Year: 1862

|62.


lighted In the Nashville certain il Is that as the morning
advanced the smoke gradually disappeared attempt
was made TO her from her BERTH and at this time
relative positions Of the two vessels Captain Craven
ashore.


evening in reference to the two vessels now watching
each others movements with anxious eyes. II is stated
oy Mr. Philip hedger the doGkmaster tina. ne has 9ocs
vile Is lying, about eight O'Clock last evening. and on
leaving them he several persons standing on the pier
between the west and middle docks. He accosted hem
and demanded to know to what ship they belonged.
One OF the party who was an officer said to him, "Step
on one side and will tell you" Mr. Hedger did so, and
he said "we belong to the TuscarOra and are here
duty"


He asked by whose permission and authority, and the
The party consisted Of two officers and three men, The
officer in question said, We here watch the Nash
VILE and she attempts to get under way to signal the
The dockmaster Immediately desired them to leave the
Dock Companys premises, and sad consider it most
unofhcer.ke for you to come here without permission
and will not allow you to remain" He then walked
with them up TO the entrance gate, and desired the
the officers he held some further conversation with
them, and told them repeatedly he had full au-
thy to pTsven. their being there IRE for
vate property Of individuals and that he their agent,
must prevent the premises being used for such purpose





embark in the docks, but will not allow you to be sta
toned on the dock premises for the purpose Of watching
any vessel"


Mr.. Hedger told the officers he would wait in tho
dock half an hour they wished to communicate with
the American Consul Captain Brtton communicated
Mr. Hedger who repeated to him that he would not allow
tho officers and to remain upon the dock premises at
night In the convorsaon which followed he told the
officers and the Consul that they had right to DO
the premises without permission and said that the Con-
sui had an opportunity Of consulting him In this respect
when he was Ia his Office, between five and six O'Clock
that evening He also informed them that tho Nashville
would not attempt to leave the dock that night IL she
panys purposes He had long conversation with Cap
tain Britton who emphatcay expressed his opinion that
the Tuscarora people had right to be the dock pre-
misses as long as they behaved themselves. Tho Dock
master disputed this and repeated his determination
prevent repetition of this conduct the part Of the
Tuscarora's crew.


Mr. Hedger that on leaving tho Consuls Office he
said to the officers, Ir have been in expressing
myself TO you, and have in any way offended you by my
with them, took his leave. Mr. Hedger says that the
officer with whom he mostly conversed had side on
and tiat the men had dark lantern with them.


subsequently to the transaction above narrated, viz
about half past nine O'Clock the policeman duty
man so down the etty on the south side OF the DOCK and
stop under the crane. On interrogating him he said
after some hesitation, that he was watching
the Nashville, and employed by the Anne
rican Consul. The policeman took him back
10 the gate aud saw him out Of the dock. He after
wards brought back by messenger from the Consuls
ofoo who said that the man was employed by the Con



contrary to his orders, and would not let him go
into the dock About half-past tho officers and
three above referred H., with the messenger and
two boatmen, came into the dockyard and allowed
to embark and the boat watched out of tho dock
and well down tho river.


The facts Of the case have been reported by Mr.
Hedger day in the following letter. addressed Cap
tain Patey r. NJ, the Admiralty Superintendent at this
port


Dock HOrsS, SOUTHAMPTON, Jan. 10, 1852
SRI beg 10 state, for your information that at about
eight P. NJ yesterday my visiting tho south side Of
the docks discovered several persons under tho gray
ing dock fence On the pier between west and middle
docks, who appeared to be strangers. demanded TO
know 70 what ship thoy belonged when Of the party
All officer, replied ssTuscarore" demanded to know
their right or authority for being the premises at
night and in reply was informed that they were station
cd there by their captains orders to watch the steam
ship Nashville, and Il she attempted to get under way
they wore 70 make signal to their ship lying in the
stream. Immediately informed him that they had no
right to be these spremises for such purpose and
they instantly removed ! thon walked with them to
tho gates, and put them of the premises.


The party consisted Of three and two officers Ono
OF tho officers had his side arms and the had
dark lantern.


afterwards Capt. Brtton. tho United States Con-
sui, ard informed him that, although I should afford
every facility during tho dsy TO the officers OF the Tusca
rora to land and embark in tho docks, still would
allow any of the officers to bc stationed here
that thcso commercial docks, and that should
admi. Of the promises being used for oher purposes by
the Tuscarora AT haf.pa p. NJ. the officers and
men applied at the gates for admission to embark in
waterman's s boat for their ship which Immediately
allowed. l am, sir, your obeIient servant,


PHILIP EEDGER, Superintendent
Capt ain PATET, R. N, Admiralty Office, Southampton.