The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-01-17
III.

OK BOARD STEAMER GREYHouNp.)
AT SEA, May IA, 1864.
Lord Lyons. Enroy Extraordinary, &c, for He,
B,itGnnic Majesty, near Washington, Laitea
States:
Ny Lord: am now held as prisoner On board
the British steamer reyhound, which is claimed as
prize by the United States steamship Connecticut
and is ordered, as I am informed, to the port O.
Boston, where proceedings will be taken for heI
condemnation. The circumstances under which the
Grey hound was captured are peculiar, and involve
question OF the most obvious interest and graves,
import TO Her MaJessy's Government and to the
rights Of property in her subjects.
The Greyhound was, III good faith, and i'll all re.
spects, British vessel, and had been chartered a,
Bermuda to take out from the port Of Wilmington
certain private cotton purchased and paid for by
subjects Of Great Britain, ami held exclusively on
their own account Not one pound Of this cotton
belonged to xny citizen Of the Confederate States
nor did any SUCH citizen have any interest whatever
in the vessel or her venture Your Lordshp will be
easily able to determine from the ships papers, and
all other circumstances, that the nationality OF the
Greyhound Yves not disguisc--an adopted conye-
nience for running the bcckade--but was in ali re-
spects true and unaffected claim on the part oil
her owners.
At the time Of the capture Of the GREYHOUND, on
the 10th instant, she was in lat. 50 degs 10 min. Is
Sec, and long. IS degs. Al min. 45 sec. west, one
hundred twenty-five miles from the nearest land
flying the British ensign. She had passed out to
sea from the port Of Wilmington without seeing a
Federal CRUISER and without any visible evidence o
blockade. But even il that blockade had existed,
and was something more than vicious fiction BY
which Federal cruisers, instead of picbeting the
coast are permitted to take easy prizes on the high
seas, submit TO your Lordship that the Greyhound
having once passed out the territorial limit, and
flying the British flag not for the purposes of con-
ceanent, but by clear title Of right. could not be
outlawed on the high seas, aud took the risks OF
blockade only within the territorial jurisdiction
claimed by the United States Any other rule would
extend the jurisdiction Of the United States over
the high seas, and the flag Of Her Maiesty's Co
vernment carried there by clear title In the yes
sci to fiy i, would afford no protection.
AS another circumstance Of Ilegality in the cap
ture Of the Greyhound Indeed, may say as enc
Of wholly unnecessary indignity-I have further to
state to your Lordship, that when the vessel had
been brought to Newport News. the Commodore
present, the senior ofdcer commanding the Federal
squadron, commanded the British flag on nv weasel
70 % hauled down, and the Federal to be hoisted
IN us place. There - certainly shadow of right
for such proceeding until the vessel is condemned
IN due course Of Law and Of the spirit of an act,
whore the Law and tho rule of propriety which il
equally o9ends are both 20 plain, your LordsLip
viii doubtless have no difficulty in iudsinc
Trusting that the rights al the owners Of the
Greyhound, which I am left for the preeent "a Re-.
preent viii receive the attention Of your Lordshiv
and having every confidence in your lordshpe se,a
abihtY TO whatever touches the rights and honor Of
Her MaJesty's Government,
have the honor, &C.,
Your obcdient servant,
01ox0r. HENRY.
Master Of the Greyhound.