Page of statement. Claims for expected profits in case of the vessels captured by the Shenandoah after the month of January, 1865. 925 Abigail. 227 666 Brunswick. Loss by interruption of voyage. ..do 232 Congress .do 233 Covington do 238 Edward Carey do 238 Euphrates Loss by interruption of voyage. 100, 875 .do 87,250 See the original list, p. 438, and See the original list, p. 426, and the beginning of the second report: it is a claim increased by $43,000. See the original list, p. 438. See the original list, p. 438. 60, 890 51, 100 95,975 110,876 See the original list, p. 436; it is a new claim. 131,250 218, 125 2,781,269 Double claims in the case of the vessels captured by the Shenandoah after the month of January, 1865. Double claims in the case of vessels captured by the Shenandoah-Continued. I. As regards the claim of the first four whalers, which were simply detained, we have reduced the claim of $386,951 in paper to $67,446 in gold. II. As regards the twenty-four whalers destroyed, the table shows that the sum of $1,954,766 in paper is claimed for the vessels and outfits; but $628,898 must be deducted from this sum as constituting double claims, which leaves a balance of $1,325,768 in paper. Besides the above, the sum of $2,781,269 in paper is claimed for probable gross profits. For gross earned profits $453,550 in paper is claimed; from which must be deducted $35,292 as constituting double claims, which leaves a balance of $418,258 in paper. The claims for the vessels, outfits, and gross profits, both expected and earned, therefore amount, after the double claims have been deducted, to $4,525,295 in paper. We estimate the losses for which this claim is presented at $1,023,318 in gold, of which $856,000 represent the value of the vessels and outfits at the beginning of their voyages, and $167,368 profit at the rate of 25 per cent. per annum, and the wages from the beginning of the voyage up to the day of the capture. The table also shows that there is a claim for personal effects of captains (and, in one or two instances, for those of mates of vessels) which amounts, after the double claims have been deducted, to $103,156, and for damages, $158,676 in paper. As to the claims for personal effects of the captain or crew, they have been allowed to pass in all cases, save six. We can show that in these cases the claims are evidently exaggerated, and we have therefore reduced them. As regards the claim for damages, it is composed almost entirely of the following items: In the case of the Edward Carey the captain's claim, first presented in the month of March last, amounts to $10,000 for damages, in addition to his claim for personal effects. In the case of the General Williams the captain and mate claimed for the first time in the month of March last the sums of $20,000 and $10,000, respectively, for the loss of their probable catch, in addition to their claims for personal effects. In the case of the Pearl the mate and one Gardener, a cooper, claimed, for the first time, in the month of March last, the sums of $5,000 and $1,200, respectively, for the loss of twelve months' time, in addition to their claim for personal effects. In the case of the W. C. Nye the captain claims $5,000 for losses in consequence of the abandonment of his voyage, in addition to his claim for personal effects. In the case of the Susan Abigail there is a claim for $18,716 for merchandise placed on board for commercial purposes, and a claim of $88,750 for the profits which it was expected to realize in such commerce. We think ourselves able to show to the Tribunal that there is ground for the rejection of all these claims for damages. Table of provisional claims and allowances as regards the vessels captured by the Shenandoah. The entire gross claim, including the double inadmissible claims, those for gross expected profits, gross freights earned, &c., amounts to $5,839,068 in paper. The total allowance, provisionally estimated, amounts to $1,023,318 in gold for the vessels, outfits, profits, freights, and the profits earned and expected, and to $113,621 in paper for the other claims. Waverly W. Thompson The United States claim interest on the whole amount at 7 per cent. per annum up to the day of payment, according to the terms of the Treaty. XV.-REPLY OF THE AGENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE NEW MATTER INTRODUCED BY THE AGENT OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY ON THE CALL OF THE TRIBUNAL FOR ELUCIDATION IN RESPECT TO THE TABLES PRESENTED BY THE TWO GOVERNMENTS. The tables presented to the Tribunal by the agent of Her Britannic Majesty on the 19th and 26th instant, under the call for a comparative statement of the British and American tables then already presented, are new, in substance as well as form, and contain new criticisms on the American tables. The agent of the United States makes no exception to this liberty taken by the British agent. His Government courts a free discussion of all its claims, and has no desire to shut out criticism by technical objections. He claims, however, his right, under the Treaty, to reply to the new matter introduced under the call for elucidation made at the request of the Viscount d'Itajubá. I. THE QUESTION OF GOLD OR PAPER. It is several times stated in the papers presented by the British agent that the claims of the United States are made in paper-money. This is a mistake. They are made in gold, unless when expressly stated to be made in paper. The proof of this is multifarious. (a) The Treaty provides that the award is to be paid in gold. The claims are submitted under the provisions of the Treaty. The strong presumption is, therefore, that the claimants stated their claims in the currency in which the judgment is to be made, viz, coin. (b) This presumption is strengthened by the fact that during the war the merchants on the Atlantic coast engaged in foreign trade, and many or most of the large insurance companies on that coast, and all persons engaged in business on the Pacific coast, kept their books and accounts in coin. (c) It is also strengthened by the fact that the cruises of many of the vessels destroyed began before the paper-money of the United States had depreciated. (d) It is also strengthened by the internal evidence contained in the Revised List of Claims filed April 15, 1872. The subject is mentioned under the heads of the following vessels captured by the Alabama: 1. The Amanda, (page 7.)—The insurance deducted from the claim of Isaiah Larrabee, £179 sterling, is stated to amount to $866.36. This is the exact sum of coin which the sterling should yield with exchange at par, viz, $4.84 to the pound. 2. The Brilliant, (page 27.)-The claim for freight, £3,415 98. 8d. is stated to amount to $16,531.03. This also is the exact sum in coin which the sterling should yield at par. 3. The Chastelaine, (page 28.)-Here a claim in gold is converted into currency, showing expressly that the whole claim is in currency. 4. The Martaban, (page 64.)—The loss (80,000 rupees) is stated to amount to $35,600. This is undoubtedly stated in gold. |