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 4, 1864.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit to you herewith certain papers setting forth the claim of Mr. George Turin, a British subject residing at New Orleans, for goods shipped for him in the American vessels Regulus and Columbia, which vessels were (it would appear) stopped in the month of June, 1861, at the mouth of the Mississippi and brought to New York. I trust that this claim will be taken into favorable, consideration, and I shall be much obliged if you will inform me of the views of the United States government with regard to it.

I beg you to be so good as to send the eight original documents back to me.

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

LYONS.

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

[Untitled]

State of Louisiana, Parish and City of Orleans:

Before me, Theodull Drouette, fifth justice of the peace for the parish of Orleans, duly qualified and sworn, personally came and appeared Mr. George Turin, a British subject residing at Plaquemine, parish of Iberville, (State of Louisiana,) but presently in this city of New Orleans, who, on being duly and lawfully sworn, declared and said:

1. That he is a British subject; that he has the certificate of his consul, and has taken the oath required by General Order, No. 41.

2. That in the year 1861 he made a voyage to Europe, and before his departure hence to come back to Louisiana he bought of the house Borssy, Nadal & Co., of Tournon, a certain quantity of goods, the account of which figures in the invoice bill of the house Borssy, Nadal & Co., and which is annexed to the present, after having been signed ne varietur.

3. That these goods were expedited at the port of Bordeaux and freighted by the commission house P’1 Dubois & Co. on the American ship Columbia, Captain Roberts, for the account of George Turin, and directed to Messrs. D. Gration & Co., of New Orleans, as results from a bill of lading signed by said Captain Roberts. This document, legalized by the United States consul at Bordeaux, is and remains annexed to the present affidavit, after having been signed by me ne varietur.

4. That the said ship Columbia, Captain Roberts, on coming to the mouth of the Mississippi, in or about the month of June, 1861, was stopped and brought to New York where the goods of the appearer cannot be restored to him by want of suitable documents which were unable to be obtained, owing to the blockade of New Orleans and of the State of Louisiana, wherein the affiant resides.

5. Therefore the appearer, in his capacity of British subject and neutral, and in virtue of international rights, claims, from whomsoever it belongs, and especially of every competent federal authority, the restoration of the goods detailed in the ten documents hereunto annexed, or the value of their sale, if such has been effected.

GEORGE TURIN

Sworn to and subscribed before me, April 26, 1864,

[L. S.]

[Stamp.]

T. DROUETTE, Fifth Justice of the Peace.

[Untitled]

I, Theopold Drouette, fifth justice of the peace for the parish of Orleans, do hereby certify, before God, that Mr. George Turin, the signer and subscriber of the foregoing affidavit, has exhibited unto me—

1st. The consul certificate of her Britannic Majesty, testifying to his quality of British subject; and, 2d. The certificate that he has taken the oath required ‘from every foreign subject by General Order, No. 41.

[SEAL.]

[Stamp.]

T. DROUETTE, Fifth Justice of the Peace.

[Untitled]

United States Consul, Bordeaux :

I do hereby certify that the annexed seal and signature are those of Cortes president of the tribunal of commerce of Bordeaux, and that to all official acts thus attested full faith and credit are and ought to be given.

Witness my hand and official seal this 24th day of February, 1864.

[SEAL]

C DAVISSON, United States Consul, Bordeaux.

[Untitled]

State of Louisiana, Parish and City of Orleans:

Before me, Theodull Drouette, fifth justice of the peace for the parish of Orleans, duly qualified and sworn, personally came and appeared Mr. George Turin, a British subject, residing at Plaquemine, parish of Iberville, State of Louisiana, but presently in this city of New Orleans, who, on being duly and lawfully sworn, declared and said:

1. That he is a British subject; that he has the certificate of his consul, and has taken the oath required by General Order, No. 41.

2. That in the year 1861 he made a voyage to Europe, and before his departure hence to come back to Louisiana he bought of the house A. Navazza, of Geneva, a certain quantity of goods, the account of which figures in the invoice bill of the house of A. Navazza, and which is annexed to the present, after having been signed ne varietur.

3. That these goods were expedited to France at the port of Havre, and freighted by the commission house of Biget & Co., in the American ship Regu-lus, Gaptain Thompson, for the account of George Turin, of Plaquemine, Louisiana, and directed to Messrs. D. Gratiaa & Co., of New Orleans, as results from a bill of lading by the house of Rigot, of Havre, and from a bill of lading signed by the said Captain Thompson. The two documents, legalized by the United States consul at Havre, are and remain annexed to the present affidavit, after having been signed by me ne varietur.

4. That the said Regulus, Captain Thompson, on coming to the mouth of the Mississippi, on the 1st of June, 1861, was stopped and brought to New York, where the goods of the appearer cannot be restored to him, by want of suitable documents, which were impossible to be obtained, owing to the blockade of New Orleans and of the State of Louisiana, wherein the affiant resides.

5. Therefore the appearer, in his capacity of British subject and neutral, and in virtue of international rights, claims, from whomsoever it belongs, and especially of every competent federal authority, the restitution of the goods detailed in the ten documents hereunto annexed, or the value of the sale, if such has been effected.

GEORGE TURIN.

And the foregoing declaration was sworn to and subscribed before me this 6th day of May, 1864.

[seal]

[Stamp.]

T. DROUETTE, Fifth Justice of the Peace.

I, Theodull Drouette, fifth justice of the peace for the parish of Orleans, do hereby certify, before God, that Mr. George Turin, the signer and subscriber of the foregoing affidavit, has exhibited unto me—

1st. The consul certificate of her Britannic Majesty, testifying to his quality of British subject; and, 2d. The certificate testifying that he has taken the oath required from every foreign subject by General Order, No. 41.

[SEAL]

[Stamp.]

T. DROUETTE, Fifth Justice of the Peace.

[Untitled]

United States Consulate, Havre :

I, James O. Putnam, consul of the United States at Havre, do hereby certify that Messrs. Rigot & Co., who have signed the within account, are merchants of high standing and respectability of this city.

Given under my hand and official seal, at Havre, the 18th day of February, 1864.

[SEAL]

JAMES O. PUTNAM, United States Consul, Havre.