Mr. DeSibbern to Jan. 28
Mr. Marcy.
Communicating the policy of strict neutral-
ity resolved upon by the King of Sweden
and Norway, in concert with the King of
Denmark, in reference to the war declared
by the Porte. Belligerent, war, or mer-
chant vessels may enter his ports, the
government reserving the right to inter-
dict them from the port of Christiana.
Privateers will not be admitted to said
ports or to anchorage. Belligerent vessels
may purchase anything in said ports ex-
cept contraband of war. Prizes, except
in distress, must not enter said ports. The
vessels of Sweden and Norway, with their
cargoes, should receive every security
from belligerents. The King deems these
regulations to be conformable to the law
of nations.
Mr. Marcy to Mr. Feb. 14 Acknowledging his note of 28th communica
ting neutral policy determined upon by
the King of Denmark. The views of the
Danish government have been submitted
to the President. The government and
people of United States are deeply inter-
ested in course of events in Europe.
125 Mr. Schroeder to April 10 Inclosing copy of Swedish ordinance defin
6 Mr. Marcy to Mr. May Seymour.
ing rights and obligations of Swedish
people engaged in commerce and naviga-
tion. Swedish vessels must have proper
documents and must not hoist a foreign
flag. Where Swedish ships are abroad
with insufficient crews neutral seamen
should be enlisted in preference to subjects
of belligerents, and in no case should the
latter exceed one-third of the crew. Such
changes in the crews of Swedish vessels
should be entered and attested before the
proper authorities. Swedish ships are
forbidden to attempt to enter blockaded
ports, and to carry contraband of war,
dispatches, or troops. Belligerent vessels
may bring into or take away from Swe-
dish ports anything except contraband of
war. Swedish subjects must not fit out,
or take service in, privateers. Privateers
will not be admitted to Swedish ports,
except in distress, nor shall captures be
adjudicated or sold in Sweden, and Swe-
dish subjects must not purchase captured
goods. Swedish vessels, unless under
convoy, must show their papers. Swedish
ships observing the above regulations
should enjoy free navigation, and will re-
ceive support from ministers and consuls
abroad, should this right be violated;
protection cannot, however, be extended
to those disregarding them. In case of
seizure of a Swedish ship, the captain
must report the circumstances to Swedish
consul.
9 Referring to declarations of England and
France, and stating that this government
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Inclosing letter of Rear-Admiral Sir B. 215
Walker relating to the proceedings of
vessels of war of the so-styled Confeder-
ate States at the Cape of Good Hope.
Sir B. Walker to Aug. 19 Proceedings at the Cape of Good Hope of 215
the Secretary
to the Admi
the Alabama, her reported tender, Tusca-
loosa, and the Georgia. Arrival in Simon's
Bay of the Tuscaloosa as a tender to the
Alabama, having still on board her origi-
nal cargo of wool, she never having been
condemned in a prize court. Correspond-
ence between Sir B. Walker and the gov-
ernor of the Cape of Good Hope concern-
ing the character of the Tuscaloosa.
Sir F. Rogers to Sept. 29 Inclosing dispatch from the governor of the 219
Mr. Hammond.
The Secretary to
the Admiralty
to Mr. Ham-
mond.
Cape of Good Hope reporting the arrival
at the cape of the Alabama, and request-
ing instructions on many questions that
have arisen from the state of affairs con-
sequent on the presence of that vessel in
the colony.
Oct. 21 Inclosing letter from Sir B. Walker relative
to the Tuscaloosa and the Sea Bride, cap-
tured by the Alabama, having visited
Saldanha Bay, and the question whether
the laws of neutrality prescribed by the
Queen's proclamation have not been
infringed by the proceedings of these ves-
Oct. 21 Inclosing letter from Sir B. Walker relative
to the movements of the Alabama and her
prizes.
Oct. 21 Departure of the Georgia for Simon's Bay on
the 29th August, and the arrival there on
the next day of the United States steamer
Vanderbilt.
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Departure of the Alabama from the Cape of 228
Good Hope on the 25th of August.
Inclosing a dispatch from the Duke of New-
castle to the governor of the Cape of Good
Hope concerning the proceedings at the
cape of the Georgia, the Alabama, and her
reputed tender, the Tuscaloosa. The Ala-
bama, whatever may have been her pre-
vious history, must be treated as a ship of
war belonging to a belligerent power. In
regard to the case of the Tuscaloosa, a ves-
sel captured by the Alabama and brought
with her cargo into Simon's Bay, she did
not lose the character of a prize because
she entered that port in charge of an
officer and armed with two small guns.
If she was really an uncondemned prize,
brought into British waters in violation
of her Majesty's neutrality, all control
over the Tuscaloosa by her captors should
have been relinquished and the vessel
should be retained until restored to her
original owners.
Detention by the British authorities at the 230
cape of the Tuscaloosa until she can be
transferred to her lawful owners, the ves-
sel being considered as an uncondemned
prize, captured by the Alabama.
Sir F. Rogers to Feb. 25 Inclosing two dispatches from the governor
Mr. Hammond.
of the Cape of Good Hope to the Duke of
Newcastle announcing the second arrival
at Simon's Bay of the Tuscaloosa, and her
retention by the colonial authorities, under
instructions of the home government, until
properly reclaimed by her original owners.
The rebel officer in charge of the Tusca-
loosa protests against this action of the
authorities, because on a former occasion
she was recognized as a ship of war. The
United States consul says he has no
authority from the owners to take charge
of the vessel; he therefore desires that the
colonial authorities will retain possession
of the vessel until he obtains such authority.
The Secretary to Feb. 25 Inclosing a dispatch from Rear-Admiral Sir 239
Mr. Elliot to Mr.
Hammond.
B. Walker reporting the action of the
British authorities in taking possession of
the Tuscaloosa. Inventory of the mova-
bles of that vessel made by the British
naval authorities in connection with the
United States consul. The rebel officers
in charge of the Tuscaloosa have sailed
for England.
7 Inclosing dispatch, dated the 4th instant, 241
from the Duke of Newcastle instructing
the governor of the cape to restore the
Tuscaloosa to the lieutenant of the Con-
federate States who lately commanded
her, or, if he should have left the cape,
then to hand her over to some person who
may have authority from Captain Semmes,
or from the government of the Confed-
erate States, to receive her.
Mar. 11 Inclosing a further dispatch from the Duke 242
of Newcastle to the governor of the cape,
stating that the instructions of the 4th
instant were not founded on any general
principle respecting the treatment of prizes
captured by either belligerents, but on the
peculiar circumstances of the case. The
Tuscaloosa having been allowed to enter
and depart, the captain of the Alabama
was thus entitled to assume that he might
bring her into the same harbor a second
time. It is not necessary to discuss
whether she retained the character of a
prize or whether she lost that character
and assumed that of an armed tender to
the Alabama. Her Majesty's government
have come to the conclusion that the Tus-
caloosa, under the circumstances, ought to
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