IS THE ALABAMA A BRITISH PIRATE? 9 “This vessel has been built and launched from the dockyard of persons, one of whom is now sitting as a member of the House of Commons, and is fitting out for the especial and manifest purpose of carrying on hostilities at sea. It is about to be commanded by one of the insurgent agents, the, same who sailed in the Oreto. The parties engaged in the enterprise are persons well known at Liverpool to be agents and officers of the insurgents in the United States, the nature and extent of whose labors are well explained in the copy of an intercepted letter, which I received from my government, and had the honor to place in your lordship’s hands a few days ago.” (Diplom. Corr. 128.) On the 25th, Lord Russell replied, stating that he had, without loss of time, referred the matter to the proper department. On the 1st of July, the persons to whom the matter was thus referred reported that the fitting out of this vessel had not escaped the attention of her majesty’s revenue officers, and that, pursuant to directions, they had made inquiries of the builders, who did not deny that she is built for a foreign government, but “ do not appear disposed to answer any questions as to her destination when she leaves Liverpool.” The government are not shown to have taken any offence at this trifling, but, on the contrary, declined to interfere until further proof should be presented. This demand was not difficult to be complied with, for within a few days affidavits were produced to the Board of Customs, upon which the opinion of Mr. Collier, an eminent English lawyer, was first taken, who replied: “ It appears difficult to make out a stronger case of infringement of the Foreign Enlistment Act, which, if not enforced on this occasion, is little better than a dead letter.” (Diplom. Corr. 152.) A further delay was caused by the rejection of these affidavits on account of some technical defect in form ; but at last every captious objection being exhausted, copies of the perfected affidavits were, on the 23d of July, sent to Lord Russell ; but no action being taken, the Alabama went to sea at her leisure on the 29th. The flagrant delinquency of the government is admitted by Lord Russell on the 31st, in a conversation with Mr. Adams, at which time he stated that the delay of the government “ had been caused by the development of a sudden malady in Sir John D. Harding, the queen s advocate. totally incapacitating him for the transaction of business. This made it necessary to call in other parties, whose opinion had at last been for a detention of the gunboat, but before the
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