The Confederate steamer at Calais.
--It is announced that the
French Custom-House authorities at
Calais had received instruction to allow the Confederate steamer
Rappahannock to leave whenever her
Captain might think at to depart.
It appears that the
Rappahannock was formerly Her British Majesty's steam sloop
Victor, and was recently sold with three other steamers to private parties.
Three other steamers were like wise reported to be fitting out for rebel privateers on the
Thames.
The
Victor, or
Rappahannock, is upwards of 1,000 tons burden, built of wood, with engines of 300 horse power. The
London Time, says:
‘
When the
Admiralty sold the
Victor, it was stated that she was intended for the
China Gade, and she was ostensibly fitted out with that view, while her name was changed to
Scylla, of
London.
Several suspicious circumstances, however, occurred, and the dock yard officials felt it their duty to make a report to the
Admiralty.
The result was the receipt of an order at
Sheerness directing her to be stopped.
The order, however, arrived a few hours too late.
Those in charge of the vessel evi- dently suspected the intention of the
Government, and had her taken out of the harbor a few nights since.
She immediately afterwards hoisted the
Confederate flag.
She is of horse power, but, owing to some slight defect in the construction of her engines and machinery, her rate of steaming was never very high, which was the principal reason for the
Admiralty directing her to be sold.
A special report has been made to the
Lord of the
Admiralty of the circumstances under which she left Shearness dock yard.
’
A letter from
Calais contains the following respecting the
Rappahannock:
‘
This steamer was in the roadstead from midnight, waiting to receive on board fifteen young
Americans, who have been residing here for more than two months, to serve as officers.
These officers had embarked on board a fishing boat which they had hired to convey them to
Boulogne, as they told the master, in order to conceal their project and avoid the police.
When once they were outside the port, however, they ordered him to put them on board a vessel from which rockets were being fired, which was the signal agreed upon.
The master of the beat, in alarm, called for assistance from other boats near him, and with their help her sailed into port, where he landed his passengers, who were much annoyed at what had occurred.
’
The
Rappahannock has been purchased for the Confederate Government; she was an English vessel undergoing repairs at Shearness.
She left that port under pretence of trying her machinery, and taking with her as crew the mechanics and ship carpenters who were at work on board.
Once at sea the
English flag was replaced by that of the
Southern States.
She has not yet any guns on board, but is pierced for eight heavy guns.
Her repairs are, it is thought, about to be completed at
Calais.
It is reported that a part of her crow have arrived by steamer from
Dover.
A private letter from
Hull, dated November 27, and published in the
Daily News, says:
‘
"There was a prize vessel got away from here some days back.
She was an undoubted 'ram,' with masts fitted to lower on the deck, and telescope funnel.
She was launched with steam up, and came alongside the west pier.
Two cabs fail of Southern-looking gentlemen drove down and went on board, and she was off like a shot.
Every one was taken by surprise."
’
