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."
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