I have paid for the coal (enclosure No. 2) in order to save the
government from the loss of exchange, as that item had to be purchased
here, and have debited the department therefor the sum of $1,848 in a
special account I have opened, in which I have charged myself with the
sums paid by the Japanese government for indemnities. I will draw in the
same manner for that sum, so hat the State Department may have its
necessary credit if the whole expenses are to be charged to the Navy
Department. In this case an allowance should be made for exchange.
You will observe the price of the vessel, if lost, was fixed at $75,000.
She has been since sold for $108,000. She was chartered at the close of
a charter on behalf of the British government for less than two weeks to
bring troops to this port, for which 7,000 Shanghai taels were paid, and
the right was also reserved to the owners to carry freight. I think,
therefore, no objection can be made to the terms on which the charter
was effected by Captain Price and myself.
As the convention recently concluded with the Japanese government more
than provides for the payment of the expenses of the Ta-kiang and for
those of the Jamestown, which was assigned to the defence of this port,
as well as a large sum for indemnities, I presume the entire management
of the business will devolve on your department, and hope that my action
may be in all respects approved.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient
servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Enclosure No. 1.]
This charter-party, made and concluded this 18th day of August, 1864,
by and between the owners of the steamer Ta-kiang, now lying in the
harbor of Kanagawa, by their agents, Walsh, Hall & Co., of the
first part, and Robert H. Pruyn, minister resident of the United
States in Japan, and Cicero Price, captain United States navy,
representing and in behalf of the United States government, of the
second part, witnesseth:
1. That the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of
the covenants and agreements hereinafter mentioned, to be kept and
performed by the said party of the second part, do covenant and
agree, in the freighting and chartering of the said steamer Ta-kiang
unto the said parties of the second part, for a voyage from this
port of Kanagawa to the Inland sea, for the purpose of co-operating
with the squadrons of the treaty powers in their operations against
the Daimio Choshu, and return to this port of Kanagawa, on the terms
and conditions following, that is to say:
[Page 580]
2. The party of the first part agrees that the said Ta-kiang shall be
sufficiently tackled and apparalled for the said voyage, and
supplied with a proper quantity of coal, water, and with provisions
and stores for her customary officers and crew.
3. The party of the first part further agrees that the said vessel,
her officers and crew, shall be subject to the orders of the officer
placed in command thereof by Captain Price, of the United States
sloop Jamestown.
4. The party of the first part further agrees to pay the wages of the
customary officers and crew, and to victual the same; and further,
that they will provide the usual cabin accommodations for such
persons as may be designated by the officer placed in command, not
to exceed five persons—liquors, wine, and beer excepted.
5. And the said parties of the second part, for and in consideration
of the covenants and agreements to be kept and performed by the said
party of the first part, do covenant and agree to charter and hire
said steamer Ta-kiang aforesaid on the terms and conditions
following, that is to say:
6. The said parties of the second part do engage to pay to the said
party of the first part, for the charter or freight of said Ta-kiang
during the voyage aforesaid, which shall not exceed the term of one
month from the date hereof, the sum of $9,500, lawful gold coin of
the United States, in their draft at thirty days’ sight on the
Secretary of the Navy of the United States, or on the Secretary of
State of the United States.
7. The parties of the second part do further agree to pay to the
party of the first part the cost at this port of all the coal
consumed by said vessel during the continuance of the charter.
8. The parties of the second part do further agree that the officers,
engineers, and crew now on board of the said Ta-kiang shall, for so
long as they remain under their contract, as by the terms of this
charter-party, be considered as in the service of the United States,
and, for any casualties incident to this employment, shall be
entitled to the same consideration and compensation as when in the
regular government service.
9. The parties of the second part do further agree that during the
continuance of this charter the said Ta-kiang, as to each and every
loss or damage that may accrue to her, is at the risk of the said
parties of the second part, (except as to those perils of the sea
covered and protected by her policy of marine insurance,) and that
all such loss or damage, incident to her employment under this
charter-party, shall be made good to the party of the first part,
and the said vessel shall be returned to this port of Kanagawa in as
good order and condition as when chartered, ordinary wear and tear
excepted.
10. And it is further agreed between the parties to this instrument,
that, in case of a total loss of the Ta-kiang while employed under
this charter, the measure of damages which shall be paid by the
parties of the second part, as under the stipulations of the last
preceding section, (9,) shall be the sum of 75,000 clean Mexican
dollars, payable at the port of Kanagawa within nine months after
the expiring of this charter-party, with interest.
The charter-party ceases and terminates in one month from the date
hereof; but it is further agreed between the contracting parties
that this charter may be extended for a further period, not
exceeding one month, on the same terms and conditions as
hereinbefore named, payment being made to the party of the first
part by the parties of the second part pro rata for the actual time
said vessel remains so employed beyond the term of one month.
[Page 581]
In witness whereof, the parties aforesaid have hereunto
interchangeably set their hands and seals, the day and year above
written.
WALSH, HALL & CO.
ROBERT H. PRUYN, United States
Minister in Japan.
CICERO PRICE, United States
Navy.
A true copy:
A. L. C. PORTMAN.
Kanagawa, October 15, 1864.
The United States, charterers of the
steamer Ta-kiang, to Walsh, Hall & Co. Agents, Dr.
For cost of coal consumed, viz:
| English coal, |
42 |
tons, at $15 |
$630 |
00 |
|
|
| English coal, |
48 |
tons, at $16 |
768 |
00 |
|
|
|
90 |
tons |
|
|
$1,398 |
00 |
| Japan coal, |
60 |
tons, at $7 50 |
|
|
450 |
00 |
|
150 |
tons |
Mex. |
1,848 |
00 |
Received payment from Robert H. Pruyn, United State’s minister.
WALSH, HALL & CO.
I certify that the above bill is correct, and that the coal was used
in the expedition to the straits of Simonoseki, the said steamer
forming part of the squadron of the treaty powers.
FRED’K PEARSON, U. S. N., Late
Commanding Steamer Ta-kiang.
A true copy:
