Potts.] 11" [April 19, 



at his own house. Three men apparently bent on mischief rang his door 

 bell, and were so stern in their demands to see Mr. Dudley, that the ser- 

 vant was in an agony of fear, but taking in the situation at a glance the 

 Consul, with prompt presence of mind, quickly shut the door in their 

 faces and bolted it. It is believed they were armed and intended assault- 

 ing him. His duties were therefore for the most part entirely new and 

 without precedent, requiring just such a man of more than usual execu- 

 tive ability, promptness, and decision of character, not open to blandish- 

 ments or bribes. 



In the biographical notices which appeared at the time of his death 

 much has been said about his patriotic action in preventing the sailing of 

 the numerous vessels fitted out, not only at Liverpool, but elsewhere, to 

 prey upon American commerce. These general statements give no idea 

 of the character of the work and its arduous as well as dangerous diffi- 

 culties, in all its intricate details in which Mr. Dudley faithfully served his 

 country. To say that he was a sentinel at the most advanced outpost, and 

 in the midst of the enemy's country; while it gives an idea of his con- 

 stant watchfulness, barely shows his actual encounter with the enemy. 

 Of the long list of vessels, 324 blockade steamers reported by Mr. Dudley, 

 126 were either captured, sunk or battered to pieces. The mere mention 

 of their names alone with that of fifty-six sailing vessels engaged in the 

 same piratical enterprise, fill a column and a half in an ordinary sized 

 newspaper. The source from which this is taken gives some valuable 

 details regarding twelve war steamers, which Mr. Dudley also reported 

 and was instrumental either in stopping, or embarrassing so effectually 

 that except in one or two instances, comparatively little harm was accom- 

 plished. It was here that Mr. Dudley's legal services were continually 

 employed. He was obliged to be constantly before the English oflicials 

 with a mass of sworn evidence in regard to the hostile character and 

 destination of these vessels, obtained as best he could in a neighbor- 

 hood where every obstruction was put in his way, and spies constantly 

 employed to watch his slightest movements, and many who were willing 

 to testify were deterred by the fear of social ostracism and loss of busi- 

 ness. Citations to appear were sent to him at the most inconvenient times. 

 He was obliged in self-defense and in the service of his country to fight 

 these persistent people with their own weapons. By the authority of the 

 President he had over one hundred spies employed, and to guard against 

 deception, many of these were spies upon each other, not a single one 

 knew the name or identity of a brother spy. Mr. Dudley himself traveled 

 incognito through the country, and "for three years there was not a keel 

 laid in Great Britain, without his learning the whole particulars within 

 twenty-four hours. 



Impressed with his work, the President gave him extraordinary powers 

 and every consulate in Great Britain, with the exception of the single one 

 in London, was placed under his supervision. Even many of the American 

 Consuls on the continent, who were not under his jurisdiction, repeatedly 



