James Monroe to P. S.— December 8.—I have no further information in regard to the Shenandoah. J. M, November 29, 1864

Mr. Monroe to Mr. Seward.

Sir: I am pained to be compelled to report to the department that a new piratical steamer called the Shenandoah, commanded by James W. Waddell, is engaged in destroying our merchant vessels near the equator, on the highway of communication between the United States and the ports of South America. The facts presented below were obtained in part from protests recorded at this office by the masters of the Alina and the D. Godfroy, and in part from statements published in the Brazilian newspapers and believed to be reliable.

The bark Alina, Staples master, of 573 tons burden, sailed from Newport, England, on the 6th October, with a cargo of railroad iron, bound for Buenos Ayres. Having reached latitude 16° 40’ north and longitude 26° 45’ west, she. was captured and sunk on the 29th October by the Shenandoah. The schooner Charter Oak, from Boston, bound for San Francisco, was captured and destroyed by the same pirate on the 5th of November in latitude 7° north, longitude 27° 3’ west.

On the 7th November the bark D. Godfroy, Hallett master, from Boston, of 300 tons burden, bound for Valparaiso with general cargo, was captured and burnt by the Shenandoah in latitude 6° 25’ north and longitude 27° 15’ west. On the 10th of November, in latitude 4° 30’ north and longitude 26° 40’ west, the brig Susan of New York, bound from Cardiff to Rio Grande, was also destroyed by th§ same steamer.

On the 12th November the Shenandoah captured the ship Kate Prince, of 995 tons burden, Libby master. The Kate Prince belongs in Portsmouth,. New Hampshire, and was on her passage from Cardiff to Bahia with a cargo of coal. She was captured in latitude 2° 30’ north and longitude 28° 30’ west, and having been compelled to give bonds in the sum of 40,000 dollars, was allowed to continue her voyage. These five vessels were all American. The officers and crews were at first transferred to the Shenandoah; afterwards, as opportunity offered, a part were sent to Bahia on the Kate Prince, a part to this port on the Danish brig Anna Jans, from New York, and the rest, so far as heard from, had been retained on the Shenandoah; of these last, some by threats and promises had been induced to engage in the piratical service.

In another instance a vessel not under our flag narrowly escaped destruction. The Argentine bark Adelaide, Williams master, bound from Baltimore to this city, was boarded by officers of the Shenandoah on the 12th November in latitude 1^o 46’ and longitude 29° west. The Adelaide was consigned to Phipps Brothers & Co., of this city. It was at first decided to burn her, and straw and tar had been brought for this object; this purpose, however, was finally abandoned, and the pirates having opened letters, destroyed furniture, and committed other outrages, retired on board the Shenandoah, carrying a part of the provisions of the bark with them. Captain Williams states that the commander of the Shenandoah declared he would hereafter burn all cargoes belonging to American owners, by whatever flag they might be covered.

The following statement in regard to the Shenandoah is made by shipmasters who have been prisoners on board of her:

“The Shenandoah is a steamship of 1,100 tons burden and 250 horse-power. She carries a battery of four 68-pounders and two 12-pounders, all smooth-bore, and two 32-pounders, rifled.

“She was formerly called the Sea King, and belonged to the Steam Company trading between London and Bombay and Calcutta. She was built by Stevens & Sons, of Glasgow, in 1863, and makes eleven miles an hour. She has forty-three men, nearly all English, besides the officers. She cleared from London for Bombay in September of this year.”

On the 27th instant the Anna Jans brought into this port the following officers and seamen of the Alina and D. Godfroy, who, being in a very destitute condition, applied to this consulate for assistance:

From the Alina: Everett Staples, master; J. F. Peterson, first officer; M, H. Staples, second officer; G. A. Stinson, seaman.

From the D. Godfroy: Samuel W. Hallett, master; R. L. Taylor, first officer; Charles F. Brown, second officer; Joseph James, seaman.

I offered assistance to the officers simply as seamen, in accordance with section 211 of my instructions.

As this despatch will be retained until the sailing of the English packet on the 9th of December, it will be supplemented by any further information which I may obtain in regard to the movements of the Shenandoah.

I have, &c.,

JAMES MONROE.