Hoppin to By the President: Wm. M. Evarts, April 24, 1880

No. 306. Mr. Hoppin to Mr. Evarts.

Sir: I have the honor to acquaint you that at four o’clock in the afternoon of the 21st instant, I received from Mr. Nunn, the vice-consul general of the United States, an original telegram purporting to be addressed by E. P. Brooks, United States consul at Queenstown (Cork), to the consul-general in London, complaining that British custom-house officers had been put on board of the frigate Constellation, at Queens-town, notwithstanding the protest of Captain Potter, and conveying the latter’s request to the consul-general to obtain an order for their removal.

I thereupon wrote to Mr. Nunn that I should address a note to the foreign office on the subject.

I accordingly at once wrote to Lord Salisbury stating the information I had received, expressing a hope that the proceedings at Queenstown would be satisfactorily explained, and asking him to procure an order from the proper authorities, directing the officers of customs to leave the frigate.

I also immediately on the same afternoon telegraphed to Captain Potter at Queenstown the action I had taken in this matter. On the 23d instant, I received a note from Mr. Lister (for the Marquis of Salisbury), stating that he had referred my communication to the proper department of Her Majesty’s Government, with the request that immediate effect might be given to my wishes, and that he should address me again on the subject.

I have received no further communications on this subject.

I inclose a copy of the correspondence.

I have, &c.,

Copy of telegram sent April 21, 1880, at 5 p.m.

To Captain Potter, U. S. S. Constellation, Queenstown, Ireland:

I have written to Lord Salisbury for order to remove customs officers from frigate.