The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-20 00:00:00

SEIZURE OF THE BRITISH STEAMSHIP

BET 111 U.D.A.

The following is a copy of a letter from Captain
Westendorff, of the steamship Bermuda, to the
owner in Liverpool :
" Philadelphia, May 5,1862.
"Dear Sir,—You will no doubt be astonished
when you receive this, informing you of the seizure
of the Bermuda by a Federal war vessel. I shall
give you the facts of the case as briefly as possible,
and leave you to judge for yourself of the high-
handed affair.
" Having received instructions at Bermuda to
proceed to Nassau, I left that port on the 23d ult.
for the latter port. On Sunday, the 27th, at 430
a.m., we made Abaco light, bearing S.W. half S.,
distant not more than 18 miles; wind at the time
very light from the eastward, and the vessel going
along about 91 knots. We were steering at the time
directly for the light. At about 5 a.m-, we made a
steamer to windward of us, and on looking at her
through the glass found she was coming down to-
wards us. In a short time she displayed at her peak
the Americanensign. limmediately had ours hoisted
and, as we were drawing near the land, hauled the
vessel up half a point to the southward. I was sur-
prised in a little while to hear the booming of a gun
from the steamer, but, not dreaming for a moment
that they had a right or would dare board an Eng-
lish vessel in English waters, I kept on my course.
After some time had elapsed I observed that the
American steamer luffed up, and in a few moments
the curling smoke gave notice of another gun—this
time a shotted one. The shell came whistling over
our heads, in between the mainmast andsmoke-stack.
I immediately stopped theengines and waited for her .
It was at this time 20 minutes to six o'clock, Abaco
lighthouse bearing about S.W., half S. distant, in
the opinion of all on board, between seven and eight
miles at most. When the steamer came up alongside
of us the officer on deck hailed and asked where we
were from, and where bound. I replied, 'From
Bermuda, bound to Nassau.' He said he would send
a boat on board. When the officer came on board
he demanded my papers. I showed him the regis-
ter, the clearance from Bermuda, and the manifest.
He said he would take them on board and show
them to his captain. After a little while he returned,
saying that the captain wished to see me on board,
Leaving the vessel in charge of Mr. Reed, my first
officer, I went on board the American steamer,
which I found to be the Mercedita, Capt. Stillwagen.
He received me in a gentlemanly manner, asking
me if I were the only captain of the Bermuda, to
which I replied Certainly. Ha then wished to
know how it was that we had so many military
stores. I told him I took my cargo in at Liverpool.
Then,' Slid he, that vessel must be searched.'
D:taining me on board, he despatched three boats,
with officers and men armed to the teeth. As soon
as they got alongside the officer asked Mr. Reed if
he was in command of the Bermuda. Mr. Reed
answered that he was, during my absence. Said
the officer,' I'll relieve you of your charge.' They
then took entire control, put two engineers down at
the engines, and placed armed sentinels at every
hatch and door. The Mercedita, while the search
was progressing—and which was done effectually,
paying nn reQpect to
private papers, hill. or any-
thing else—steamed ahead and sung out to the officer
in charge to follow, she steering directly off the
land, N.E. by E. This, it is evident, was done to
get out of sight, and where they would not be likely
to be disturbed, as they never even hauled down
the English flag until three hours after they had
taken charge of the vessel, and were about 30 miles
from the land,

" As a matter of course, when the captain in-
formed me that he would have to seize the ship;
which was before he received any report from the
officer who was sent to conduct the search, I told
him to recollect that I protested against the act as
an illegal one, and should claim the protection of
the British flag, to which he replied ' Oh, yes, cer-
tainly. I was sent out to look after you.'
" Some of the officers subsequently informed me
that they had a list comprising quite a number of
British steamers that they were ordered to seize
wherever they might catch them, and that if we had
Passed the Mercedita, two other steamers were
cruising inside the Providence Channel and just
around the port of Nassau, which would have been
certain to take us ; in fact, that that harbour was
well blockaded.

" After the search was over the whole of my
ship's efew were tran9ferred,
with their luggage, as
were alco our passenger,„ to the Mereedita
prize crew put on .
board the Bermuda. ; and a
The pas,
sengers were afterwards allowed to go back on board,
and proceed to this place in the vessel. The only
persons of my crew who were permitted to remain
on board were Mr. Reed and another officer, the
Steward, stewardess, the cabin boy, and myself.
"At 4 o'clock p.m. of the same day both vessels
got under weigh, and steered to the northward, the
Merccdita leading the way. She kept company
with us until the following day at about 2 p.m.,
when, after a visit from Capt. Stellwagen and other

Officers, we
were allowed to proceed alone. The