Mr. Adams to Mr.
Seward.
[Extract.]
No. 53.]
Legation of the United
States,
London,
October 4, 1861.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the reception of
despatches from the department, numbered from 85 to 89, both
inclusive.
The despatch, No. 85, dated the 10th of September, like its immediate
predecessor, No. 84, of the same date, though received here a week
earlier, relates to cases of violation of neutrality in the British
islands in the West Indies. I have now the honor to forward copies of
two notes addressed by me to Lord Russell, one of the 30th of September,
and the other of the following day, touching these questions.
* * * * * *
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Page 161]
Mr. Adams to
Earl Russell.
Legation of
the United States,
London,
September 30, 1861.
The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of
the United States, regrets to be obliged to inform the right
honorable Earl Russell, her Majesty’s principal secretary of state
for foreign affairs, that he has been instructed by the President of
the United States to prefer a complaint against the authorities of
the island of Trinidad for a violation of her Majesty’s proclamation
of neutrality, by giving aid and encouragement to the insurgents of
the United States. It appears by an extract from a letter received
at the Department of State from a gentleman believed to be worthy of
credit, a resident of Trinidad, Mr. Francis Bernard, a copy of which
is submitted herewith, that a steam vessel, known as an armed
insurgent privateer, called the Sumter, was received on the 30th of
July last at that port, and was permitted to remain for six days,
during which time she was not only furnished with all necessary
supplies for the continuance of her cruise, under the sanction of
the attorney general, but that her Majesty’s flag was actually
hoisted on the government flag-staff in acknowledgment of her
arrival.
The undersigned has been directed by his government to bring this
extraordinary proceeding to the attention of Lord Russell, and, in
case it shall not be satisfactorily explained, to ask for the
adoption of such measures as shall insure, on the part of the
authorities of the island, the prevention of all occurrences of the
kind during the continuance of the difficulties in America.
The undersigned deems it proper to add, in explanation of the absence
of any official representation from Trinidad to substantiate the
present complaint, that there was no consul of the United States
there at the time of the arrival of the vessel. The undersigned had
the honor, a few days since, to apprise Lord Russell of the fact
that this deficiency had been since supplied, by preferring an
application for her Majesty’s exequator for a new consul, who is
already on his way to occupy his post.
The undersigned begs to renew to Earl Russell the assurances of his
highest consideration.
The Right Hon. Earl Russell, &c., &c., &c.
Mr. Adams to
Earl Russell.
Legation of
the United States,
London,
October 1, 1861.
My Lord: It is with much regret that I find
myself receiving, at every fresh arrival from the United States,
instructions from my government to make representations to your
lordship concerning alleged violations of her Majesty’s proclamation
of neutrality, committed by British subjects through the channel of
the colonies situated near the United States. I have the honor now
to submit to your lordship’s consideration the copy of an
intercepted letter from a person named John P. Baldwin, living at
Richmond, in Virginia, in the service of the insurgents, addressed
to Henry Adderley, esquire, of Nassau, New Providence. It appears by
this letter that Nassau has been made, to some extent, an entrepôt
for the transmission of articles
[Page 162]
contraband of war from Great Britain to the
ports held by the insurgents. It would be a great source of
satisfaction to the government of the United States to learn that
her Majesty’s government felt itself clothed with the necessary
power to prevent the exportation of such contraband from the
colonies for the use of the insurgents, and that it would furnish
the necessary instructions to the local authorities to attain that
end.
I pray your lordship to accept the assurances of the highest
consideration, with which I have the honor to be your lordship’s
most obedient servant,
The Right Hon. Earl Russell, &c., &c., &c.
