UNITED STATES CONSULATE, SIR: The British bark Castor, the same that took out from here coal and supplies for the Alabama and Florida on a previous occasion, cleared from here again yesterday with a cargo of coal for the Alabama. She cleared for Cape of Good Hope, Singapore, and China. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, THOMAS H. DUDLEY. Hon. CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, United States Minister, &c. Affidavit of Charles Thompson. I, Charles Thompson, of Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, make oath and say as follows: 1. I was formerly in the Liverpool police force, and in the year 1863 I was temporarily employed by Mr. Thomas Haines Dudley, the consul of the United States of America at Liverpool, to watch the equipment and fitting out in the port of Liverpool of vessels suspected of being about to be used as blockade-runners or cruisers for the Confederate States of America, and the engagement of seamen for such vessels, and from January, 1864, I was permanently in the employment of the said Mr. Thomas Haines Dudley, for the above purposes, down to the year 1866. 2. During this time there were large numbers of blockade-runners and cruisers being built and fitted out in England and Scotland. Guns, shot, shell, gunpowder, and other munitions of war were daily being shipped from Liverpool for the confederates, as well as provisions and clothes for the confederate army. These were most generally taken out from here in vessels either to Nassau, Bermuda, or Havana, and then run into the southern ports in the blockade steamers, which were built here and sent out for the purpose. This business was carried on openly upon the most extensive scale, and Liverpool seemed to be the headquarters for this business. There were large numbers of vessels engaged in it. Thomas Bold, an English merchant at Liverpool, and, as I have been informed and believe, one of the firm of Jones & Co., was the registered owner of the Georgia at the time of her cruising. I know that while she was cruising the wages of the men serving on board were paid by Jones & Co., at their office in Chapel street. 3. In November, 1863, from inquiries I made, I ascertained that there were two men in Liverpool who had been seamen on board the confederate cruiser Georgia, and I got into communication with them; their names were Francis Glassbrook (alias Frank Rivers) and Benjamin Connolly. 4. These men informed me that they were absent from the said vessel on leave, having left her at Cherbourg to come to Liverpool, on leave, to see their families. 5. On Saturday, the 21st day of November, 1863, I went with these two men to the office of Messrs. Jones & Co., English merchants, doing business in Chapel street, Liverpool, and at this time the Georgia was at Cherbourg, as I was informed. They had informed me that Messrs. Jones & Co. were the agents for the said vessel, and that from them Glassbrook's wife had been receiving half-pay. They claimed to have something due to them, and also wanted orders as to rejoining their ship. They were going to the office, as they informed me, to make inquiries on these two points, and I accompanied them. 6. I saw Mr. Highat, one of the firm of Messrs. Jones & Co., who asked me what I had to do with it, and I told him the men were staying with me, and that I had nothing else to do with it. He did not pay them any money on that occasion, and gave them no orders in my presence, but said he would send them orders. 7. The said men afterward informed me that they had received orders to go on the following Monday, the 23d November, on board the screw steamer Balbec, to join their ship at Havre. 8. I went with the men on the following Monday, the 23d November, to the screw steamer Balbec, which was lying in the Sandon dock, Liverpool, and they were there met by a Mr. Wilding, who was a clerk in the employ of Messrs. Jones & Co. I was not near enough to hear what passed between Mr. Wilding and the men, but I saw that he gave them money, but I could not tell how much, and that they signed a paper; and afterward they went into a public house. 9. I waited their return, and on their return I saw them, and they told me that Mr. Wilding had paid them three pounds each, which they showed me, and that they had signed a paper for it; but I induced them to go with me instead of going on board the said ship. 10. On the 2d of May, 1864, I saw the steamer Georgia lying in the river Mersey, at Liverpool, with the confederate flag flying at the peak, and the same morning saw an officer in confederate uniform land from her by one of her own boats. 11. On the 3d day of May, 1864, I saw the said steamer Georgia in the Birkenhead dock, with the confederate flag and pennant flying, her guns on board, and officers in confederate uniform doing duty on board. 12. I saw the said steamer Georgia frequently, almost daily, from this date until the 11th of August, 1864, when she sailed from the river Mersey for Lisbon. 13. On the 20th day of June the said steamer was lying in the Queen's dock, at Liverpool, to which she had been removed from Birkenhead, and I saw Mr. Jones, of the said firm of Jones & Co., on board of her. 14. Previously, and on or about the 5th day of May, I saw the said Mr. Wilding, whom I know to be, and knew at that time to be, a clerk in the employment of the said Messrs. Jones & Co., superintending the removal of the stores from the said vessel. 15. On the 6th day of June I saw guns landed from the said steamer. 16. On the 30th day of July the said vessel was entered in the Liverpool customs bill of entry for Lisbon and west coast of Africa, E. Bates, consignee. 17. On the 24 day of August, and each day subsequently until the 5th August, inclusive, I saw the said Mr. Jones on board the said steamer Georgia, giving orders to the persons employed in preparing the ship for sea, and the persons so employed appeared to act entirely under his directions. 18. On the said 5th day of August the said steamer was hauled to the dock gates, with steam up as if ready to go to sea. She was again hauled into the dock, and remained until Monday, August the 8th, when she was hauled out of dock, and anchored at the mouth of the river Mersey, where she lay until Thursday, the 11th August, about 5 o'clock of which day I saw her weigh anchor and steam out to sea; and the said Mr. Jones, before mentioned by me as superintending the fittings of the said steamer Georgia on the 2d, 3d, 4th, and 5th days of August, is well known to me as the person tried and convicted at Liverpool for enlisting men to serve on board the said steamer Georgia as a confederate cruiser. 19. I remember the prosecution of Jones and Highat for enlisting seamen to serve on board the said steamer Georgia; I was present at the trial, and I produce a report marked A, which I cut out of the Liverpool Mercury the next morning. I read it through at the time, and it is a correct report of the proceedings. 20. About a week previously to the 9th October, 1864, I noticed a Screw steam-vessel, called the Laurel, of Glasgow, entered for Nassau. She was lying in the Clarence basin, and my suspicions were aroused about her. I took a description of the ship, and reported her to Mr. Dudley. 21. I afterward saw gun-carriages, and cases, and casks of things, (which I had every reason to believe were ammunition,) taken on board the said Laurel, and the following is a list which I made at the time of the numbers and marks of the cases that were taken on board: 6 large cases marked [W] No. 1 to 6. 2 large cases marked [W] from Randolf & Elders, Glasgow. 1 case marked in [W]s. 17 cases marked [W]. 6 gun-carriages marked H.[W]A. 7 cases marked [W] No. 1 to 7. 2 large cases, not marked. 2. barrels, marked s[W]c. 3 cases marked [VI]W, No. 14, 15, 16. 22. The above-mentioned packages were taken on board the said vessel in open day, with no attempt at concealment, and the fact that they were being taken was open to all, as well to the officers of Her Majesty's customs as to others. 23. There was no doubt whatever but what the two large cases contained two large guns, and six cases marked W smalier guns. This was apparent, and it was very evident that they were intended for the six gun-carriages. 24. I continued watching the vessel until she went out. She sailed on Sunday morning the 9th October, 1864. 25. The cases in question were consigned to William Connor, who was the foreman or overlooker for Henry Lafone, an English merchant, of No. 13 Tempest Hey, in Liverpool, who was known to me and generally known in the town as a most active agent in assisting and aiding the confederates in their war. I knew who the cases were consigned to by seeing the address on them while they lay at the Wapping station of the London and Northwestern Railway Company. 26. I watched them until I saw them actually taken on board. 27. Some of them bore cards stating that they were from Randolf & Elder, of Glasgow; in particular, the six large cases marked W were so labelled, but I cannot speak with certainty as to the others. 28. I saw several persons go on board the Laurel, who I believe to have been confederate officers. They had been pointed out to me as such by a man who had been on board the Alabama, namely, John Emery, who had been steward with Captain Semmes. 29. The cargo of the Laurel was entirely made up of guns, ammunition, and supplies for a war ship, such as would be necessary for supply. ing and arming a war vessel, and nothing else; she was very full and very deeply laden. I saw her go out of dock, but I did not see her actually sail. 30. She cleared on the 8th October, 1864, and sailed on Sunday, the 9th. 31. There were a good many people on board when she went out of dock. I did not search in the custom-house, but I found her clearance in the bill of entry. 32. I afterward heard that Captain Semmes and a number of other confederate officers had sailed in her. I communicated this to Mr. Dudley, who instructed me to forward the information to the United States consuls at Maderia and Lisbon, stating that Captain Semmes, eight officers, and about one hundred men had sailed in the Laurel. This was information that had been given to me, and was not the result of my own observations, and it afterward turned out that Captain Semmes did not go out in her, but that Waddell did. 33. The Laurel was fitted out and cleared at the customs by the said Henry Lafone, and he was her registered owner. The Laurel was an English vessel, sailing under the English flag, and at the time she sailed from Liverpool was in the command of an Englishman of the name of Ramsey. CHAS. THOMPSON. Sworn at Liverpool aforesaid on the 25th day of August, 1871, before me. THOMAS C. RYLEY, [From the Liverpool Journal of Commerce.] [Extract.] THE STEAMER ORETO. This splendid steamer will be commanded by Lieutenant Maffett, of the confederate navy. Captain Duguid, who was in command of this steamer from Liverpool to Nassau, will return to England by the next steamer. Deo vindice. LONDON, December 1, 1864. This is to certify that I, W. Henrystrike, landsman aboard the Confederate States steamer Florida, has this day been paid off and honorably discharged from the naval service of the Confederate States, and he is entitled to a share of any prize money due the Confederate States steamer Florida for captures made between the 27th day of June, 1864, and the 4th day of October, 1864. RICH'D TAYLOR, C. M. MORRIS, Paymaster Confederate States Navy. Lieutenant Commanding Confederate States Navy. Age, 25; color of eyes, blue; height, 5 feet 5 inches; color of hair, light brown; complexion, light; place of birth, England. |