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, November 2, 1864.

Sir: With reference to Mr. Burnley’s note to you, dated the 20th ultimo, respecting the case of the Night Hawk, and to your answer, dated the 25th ultimo, I have the honor to transmit to you, in original, the discharge paper of a seaman named Matthew Callahan, which has been sent to me in corroboration of the evidence that the Night Hawk is a British vessel.

I submit also to you a certificate of character given under the regulation of the Board of Trade to Uriah F. Smiley, the master of the Night Hawk, on hisdischarge, in June last, from the royal mail packet Australasian. It is stated in this certificate that Smiley was born at Belfast.

Taking into consideration the evidence in this case which was submitted to you by Mr. Burnley, with the note to which I have already referred, I feel it to be my duty to press for the immediate release of Smiley and the other British subjects formerly belonging to the Night Hawk, who are held as prisoners in the Ludlow street jail at New York.

I must also urge that a searching investigation may without delay be made with regard to the allegations that volleys from small-arms were discharged into the Night Hawk, and that she was subsequently set on fire by the boarding party sent from the United States ship Niphon, under the command of Ensign Seaman.

I also earnestly request that any information which can be procured as to the fate of the fourteen men stated to have been left on board the Night Hawk when she was fired and abandoned by the boarding party may be communicated to me.

Begging you to be so good as to send the two original documents back to me, I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

LYONS,

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

Certificate of discharge, for seamen, discharged before a duly appointed officer in a British possession abroad.

Name and official number of ship—Night Hawk, 50296.

Port of registry, Liverpool.

Tonnage, 360.

Description of voyage or employment, foreign.

Name of seaman, Matthew Callahan.

Place of birth, Queenstown.

Date of birth, 1838.

Number of fund ticket, if any.

Capacity.

Date of discharge, September 23, 1864.

Place of discharge, Bermudas.

I certify that the above particulars are correct, and that the above-named seaman was discharged accordingly. Dated this 23d day of September, 1864.

U. F. SMILEY, Master.

--Seaman.

Dated at Bermuda, and given to the above-named seaman, in my presence this 23d day of September, 1864.

C. W. SMITH, Shipping Officer.

E 1.—Certificate of character.

[seal.]

Character for ability in whatever capacity, g .

322. Character for conduct, g .

Sanctioned by the Board of Trade May, 1855, in pursuance of 17 and 18 Vict., c. 104.

I certify the above to be a true copy of so much of the report of character, made by the said master on the termination of the said voyage, as concerns the said seaman, Uriah F. Smiley.

Dated at Liverpool this 26th day of June, 1864.

T. COOK, Master of the Skip.

D. CHAPMAN, Shipping Master.

For signature of seaman see back.

Note.—Any person who fraudulently forges or alters a certificate of character, or makes use of one which does not belong to him, may either be presented for a misdemeanor, or may be summarily punished by a penalty not exceeding $100, or imprisonment, with hard labor, not exceeding six months.

⁴⁶

E 1.—Certificate of discharge for seamen discharged before a shipping master.

Name of ship, Australasian.

Registered tonnage, 1,512.

Official number, 19492.

Port of registry, Glasgow.

Description of voyage and employment, foreign.

Name of seaman, Uriah F. Smiley

Capacity, 2d officer.

Place of birth, Belfast.

Date of birth, 1827.

Date of entry, 2d May, 1864.

Date of discharge, 26th June, 1864.

Place of discharge, Liverpool.

I certify that the above particulars are correct, and that the above seaman was discharged accordingly.

Dated this 26th day of June, 1864.

T. COOK, Master of Ship.

D. CHAPMAN, Shipping Master.

For signature of seaman see back.

Note.—One of these certificates must be filled up and delivered to every seaman who is discharged, whenever the discharge takes place before a shipping master.

Printed by authority of the Board of Trade.

46. Printed by authority of the Board of Trade.