[Untitled], 21st December, 1863

[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.