Hoppin to By the President: Wm. M. Evarts, May 1, 1880

No. 307. Mr. Hoppin to Mr. Evarts.

Sir: Referring to my dispatch. No. 180 of the 24th ultimo, I have the honor to inclose a copy of a letter received since the date of that dispatch from Lord Tenterden, expressing the regret of Her Majesty’s Government at the action of the officers of customs at Queenstown in respect to the United States frigate Constellation.

I have, &c.,

Copy of the fifty-second section of the customs consolidation act, 1876.

The captain or other officer having the charge of any ship (having commission from Her Majesty or from any foreign state) having on board any goods laden in ports beyond the seas, shall on arrival at any port in the United Kingdom, and before any part of such goods be taken out of such ship, or when called upon so to do by any officer of the customs, deliver an account tin writing under his hand, to the best of his knowledge, of the quality and quantity of every package or parcel of such goods, and of the marks and numbers thereon, and of the names of the respective shippers and consignees of the same, and shall make and subscribe a declaration at the foot of such account declaring to the truth thereof, and shall also truly answer to the collector or other proper officer, such questions concerning such goods as shall be required of him, and on failure thereof, such captain or other officer shall forfeit the sum of £100, and all such ships shall be liable to such searchers as merchant ships are liable to, and the officers of the customs may freely enter and go on board all such ships and bring from thence on shore into the Queen’s warehouse any goods found on board any such ship as aforesaid, subject nevertheless to such regulations in respect to ships of war belonging to Her Majesty, as shall from time to time be directed in that respect by the commissioners of Her Majesty’s treasury.