Jeremiah Perry to Paul Hammond, January 23, 1864

Mr. Waddington to Mr. Hammond.—(Received January 24.)

Referring to the correspondence which has taken place respecting American agents employed in procuring emigrants from Ireland, I am directed by Secretary Sir George Grey to transmit to you a copy of a letter, and its enclosures, which have been received through the Irish government from Mr. Lock Perry, inquiring, on behalf of Messrs. Sable & Searle, of Liverpool, whether they can ship passengers in the manner referred to in the enclosed correspondence, and whether they are bound to ship them back.

As Mr. Perry states that the American minister is in communication with her Majesty’s government on the subject, his letter is forwarded for the information of Earl Russell previously to returning any answer, and Mr. Perry has been informed that it has been so transmitted.

Reports respecting Finney’s proceedings received from the sub-inspector of constabulary at Galway are enclosed herewith.

[Enclosure 3 in No. 3.]

Proposed agreement.

We, the undersigned, hereby agree with Patrick H. Phinney, that, in consideration of the said Patrick H. Phinney advancing the money necessary for the payment of our respective passages to Boston, in the United States of America, that we, each of us hereto signing our names, (or making our marks in presence of witnesses,) hereby agree with said P. H. Phinney that we will, on our arrival at Boston aforesaid, commence to labor for said Patrick H. Phinney, or his assigns, either on the Charlestown water-works, in the city of Charlestown, or the Webster and Southbridge railroad, in the employ of Wall & Lynch; or the Boston, Hartford, and Erie railroad, in the employ of E. Crane, in the State of Massachusetts; or on the Pacific railroad, or for the Bear Valley Coal Company, in the employ of George P. Sanger; or for the Franklin Coal Company, in the employ of E. C. Bates, in the State of Pennsylvania.

And we hereby agree that we will, each of us hereto signing as aforesaid, continue to labor and work to our best ability for the said P. H. Phinney, or his assigns, for the term of twelve months from the date of our arrival in said Boston, for and at the rate of ——— dollars per month, in addition to our board and lodging, which is to be furnished to us by the said P. H. Phinney.

And we each of us hereby agree that we will repay to said P. H. Phinney, or to his assigns, the amount which shall have been paid by the said P. H. Phinney, or his assigns, for each of our passages to Boston as aforesaid, and also those of us who shall have had our inland passages paid for us by the said P. H. Finney, or any other advances which may have been made to us by the said P. H. Finney, or that the same shall be deducted from or repaid from our wages first earned as aforesaid, and paid to said P. H. Finney or his assigns by our employers.

It is understood that the wages aforesaid of each of us will commence within one week after our arrival in Boston, or as soon as we commence to work.

Mr. Finney to Messrs. Sable and Searle.

Sirs: Annexed is a copy of the agreement which I purpose having signed by each man whom I will approve of as a fit and proper person to be employed and sent to Boston. I have already left a copy at your office in Liverpool, but which must have escaped from your observation.

Mr. Atkinson called upon Mr. Bates, but he was not at home, and his manager refused to give a pass until he laid the matter before the board. I therefore request that you will write to the company immediately and make the necessary arrangements for the transmission of those men I may select by the different railroads.

On account of this obstacle, as well as some other which has arisen, I will not be able to send any men before the 29th instant; then I will have 150 good men selected to send by the vessel sailing on that date.

I was informed that the agreement between the men and I must be signed in the presence of the United States consul. I therefore called upon him, and he has written to the United States minister, London, (Mr. Adams,) so as to have everything satisfactorily arranged, as he would not like to act in the matter without first having communicated with Mr. Adams.

I think that the presence of either of you here would be very beneficial, (I mean Mr. Sable,) as the necessary arrangements would be much better disposed of, and wish you would come at once, as it would be much better than writing, as you will see the matter requires your presence.

I am, &c.,