ɪn ˈɔːɹdɚ tʊ ˌoʊvɚʃˈædoʊ dɪskˈʌʃənz æz tə ðə liːɡˈælᵻɾi ʌv ðɛɹ ˈækʃən, ðə bɹˈɪɾɪʃ ɡˈʌvɚnmənt pˈɜːtʃɪst ðə ʃˈɪps ˌɔn ˈeɪt ˈɔːɡəst wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti fˈoːɹ fɔːɹ pˈaʊnd twˈɛnti fˈaɪv,zˈiəɹoʊzˈiəɹoʊ zˈiəɹoʊ ɪn ɛksˈɛs ʌvðə kˈɑːntɹækt pɹˈaɪs.
In order to overshadow discussions as to the legality of their action, the British government purchased the ships on 8 August 1864 for £25,000 in excess of the contract price.