Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c.,
&c., &c.
Mr. Kingsbury to Mr. Dayton.
No. 2.]
Consulate of the United States
of America, Algiers,
October 2, 1863.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that,
while absent from my post by special permission, I received
information that the suspected pirate steamship Southerner was at
Malta, en route from Alexandria to Algiers.
Accordingly I
[Page 787]
made all
possible haste to return, hoping, if my information was correct, and
our apprehensions should be sustained by the actual character of
this vessel, that I might be able to render some service to our
country. But since my arrival I have ascertained that the Southerner
came into this port on or about the 20th ultimo, and landed several
hundred Turkish pilgrims, and proceeded hence to Tangier to land the
remainder of this class of her passengers.
She had a full cargo of cotton, even her cabin being filled, and was
proceeding to Liverpool, having been despatched on this voyage by
the well-known firm of Wilson & Co. The ship has an English
register, a transcript of which I have seen, is about 1,500 tons,
and has a crew of 52 men. While in this port she hoisted none but
the English flag. This information has been given to me by a
perfectly competent and reliable gentleman of my acquaintance at
this place.
I am also informed that the British and United States flags are
painted upon the partitions of the companion-way or entrance to her
cabin, the ship having been built, it is said, to run between
Liverpool and Charleston. Captain Butcher, who commanded the Alabama
on her trial trip, commands the Southerner, and has been for several
years employed by Messrs. Wilson & Co.
I think this information, which I have not the slightest reason to
doubt, will quiet our apprehensions concerning this vessel, at least
until she has discharged her cargo of cotton.
With sentiments of very high respect, I have the honor to be, sir,
your most obedient servant,
EDWARD L. KINGSBURY, United States
Consul.
Hon. William L. Dayton, Envoy Extraordinary and
Minuter Plenipotentiary, &c., &c., Paris.
