Charles Francis Adams to Right Hon. Earl Russell, May 19, 1863

Mr. Adams to Lord Russell.

My Lord: I have the honor to transmit the copy of another deposition, supplementary to that which I submitted to your consideration with my note of the 16th instant) relating to the steamer Phantom.

I pray your lordship, &c.,

Deposition of Robert Thomas.

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

1. On Friday I went on duty at the Toxteth dock, and about half-past nine o’clock I saw Captain Bullock coming down and go alongside of the Phantom, and point out to one of the foremen of Messrs. W. C. Miller & Sons something that required to be done to the fore part of the vessel’s deck. The foreman then went on deck, and Captain Bullock went into Messrs. Millers’ yard, and, in about twenty minutes afterwards, he came with Mr. Thomas Miller, and they Went on board the vessel, and remained there some time. I saw him with one of the foremen, named David Runcorn, fitting in the hatchway cover.

2. Captain Bullock had a roll of paper in his hand, which I believe to have been a plan, and he was inspecting the vessel, and, from time to time, referring to the paper; and he was thus occupied upwards of two hours.

3. During the whole of the time I was on duty at the dock yesterday, from 8 o’clock a.m. to half-past 3 p.m., Messrs. Millers’ men, and Messrs. Fawcett Preston & Co.’s men, were busily engaged on the vessel.

4. Captain Bullock was also at the vessel at half-past 8 o’clock this morning, inspecting her gallery and other portions; he had with him the same paper, and was engaged giving directions to the men, and pointing out things which appeared to require attention. I was not near enough to him to hear what those directions were, but his manner was such as to leave no doubt on my mind that he was pointing out certain things which did not tally with the paper he had in his hands.

5. I had some conversation with one of the engineers in the employ of Fawcett, Preston & Co., whose name I do not know, but who has been continually employed on the Phantom ever since she has been on the Toxteth dock; and in reply to a question of mine as to when the Phantom was going to sail, he. said he did not know, but that she was going to leave the dock on Monday to try her engines, as she was all finished, except just oiling her engines.

ROBERT THOMAS.