Charles Francis Adams to William H. Seward, December 24, 1863

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,

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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.

Sworn at my office, No. 57 Nicholas lane, in the city of London, this 11th day of December, 1863, before me,

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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,

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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,

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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 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,