SEIZURE OF ANOTHER BRITISH SHIP BY THE AMERCANS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1763, 6 September 1862, Page 5

SEIZURE OF ANOTHER BRITISH SHIP BY THE AMERCANS.

JL» JL JLUU JJkXf JL JLJ J.VJLV/ 41.^1 K7* The following account of the seizure of the British steamship Circassian is published in the Times of the 12th June: Copy of the Loa of the British Steamship Circassian, fboai Bordeaux fob Havannah. "Sunday, May 4, 1862, 10 a.m.— The ship anired midway between Malanzas and Havannad. At 10. 30 a.m. we were met by the Amercau war steamer Somerset. She hailed us, aud requested us to heave to, so that she might send a boat on board to overhaul us, but of this we took no notice, being bound for Havannah, with a general cargo for that poit, the same being British and French property. In consequence of our refusal she immediately fired a blank shot across our stern, which at an interral of two minutes, or somewhat less, was followed by a round shot across our stern, and immediately afterwards by two shells in succession, oae of which carried away the whole of the fore-rigging on the port side, also striking the hunt of the foresail and splitting the sail, a splinter from the shell at the same time wounding one of the crew on the arm. Finding that we were only risking the safety of the ship and the lives of the crew we hove to, when they despatched a boat on board of us, demanding all papers connected with the ship and cargo, which were immediately handed to them. After examining the ship's papers pnd the hold, and broaching ihe ships cargo, they took a copy of the manifest and list of the crew ; these were sent on board the Somerset to the captain, the boat returning soon after with the first lieutenant demanding bills of lading, manifest of cargo, ship's articles and French clearance, the bill of health from Bordeaux, the bill of health from St. Thomas's, both being signed by the Spanish Consuls, which he took on board the Somerset to the captain. Shortly afterwards the first lieutenant returned with several officers and men, also a number of marines and an engineer's staff, and they finally took charge of the steam* ship Circassian in the name of the President of the United States, without assigning any reason for so doing. Immediately the marines came on board they were drawn up in front of the saloon door, and loaded their rifles and fixed bayonets in the faces of the captaiq and officers of the steamer Circassian, the English ensigu being hauled down' and the American ensign hoisted in its place, and the whole of the crew of the Somerset at once commenced cheering vociferously, which they kept up for several minutes. 1 p.va. — Captain Arthur (Acting Master from the Somerset), with a number of men, came on board and took charge, and sent a hawser on board the Somerset, which vessel then took us in tow, steering for Key West, where we arrived at 4. 30 p.m. of the following day, the ship touching the ground as she came in, the shock being distinctly felt. Soon after the ship was taken in tow, the crew were mustered by the first lieutenant, and about half of the seamen and firemen, with the chief and second engineers, were sent on board the Somerset. " 8 a. ra. of the sth of May. —The two engineers, with the boatswain, were sent back to the ship. 1 p. m — Seven moxe men, and the third and fourth officers, with the third engineer and boilerniaker, were sent on board the Somerset. 6p. m— The third afficer and third engineer < were sent back again. " May 6, lv. 30 a. m.— The whole of the crew of the Circassian were sent back on board from the Somerset, and the American ensign hauled dowu from the peak of the Circassian, and the English ensign hauled up in its place, hat the ship still uuder seizure by the Americans i.uthoiiiies, Captain Hunter having frequently requested permission to go on shore to see the English and French Consu's, but was each time refused. Since the ship struck yesterday we find her to be making a good deal of water. " Note. — The English ensign was hoisted on the first appearance of the American steamer, and kept flying until compelled to haul it down* the ship steering at the time south-west by west! half west, with Morro Lighthouse right ahead by good observations that morning. " Edward Huster, Commander " Wm. C. K. John, Chief Officer. " Copy of protest sent, per First Lieutenant, to the captain of the Somerset, by Captain Hunter on the seizure of the steamship Circassian. " Steamship Circassian, 4th May, 1862. «' Sir, — I beg to protest against the seizure of the steamship Circassian, under my command, now on the high seas, on a voyage from Bordeaux to Havannah, with a general cargo of merchandise the same being English and French pro perty. You assign no reason for this, in my opinion, illegal act. The expenses against the American Government for the seizure of my steamer will necessarily be enormous. I again beg to distinctly to inform you that we are bound to o foreign port, and are British owned. — I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient servant. " Edward Hunter* " Holloway's Ointment and Fills. — Chet>t Preservatives. — At all seasons of the rate of mortality from diseases of the lungs is very great. Holloway's Ointment well rubbed upon the chest, aided by his Pills, arrests all mischief. These cleansing medicaments exercise the most salutary and restorative influence over the entire. contents of the pectoral cavity. Air tubes, nesves, blood-vessels, aud all other tissues feel their wholesomely potent power, more particu* 1 arly in their thoroughly purifying both venous D and arterial blood, by promoting the free circa* latiou .of air. Neither Ointment or Pil Is contain ' any. noxious ingredient whatsoever; but thei* alsamie natures nourish rather than irritate tb«" y stein, and kindly subdue all v ntoward sympoms till all is well once more