Lewis Jones to the Secretary to the Admirrlty, December 7, 1863

Rear-Admiral Sir L. Jones to the Secretary to the Admirrlty.

Sir: I have the honor to report, for their lordships’ information, that the United States steam-corvette Kearsarge came off the harbor this morning, and shortly afterward fifteen seamen were landed from her by the Petrel, a schooner pilot-boat, belonging to Messrs. Scott & Co., merchants, of Queenstown.

2. It appears from the statements of these men that they were shipped between the 2d and 5th November last, while the Kearsarge was windbound at this port, and regularly entered as part complement of the ship on arriving at Brest.

3. I would beg to observe that Captain Winslow, of the Kearsarge, was perfectly aware of her Majesty’s proclamation and the statute law on that point, as he had a copy of the proclamation in his possession, and I had a conversation with him on the subject, and he stated to me in the presence of Mr. Eastman, the United States consul, that he did not want any men—he only wanted a clerk.

4. The men now landed are in custody, awaiting the decision of the custom house authorities in London.

5. I have further to add, that Mr. Eastman, the United States consul, read to me this morning a letter he had received from Captain Winslow, of the Kearsarge, stating that a number of men were found secreted on board the Kearsarge after his leaving Queenstown on the 5th November, and that he would have landed them at Brest, but that doing so would have put them into the hands of the confederate war steamer Florida, and he now sends them on shore at Queenstown.

I have, &c.,