Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part II

Lord Lyons to Mr. Seward.

Washington, June 2, 1864.

Sir: It is with great pain that I have again to announce to you that a large number of British subjects captured on board British vessels, which have been seized on the charge of breach of blockade, are confined in the county jail in Ludlow street, New York.

There appear to be now imprisoned in this jail no less than eighty-seven such British subjects, of whom six were captured on board the sloop Ann Eliza, of Nassau, N. P.; 40 on board the steam vessel Young Republic, also of Nassau, N. P.; 41 on board the steam vessel Tristram Shandy.

In conformity with the instructions from her Majesty’s government to which I have on so many occasions called your attention, it is my duty to request that these British subjects be immediately set at liberty, and to urge that the general order which the United States government has issued for the imprisonment of British subjects captured on board neutral vessels be revoked.

I have the honor to submit to you a copy of a despatch from her Majesty’s consul at New York, respecting the men of the Ann Eliza, Young Republic, and Tristram Shandy, a copy of a letter addressed to that consul by Robert Lyon, one of the crew of the Young Republic, and a list of the names of the eighty-seven prisoners; and I deem it right to ask you to take note of the statements made by Robert Lyon of the treatment experienced on board the United States supply steamer Newbern by himself and the men captured with him.

I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

LYONS.

Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.

Mr. Archibald to Lord Lyons.

British Consulate, New York, May 30, 1864.

My Lord: I have the honor to transmit herewith enclosed a copy of a letter received by me on Friday last, from Robert Lyon, on behalf of himself and others, forming the late crew of the steamer Young Republic, of Nassau, recently captured for violation of blockade.

On Saturday last her Majesty’s Vice-Consul Edwards visited the writer and his companions, who are imprisoned in the county jail, and examined severally on oath, in regard to their nationality, the prisoners captured on board the Young Republic, as well as a number of others, who were likewise captured on board the steamer Tristram Shandy, of Liverpool, and the sloop Ann Eliza, of Nassau, and who were brought to New York last week at the same time with the crew of the Young Republic.

I transmit herewith enclosed a list of the names and birthplaces of all such as made oath that they are British subjects, and whom Mr. Edwards believes to be entitled to British protection.

The crew of the sloop Ann Eliza were taken from that vessel while in a sinking condition, shortly after she had left the Santee river, Florida. The vessel became a total loss, and the crew are not required to be detained for any proceedings in the prize court.

The steamer Tristram Shandy was captured on the 15th instant, off Wilmington, on her voyage from thence to Nassau.

The Young Republic was captured on the 6th instant, also on her way from Wilmington to Nassau.

I have, &c.,

E. M. ARCHIBALD.

Lord Lyons, &c., &c., &c.

Mr. Lyon to Mr. Archibald.

County Jail, Ludlow Street, New York, May 26, 1864.

Sir: I take the liberty of addressing you on behalf of myself and the remainder of the crew, (of British steamship Young Republic) at present prisoners in the above-named jail. We were chased, fired at, and captured by the United States gunboat Grand Gulf, off Wilmington bar, had the most part of our clothes stolen from us, were then put on board of the supply steamer Newbern, on which vessel we (to the number of forty-two) were cribbed up in a narrow con-racted and suffocating part of the vessel alongside the boiler, and immediately over the fire-room, some days never allowed to go on deck for fresh air. We were treated more like dogs than human beings, and for what crime I am unable to state, unless it be the crime of working for a living. I can solemnly swear that we gave them no other cause to treat us in such a manner. Again, we are brought up to this place of confinement, no hearing of our case, no trial or even form of one; and yet to a man I believe we are all British subjects. There surely exists some law that can be brought to bear on our case; and thinking that you would interest yourself in our case, when you learned our nationality,

I remain, &c.,

ROBERT LYON, Native of Glasgow, Scotland.

E. M. Archibald, Esq.

Crew of sloop Ann Eliza, of Nassau, New Providence, in county jail.

1.	George Johnson, (master,) a native of Nassau.	3.	Michael Doherty, Ireland.
2.	George Walker, native of Cosham, Hampshire.	4.	William Gorman, “
		5.	Patrick Egan, Montreal.
	6.	John McPherson, England.

Crew of steamer Young Republic, of Nassau.

7.	Frank M. Harris, (master,) native of England.	26.	John Hickey, Ireland.
8.	Daniel Shaw, Ireland.	27.	John H. McKinney, Nassau, N.P.
9.	William Haines, Ireland.	28.	Michael O’Brien, Ireland.
10.	Robert Lyon, Scotland.	29.	Fred. W. Furples, Nassau.
11,	James Harris, Ireland.	30.	Louis Cuplin, “
12.	John Henry, “	31.	John T. Spain, Ireland.
13.	Albert Roberts, Bermuda.	32.	Robert A. Cannon, Ireland.
14.	Peter Ward, England.	33.	James Mosher, “
15.	John Long, Ireland.	34.	James Glover, Nassau.
16.	Patrick Wright, Ireland.	35.	George Porter, England.
17.	Thomas Casey, “	36.	Daniel Harkins, Ireland.
18.	John Howard, St. John, N. B.	37.	John Murray, “
19.	Martin Whalan, Ireland.	38.	William Thompson, Scotland.
20.	John Cunningham, Ireland.	39.	Edward Jenkins, Abaco.
21.	John Hartwell, “	40.	Thomas McCauley, Ireland.
22.	George Harrison, England.	41.	Abram Hanshaw, Nassau.
23.	James McEwing, Scotland.	42.	John Walers, England.
24.	Neil Livingstone, “	43.	Stephen Morris, Harbor Island.
25.	Ellis Jones, North Wales.	44.	William Burns, Ireland.

Passengers.

45.

James Dunning, Canada.

46.

Dr. Thomas Foley, Crooked island

Crew of steamer Tristram Shandy, of Liverpool.

47.	William Porter, native of England.	65.	Pat. Johnson, Bermuda.
48.	Alexander Anderson, Scotland.	66.	Frank Bennett, “
49.	William Robinson, England.	67.	Joseph Billow, Nassau.
50.	William McCartney, Scotland.	68.	William Jencks, England.
51.	Robert McArthur, “	69.	Arthur Doering, “
52.	James Gregory, England.	70.	William Ewing, Scotland.
53.	James Williams, Nassau.	71.	George Hamilton, “
54.	John McCallum, Scotland.	72.	James Duff, “
55.	John May, England.	73.	John Beken, England.
56.	Robert Warren, Scotland.	74.	Michael Lynes, Ireland.
57.	John Couch, England.	75.	Robert Redie, Scotland.
58.	William Waters, England.	76.	William McCready, Scotland.
59.	Robert Haskett, “	77.	Samuel Johnson, “
60.	John Smith,	78.	Alexander Doig, “
61.	Wm. R. Green, St. Stephen’s, N.B.	79.	Charles Bethel, Harbor island.
62.	Joseph Thompson, Scotland.	80.	John Cox, England.
63.	John S. Ross, “	81.	Henry Sullivan, Ireland.
64.	William Hanlon, Ireland.	82.	Joseph Craig, Nassau.

Passengers.

83.	Jonathan W. Steele, England.	86.	John McBarry, Ireland.
84.	James Younge, Nassau.	87.	Thomas Powell, Guernsey.
85.	Alfred Rubery, Canada.