Mr. Harvey to Mr.
Seward.
No. 176.]
Legation of the United States,
Lisbon,
November 10, 1862.
Sir: I had an interview with the Duke de Soulé
on Saturday, the 8th instant, the day after the usual stated receptions,
in reference to the recent events and outrages at the Azores. In order
to emphasize the purpose of my visit, I carried with me the telegram
from our legation at London, stating that supplies and despatches had
been sent to Semmes, from England, by the Bahama, which transported
those received by the Alabama, at Angra, in August, and informed the
duke that such proceedings, if not checked at once, would lead to
serious complications, and that the parties concerned had doubtless been
encouraged to this renewal of their criminal purposes by the
reprehensible conduct and bad faith of the local officials on the former
occasion. I also stated, immediately, that in view of the violation and
disregard of the royal proclamation, and the arming and equipping of the
cruiser Alabama in a Portuguese port, a question of reclamation for the
whaling ships which were destroyed near Flores might arise, though I did
not then prefer such a claim. My object was to impress him with the
necessity of positive action by the government, and to insure better
protection in the future, as well as to indicate the possible
consequences of neglect to take the suggested precautions.
He said that my note had been received at the foreign office during his
absence in Italy, and that a reply had been delayed by the King’s
marriage and the consequent pressure upon him, but that he would address
himself immediately to the subject.
The proverbial procrastination of public men here induced me to prepare
the note to the Duke of Soulé (of which a copy is enclosed) so that his
preoccupied memory might not alone be relied on in a matter of so much
importance to us.
The accompanying copies of telegrams from Mr. Consul Sprague and
Commander Bryson, of the Chippewa, are in answer to one which was
addressed to the former on the 6th instant, requesting the Kearsarge or
Chippewa to proceed forthwith to the Azores. Upon receiving them, and
learning that the Kearsarge was at Cadiz, I sent the following
despatch:
[Page 1295]
“Lisbon, November 8, 1862.
“It is highly important that the Kearsarge or Chippewa should proceed
with all speed to Fayal and other islands, with the information I
telegraphed to Sprague on Thursday, so as to intercept the Tuscarora
there, which otherwise will go to Newfoundland.
“J. E. HARVEY.
“Captain Pickering, “War
Steamer Kearsarge, Cadiz.”
No reply has yet reached me, and therefore I am unable to say whether
either of the vessels has gone to the Azores.
I am informed that the Kearsarge has been ordered to the Gulf of Mexico,
and that the Chippewa has been sent out to take her place. The latter is
not fitted for the service which our exposed interests require to be
performed on this side of the Atlantic.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
[Telegrams.]
“Algeciras,
November 7, 1862.
“Will leave Algeciras this afternoon for Cadiz to communicate with
Captain Pickering.
“A. BRYSON, “United States Steamer
Chippewa.
“Mr. Harvey, “United
States Minister, Lisbon.”
[Untitled]
“Gibraltar,
November 7, 1862.
“Your telegram received. Chippewa left at once for Cadiz to
communicate with Kearsarge as to future movements. Release remains
off Algeciras.
“Mr. Harvey, “American Minister, Lisbon.”
Mr. Harvey to the Duke de Soulé.
Legation of the United
States, Lisbon,
November 10, 1862.
Sir: In order that his Majesty’s government
may be fully informed of the movements and intentions of the
piratical cruisers which recently entered, armed and equipped, at
the Azores, in defiance of his Majesty’s proclamation, as well as in
flagrant violation of the revenue laws and regulations of this
kingdom, and subsequently destroyed ten American whaling ships off
the island of Flores, I deem it proper to communicate to your
excellency a copy of a telegraphic despatch addressed to Commander
Craven, of the United States steamer Tuscarora, by the assistant
secretary of the United States legation at London, as follows:
[Page 1296]
“London, November 5, 1862.
“Steamer Bahama, with men and munitions of war, is going to meet
Semmes, of the Alabama, at the Western islands. Turkish steamer
Shageshead has taken despatches there for Semmes.
“BENJAMIN MORAN.
“Commander Craven, “United States Steamer Tuscarora, Lisbon.”
The steamer Bahama, mentioned in the telegram, is the same vessel
which carried the arms and munitions that were transferred to the
piratical cruiser Alabama, at Angra, in August last, and by means of
which the depredations upon American commerce were committed near
Flores. The attention of his Majesty’s government was invited to
these hostile proceedings and purposes in a note from this legation
to his excellency the Viscount Sa da Bandeira, on the 2d of October;
and other information besides that now transmitted authorizes the
belief that the same parties design to use the islands of Azores as
a rendezvous for their cruisers to fit out armed expeditions against
the commerce of the United States.
It is proper to observe that such practices, militating as they do
against the rights and interests of the United States, if sanctioned
by the supineness or encouraged by the infidelity or connivance of
local officials on the islands, may lead to complications
inconsistent with the good relations that have so long subsisted
between Portugal and the United States, and which it is the earnest
and sincere desire of my government to continue and cement in every
way.
With a view to avoid the happening of such difficulties by timely
precautions, and to prevent a recurrence of the injuries and
outrages which have lately been witnessed, I have considered it due
to candor and to friendly intercourse to lay these additional facts
before his Majesty’s government, with a full conviction that the
motive will be understood, and that measures will be adopted to
defeat the criminal designs of those who seek by such acts to
disturb the peace and amity of the two nations whose interests,
aims, and policy should mutually incline them to good will and to
the closer ties of a firm and faithful friendship.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew the assurances of my most
distinguished consideration.
His Excellency the Duke de Soulé, Minister of Foreign Affairs.