Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part I

Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.

No. 479.]

Legation of the United States, London, August 21, 1863.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit a copy of a note addressed to me by Lord Russell, dated the 17th instant, but received only yesterday. I have sent a copy of the same to Mr. Dudley.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.

Hon. Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

Lord Russell to Mr. Adams.

Foreign Office, August 17, 1863.

Sir: My attention has been called, by a member of the firm of Messrs. Fraser, Trenholm & Co., of Liverpool, to a letter which appeared in the Daily News of the 2d of April last, purporting to be a letter addressed by Mr. Thomas H. Dudley, United States consul at Liverpool, to the collector of customs at that port.

In that letter it is stated that when the Alabama was first tried, Mr. Welsman, one of the firm of Fraser, Trenholm & Co., was present, and that he accompanied that vessel on her various trials, as he had also accompanied the Oreto on her trial trip, and on her departure.

Mr. Welsman positively denies that he was present when the Alabama was first tried, or that he ever accompanied her in any way on any of her supposed trials. He further denies that he ever set foot on board the Oreto, and he has recorded these denials in an affidavit, subscribed and sworn to before the acting British consul at Charleston.

With the view of placing Mr. Welsman’s statement still further upon record, and as evidence of the incorrectness of Mr. Dudley’s assertion, I have the honor to communicate to you the substance of Mr. Welsman’s affidavit, for the information of your government.

I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

RUSSELL.

Chas. F. Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.