E. M. Archibald to Lyons , G. C. B, February 29, 1864

Mr. Archibald to Lord Lyons.

My Lord: Referring to my despatch of the 26th instant, I have the honor to report to your lordship, that Mr. Vice-Consul Edwards proceeded to Fort Lafayette on Saturday last. and there examined, on oath, Alexander Haggin, late master of the schooner Sylvanus, of Nassau. Mr. Haggin states that he is a native of Belfast, Ireland, and a British subject; that he has never been naturalized in the United States, or elsewhere; that he has followed the sea for the last fifteen years, chiefly in the East India trade. The last time he was in the United States was at Darien, in Georgia, in the year 1861, before the war begun; he was then a seaman of the St. Helena, and remained there for about five weeks. He had been but once before in the United States, when he was an apprentice. He sailed from Nassau about the end of December last, in command of the schooner Sylvanus, of Nassau, with a cargo of salt, six barrels of spirits, and some manilla cord. On the 2d of January last, being then off Darien, the Sylvanus was fired at by the United States blockading vessel Huron, and was thereby sunk. The crew and himself, nine in all, were taken on board the Huron, and sixteen days afterwards were transported to the United States ship Massachusetts, and conveyed in her to Philadelphia. While on board the Huron the whole of the crew, the master excepted, were placed in irons every night. On arriving at Philadelphia they were placed on board the guard ship for nine days, and were then sent to Fort Lafayette, all in irons, with the exception of the mate, who was suffering from a sore arm. They have been at Fort Lafayette for more than three weeks; and that since their capture on the 2d of January, neither the master nor any of the men had been examined. That the master had addressed two letters to me, one on the 4th and one on the 20th instant, to neither of which had he received any reply. The crew consists of the following persons, who are British subjects, viz., Samuel N. Williams, a native of Wales, mate; Robert James Rawlins, native of Belfast, Ireland; William Riley, native of Dublin; George Watson, native of Windsor, Nova Scotia; William Jackson, native of Tipperary, Ireland; William Johnson, native of Nassau, New Providence, and James Wade, native of Dublin. The remaining seaman is a Belgian, named Paul Clark.

In reference to the letters stated by the master to have been addressed by him to me, I beg to observe that I have not received any letter whatever from him.

I have, &c., &c., &c.,