Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-11-12
THE PIRATE .ALABAMA."

Queen VIcroRIA's s proclamation of strict nen-
trality, on the part of all British subjects dn-
ring the present war, two hundred and ninety
spectators. subscribed large sum to be in
vested in the building of a vessel of war, 10 be
employed against the mercantile marine Of
the United States. This vessel, constructed
under the express supervision OF a British
member of Parliament (Mr. LAIRD, Of Birken-
head), and in his shipbuildiug yard, received
the name of .'Number 290." from the number
of anti-neutrality Englishmen whose money
paid fol her. At present she is called the AL
ALBANIA, and has been heard of. on the Atlant-
c, of late, as regular pirate, burning and
plundering our merchantmen, and putting
their crews into irons.
The conspirators who built aNo. 290," look.
ed ont Tor suitable man to command her, and
selected the notorious ruffian, compared with
whom Captain KIDD was milk and. water sea-
man, "as he sailed, as he sailed" SENMEs,
having won a bad reputation on the pirate
Sumpter, was eoisely the man for "Number
290." He chose a set of officers, worthy of
companonship with himself, all hailing, as he
does, from the revoted South. The crew,
supplied by the $780, owners, is exclusively
Eng lish, and it may be declared that officers
and men are just such a we'll assorted set as
in former days. would have cheerfully sailed
under the black flag of piracy or buccaneer
ing.
The British Government we'll knew that this
war ship was intended to operate, by piracy,
against the mercantile marine Of this country.
1t did not take any notice Of what was publicly
in hand. When this vessel. now the Alabama,
was ready for sea, fully coaied. completely
binary exigency of trader, little matter Of
form was attended to, in order to get her out
TO sea, without delay or trouble. Pretending
to start only on a trisl-cruise, her owners gave
bonds, for her return and good conduct, to
the British Government. The amount of these
bonds was only twenty thousand pounds, We
believe-a small sum to be added, should the
forfeiture ever be enforced, to the gross ex-
pendture on the vessel. She left Liverpool
withSthe Union jrck at her fore, avowedly the
British war steamer that she is. The officials
of the British Government successfully pre-
vented our Tuscarora from pursuing her, as q
Confederate enemy, and she slipped away
her first feat being the destruction and plum
der Of small feet of American whalers.-
Since then, al,oays under the British flag, un-
til the moment OF piracy. she has captured,
plundered, and destroyed several merchantmen
whose owners are in the North. The Alabama
was lately about 400 miles due east of Atant-
ic City, locality we'll adapted for further pi-
racy, especially for falling in with and plum
dering the California steamers, and has since
been heard of of Nantucket.
Considering this contiguitv too near for safe
neighborhood, the New York Chamber Of
Commerce, at its usual monthly meeting, on
Thursday, discussed the question of arresting
the further progress of the Alabama, and of
her. A correspondence with the Government
at W ashington showed the powers that be full
ly aware of the leading facts of the case. Mr..
SEWARD stated that he had desired Mr.. ADAMS
to communicate with the British Government.
In New York, however, it is determined not
of diplomacy. Measures viii be taken to
guard against the Alabama's steaming up the
bay and shelling New York, and the Govern
ment will be earnestly entreated to have
feet Of vessels stationed between New York
and Great Britain and on the Coast of Africa,
to protect our ships coming By the Cape of
Good Hope, as well to employ few ves-
To onr Sura ehipo from, Catifor.
mia. One powerful war ship surely would be
adequate to deal with the Alabama.
We are free to confess that We have the
scantiest hope of any redress being afforded
by the British Government, on the complaint
of our ambassador at the Court of St James.
But it happens, oddly enough, that Captain
SEMNEs. exceeding the Instructions of his
owners at Liverpool, has treated British prop
erty at sea precisely as if it belonged to citi-
zens of the United States. He has done this
in three instances-the last being with the
bark Lauretta, which sailed from New York
on October 25; was met by the Alabama, with
the English flag, on the 28th and, the Con-
federate flag then being run up by SExxEs,
was boarded, plundered, and himself and crew
made prisoners, after which the Lanretta was
burned, with her cargo, though her Captain
(M. M. WELLs) exhibited a certificate from
the British Consul at New York, duly execu.
ted that the cargo was the property of Brit
ish subjects. Part of this cargo was destined
for Madeira and part for Messina, and this was
officially stated under the seals and signature.
OF the Portuguese and Italian consuls. SExxE.
violated the seals OF the three consular certifi
Gates, and England will have to settle the
question with the Portuguese and italian Gov.