The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-27 00:00:00

The most erroneous statements have been circulated
with regard to the seizure of the Georgia by the
Niagara. The errors have been promulgated by
Federal agents and sympathisers, evidently for the
purpose of allaying the excitement which the out-
rage has occasioned, and, if possible, to prejudice in
the public mind the position of her owner, Mr,
Edward Bates. The perfect good faith and candour
with which Mr. Bates has acted in referercs to the
Georgia is the best answer to these misstatements.
The more fully the facts become known the more
unwarrantable will appear the seizure of the vessel;
and it is, no doubt, the knowledge of this einem.
stance that has prompted the circulation of the errors
in question. It has been asserted in some quarters
that the seizure was made with the cognisance and
sanction of the British Government. This is simply
untrue. The commander of the Niagara has acted
solely on his own responsibility, and in accordance
with the orders of his Government. It has also been
alleged that Mr. Bates was not a bona fide purchaser,
and that the vessel was still intended for the Con-
federate services. These statements, cum multi's
alas, are likewise mere fiction.
But it is needless to go through all the specious
misrepresentations. They will be best refuted by
a simple ungarnished explanation of the facts. Mr.
Bates has nothing to conceal as to his connection
with her
with the Georgia, because all his dealings
have been characterised by the same rectitude and
frankness which have raised him to the first rank
amongst Liverpool shipowners. He is well known
to have scrupulously avoided any partisanship in
the American war, and has never had the slightest
interest in the blockade business. To suggest that
he intended to use the Georgia for the benefit of
Confederates is contrary both to fact and experience.
When seized she was on a peaceful mission, fitted
out as an ordinary merchantman. She bore the
English flag and was registered at an English cuss
tom-honse, and was therefore entitled to all the
privileges of a neutral trader.
The history of the Georgia since she came into
the Mersey may be told with the utmost candour,
and is briefly this :—As she had ceased to be useful
SS a mansofawar, she was offered for sale by the
Confederate Government, who had previously die.
mantled her and removed all warlike weapons and
stores. Having entered into negotiations for her
purchase, Mr Bates communicated with the custom
house authorities as to the manner in which they
would regard the vessel. Mr, Price Edwards, the
collector, acting on instructions received from Lon-
don, informed Mr Bates that he would be able to
obtain a register for theship when he applied for it,

Upon this assurance—and Mr Bates would have
had nothing to do with the vessel unless he was as-
sured that she was registered as a British ship—
the purchase was completed on the 2d of June last ;
the necessary formalities were gone through to the
satisfaction of the collector of customs, and the
Georgia was accordingly registered on the 30th of
June as a British ship, in the name of Mr Bates.
The new owner had therefore taken all proper
precautions to see that his title was indisputable,
and careful scrutiny left no ground to suppose that
the slightest difficulty would occur. Negotiations
were entered into between Mr Bates and the re-
presentatives in England of the Portuguese Go•
vernment, who were desirous of engaging a steamer
to proceed to Lisbon, and thence to the Portuguese
settlements on the West Coast of Africa. These
negotiations resulted in the engagement of the
Georgia upon terms which are explained in the
charter-party, dated the 28th July, and may thus
summarise its chief clauses :

"The agreement is between Edward Bates, owner of the
good screw steamship called the Georgia, of 648 tons gross
register, and 200 horse-power; and Mr F. J. Van Zeller,
on behalf of the Portuguese Government. It provides
that the said vessel or steamer, being tight, stanch, and
strong, and in every way fitted for the voyage or service,
with the full complement of officers, seamen, engineers,
and firemen, adapted to a merchant steamer of her class and
tonnage, shall be placed under the direction of the said
charterer or merchant, or his assigns, to be by him or them
employed for the conveyance of lawful merchandise, except
sugar, molasses, or any article injurious to an iron ship—of
course 20 tons each of sugar and molasses or any quantity
of copper the ship can carry is not objected to -OA follows :
—From Liverpool to Lisbon, and from thence to Cape de
Verds, principe S. Thome, Vanguella, Loando, Massamda,
Ambriz, and return to Lisbon, calling at the above ports on
the return to Lisbon. There are the usual stipulations as
to hire and management, and the agreement proceeds:—
' The vessel to be consigned to the Compauhia Luzitania
at Lisbon, and to their agents at all the ports of call, free of
commission or charges of whatsover kind, owners taking
down bulkheads in after• cabin, except last ; making salocn
an open one; berths 'tween decks aft to be taken down by
owners, and the charterers allowed the use of material form-
ing same to put up berths for 20 second-class passengers;
after-cabins to be properly painted a light colour ; vessel to
be ready for delivery to charterers on or before the Ist of
August next, or sooner if ready ; the coal bunkers in the
hold available for cargo if required.' The charter•party
also sets forth that it is ' distinctly understood and agreed
between the parties that the owner does not provide any
servants, stewards, or any other party to wait upon the
passengers, or any one connected with the charterers,' and
that the' owner provides provisions and water for his own
crew; passengers, or their servants or followers are to be
found in everything eatable or drinkable, or in any other
way (save as specified to the contrary) by the charterers.'"
This document on the face of it indicates an ordi-
nary mercantile transaction, and is the strongest
refutation of the allegation that Mr Bates was en-
gaged in any doubtful enterprise, in which the Por.
guese Government was made a decoy duck. In ful-
filment of the charter party the vessel was got
ready for sea, and took on board 434 tons of coal
belonging to the Portuguese Government. This was
te only cargo embarked, and Mr Bates bad nothing
of his own en board except the usual ship stores and
provisions for the crew. The Georgia's name was
never changed, as there was not the least desire to
conceal her original character, and she was regis-
tered as the British ship Georgia. She was placed
under the command of Captain Widdycombe, and
her crew were shipped for a commercial voyage in
the usual course of business. It is said that Captain
Widdycembe is an old blockade runner. This is a
gross misrepresentation. For the last 16 years he
has been in the uninterrupted employment of Mr
Bates, and exclusively engaged in trading between
the Mersey and India and China.
The Georgia was ready to sail on the 6th, and
the circumstances attending her detention are gene.
rally known. But the official correspondence be-
tween Mr Bates and the Portuguese authorities
throws considerable light on the manner in which
the former regarded the threatening attitude of the
Niagara on her visit to the Mersey. So convinced
was he that the Federal frigate would not dare to
seize a British merchantman that he characterised
the report as "old women's talk," and professed his
readiness to send the ship to sea notwithstanding the
th;eats of the Federal cruiser. In accordance with
this determination Mr Bates—who had full confi-
dence in the power and will of Great Britain to sup..
Fort her authority over her own mercantile marine
—did actually despatch the vessel as soon as he had
the orders of the Portuguese consul-general to that
effect. The following communications speak for
themselves, and may be relied upon as genuine, as
we copy from the originals, which have been placed
at our service without reserve :
Mr E, Bates, Liverpool.

Liverpool, Aug. 5, 18G4.
Sir,—l have received instructions from my Minister in
London to detain the Georgia (s.s.) until further orders,
I am, air, yours respectfully,

ALVARO CARNEIRO GERALDES
Acting Consul for Portugal.

(Telezram.) _
From Van Zeller, Consul-General, London, to Edward
Bates, Rumford-place, Liverpool.

I have just heard from 6. 5 '64.
Liverpool. Niagara waiting to
capture Georgia outside English waters. If you are afraid
I will cancel charter, you returning charter money, and
pay for coals, &o. Otherwise, send her to sea at once.

(Telegram.) Aug. 6, 1864.
Edward Bates, Liverpool, to Van Zeller, Consul-General
Portugal, London.

lam not afraid. Only old women's talk-. Send orders
from year Minister, and ship shall go to sea.

Telegram from Van Zeller. London, to Edward Bates,
Liverpool.

Aug. 6, 1861.

Send the Georgia to sea at once.

(Telegram.) Aug. 6, 1864.
Edward Bates, Liverpool, to Van Zoller, Consul General

Portugal, London.
Your telegram to ,`sand. Mast have orders from I'ortn-