Charles Francis Adams to Right Hon. Earl Russell, May 16, 1863

Mr. Adams to Lord Russell.

My Lord: I have the honor to transmit to you copies of two depositions, going further to show the character and purposes of the steamer Phantom, concerning which I have already made some representations in my note to your lordship of the 26th of March, not doubting that these proceedings have already attracted the attention of her Majesty’s government.

I pray, &c., &c.,

Deposition of Robert Thomas.

I, Robert Thomas, of No. 3 court, Ann street, Toxteth Part, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, police constable No. 379, of the borough police, make oath and say as follows:

1. I do duty as a police constable at the Toxteth dock, Liverpool, and have been so employed for the last three years and upwards. I know the ship-building yard of Messrs W. C. Miller & Sons, ship-builders, Liverpool, which adjoins. to the dock, and has an entrance into the dock.

2. About five months ago my attention was called to a ship that I was told was to be made of steel plates. She was then on one of the slips in Messrs. Miller & Sons’ yard, and had only her ribs up. Since that time I have seen her from day to day. She is now lying in Toxteth dock. I have been aboard of her since she has been in the dock. She is entirely cased with steel plates. There are three port-holes on. each side, which are covered with steel-plate shutters. She is fitted with a screw. There are no sleeping bunks for the crew, and very little room in her For cargo, her engines and boilers taking up most of the room; and from her whole appearance I am able to say that she is intended for war purposes.

3. The engines are being fitted by Messrs. Fawcett, Preston & Co., whose men have been and are now at work on her.

4. I know Captain Bullock, who went out with the Oreto, which vessel I remember when in Messrs. W. C. Miller & Sons’ yard, who built her. I have known Captain Bullock about twelve months and have seen him engaged giving directions on board the Oreto, the Alexandra, and I have also seen him upon the Phantom very often, superintending and directing the workmen who were engaged upon her. I saw him on Tuesday last, on which day the Phantom went out of the Toxteth dock into the river to try how the screw would act. I was then standing on the pier-head, and the vessel was close to. They were trying the screw for twenty minutes or more. There were present with Captain Bullock Mr. Thomas Miller, one of the firm of W. C. Miller & Sons, Mr. Steers, of Fawcett, Preston & Co., and some other people whom I don’t know. I heard Captain Bullock give directions as to the vessel, and also saw him examining the screw with Mr. Steers and Mr. Miller. I spoke to Captain Bullock when he came on shore, and asked him if any accident had happened to the Phantom, as they had kept her so long at the gate. He said no, she was all right. The Phantom was hauled into dock again after the trial was over, and I saw her there last night.

5. I saw the said Captain Bullock and Mr. Thomas Miller again last night looking at the Phantom and inspecting the progress of the work. The men are very busy at work, upon her. Her engines are now all finished, and there is little to be done before she will be ready for sea.

ROBERT THOMAS.

Deposition of William Cozzens.

I, William Cozzens, of No. 7 Lavan street, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, detective police officer, make oath and say as follows:

1. I have been employed for the last several weeks watching the building of certain vessels by certain parties in Liverpool and neighborhood, and, amongst others, my attention has been called to a vessel built by Messrs. W. C. Miller & Sons, ship-builders, Liverpool, which vessel is called the Phantom.

2. I saw the Phantom lying in the Clarence dock basin the first week in April. She remained there until the 4th of May instant, when she was taken up to the Toxteth dock.

3. During the time the Phantom was lying in the Clarence basin, I frequently saw an engineer, named William Allen, who, I am informed and believe, sailed from this port as the chief engineer on board the steamship Oreto, in March, 1862. I saw, also, the foreman and head engineer of Messrs. Fawcett, Preston & Co., on board of the Phantom, superintending the men who were engaged fitting the engines and boilers on her. I observed that some of their tools and machines bore the initial marks “F., P. & Co.” I also saw two boilers, now in the ship, being taken there on a carriage, which had the name of Fawcett, Preston & Co. thereon.

4. Since the Phantom has been in the Toxteth dock, I have seen on her machinery which bore the initials of F., P. & Co., and on Wednesday, the 13th of May instant, I was at the Toxteth dock, and there saw Captain Bullock and Mr. Thomas Miller & Sons. They were in conversation, and appeared to be inspecting the ship; and after they came on shore they remained looking at her bow, and talking together for several minutes.

5. The Phantom is a screw steamer of about two hundred feet long. She is steel-plated all over, and has three port-holes on each side. She draws very little water, not more than three feet forward, and about seven to eight aft. She has very little room for any cargo, and appears to me to be built for war purposes. They are fitting her with great expedition. Her engines are finished, and she is almost ready.

WILLIAM COZZENS.