NORTH AMERICA
No. 8. (1864.)
CORRESPONDENCE
RESPECTING
RECRUITMENT IN IRELAND
FOR THE
MILITARY SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES.
Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command
of Her Majesty
1864.
Correspondence respecting Recruitment in Ireland
for the Military Service of the United States.
Mr. Waddington to Mr. Hammond - (Received
January 20.)
(Extract.)
I AM directed by secretary sir George Grey
to transmit to you herewith, to be laid before
Earl Russell, a copy of a letter which has been
received from the Irish Government, relative to
a man named P.H. Finney, who has recently arrived
from America, whose object, there is reason to
believe, is to enlist men for the American
Army.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Sir J. Larcom to Mr. Waddington.
(Extract.)
As there appears reason to suppose that Finney's
object is really to enlist men for the American
Army, though no proof of it has as yet been
received, a strict watch will be kept on his
movements.
No. 2.
Mr. Hammond to Mr. Waddington.
Sir,
I HAVE laid before Earl Russell your
letter of the 18th instant respecting a man
named P.H. Finney who has recently arrived
Ireland from America, for the purpose, as there
appears to be reason to think, of enlisting men
for service in the Federal Army, and I am to
request that you will state to Secretary Sir
George Grey that Lord Russell would suggest that
the Home Office should consult the Law Officers
of the Crown with regard to this matter.
I am, &c.
(Signed) E. HAMMOND.
No. 3.
Mr. Waddington to Mr. Hammond. -
(Received January 24.)
(Extract.)
REFERRING to the correspondence which has
taken place respecting American agents employed
in procuring emigrants from Ireland , I am
directed by Secretary Sir George Grey to
transmit to you a copy of a letter and its
inclosures, which have been received through
the Irish Government from Mr. Lock Perry,
inquiring on behalf of Messrs. Sable and Searl,
of Liverpool, whether they can ship passengers
in the manner referred to in the enclosed
correspondence, and whether they are bound to
ship them back.
As Mr. Perry States that the American Minister
is in communication with Her Majesty's Government
on the subject, his letter is forwarded for the
information of Earl Russell previously to
returning any answer and Mr. Perry has been
informed that it has been so transmitted.
Reports respecting Finney's proceedings received
from the Sub-Inspector of Constabulary at Galway
are inclosed herewith.
Inclosure 1 in No. 3.
Mr. Perry to Sir J. A. Larcom.
Sir, I BEG to inclose a copy of a letter
received by Messrs. Sable and Searle of
Liverpool, emigration agents, from their agent
at Boston, together with copies of a proposed
agreement to be entered into with intending
emigrants, a letter from Mr. Finney, an agent
appointed to bring out emigrants to America
and a copy of a letter to Messrs. Sable and Searle
to myself.
I have been informed by the American Consul
here that Mr. Adams, the American Minister, is in
communication with the Government in London
on the subject.
I have, &c.
(Signed) JEREMIAH PERRY.
Inclosure 2 in No. 3.
Messrs. Page, Richardson and Co., to Messrs.
Sable and Searle.
London and Liverpool Packet Office,
114, Slate Office, Boston,
December 16, 1863.
Dear Sirs,
WE have a good prospect of making sure of a
large number of passengers from Ireland
to this port and Portland. There are a number
of railroad companies and other corporations
greatly in want of men to perform labour, and
they have agreed with us to be responsible
for the passage of a certain number of such
able-bodied men as would be willing to
work for them. It has been thought best to send
out to attend to the matter, and see that none but
able-bodied men are taken,- men in good
health, and who would not be likely to
fall sick on their hands. Several hundred
men are wanted, and we wish you to give
your best efforts to aid Mr. Phinney
in his enterprize, as all the passengers
will be forwarded through your house.
We would suggest that you forward a circular
to each one of your agents in Ireland,
to the effect that good men are wanted
to agree to work for not less than twelve months,
and that their passage will be advanced
on condition that they bind themselves
so to work.
We will be responsible to you (having
taken security from the Corporations
wanting the men) for the passage-money and
for the inland ticket to the port of embarkation.
If it shall be necessary you will
make such arrangements with Mr.
Phinney about issuing tickets
as you may see fit.
Yours, &c.
(Signed) PAGE, RICHARDSON, & Co.
Inclosure 3 in No.3.
Proposed Agreement.
WE, the Undersigned, hereby agree with
Patrick H. Phinney, that in consideration
of the said Patrick Phinney advancing
the money necessary for the payment
of our respective passages to Boston,
in the United States of America - that
we, each of us hereto signing our
names (or making our marks in presence
of witnesses), hereby agree with said
P.H. Phinney, that we will on our arrival
at Boston aforesaid, commence to labour
for said Patrick H. Phinney or his assigns,
either on the Charlestown Waterworks, in the
city of Charlestown, or the Webster and
Southbridge Railroad, in the employ of
Wall and Lynch; or the Boston, Hartford,
and Erie Railroad, in the employ of
E. Crane, in the State of Massachusetts;
or on the Pacific Railroad; or for the
Bear Valley Coal Company, in the
employ of George P. Sanger; or for the
Franklin Coal Company, in the employ of
E.C. Bates, in the State of
Pennsylvania.
And we hereby agree that we will,
each of us hereto signing as aforesaid,
continue to labour and work to our best
ability for the said P.H. Phinney, or his
assigns, for the term of twelve months,
from the date of our arrival in said Boston,
for and at the rate of dollars per month,
in addition to our board and lodging, which is
to be furnished to us by the said P.H.
Phinney.
And we each of us hereby agree that we
will repay to said P.H. Phinney, or to his
assigns, the amount which shall have been
paid by the said P.H. Phinney, or his
assigns, for each of our passages to
Boston as aforesaid, and also those of
us who shall have had our inland
passages paid for us by the said P.H.
Phinney, or any other advances which
may have been made to us by the said
P.H. Phinney, or that the same shall
be deducted from or repaid from our
wages first earned as aforesaid, and
paid to said P.H. Phinney or his assigns
by our employers.
It is understood that the wages aforesaid
of each of us will commence within one
week after our arrival in Boston, or as
soon as we commence to work.
Names. Where from. Description.
Inclosure 4 in No.3
Mr. Finney to Messrs. Sable and Searle.
Sirs, ANNEXED is a copy of the agreement
which I purpose having signed by each man
who I will approve of as a fit and proper
person to be employed and sent to Boston.
I have already left a copy at your
office in Liverpool, but which must have
escaped from your observation.
Mr. Atkinson called upon Mr. Bates,
but he was not at home, and his manager
refused to give a pass until he laid
the matter before the board. I
therefore request that you will write
to the Company immediately and make the
necessary arrangements for the
transmission of those men I may select
by the different railroads.
On account of this obstacle, as well
as some other which has arisen I will
not be able to send any man before
the 29th instant; then I will have 150
good men selected to send by the vessel
sailing on that date.
Scanned by Liam Boyd
