Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part I
Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.
Sir: Mr. Morse, the consul at this place, has just furnished me with a number of depositions in regard to the proceedings at Sheerness in the case of the Scylla, alias Victor, alias Rappahannock. I thought them so strong that I immediately transmitted them to Lord Russell, with a note. Copies of these papers are subjoined.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Untitled]
My Lord: I have the honor to submit to your consideration a copy of a letter received from Mr. Morse, the consul of the United States at this port, together with copies of seven depositions of persons who testify to the proceedings connected with the outfit and departure of the steamer Scylla, Victor, or Rappahannock, from Sheerness, and her later condition at Calais.
It is with the most profound regret that I am forced to the conclusion that the entire movement has been conducted with the connivance and direct aid of many of her Majesty’s officers stationed within the royal dockyard at Sheerness. The testimony in regard to the masts furnished from the Cumberland, the supply of water and some other stores, the aid of a government pilot, and the privity of many of the officers of the yard to the employment of the hands, appears to be very conclusive.
[Page 52]The agency of Mr. Coleman, a British subject, and the apparent owner of a vessel now pretending to claim the protection of the French government as a belligerent ship-of-war, seems also to require notice. Mr. Coleman is thus presented as a person carrying on war with the United States; or else he is making himself a party to a gross fraud upon the government of France, with the intent to violate the neutrality enjoined upon him by her Majesty’s proclamation.
I have felt it my painful duty to bring to your lordship’s notice these particulars of this most extraordinary case, not from any doubt of the determination of her Majesty’s government, already signified to me, to do justice in the matter, but from a sense of an obligation to do everything within my power to contribute to the exposure of the offenders.
I pray your lordship to accept the assurances of the highest consideration with which I have the honor to be, my lord, your most obedient servant,
Right Hon. Earl Russell, &c., &c., &c.
[Untitled]
Sir: I herewith enclose affidavits of Enoch Cohen, George Hill, James Munn, Charles Newton, James Maloney, William O’Kelly, and George Bailey, in the case of the privateer Victor, Scylla, or Rappahannock.
Permit me to call your attention to the date of the advance note given to Charles Bull, a seaman, and which was, some days after, paid by Robert Gordon Coleman, No. 28 Clement’s lane, London, who appears by the record evidence to be the lawful owner of the privateer Rappahannock, now under the confederate flag. The Victor, or Scylla, escaped from Sheerness on the evening of the 24th of November. The note was given when the man Bull was shipped, on the 25th of November, and was paid by Coleman on the 11th of December. So far as any recorded evidence shows ownership, the legal title to the rebel privateer Rappahannock is still in R. G. Coleman, a London merchant. The papers herewith and previously sent to you prove that he has interested himself in supplying his corsair, now under the confederate flag, since she left Sheerness, and since she hoisted that flag, with a large number of seamen. Mr. Coleman’s connexion with the purchase, fitting, and manning of the Rappahannock is too clearly established to be called in question.
Should it be urged, as a reason for not making any effort to reclaim the Rappahannock as a piratical British ship under a foreign flag, or to prevent her from proceeding to sea as a privateer, that an English ship can be sold to foreigners without a cancelling of her register in this country, and that Mr. Coleman may have sold her since she left this country, we reply that so far as is known he is still the owner; that the legal record of ownership shows her to-day to be an English ship, and that it is incumbent on the authorities here to prevent her from piratical acts, or to show that all title to her has legally passed from citizens of this country to foreigners, and that she is now lawfully held by such foreigners.
It is a question of some interest to know how, in the present state of European law in reference to privateers, a rebel cruiser can commence her piratical career, from a European port, with papers that will be respected, or rather that ought to be respected, by the maritime powers of Europe. Who has authority to issue such papers, and to claim for them the acknowledgment and respect of maritime states?
I would also respectfully ask your attention to the date of the engagement with the boiler-makers, at the Sheerness dockyard, by Engineer Rumble, and [Page 53] Mr. Bagshaw, a foreman in the boiler department, in which transaction Mr. Greathead, a chief engineer in the royal navy, also participated, as paymaster to the families of the men at Sheerness, in the absence of Mr. Rumble. The engagement of these boiler-makers, to go to Calais to repair the boilers of the privateer Rappahannock, was five or six days after that steamer left Sheerness, and some four days after her arrival at the port of Calais, in France, under the rebel flag, and after she had been announced in the newspapers of England as a rebel privateer escaped from an English port.
Very sincerely, your obedient servant,
Hon. C. F. Adams, United States Minister, &c.
[Untitled]
Advance note,
£3 15s.
Three days after the ship S. S. Stella, pro tem., leaves Downs, pay to the order of Charles Bull (provided he sails in the said ship, and is duly earning his wages according to his agreement) the sum of three pounds fifteen shillings, being one month’s advance of wages.
THOMAS ANSON, for Master.
Messrs. Gordon & Co.
Payable at 28 Clement’s lane, city.
The seaman must write his name on the back hereof; by this act he will understand he is conveying to another the value of the note. If he cannot write, his mark must be attested by a witness, not the discounter of recipient.
N. B.—The seaman must join the ship at the time appointed, or a substitute will be engaged. Ship lying in or ——————. Time to join ——————.
Sold by J. Omer, 99 Meriones, London, Navigation Office.
Endorsed at back:
Witness: N. Cohen.
This is the paper writing referred to in the annexed affidavit of Enoch Cohen, sworn before me, this 11th day of December, 1863.
[Untitled]
I, Enoch Cohen, of No. 9 Palmer street, Spitalfields, do solemnly swear that the foregoing paper writing is a true and faithful copy of an original advance note, received by me from N. Cohen, tailor and outfitter, of Wells street, Well Close Square, to collect, the said note having been given to Charles Bull, able seaman, as advance for wages to be earned on board the steamship Stella, or Scylla, or Rappahannock, then lying at Calais. I had two other advance notes from seamen named John Dewslip, A. B., and Abraham Butler, boy, which were given them at a public house in Royal Mint street. I received the money for the last two notes at the office of Mr. Robert Gordon Coleman, 28 Clement’s lane, and Charles Bull’s note was paid me at Mr. Pearson’s office, No. 9 Clement’s lane, by a Mr. Daley.
ENOCH COHEN.
[Page 54]Sworn at my office, No. 57 Nicholas lane, in the city of London, this 11th day of December, 1863, before me,
[Untitled]
I, George Hill, of Hythe, Kent, sailmaker, late of her Majesty’s steam frigate Emerald, having been paid off from that ship about two months since, do solemnly swear that in the beginning of November last, upon applying to Mr. Rumble, her Majesty’s inspector of machinery afloat at Sheerness, for a ship, he sent me on board the screw steamer Scylla, late her Majesty’s screw steamer Victor, to work as sailmaker. I remained on board until the 24th of November, on the night of which day the ship suddenly left for Calais. Upon arriving there, another captain took command, and wanted me to sign articles, at £10 per month, in her. I was then told she was a confederate man-of-war, and was to have had £10 bounty. I refused to serve in her, and received £3 only, with which to return to London. Several of the men who joined her in Calais signed articles there, after knowing what she was. When I joined her she had no masts in her. They were afterwards put in by her Majesty’s ship Cumberland. The Scylla was but one-quarter rigged, and not in a fit state to go to sea, her rigging not being rattled down.
GEORGE HILL.
Sworn 12th day of December, 1863, before me,
[Untitled]
I, James Nunn, lately residing at No. 2 Union Row, Sheerness, able seaman, do solemnly and truly swear that on October last, while at work in Sheerness dockyard, I was asked by Mr. Rumble, her Majesty’s inspector of machinery afloat at Sheerness, to join the screw steamer Scylla, of London, and go to work upon her at once. He told me she was a merchant ship, and was to be fitted up for the China opium trade. I went to work on her, at his recommendation. She was under the command of Captain Ramsay. On the 24th of November, at night, she suddenly left her port, and on the following day put into Calais harbor. Captain Campbell then took command, and I was told by him that she was a confederate man-of-war, and he asked me to join, but I refused. Be fore I left the ship forty men came from London to join her, but they all refused to sign articles with the exception of seven, who remained on board and signed articles there. I received only £2 10s. for my month’s work, and had to pay my carriage back to this port, and Captain Campbell detained my discharge. I am now destitute, and cannot obtain a ship in consequence of his detaining my discharge. While I was on board she was taken to No. 3 dock, Sheerness dockyard; She had her bottom scribed, and the copper repaired, her topsides calked and painted.
JAMES NUNN.
Sworn, &c., 12th December, before me,
[Untitled]
I, Charles Newton, of Sheerness, do hereby truly, solemnly, and sincerely swear that I went to work on board the screw steamer Scylla, late her Majesty’s screw steamer Victor, at Sheerness, about the middle of November, having been engaged by Mr. Howe, who paid me for working on board 3s. 6d. per day. On the 24th November I went on the ship at o’clock in the evening with a Trinity pilot, and commenced getting the wheel ready and other preparations for going to sea. At about 7½ o’clock Mr. Reuben Harvey, the government pilot, came on board and took command of the ship. In the night she left Sheerness in tow of a tug-boat. I was at the wheel, and received orders from Mr. Harvey; about a mile and a half below the Nore the ship was brought up, and laid there till morning; then got under way and proceeded to Calais. I staid by her until the following Wednesday. Mr. Ramsay wanted me to sign articles, but I refused. The wages were too low, and I did not like the first lieutenant. I knew she was a confederate man-of-war when I was asked to sign articles, as the confederate colors were sent up just before we entered Calais harbor. I did not know which service she was for when I joined her, having been told and heard it talked about that she was for the opium trade or confederate ser vice. When I was asked to sign articles we were all told that the steamer was a confederate man-of-war, and that we should receive prize money as soon as we had taken the prizes. The captain said we were to light for money, and he was going to fight for his country and his home. I then received £3 0s. 6d. in the cabin, in the presence of Mr. Rumble and Mrs. Rumble, and left the ship. When I first went on board the water police were upon the ship, and some new government warps and other stores were on board. Mr. Rees, the master rigger of Sheerness dockyard, went in the boat with me, and some riggers were at work on board from the dockyard. Mr. Rees had with him a black bag, with some stripped blocks. These warps and blocks were on board when I left the ship at Calais. The vessel was not completely rigged. Her masts had been put in from the Cumberland, but the rigging was not rattled down. Ham mocks were on board in bales, and four boats were received on board from the tug-boat. Before we left Sheerness her shell-room and magazines were up and in good condition.
[Untitled]
I, James Maloney, of Sheerness fireman do hereby solemnly and truly swear that I went to work on board the screw steamer Scylla, late her Majesty’s screw steamer Victor, about the 10th November, having been engaged by Mr. Rumble, at one guinea per week and my food. The wages were paid to me regularly by Mr. Rumble, at his house, before the vessel started from Sheerness. I was working on board as fireman, and assisted in removing stores, &c., about decks until the day before we left, when I commenced working in the engine-room. On the 24th November a gentleman, who had arrived from London, came on board. We were suddenly ordered away, and left Sheerness that night, the vessel not being in a fit condition to go to sea, the boilers requiring new tubing, some of which had been put on board at Sheerness. The rigging was not rattled down; she had no sails bent, and everything was in disorder. A large number of new hammocks had been put on board. The magazine and shell-rooms were in good condition, but nothing had been completed fit for a sea-going ship. Eight riggers were working on board from the government dockyard when we left Sheerness. The Scylla was towed to the Nore, and anchored a little below until the morning; then steamed to Calais harbor. The [Page 56] riggers remained on board two days after her arrival at Calais, and some boiler-makers were sent from Sheerness dockyard to work on board. They took their orders from Mr. Bumble, who was inspecting the machinery there. He came over with his wife for that purpose, I should think. I was called aft, with all hands on board, by the captain upon the second day after we arrived at Calais, who wanted us to sign articles. He read the articles, and stated that the ship was a confederate man-of-war, and that we were to fight for prize money, and that he could fight for love of country. I refused going, as the wages were not satisfactory. Mr. Ramsay had promised us in Sheerness £8 per month, but the captain only offered £6 2s. 6d. I did not want to go in her at all after finding what employment we were wanted for. I then received £2 2s. 6d. and left the ship. As I was going on board the steamboat to return to England Mr. Rumble met me on the pier, and told me to return to the Scylla and go to work with the boiler-makers, which I did at his request, and worked for fourteen days. I was only paid for eight days’ work. When I left the ship the boiler-makers from the dockyard were discharged, and Mr. Rennie’s men went to work, Mr. Rennie having taken a contract to complete the boilers and machinery and fit her for sea service.
[Untitled]
I, William O’Kelly, of 41 Smith street, Mile End, London, do truly and solemnly swear that on the 24th November last I went to Sheerness to make inquiries about a voyage, hearing that Mr. Rumble, inspector of machinery. afloat of her Majesty’s dockyard, Sheerness, was engaging a crew for a steamer called the Scylla, formerly her Majesty’s screw steamer Victor. I arrived at Sheerness at 9½ p. m. I heard the steamer was in port, but not ready for sea, and that she wanted hands. Early next amorning I found that she had gone in the night, having left in great haste, and in an incomplete state, soon after midnight. Not believing she had gone in that condition, as she was not fitted for sea, I saw Mr. Rumble about 8 o’clock a .m., and told him that hearing men were wanted for the Scylla, I had come down to make inquiries for a number of seamen who were in want of a ship. He said, You are too late, for the ship has gone, but that she still wanted about twenty men, and that if I would call at Mr. Coleman’s, No. 9 Clement’s lane, London, the next morning, Thursday, 26th November, I could learn more particulars about it, and perhaps meet him there. I went to No. 9 Clement’s lane, according to appointment, but did not see Mr. Coleman or Mr. Rumble. On Saturday, 28th November, I called again at No. 9 Clement’s lane, but found, instead of Mr. Coleman, a Mr. Pearson. I told him that I had called to see Mr. Rumble by appointment, but had been unable to find him, or the place, as he gave me the name of Coleman, at whose office I was to call. Mr. Pearson said, Mr. Rumble is here now; would you like to see him? I replied yes, and Mr. Rumble came out from an inner office. I told him I had come respecting the men I spoke to him at Sheerness about. He asked me if I could get some good men, as he should like the best going, but would not like to give an order at present. I said I would call again in a few days, and on Thursday, 1st December, I went again to No. 9 Clement’s lane, and saw Mr. Rumble. He informed me he had nothing to do with the [Page 57] ship now; and said she had been bought by Mr. Pearson, but belonged to Mr. Coleman, as Mr. Pearson was a bankrupt, and unable to purchase at present, and that Mr. Coleman and Mr. Pearson were brothers-in-law. After some further conversation respecting the crew, I asked him where the captain was to be found. (Mr. Rumble had told me that he had nothing further to do with her, and that Captain Campbell had command now.) He answered in Calais, and advised me to go there and see him myself. I started same night by train, at 8.35 p. m., and arrived at Calais at 1 a. m. on the 2d December. At daylight I went down to the pier, and spoke with one of the men who had been brought from London to join the Scylla the night before, and afterwards spoke with one of the men from Woolwich, who came to join her, but in consequence of discovering what she was, had left her, as nearly all had done. He informed me that all the Woolwich men had been engaged by Mr. Rumble. Others of the crew then came up and said they would not go in the ship, as the first lieutenant had been on the lower deck, discharging his revolver with blank and ball cartridges, and swearing that he would shoot the first man that attempted to leave the ship, and all appeared much disgusted with the treatment they received. I then went to the ship, and on the pier met Mr. Rumble and the chief mate, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Rumble wanted to know what brought me to Calais. I repeated his recommendation, and he then said, Mr. Ramsay had caused him all the trouble with the crew. Mr. Rumble then took me to Meurice’s Hotel, and I saw Captain Campbell, who asked my business. I informed him that by Mr. Rumble’s advice I had come to see if he wanted a crew. He said he should not require a crew for six weeks, but afterwards gave me to understand I should do the business. I thanked him and left the court yard, and was joined by Mr. Rumble. In the course of conversation Mr. Rumble said, Now this is a money-making job, and we must work together, and share the profits, to which I agreed; and before he left he gave me a sovereign to help me, and as an earnest of his intentions, and he desired me to meet him at Mr. Pearson’s office, on Saturday, the 5th December. I went and after waiting about nearly all day did not see him, neither have I seen him since. Before leaving Calais Mr. Rumble said he should want me to supply about forty men. I have not been able to see Mr. Rumble since, having been confined to my house by illness.
WILLIAM O’KELLY.
Sworn at my office at No. 5 White Hart Court, Lombard street, in the city of London, this 21st day of December, 1863, before me,
[Untitled]
I, George Bailey, of Sheemess, do hereby solemnly and truly swear that on Monday, the 30th November, I, with Thomas Gifford, William Barber, William Mitchell, James Morley, Joseph Govel, William Ellis, and Joseph Williams, arranged with Mr. Bagshaw, the leading hand of the boiler-makers afloat, to go to Calais and work on board the screw steamer Rappahannock, late her Majesty’s screw steamer Victor. We went with him to Mr. Rumble’s house. He went in, and we waited outside. He brought out with him three five-pound notes to pay our expenses to Calais. We thought that not enough, but Mr. Bagshaw said he had asked Mr. Rumble for more, but could not obtain it. He said, however, that those who wished to leave a note of hand for their wives to receive might do so, and that Mr. Greathead, a chief engineer in the royal navy, would pay them £2 each on the following Friday. Gifford, Mitchell, and myself left orders [Page 58] for our wives. We were told that the job would take from ten to twelve days to complete. We applied for leave of absence for fourteen days to Mr. Baffey, the leading man in the boiler-shops, who inquired where we were going, and was told we were going to Calais to repair the boilers of the Rappahannock. He said. “I cannot let eight of the best men in the shop go away on leave for so long a time, as I have so much work on hand here, which I must get done before a certain day;” but that he would see Captain Wise, the superintendent of the dockyard about it. Captain Wise said, If they go, they must go on their own account. No objection was made to our going, and we received no advice to stay away. We thought as Mr. Rumble and Mr. Bagshaw had the job in hand it would be all right when we got back, as they had promised to get us leave of absence. If I had thought that my leaving for Calais would have endangered my place in the dockyard, I should not have gone.
We went the next day, the 1st of December, to Calais, accompanied by Mr. Rumble. Upon arrival, we went on board, the Rappahannock, and Mr. Ferguson, the chief engineer, showed us our work. There were no tools to work with on board, but we were informed that some would come. The next day a gentleman brought some steel drifts on board. That is all the tools I saw. I found that there were at least 1,400 tubes to be put in, the old ones were not drawn from the boilers. We began to draw them at once, and I knew that it would take at least two months to fit the tubes as they were fitted before, or not less than six weeks, in the quickest and least expensive manner, so that they would answer, provided all the boilers were new tubed, as the chief engineer had desired; but she could be got to sea in a less time if only a part of the boilers were new tubed. Not feeling sure or comfortable after staying four days, I left Calais for Sheerness, as I thought it better to return to my former work. When I arrived at Dover, I found Mr. Rumble had returned by the same boat. He sent for me and asked my reason for leaving Calais, and wished me to return, offering me £10 to do so. I asked him what he had done about our leave. He said he knew nothing about that, but that it would be all right. I refused his offer, and said I would not go back until I had first been home. On arriving at Sheerness, I applied to our leading man, Mr. Baffey, to return to work. He informed me that I and the seven men that went with me to Calais were all discharged, by order from the admiralty, as we had been away without leave, and that we could not be readmitted. I found that Mr. Greathead had sent my wife the £2, as promised.
Mr. Henry Elmer, the third engineer, returned on Friday, the 11th of December, and he has since told me that he had left the Rappahannock because they wanted to humbug him respecting the pay. Mr. Carr, the second engineer, has also left. I have seen him since his return.
It would have taken the eight men at least two months to complete the repairs on the Rappahannock, if they had been provided with the best tools. As it was, they could not have done it at all. Other men came from Mr. Rennie’s yard, London, and took the job out of the hands of the dockyard men.
GEORGE BAILEY.
[Untitled]
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th instant, enclosing further papers respecting the case of the Rappahannock, and I have to inform you that the same shall receive the consideration of her Majesty’s government.
[Page 59]I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obe dient, humble servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.