No. 307.
Mr. Hoppin
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
London, May 1, 1880.
(Received May 13.)
No. 184.]
Sir: Referring to my dispatch. No. 180 of the 24th
ultimo, I have the honor to inclose a copy of a letter received since the
date of that dispatch from Lord Tenterden, expressing the regret of Her
Majesty’s Government at the action of the officers of customs at Queenstown
in respect to the United States frigate Constellation.
I have, &c.,
[Page 479]
[Inclosure 1 in No. 184.]
Lord Tenterden to
Mr. Hoppin.
Foreign
Office, April 28,
1880.
Sir: I transmitted to the lords commissioners
of Her Majesty’s treasury, by whom it was in turn referred to the
commissioners of Her Majesty’s customs, your letter of the 21st instant,
complaining of the proceedings of the authorities of the latter
department in connection with the United States ship Constellation,
conveying supplies contributed by citizens of the United States for the
relief of the destitute people of Ireland.
I have now the honor to acquaint you that a communication has been
received in reply, from which it would appear that on the arrival of the
Constellation at Queenstown, the circumstance of a vessel of war
arriving with cargo not merchandise on board being most unusual the
superior customs official at that port took action most ill advisedly
under the provisions of the fifty-second section of the customs
consolidated act, 1876, of which a copy is herewith transmitted, and, in
accordance with the act in question, placed custom-house officers on
board the frigate. The matter was, however, promptly brought to the
notice of the collector of customs at Cork, who immediately by telegraph
directed their withdrawal.
The latter reports that he waited upon the commander of the Constellation
as soon as he was able to do so, and that Captain Potter accepted his
apologies and the expression of his regret at the mere supposition of an
international disrespect for the American flag.
I have to request that you will be good enough to convey to your
government the expression of the sincere regret of Her Majesty’s
Government at this occurrence, which is to be entirely attributed to the
mistaken sense of his duties on the part of the customs officer of
Queenstown, whose proceedings in the matter have been strongly
disapproved.
I have, &c.
For the Marquis of
Salisbury.
TENTERDEN.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 184.]
Copy of the fifty-second section of the customs
consolidation act, 1876.
The captain or other officer having the charge of any ship (having
commission from Her Majesty or from any foreign state) having on board
any goods laden in ports beyond the seas, shall on arrival at any port
in the United Kingdom, and before any part of such goods be taken out of
such ship, or when called upon so to do by any officer of the customs,
deliver an account tin writing under his hand, to the best of his
knowledge, of the quality and quantity of every package or parcel of
such goods, and of the marks and numbers thereon, and of the names of
the respective shippers and consignees of the same, and shall make and
subscribe a declaration at the foot of such account declaring to the
truth thereof, and shall also truly answer to the collector or other
proper officer, such questions concerning such goods as shall be
required of him, and on failure thereof, such captain or other officer
shall forfeit the sum of £100, and all such ships shall be liable to
such searchers as merchant ships are liable to, and the officers of the
customs may freely enter and go on board all such ships and bring from
thence on shore into the Queen’s warehouse any goods found on board any
such ship as aforesaid, subject nevertheless to such regulations in
respect to ships of war belonging to Her Majesty, as shall from time to
time be directed in that respect by the commissioners of Her Majesty’s
treasury.
