New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-11-16
Great Britain.
ras STEAM gAMs IN THB MERsgy-LETTBR oP


ras STEAM RAMS IN THB MERSHy-LETTBR OF
GEO. n. SANDERS To THE LONDON TIMES.
SIR: Your CORES pOndent " HistoricUs" has
lsbored 70 Justify the seizure Of M Lards steamers in
the Mersey ~ tIying H. identify them with tie vessels
Contemplated by ny contract with the Confederate
Government; and some of the papers trcacAeTo.sly
stolen from my (AiaJ. Esd Sanders. now IN Fort
Warren communicated 20 EaTl Russell and ny h1M
laid before PssiaHeut have bcen quoted by H!st"r.
tcus" Two documents poitins to DC letters are se
forth by "HisturIcua" one is signed BY Inc. and -
genuine: the other although wILout signature NPis
scented 10 tie public - mine. The etd tltci
pelthea written dCtaeG nor IN any manner sGsfcsteu
by me- nor did know Of it's existence until saw II IN
print. My handwriting Is peculiar, and co~l4 not
be mistaken: .ad Is W wen Mo'h IN In. We
Ar 10 Mr.. Adams Mr. Seward, or their subordinate
tools to explain how this spurious paper has been
palned upon tie American people AID British Govern.
mept Which ~ fl as 70 is attempted TO lie fastened
upon me l utterly rc7udiaie. Neither my own genuine
letter signed b. nor toae If tie Confederate See.
retaries VI the Treasury and Navy, contain syllable nj
variance with tie perfect lrgsiy Of tie TIA sGcilon
Tie contract in question. although requiring care to
prevent any false appear aRee Of illegally nom beng
attached 10 it (Which might leaI 10 en- risslleAis
being thrown IN sic way Of lis cIecgtcnl, NLs OF
perfectly unimpeaoAabie Character. Icing simply .
mail contract for steamers designed to a.! between
neutral aud Confederate poI., aid 20 constructed NJ
20 be able to and leave tie latter without Muet
regard to the shots LEY uigL; receive E.n TIE
Yankee blockacer. "a Po'sani: NOt even hisi"!l
Gus would contend ,haI the building Of such vessels
involved tie slightest violation " oven EVASION Vi
eny law international or municipal BY tLu. running
Sic blockade VIII regularly aid implliy, such
a line Of steamers would indeed renle impor
tant service ~ the ConeGeIaey. and therefore,
She laitor was willing to promote their con.
BtructioD by tie conr CO IN question. v! contract
with the Confederate Government IS Of tie perfectly
unimpeachable character above explained. aud AN
wiling 70 show it TO LoId Pamerston himself ~ PROOF
Of this declaration. Er Lairl's steamers have not.
and never have had anything TO do with II, directly OF
indirectly. NV directly o. i.lii.ety have had any
communication with that gentleman OF that Of any other
Ii is bu, simple justice Mr.. Laird that TIE facts
should be known to .he.d hn iron, thc blow his"ri
Gus ei. him the strength of this spuIou, etser
Respectfully, GEORGE ~. SANDERS.
LETTER op HIsToRIcUs."
SIR: The reference in my letter OF Friday last
20 the intercepted correspondence" between Ny.
Mallory tho Colfeler.c Secretary ~ the Navy. nAa
Mr. Mason. seems much 10 have troubled their English
allies. Mf. ". D. LiGdeay, whose loyalty 10 TIE Con
federae cause Is ell Lnoan sees no va! oui Il soIs
of displtug the genuinencss Of the letters But unoi
tanatey for tins hypothesis the very person Who has
the bes means II gnlns "a Information on iAai su.eci
MIR George y. sanders. one Of he prIncpss IA tle
transacii0DcOles ioTT ard Will r.Ore cdldOr perm T..
than discretion. 10 place liz aNtAeDicito letOAd TIC
possibility Of question. Mr.. oaieer. y good ehJusA
even supply viii piece ~ information 10 which
had not previously access. az 10 the manner ln
which these Remarkable Goca euts came into tie hands
OF tho Federal GDycrnneDi. The letters ~ ailea'.
were ire chcFous .,eL rom Major Reid Sanders.
Gle Ct Nj. George y. oanlcrs) Low IN Ioit War
Mir sanderss.eems 10 tlint that to take official pa
pcrs addressed ~ tie enemy nom the pI' O: ps
Cner Of Is u baIb,ous and ulAeaIGo4 proceeding
As FAR as acquainted with tie usages 81 "ar II Is
neither an unusual nor a. ilrsitilEate TRANSACTION
However that may be. II IS evident hom is account
that the documents me al az events. Nom HAat TIE
lwyeIs would call tie proper custody
MI. George n. Sanders Is 'eiy Indignant because
letter although Wiilo. signature, presented 10 tie
public 40 Lis and dciynates tie dCcumtAt ~ question
as spurious papeY Inch has been plMcd upon tie
American people ana the BRUSH Government NOW,
1lr Sanders might have sp-icd lis indignation for as
fr "a nm aware tie uLs.sDod letter has bei er te,h
presented TO tue public - h. u has certainly n0i
been SO either directly Indirectly, either ia ~ letter
OF In the Par iGuieniaiy payer nom Nhich tic cor
resemblance waa e.iraoi'd a. szierso. Wien NJ San.
deYs says lie knows nothing OF this letter lie IMPLY ae
MES that which 10 one has aurmed. Bui Jeio.e 10
can estaDsl tlat q" 4 spurious paper las Deel lsiled
OF on tie BTlsisA 1DterhAe"t &c HlA! 20 epoa del
further and show that this letter. ~ wLOH.ocTef wit
ten was not "a pat II the cori0pOaGeAee forwarded.
intended 10 DC lDTWclQ'd, W MI. 4dHLpii 10 -lf
Mason. In this It II tie iu0Olst1leht rather than
tie seceptaIoe which is material Al The letter ~ ques-
zion formed part Oi Official ncosgre 70 Ar. Mason,
St does Lot ssnlfy sIaa b! VtOm II was written
Bot does not Mr. .usls perceive ttt I!t unsigned
letter 10 which lie excerpts 10 really immntcfiif lilo
real stress Of tie Gaze !cis Oh tie Gocun cnts tie ea
tAeIfICy II which ne nft Oiy uees not deny but e1.
pliciils admits. " %cltLtr ny own genuine letter.
signed Nv ne nor those Of tie Confederate
OF the Ifeasugy aid Navy CONTAIN ~ i.ltle 40 "
Rance With tie .,gliiy Ol tie transaction While
would recommend Nr. Sandc.s not 10 bo 100 sufo Of
Lis law Ia t!s matter, fly admit TIE raite ~ As
Testimony to the Lei tDAt lis al i"I -
concern, lil.ef ILd tie two COhieteitie 'e!ri-I!c
gives an arcuI D. aud gelui9r account 81 TIE nsnc.
ton feel sure hat lie Evidence Of 30 competent
witness Will ssiriy tie ssePiic III 81 III Lindsay.
Wei then. fai. ~ !east. ~ Ilall-LrIt u 4 con
tract between III Sanders and tie Navy Department
~ Richmond fr the construction ~ this country o. FIX
iron-clad vessels Bus tLeie In little discieptncy De
tween 5r oaDdelB 6Dd la piIAcipa!s As 70 e ieI nn'
fure VI tie subject matter Oi tie contract In august
1sG2 IN h.s genuine aud admitted letter air. S~ndci'
writes;
"MyAecn,on here "a, nirhrond) esssfy 20 The
perfection VI tte ceufs Which tool uush tine M f'tec
Hon lie nai tnsTuoiDHs u the Naval Depaf1st have
ben ssucd but lew a.ys
Vel ten tie contracts bod been perfected afioT
uucL tuo and reelection ard tie hral n4IIncnyas q!
Gle Naval Department had been issued. IhecrpOn
Ar Mallory, TIE Confederate SecTe'hI! w iAo N''
who may be Assumed know what lie real nature u
She contracts Ha,. whiting 10 UhsuApecnhg commence
~ Mr.. Mason October 80 1902 gi'es ths following
account Of iLe a!1if:
~ DIT esnae" hos, a. 20" IRE aware eo"'tscea WIN tNs
Depa.on for tic ion IN tnfiand ~ "a io,csd
s'esns. c'nbHius - petite Of tAe ireis1fms and tho
Cga"g ny IA usnsI ~ Ga vii snssie them 10 force the
boehsds o. orf pcrt..
But on October q. 1853. Mr. sanders's view Il tle
contract Hade alter 20 much time aLd reflection Ia
very materially different
cit siHpys mi cosi,ar, for steamers desgred 70 py
between ueua id Confederate yos snd conducted ~
te amt they Wight receive nom Ia. YsIss. ads en-
Pos.9"h
Mr. eandcrss SIX nnocents It win DO perceived. are
e. be- 0f ic nature Of lambs rather than iams and arc
<o cover nothing bat mhiibsgs. With a mott Christian
and u,f,o resistauce. When the Yankee shots strks
III cr u one ron check they % turn 10 n en- tie
o,lor Whit a pity that Ar Mallory did moi more
fully Gefellp 10 Nj Mason scheme ex,nsitely
brr..rrl How could be DO 30 o1yiOus % H. inse for
eoet in form Dis English Commits ioncr. Wbose In.
Z.est De- tllcs oh lcalf 81 tiis enterprise" that
fne coriract gns for rail steanorsf Ana above all
D." couo Pc have m.en no 'n' 9'o. error Of