Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Sir: I learn from reports received at the Navy Department from the commander of the American steamer Flambeau that, although the United States have a deposit of coal at Nassau, our steamers are denied the right of taking it for use by the colonial authorities at that place.
[Page 19]I do not send you a formal statement of the fact, because, although it is presumed that those authorities have not acted under instructions from London, yet that they nevertheless must themselves have reported their proceedings to the home government. Justified, as I think, by this circumstance in assuming that the fact which I thus bring to your attention is already known to Earl Russell, I have to request you to ask from him an explanation of the proceeding, and to inquire whether we are to understand that the colonial ports are to be closed against our vessels-of-war when entering them for coal, or that such vessels are to be denied the right of supplying themselves from stores of our own lying in such ports. Liberal as we are in all our intercourse with the British government in American waters, the President declines to believe that that government has sanctioned or will sanction the proceedings of the authorities at Nassau. Should you find this to be the fact, you will suggest to Earl Russell our desire that proper instructions may be given to the authorities there.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c.,&c.