Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-07-01
On BOARD SrIAMER GREYHoUsD, AT SEA,
Nav IA, 1864.

may II, loof'
Lord Lton. Envov Extraordinary, dc for Her B.i
fannie Majssty, near Warrington, United States:
Nv Lord am now held ss prisoner on board the
British steamer Greyhound, which is claimed as prize
by the u s. steamship Connecticut, and ordered, as
am informed to the port Of Boston, where proceed
ings will be taken for her condemnation. The crcum-
stances under which the Greyhound was captured are
peculiar and involve question Of the most obvious in
terest and greatest import Her kaesys Government
and to the right of property in her subjects.
The reyhound was, in good faith and all respects,
British vessel and had been chartered at Bermuda TO
take out from the port of Wilmington certain private
cotton purchased and paid for by subjects Of Great Bri
tain and held exclusively on their own account Not
one pound of cotton belonged 10 any citizen OF the Con-
fedeat9 States did any such cibzsn have any in
terest whatever in the vessel or her venture Your
L1rdshp will be easily able to determine, from the
ships papers and all other circumstances, that the ma
tiopaly of the Greyhound was not q disguse-an
adopted convenience for running the bocksgebut was
in al respects true and unaffected claim on the part
Of her owners
Al the time of the capture Of the Greyhound, the
10th instant she was in latitude SS degs 10 min. 10
and longitude as dogs. Al min 40 sec west, one hund
red and twenty-five miles from land, filing
the British ensign. She had passed cut to sea from the
port Of Wilmington without seeing Federal cruiser,
and without any visible evidence OF blockade. But
even If that blockade had existed and was something
more than vicious fiction, by which Federal cruisers,
instead OF picketng the coast, are permitted to take
easy prizes on the high sess submit To our LoTdshp
that the Greyhou d. having once passed out the terri
toral limit and flying the British hag-not for purposes
o. coucealment but by clear title Of righ-could not
be oulsWed on the high seas, aud took the rsks OF
blockade only within the territorial jurisdiction claimed
by the United States Any other rule would exteGd
the jurisdiction oil tina United States the high seas
and she lag of her Msesys Government carried there
BY clear title in the vessel to fly it. would afford no
Proteoton...s.s< ssS-s-ss
As another circumstance of ilegality in the Capture
l. n ollw
unnecessary ndgnityI have further TO state to your
Lordhp that when the vessel had been brought to New
port News the Commodore present, the senior oticer
commanding the Federal squadron, commanded the Bril-
tsh on my vessel to be hauled down and the Federal
Gag to be hoisted in its place. There is certainly
shadow of right for such proceeding, until the vessel
is condemned in due of Law; and OF the spirit OF
an act where the law and the rule of proprety which
i; tqualy ofsnds are both palm your Lordship will
doubtless have no difficulty in judging.
Trusting that the rights Of the owners OF the Grey
hound which am lsf for the present to represent will
receive the attention Of your Lordship sensbity to
whatever touches the rights and honor of her Majesty
Government
have the honor, &C.,
Your oSedent servant,
GEORGE HENRY, Master OF Greyhound.
BOsrOS, Nay 20, 1854
lord Lyons Envoy Extraordinary, &,., for Her Bril-
tanniC Majesty, near Washington, United States:
Nv Lprd-I have been detained here as prisoner
one week 10 day, notwithstanding the notification IN
der date OF 20sh instant with which your Lordship
obliged me- to the effect that you had applied to tue
Secretary Of State of tie United States for my release
There are two points in my which beg to bring
to your attention again in precss and brief rccapitu
ation.
l. The Greyhound had passed out of the port Of
Wilmington, without sight of blockading vessel and
was taken by a cruiser about $50 miles out a. sea-
desire to put the question 70 your Lordship if the Gov
ernment at Washington can 80 change IFS tactics of
blockade as to omit an efficient guard of the coast and
take up vessels which have come out of Confederate
ports by fast salng cruisers the ocean highway for
such was informed by an officer Of the o. States
steamer Connecticut was the recently adopted aud easy
plan of taking prizes the fruits Of VII ca your Lordssp
may have observed in the capture of four vessels az
pr in single week, each taken far out on the high
seas
Toe Greyhound was thoroughly British vessel :;
the British Gag che carried was not decay and tba
fsg covered me, after passed out OF the territorial iu
lisdiooh Of the United States and even in case It did
DOT protect vessel or cargo granting for argument.
tleso to be Of ic; character projected me as az
Innocent passenger; ele having no other egress from
the Confederate States the passenger would be the VIC