The Federal Spy system in great Britain
We copy the following affidavit from the London Index. It was made by one of the workmen employed by J. & G. Thompson, shipbuilders at Glasgow. It was made in reference to the attempt made by the Yankee spies to suborn them to give evidence that might be used against the steamer Pampero: "On the 17th day of October last Mr. Archibald Brodie, formerly carver and gilder, Buchanan street, Glasgow, called at my house in Govan, proposing to sell carved trusses, &c. On the Tuesday following he called again about the trusses: but before he left he introduced the subject of the steamship Pampero, when he proposed that I should call on him at Balloch to inspect the trusses. I did not go to Balloch. On the evening of the23d of October last, on going home from work, I found him waiting for me at my house. After waiting some time. I accompanied him on leaving, when he proposed we should adjourn to a tavern in Govan. When there he again introduced the subject of the steamship Pampero, and informed me he was commissioned to offer me a handsome sum, and also to pay my passage to North America, and guarantee me an excellent situation there, if would give certain information about the above steamer; stating, as the reason of his proposal for my emigrating, 'that a party in my position giving such information in such a way would not get a situation anywhere on the Clyde.' Before parting we arranged to meet in T. Hannah's, Gordon street, Ginsgow, to settle the matter. According to that arrangement, I proceeded to Hannah's on the succeeding Saturday evening, when I found Brodle waiting for me. He there proposed the following arrangement — viz., that if I objected to emigrate, a sufficient sum to render me independent of work ever afterwards, would be paid me at once; also, that I would leave my employers immediately, and enter their service here at a larger salary than I was receiving (over and above the before mentioned sum of money.) I understood the nature of the work to be that I would require to watch the Pampero and report. He also stated they had workmen as spies in Messrs. Thomson's yard reporting to them. Before parting we arranged that I should write my decision on the subject to him, which I did declining the offer. On the following Monday, at two o'clock, while proceeding home to my dinner, I was informed a gentleman wanted me in a tavern in Govan, and on going there I found Mr. Brodie waiting, with my letter in his hand. He then begged me to reconsider the matter; but having obtained sufficient information to put my employers on their guard against these parties, I did not wait to discuss the matter, but shortly declined the proposals. All which is truth. John Gilchrist. "Ciyde Bank Iron Ship-yard, 30th Nov., 1863. "Deponed before me at Glasgow, thirtieth November, eighteen hundred and sixty-three years. "(Signed,) A. G. Kidston, J. P."
