CO885-(10-11) — Page 500

933.

No. 388.

(TURK'S ISLANDS.)

LAW OFFICERS to FOREIGN OFFICE.

MY LORD,

Lincoln's Inn, January 19, 1866. We are honoured with your Lordship's commands signified in Mr. Hammond's letter of the 10th instant, stating that, with reference to our Report of the 5th of September last, he was directed by your Lordship to transmit to us, together with the former papers, the accompanying letters from the Colonial Office and their enclosures, respecting the case of the Confederate schooner "St. Marys"; and he was to request that we would take the same into our consideration, and favour your Lordship with any observations we might have to offer thereupon.

In obedience to your Lordship's commands we have taken these papers into our consideration, and have the honour to

Report

That it now appears that the "St. Marys" did not as a matter of fact remain at the period referred to by Mr. Adams abandoned by her captors in Annatto Bay, and that if the vessel had been so abandoned she would have been taken possession of by the British authorities "in order" (to cite the words of the Jamaica Government Secre- tary's letter July 5, 1865) "to prevent unseemly conflict of finders unless the American Consul first takes possession." The position therefore of Mr. Adams turns out to be wholly unfounded, and we repeat our opinion that Governor Eyre is not to blame in any way with respect to this vessel.

The Earl of Clarendon."

We have, &c.

(Signed)

ROUNDELL PALMER. R. P. COLLIER. ROBERT PHILLIMORE.

0 16278.-393. 25.-5/86.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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C.O. 885

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