THE CAPTURE OF THE STEAMSHIP CIRCASSIAN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 215, 28 August 1862, Page 5

THE CAPTURE OF THE STEAMSHIP CIRCASSIAN.

(From the London Times.)

TO THE EDITOR OP THE TIMES.

Sir,—We beg to enclose a copy of an extract from the steamship Circassian's logbook, showinghow she was taken hy the Americans, and shaS feel obliged by your publiskiag it in yonr valuable paper. . I am, Sir, yours truly, (Per Procuration of Z. C. Pearson and Co.) THOMAS P. JOIIXSON. Hull, June 10.

Copy op the Log of the British Steamship Circassian, fkom Bordeaux for Havasxah. "Sunday, May 4,1852, 10 a.m.—The ship arrived midway between Matanzas and Havaniiah. At 10.30 a.m. -we were met by the American war steamer Somerset. She hailed us, and requested us to heave to, so that she might send a boat on board to overhaul us, but of tins we look no notice, beinjc bound for Havannali, with a general cargo for that port, the same being British and French property. In consequence of onr refusal she immediately fired a blank shot across oui- stem, which at an interval of ten minutes, or somewhat Ic-s, was followed b.'a round shot across our stern, au»i immediately afterwards by t-.vo shelis in succession, cue of winch carried away the whole of the fore logins on t':e port si le. akost rikin* the bunt of the foresail and splitting! ha sail, a splinter from the shell, at the same time wounding one of the crew on the arm. Finding that we Mere only risking the safety of the ship and the lives of the crew, we hove to, when they dispatched a boat on board of v*, demanding all papers connected with the ahip and cargo, which were immediately handed to them. After examining the snip's papers ami the bold, and broaching the snip's cargo, they took a cjpv of tue manifest and list of the crev,-; tficse were "sent on board the Somerset to the captain, the boat returnin* soon after with the first lieutenant t'ennnding hills of Jading, manifest cf cargo, ship's article,-;, and French clearance, the bill of health from Bordeaux, the bill of health from St. Thomas's, both being signed by the Spanish Consul*, which he took on board tvs Somerset to the captain. Shortly afterwards t'u~ first lieutenant returned with several officers auC men, a!so a number of marines and an engineer's staif, and they finally took charge of the sf.eam«hip Circassian in the name of the PreM lent of the Unite 1 States, without assigning aay reason for so doin°Immediately the marines cam? on board, they were drawn up in front of the saloon door, and'ioa-led their rifles and fixed bayonets in the faces of the ea:>tairi and oiHoers of the steamer Circassian, the Hn^lisii ensign bein;? hauled down, and the American en«i^n hoisted in its place, an-i the whole of the crew of the Somerset at o; cc commenced cheering voeiferou-lv* which they kept up for several minutes 1 r. m — Captain Arthur (acting-master from the Sonvnvgt), with a number of men, came on board arid took charge, and sent a hawser on board the Soiner-et which vessel then took us in tow, steering for Ke' West, where we arrived at 4.30 p.m. of the following day, tbe ship touching the ground as she came in, the shock being distinctly felt. Soon after the shir, -n- ?s taken in tow, the crew were mustered by the' first lieutenant, and about half of the seamen and nremen, with the chief and second engineers, were sent on board the Somerset.

_'8 a.m. of the 4tb of Stay.—The two engineers with the boatswain., were sent back to the ship. iP-™-—Seven more men, and the third and fourth orac2TS, with the third engineer and boi!er-innk^ were sent on board the Somerset. 6 p.m.—TLe third officer and third engineer were s«=nt back again. •

" May 6,10,39 a.m-Th* whole of tlie crow of the Circassian were sent back on bxird from the Somerset, and the American ensign hauled down from the peak of the Circavsian, and the Enslish enrfgn hoisted m its plac, but the ship still under seizure by the American authorities, Giptain Hunter havin" frequently requested permis?ion to go on shore to see the English and French Consuls, but was each t^me refused. Since the ship struck yesterday we find her to be making a zood deal of water. " Note.—The English ensign was hooted on the ipt appearance of the American steamer and k«pt 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 a:ood observations tnat morninsr. ""EDWARD HDXTER, Commander. "WM. C. K. JOHX, Chief Officer."

Copy of Pkotest sest, per First Liectexa^t to tub Captain of the Somee-et, by G±vTAIX HUSTER, ON THE SEIZUKE OF TIP fcTEAMSHip Circassian. (t " Steamship Circassian, May i. IS£>. t f'.~" \ be« t0 lJrotest against the seizure of the steamship Qrcassian, under my cojumaud, now on the high seas on a voyaze from Bordeaux to Havannah, with a jreneml car^ of merchandise, tbe same bems English and French property. You assign no reason for this, in my opinion, illegal act. " The expenses against the Ameriam Government lor tlie seizure of my steamer will necs^viiy be enormous. '• I again beg to distinctly inform you that we are bound to a foreign port, and are are British owned. " I have the honor to be, Sir, " Your most obedient servant, "EDWARD HOXTER."