Mr. Adams to Mr.
Seward.
No. 230.]
Legation of the United States,
London,
October 3, 1862.
Sir: I regret to be obliged to state that
accounts are coming in of the ravages committed by the gunboat 290, now
called the Alabama, which has been cruising off the Azores. So long ago
as the 5th of last month I felt it my duty to apprise the consul at
Gibraltar of the position of that vessel, and to warn him, and through
him the vessels on that station, to be on the alert. I now learn from
him, as well as from Mr. Harvey, at Lisbon, that they have just sailed.
The probability is that the Alabama will next turn up somewhere in the
West Indies, or on the coast of South America.
There are rumors from Liverpool of the preparation of several steamers to
sail as privateers. They find some corroboration from the report just
received of the proceedings at Richmond in regard to letters of marque.
There is no doubt that the presence of one or two fast United States
steamers, commanded by efficient officers, would be of use in the
European waters.
I transmit the copy of another note which I have addressed to Lord
Russell upon my receiving from Mr. Dudley a fresh and strong deposition
to add to those already accumulated in the case of the gunboat 290. It
will
[Page 207]
be a little difficult for
this government to justify its want of energy in enforcing the
provisions of the law in regard to that vessel.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Enclosure]
Mr. Adams to Lord Russell, with deposition, September 30, 1862.
Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.
Legation of the United
States,
London,
September 30,
1862.
My Lord: I have the honor to submit to
your consideration the copy of another deposition taken at
Liverpool before the collector of the port, which, in connexion
with the papers heretofore presented, goes to establish beyond
reasonable doubt the fact that the insurgents in the United
States and their coadjutors at that place have been engaged in
fitting out vessels at that port to make war on the United
States, in utter contempt of the law and of her Majesty’s
injunctions in her proclamation. I expect to be in possession of
some stronger evidence of the same nature in relation to past
transactions, which I hope to be able, likewise, to submit in a
few days.
The injuries to which the people of the United States are
subjected by the unfortunate delays experienced in the case of
my remonstrance against the fitting out of the gunboat 290, now
called the confederate steamer Alabama, are just beginning to be
reported. I last night received intelligence from Gibraltar that
this vessel has destroyed ten whaling ships in the course of a
short time at the Azores.
I have strong reason to believe that still other enterprises of
the same kind are in progress in the ports of Great Britain at
this time. Indeed, they have attained so much notoriety as to be
openly announced in the newspapers of Liverpool and London. In
view of the very strong legal opinion which I had the honor to
present to your lordship’s consideration, it is impossible that
all these things should not excite great attention in the United
States. I very much fear they will impress the people and the
government with a belief, however unfounded, that their just
claims on the neutrality of Great Britain have not been
sufficiently estimated. The extent to which her Majesty’s flag
and some of her ports have been used to the end of carrying on
hostile operations is so universally understood that I deem it
unnecessary further to dwell upon it. But in the spirit of
friendliness with which I have ever been animated towards her
Majesty’s government, I feel it my duty to omit no opportunity
of urging the manifestation of its well known energy in
upholding those laws of neutrality upon which alone the
reciprocal confidence of nations can find a permanent basis.
I pray your lordship to accept the assurances of the highest
consideration with which I have the honor to be, my lord, your
most obedient servant,
Right Hon. Earl Russell,
&c., &c., &c.
