Rassegna storica del Risorgimento

26
Howard R. Màrraro
"W. L. Patterson a John M. Daniel
Genoa, Jane 20, 1860,
Sir: On the evening of the 8th inst. an American ship the Charles and Jane, Samuel Donnell,2) master, cleared and left this port under the follouring cir-cumstances:
Capt, Donnell having discharged his cargo from New Orleans and being unchartered for a cargo home was àbout proceeding to Trapani on the western end of Sicily to purchase a cargo ofsalt on account ofhis owners. On the 7th, inst., the day before he sailed, he called upon me and stated that a proposition had been mode to him by certain parties off ering him a very remunerating sum of money to talee men and munitions ofwar to Cagliari, in the island of Sardi­nia; he wished to know of me ifhe would run any risk in taking such afreight. I told him he had a per feci righi without fear of molestation to take any cargo from this port to Cagliari that the authorities of the place, bang ports within the sanie kingdom, allowed him to depart wiih. But that a cargo contraband of war for Sicily would endanger his vessel. He told me that the freight was for Cagliari, and, having closed with the terms of the proposers, he cleared, as I have stated, on the evening ofthe 8th for Trapani touching at Cagliari where his cargo was to he delìvered.
The captain having settled business with his consignees here could not leave toith his ship, but departed the day after to Cagliari, where he expecled to find her. I received a letter from him dated from that place on the llth inst., his ship had not arrived, and he was awaiting her with some anxiety.
On yesterday Capt. De Negri, in the Sardinian mercantile marine, deposed before me that on the lOth inst., whilst proceeding to Genoa off the island of Elba he saw a smatt steamer with a ship in tow taken possession ofby a largo steamer which he recognized as a Neapolitan and which with the prizes proceeded in the direction of Naples.
Now as the Charles and Jane which left the harbor on the evening ofthe 8th did not go to sea until the morning ofthe 9th, and as she was in tow of a snudi tug steamer and as from the distance and direction with the winds then prevail-ing the Charles and Jane should have been at that tinte off Elba in her course to Cagliari, I infer she was the vessel captured by the Neapolitan. From the facts I have stated and the place of captureyou will see at once that the captare was unlawful. I have written to our Minister at Naples and placed him in possession of these facts, of which in this note I have the honor to inforni you.
P. S. Since writing the foregoing Capt. Donnell has arrived from Cagliari in search ofhis vessel. There is a rumor that the vessel has been demanded by our Minister at Naples, supported by the representatives of the other poieers. Nolhing is known of the resutt as yet.
I have this instant received a telegraphic dispatch from the Hon. J. R. Chandler saying that the Charles and Jane was captured and now at Gaeta. He had applied to the Government.
1) Archivio Ambasciata americana, Roma.
2) Si veda MAIUUIIO, Diplomatic relation*, eco., II, 518, 519, 525-526, 529.