WARWICK, Paymaster to J. A. Paynter , Her Majesty’s Ship Donegal, January 24, 1866

Mr. Warwick to Captain Paynter.

Sir: In compliance with your orders to report what I witnessed and heard on the occasion of the mustering of the crew of the Shenandoah, late confederate cruiser, on the evening of the 8th November last, I beg leave to state that I accompanied you on board that vessel to assist in endeavoring to ascertain whether any of the crew were British subjects; and to take notes and examine evidence in the event of information of having infringed the foreign enlistment act being laid against any individual.

On proceeding alongside the Shenandoah in the ferry steamer a number of the crew swarmed on board by the hawsers, but were persuaded by you to return to their ship.

I followed you into Captain Waddell’s cabin and heard you ask him on his word of honor whether he was aware of any British subjects forming part of his crew? He assured you that he was not; neither did he believe there were any among them, and that they had all been shipped on the high seas. You then came out into the officers’ mess place, called them round and asked if they were British subjects; they replied they were not, nor did they think any of the crew were.

At your request Captain Waddell directed the senior lieutenant to muster the crew, which he did from a book resembling a watch bill, and said to be the only muster-roll on board. Each man as he passed across the deck was carefully scrutinized and asked what countryman he was. Most of them stated that the came from one or other of the southern States. some were Sandwich Islanders and a few Portuguese, but none acknowledged to being British, and judging from their appearance and dress I did not think they were.

It was impossible, in the absence of any satisfactory proof, to have determined who were British subjects and who Americans. They were all so much alike, and the only means of ascertaining were those adopted by you, viz: questioning each individual as he passed a muster.

No information whatever was lodged against any one during the time we were on board the Shenandoah.

The crew appeared to me to be in a very excited state at having been detained on board for three days without any reason having been assigned or authority shown them for so doing and I have no doubt that any further detention would have resulted in a serious riot.

I have, &c., &c.,