
respectfully to urge upon you, in the strongest manner, the
importance of taking immediate steps for the detention of the
vessel in question.
We are, sir, your obedient servants,
DUNCAN, SQUAREY & BLACKMORE.
S. Price Edwards, Esq., Collector of Customs, Liverpool.
[Untitled]
I, Thomas Sweeney, of No. 57 Crosby street, Liverpool,
deck-planer, make oath and say as follows:
1. I was in the ship-building yard of Messrs. Laird Brothers at
Birkenhead, on Friday last, the 28th day of August last, at
about 3 o’clock p.m., and I there saw in one of the graving or
dry docks in the said yard the iron-clad ram referred to in the
affidavit sworn by me on the 11th day of August last, before the
deputy assistant collector of customs at Liverpool, as having
been launched on the fourth day of July last, and known as No.
294.
2. When I saw the said vessel on Friday last, as above mentioned,
the forward turret had been put into the place prepared for it
on board the said vessel a few feet aft of the foremast; and the
other turret, intended for the after part of said vessel, was on
the quay alongside of the dock in which the vessel was lying, in
a position from which it might be lifted at once and placed on
board the said vessel by the crane. The vessel has her masts in,
and her rigging, so far as I could judge, is completed. She had
no sails bent, but, as her engines and machinery were all in
order and her funnel up, she is in a position to put up steam
and go to sea at any time.
3. The graving dock in which the said vessel lies has direct
communication with the river Mersey, from which it is separated
by a caisson, so that the water can be let in at any time with
the flood by removing the caisson.
THOMAS SWEENEY.
Sworn at the custom-house,
Liverpool, in the county of
Lancaster, the
2d day of September, 1863, before me.
W. G. STEWART, Assistant
Collector.
