Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward, December 24, 1863

Mr. Adams to Mr.
Seward.

Sir: Mr. Morse, the consul at this place, has
just furnished me with a number of depositions in regard to the
proceedings at Sheerness in the case of the Scylla, alias Victor, alias Rappahannock. I
thought them so strong that I immediately transmitted them to Lord
Russell, with a note. Copies of these papers are subjoined.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

[Untitled]

My Lord: I have the honor to submit to your
consideration a copy of a letter received from Mr. Morse, the consul
of the United States at this port, together with copies of seven
depositions of persons who testify to the proceedings connected with
the outfit and departure of the steamer Scylla, Victor, or
Rappahannock, from Sheerness, and her later condition at Calais.

It is with the most profound regret that I am forced to the
conclusion that the entire movement has been conducted with the
connivance and direct aid of many of her Majesty’s officers
stationed within the royal dockyard at Sheerness. The testimony in
regard to the masts furnished from the Cumberland, the supply of
water and some other stores, the aid of a government pilot, and the
privity of many of the officers of the yard to the employment of the
hands, appears to be very conclusive.

The agency of Mr. Coleman, a British subject, and the apparent owner
of a vessel now pretending to claim the protection of the French
government as a belligerent ship-of-war, seems also to require
notice. Mr. Coleman is thus presented as a person carrying on war
with the United States; or else he is making himself a party to a
gross fraud upon the government of France, with the intent to
violate the neutrality enjoined upon him by her Majesty’s
proclamation.

I have felt it my painful duty to bring to your lordship’s notice
these particulars of this most extraordinary case, not from any
doubt of the determination of her Majesty’s government, already
signified to me, to do justice in the matter, but from a sense of an
obligation to do everything within my power to contribute to the
exposure of the offenders.

I pray your lordship to accept the assurances of the highest
consideration with which I have the honor to be, my lord, your most
obedient servant,

[Untitled]

Sir: I herewith enclose affidavits of Enoch
Cohen, George Hill, James Munn, Charles Newton, James Maloney,
William O’Kelly, and George Bailey, in the case of the privateer
Victor, Scylla, or Rappahannock.

Permit me to call your attention to the date of the advance note
given to Charles Bull, a seaman, and which was, some days after,
paid by Robert Gordon Coleman, No. 28 Clement’s lane, London, who
appears by the record evidence to be the lawful owner of the
privateer Rappahannock, now under the confederate flag. The Victor,
or Scylla, escaped from Sheerness on the evening of the 24th of
November. The note was given when the man Bull was shipped, on the
25th of November, and was paid by Coleman on the 11th of December.
So far as any recorded evidence shows ownership, the legal title to
the rebel privateer Rappahannock is still in R. G. Coleman, a London
merchant. The papers herewith and previously sent to you prove that
he has interested himself in supplying his corsair, now under the
confederate flag, since she left Sheerness, and since she hoisted
that flag, with a large number of seamen. Mr. Coleman’s connexion
with the purchase, fitting, and manning of the Rappahannock is too
clearly established to be called in question.

Should it be urged, as a reason for not making any effort to reclaim
the Rappahannock as a piratical British ship under a foreign flag,
or to prevent her from proceeding to sea as a privateer, that an
English ship can be sold to foreigners without a cancelling of her
register in this country, and that Mr. Coleman may have sold her
since she left this country, we reply that so far as is known he is
still the owner; that the legal record of ownership shows her to-day to be an English ship, and that it is
incumbent on the authorities here to prevent her from piratical
acts, or to show that all title to her has legally passed from citizens of this country to
foreigners, and that she is now lawfully held by such
foreigners.

It is a question of some interest to know how, in the present state
of European law in reference to privateers, a rebel cruiser can
commence her piratical career, from a European port, with papers
that will be respected, or rather that ought to be respected, by the
maritime powers of Europe. Who has authority to issue such papers,
and to claim for them the acknowledgment and respect of maritime
states?

I would also respectfully ask your attention to the date of the
engagement with the boiler-makers, at the Sheerness dockyard, by
Engineer Rumble, and Mr.
Bagshaw, a foreman in the boiler department, in which transaction
Mr. Greathead, a chief engineer in the royal navy, also
participated, as paymaster to the families of the men at Sheerness,
in the absence of Mr. Rumble. The engagement of these boiler-makers,
to go to Calais to repair the boilers of the privateer Rappahannock,
was five or six days after that steamer left Sheerness, and some
four days after her arrival at the port of Calais, in France, under
the rebel flag, and after she had been announced in the newspapers
of England as a rebel privateer escaped from an English port.

Very sincerely, your obedient servant,

[Untitled]

Three days after the ship S. S. Stella, pro
tem., leaves Downs, pay to the order of Charles Bull
(provided he sails in the said ship, and is duly earning his wages
according to his agreement) the sum of three pounds fifteen
shillings, being one month’s advance of wages.

THOMAS ANSON, for Master.

Messrs. Gordon & Co.

Payable at 28 Clement’s lane, city.

The seaman must write his name on the back hereof; by this act he
will understand he is conveying to another the value of the note. If
he cannot write, his mark must be attested by a witness, not the
discounter of recipient.

N. B.—The seaman must join the ship at the time appointed, or a
substitute will be engaged. Ship lying in or ——————. Time to join
——————.

Sold by J. Omer, 99 Meriones, London, Navigation Office.

Endorsed at back:

Witness: N. Cohen.

This is the paper writing referred to in the annexed affidavit of
Enoch Cohen, sworn before me, this 11th day of December,
1863.

[Untitled]

I, Enoch Cohen, of No. 9 Palmer street, Spitalfields, do solemnly
swear that the foregoing paper writing is a true and faithful copy
of an original advance note, received by me from N. Cohen, tailor
and outfitter, of Wells street, Well Close Square, to collect, the
said note having been given to Charles Bull, able seaman, as advance
for wages to be earned on board the steamship Stella, or Scylla, or
Rappahannock, then lying at Calais. I had two other advance notes
from seamen named John Dewslip, A. B., and Abraham Butler, boy,
which were given them at a public house in Royal Mint street. I
received the money for the last two notes at the office of Mr.
Robert Gordon Coleman, 28 Clement’s lane, and Charles Bull’s note
was paid me at Mr. Pearson’s office, No. 9 Clement’s lane, by a Mr.
Daley.

ENOCH COHEN.

Sworn at my office, No. 57 Nicholas lane, in the city of London, this
11th day of December, 1863, before me,

[Untitled]

I, George Hill, of Hythe, Kent, sailmaker, late of her Majesty’s
steam frigate Emerald, having been paid off from that ship about two
months since, do solemnly swear that in the beginning of November
last, upon applying to Mr. Rumble, her Majesty’s inspector of
machinery afloat at Sheerness, for a ship, he sent me on board the
screw steamer Scylla, late her Majesty’s screw steamer Victor, to
work as sailmaker. I remained on board until the 24th of November,
on the night of which day the ship suddenly left for Calais. Upon
arriving there, another captain took command, and wanted me to sign
articles, at £10 per month, in her. I was
then told she was a confederate man-of-war, and was to have had £10 bounty. I refused to serve in her, and
received £3 only, with which to return to
London. Several of the men who joined her in Calais signed articles
there, after knowing what she was. When I joined her she had no
masts in her. They were afterwards put in by her Majesty’s ship
Cumberland. The Scylla was but one-quarter rigged, and not in a fit
state to go to sea, her rigging not being rattled down.

GEORGE HILL.

Sworn 12th day of December, 1863, before me,

[Untitled]

I, James Nunn, lately residing at No. 2 Union Row, Sheerness, able
seaman, do solemnly and truly swear that on October last, while at
work in Sheerness dockyard, I was asked by Mr. Rumble, her Majesty’s
inspector of machinery afloat at Sheerness, to join the screw
steamer Scylla, of London, and go to work upon her at once. He told
me she was a merchant ship, and was to be fitted up for the China
opium trade. I went to work on her, at his recommendation. She was
under the command of Captain Ramsay. On the 24th of November, at
night, she suddenly left her port, and on the following day put into
Calais harbor. Captain Campbell then took command, and I was told by
him that she was a confederate man-of-war, and he asked me to join,
but I refused. Be fore I left the ship forty men came from London to
join her, but they all refused to sign articles with the exception
of seven, who remained on board and signed articles there. I
received only £2 10s.
for my month’s work, and had to pay my carriage back to this port,
and Captain Campbell detained my discharge. I am now destitute, and
cannot obtain a ship in consequence of his detaining my discharge.
While I was on board she was taken to No. 3 dock, Sheerness
dockyard; She had her bottom scribed, and the copper repaired, her
topsides calked and painted.

JAMES NUNN.

Sworn, &c., 12th December, before me,

[Untitled]

I, Charles Newton, of Sheerness, do hereby truly, solemnly, and
sincerely swear that I went to work on board the screw steamer
Scylla, late her Majesty’s screw steamer Victor, at Sheerness, about
the middle of November, having been engaged by Mr. Howe, who paid me
for working on board 3s. 6d. per day. On the
24th November I went on the ship at o’clock in the evening with a
Trinity pilot, and commenced getting the wheel ready and other
preparations for going to sea. At about 7½ o’clock Mr. Reuben
Harvey, the government pilot, came on board and took command of the
ship. In the night she left Sheerness in tow of a tug-boat. I was at the wheel, and received orders from
Mr. Harvey; about a mile and a half below the Nore the ship was
brought up, and laid there till morning; then got under way and
proceeded to Calais. I staid by her until the following Wednesday.
Mr. Ramsay wanted me to sign articles, but I refused. The wages were
too low, and I did not like the first lieutenant. I knew she was a
confederate man-of-war when I was asked to sign articles, as the
confederate colors were sent up just before we entered Calais
harbor. I did not know which service she was for when I joined her,
having been told and heard it talked about that she was for the
opium trade or confederate ser vice. When I was asked to sign
articles we were all told that the steamer was a confederate
man-of-war, and that we should receive prize money as soon as we had
taken the prizes. The captain said we were to light for money, and
he was going to fight for his country and his home. I then received
£3 0s. 6d. in the cabin, in the presence of Mr.
Rumble and Mrs. Rumble, and left the ship. When I first went on
board the water police were upon the ship, and some new government
warps and other stores were on board. Mr. Rees, the master rigger of
Sheerness dockyard, went in the boat with me, and some riggers were
at work on board from the dockyard. Mr. Rees had with him a black
bag, with some stripped blocks. These warps and blocks were on board
when I left the ship at Calais. The vessel was not completely
rigged. Her masts had been put in from the Cumberland, but the
rigging was not rattled down. Ham mocks were on board in bales, and
four boats were received on board from the tug-boat. Before we left
Sheerness her shell-room and magazines were up and in good
condition.

[Untitled]

I, James Maloney, of Sheerness fireman do hereby solemnly and truly
swear that I went to work on board the screw steamer Scylla, late
her Majesty’s screw steamer Victor, about the 10th November, having
been engaged by Mr. Rumble, at one guinea per week and my food. The
wages were paid to me regularly by Mr. Rumble, at his house, before
the vessel started from Sheerness. I was working on board as
fireman, and assisted in removing stores, &c., about decks until
the day before we left, when I commenced working in the engine-room.
On the 24th November a gentleman, who had arrived from London, came
on board. We were suddenly ordered away, and left Sheerness that
night, the vessel not being in a fit condition to go to sea, the
boilers requiring new tubing, some of which had been put on board at
Sheerness. The rigging was not rattled down; she had no sails bent,
and everything was in disorder. A large number of new hammocks had
been put on board. The magazine and shell-rooms were in good
condition, but nothing had been completed fit for a sea-going ship.
Eight riggers were working on board from the government dockyard
when we left Sheerness. The Scylla was towed to the Nore, and
anchored a little below until the morning; then steamed to Calais
harbor. The riggers remained
on board two days after her arrival at Calais, and some
boiler-makers were sent from Sheerness dockyard to work on board.
They took their orders from Mr. Bumble, who was inspecting the
machinery there. He came over with his wife for that purpose, I
should think. I was called aft, with all hands on board, by the
captain upon the second day after we arrived at Calais, who wanted
us to sign articles. He read the articles, and stated that the ship
was a confederate man-of-war, and that we were to fight for prize
money, and that he could fight for love of country. I refused going,
as the wages were not satisfactory. Mr. Ramsay had promised us in
Sheerness £8 per month, but the captain only
offered £6 2s. 6d. I did not want to go in her at all after
finding what employment we were wanted for. I then received £2 2s. 6d. and left the ship. As I was going on board
the steamboat to return to England Mr. Rumble met me on the pier,
and told me to return to the Scylla and go to work with the
boiler-makers, which I did at his request, and worked for fourteen
days. I was only paid for eight days’ work. When I left the ship the
boiler-makers from the dockyard were discharged, and Mr. Rennie’s
men went to work, Mr. Rennie having taken a contract to complete the
boilers and machinery and fit her for sea service.

[Untitled]

I, William O’Kelly, of 41 Smith street, Mile End, London, do truly
and solemnly swear that on the 24th November last I went to
Sheerness to make inquiries about a voyage, hearing that Mr. Rumble,
inspector of machinery. afloat of her Majesty’s dockyard, Sheerness,
was engaging a crew for a steamer called the Scylla, formerly her
Majesty’s screw steamer Victor. I arrived at Sheerness at 9½ p. m. I
heard the steamer was in port, but not ready for sea, and that she
wanted hands. Early next amorning I found that she had gone in the
night, having left in great haste, and in an incomplete state, soon
after midnight. Not believing she had gone in that condition, as she
was not fitted for sea, I saw Mr. Rumble about 8 o’clock a .m., and
told him that hearing men were wanted for the Scylla, I had come
down to make inquiries for a number of seamen who were in want of a
ship. He said, You are too late, for the ship has gone, but that she
still wanted about twenty men, and that if I would call at Mr.
Coleman’s, No. 9 Clement’s lane, London, the next morning, Thursday,
26th November, I could learn more particulars about it, and perhaps
meet him there. I went to No. 9 Clement’s lane, according to
appointment, but did not see Mr. Coleman or Mr. Rumble. On Saturday,
28th November, I called again at No. 9 Clement’s lane, but found,
instead of Mr. Coleman, a Mr. Pearson. I told him that I had called
to see Mr. Rumble by appointment, but had been unable to find him,
or the place, as he gave me the name of Coleman, at whose office I
was to call. Mr. Pearson said, Mr. Rumble is here now; would you
like to see him? I replied yes, and Mr. Rumble came out from an
inner office. I told him I had come respecting the men I spoke to
him at Sheerness about. He asked me if I could get some good men, as
he should like the best going, but would not like to give an order
at present. I said I would call again in a few days, and on
Thursday, 1st December, I went again to No. 9 Clement’s lane, and
saw Mr. Rumble. He informed me he had nothing to do with the ship now; and said she had
been bought by Mr. Pearson, but belonged to Mr. Coleman, as Mr.
Pearson was a bankrupt, and unable to purchase at present, and that
Mr. Coleman and Mr. Pearson were brothers-in-law. After some further
conversation respecting the crew, I asked him where the captain was
to be found. (Mr. Rumble had told me that he had nothing further to
do with her, and that Captain Campbell had command now.) He answered
in Calais, and advised me to go there and see him myself. I started
same night by train, at 8.35 p. m., and arrived at Calais at 1 a. m.
on the 2d December. At daylight I went down to the pier, and spoke
with one of the men who had been brought from London to join the
Scylla the night before, and afterwards spoke with one of the men
from Woolwich, who came to join her, but in consequence of
discovering what she was, had left her, as nearly all had done. He
informed me that all the Woolwich men had been engaged by Mr.
Rumble. Others of the crew then came up and said they would not go
in the ship, as the first lieutenant had been on the lower deck,
discharging his revolver with blank and ball cartridges, and
swearing that he would shoot the first man that attempted to leave
the ship, and all appeared much disgusted with the treatment they
received. I then went to the ship, and on the pier met Mr. Rumble
and the chief mate, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Rumble wanted to know what
brought me to Calais. I repeated his recommendation, and he then
said, Mr. Ramsay had caused him all the trouble with the crew. Mr.
Rumble then took me to Meurice’s Hotel, and I saw Captain Campbell,
who asked my business. I informed him that by Mr. Rumble’s advice I
had come to see if he wanted a crew. He said he should not require a
crew for six weeks, but afterwards gave me to understand I should do
the business. I thanked him and left the court yard, and was joined
by Mr. Rumble. In the course of conversation Mr. Rumble said, Now
this is a money-making job, and we must work together, and share the
profits, to which I agreed; and before he left he gave me a
sovereign to help me, and as an earnest of his intentions, and he
desired me to meet him at Mr. Pearson’s office, on Saturday, the 5th
December. I went and after waiting about nearly all day did not see
him, neither have I seen him since. Before leaving Calais Mr. Rumble
said he should want me to supply about forty men. I have not been
able to see Mr. Rumble since, having been confined to my house by
illness.

WILLIAM O’KELLY.

Sworn at my office at No. 5 White Hart Court, Lombard street, in the
city of London, this 21st day of December, 1863, before me,

[Untitled]

I, George Bailey, of Sheemess, do hereby solemnly and truly swear
that on Monday, the 30th November, I, with Thomas Gifford, William
Barber, William Mitchell, James Morley, Joseph Govel, William Ellis,
and Joseph Williams, arranged with Mr. Bagshaw, the leading hand of
the boiler-makers afloat, to go to Calais and work on board the
screw steamer Rappahannock, late her Majesty’s screw steamer Victor.
We went with him to Mr. Rumble’s house. He went in, and we waited
outside. He brought out with him three five-pound notes to pay our
expenses to Calais. We thought that not enough, but Mr. Bagshaw said
he had asked Mr. Rumble for more, but could not obtain it. He said,
however, that those who wished to leave a note of hand for their
wives to receive might do so, and that Mr. Greathead, a chief
engineer in the royal navy, would pay them £2
each on the following Friday. Gifford, Mitchell, and myself left
orders for our wives. We
were told that the job would take from ten to twelve days to
complete. We applied for leave of absence for fourteen days to Mr.
Baffey, the leading man in the boiler-shops, who inquired where we
were going, and was told we were going to Calais to repair the
boilers of the Rappahannock. He said. “I cannot let eight of the
best men in the shop go away on leave for so long a time, as I have
so much work on hand here, which I must get done before a certain
day;” but that he would see Captain Wise, the superintendent of the
dockyard about it. Captain Wise said, If they go, they must go on
their own account. No objection was made to our going, and we
received no advice to stay away. We thought as Mr. Rumble and Mr.
Bagshaw had the job in hand it would be all right when we got back,
as they had promised to get us leave of absence. If I had thought
that my leaving for Calais would have endangered my place in the
dockyard, I should not have gone.

We went the next day, the 1st of December, to Calais, accompanied by
Mr. Rumble. Upon arrival, we went on board, the Rappahannock, and
Mr. Ferguson, the chief engineer, showed us our work. There were no
tools to work with on board, but we were informed that some would
come. The next day a gentleman brought some steel drifts on board.
That is all the tools I saw. I found that there were at least 1,400
tubes to be put in, the old ones were not drawn from the boilers. We
began to draw them at once, and I knew that it would take at least
two months to fit the tubes as they were fitted before, or not less
than six weeks, in the quickest and least expensive manner, so that
they would answer, provided all the boilers were new tubed, as the
chief engineer had desired; but she could be got to sea in a less
time if only a part of the boilers were new tubed. Not feeling sure
or comfortable after staying four days, I left Calais for Sheerness,
as I thought it better to return to my former work. When I arrived
at Dover, I found Mr. Rumble had returned by the same boat. He sent
for me and asked my reason for leaving Calais, and wished me to
return, offering me £10 to do so. I asked him
what he had done about our leave. He said he knew nothing about
that, but that it would be all right. I refused his offer, and said
I would not go back until I had first been home. On arriving at
Sheerness, I applied to our leading man, Mr. Baffey, to return to
work. He informed me that I and the seven men that went with me to
Calais were all discharged, by order from the admiralty, as we had
been away without leave, and that we could not be readmitted. I
found that Mr. Greathead had sent my wife the £2, as promised.

Mr. Henry Elmer, the third engineer, returned on Friday, the 11th of
December, and he has since told me that he had left the Rappahannock
because they wanted to humbug him respecting the pay. Mr. Carr, the
second engineer, has also left. I have seen him since his
return.

It would have taken the eight men at least two months to complete the
repairs on the Rappahannock, if they had been provided with the best
tools. As it was, they could not have done it at all. Other men came
from Mr. Rennie’s yard, London, and took the job out of the hands of
the dockyard men.

GEORGE BAILEY.

[Untitled]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 16th instant, enclosing further papers
respecting the case of the Rappahannock, and I have to inform you
that the same shall receive the consideration of her Majesty’s
government.

I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your
most obe dient, humble servant,