Letters

Philip Stevens, who was Chief Surveyor of Customs, Liverpool 1863

Hello,

I was curious to know the name of the Surveyor of Customs at Liverpool that you quoted as ordering "The King's Broad arrow be marked on one of her mast, and that Alexandra be seized under the Foreign Enlistment Act." (5th of April 1863).

I read this in "Marauders of the Sea, Confederate Merchant Raiders During the American Civil War".  Specifically, I'm wondering if this is my g-g-great grandfather, Philip Stevens, who was Chief Surveyor of Customs, Liverpool.  I've been doing research on him so would appreciate any information you may have.

Thank you very much.

William P. McCulloch (my mother is a Stevens)


Hello William,

Here is some detail about the seizure of Alexandra.

Meanwhile, Yonge had been recalled to London to appear as the crown witness in the case of 'The Seizure Of The Ship Alexandra ', which began at the Court of Exchequer, Westminster, on June 22 1863 before the Lord Chief Baron, Sir Frederick Pollock, Kt, and a special jury. The Alexandra was launched from the Liverpool shipyards of William C. Miller & Sons on March 7 1863, only to be seized on the following mouth as she lay in a Toxteth Dock by Liverpool Customs Officer Edward Morgan, acting on behalf of the crown, on the charges of violating the 7th section of the 1819 Foreign Enlistment Act. This section simply meant that "the Alexandra was fitted out or equipped or permitted to be equipped, to harass and be hostile to the government and citizens of a state with whom her majesty was at peace" 

That is all I have been able to find.

Best regards,
Mac. Gregory.

Hello Mac,

 

Thank you very much for responding to my e-mail and for the details concerning the seizure of Alexandra. I am fairly certain that my great, great grandfather was Chief Surveyor of Customs at Liverpool in 1863. I have also written to the Maritime Archivist at the Liverpool Museum to request information. From what I understand, Philip was a fairly prominent officer of the English Civil Service. Prime Minister Lord Melbourne was patron of the family.

 

Kind regards,

 

Bill


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