I now have the honor to transmit copies of notes from Lord Russell, all
dated the 9th instant, respectively, in answer to mine already
mentioned. I mention them all in one letter, because they differ only in
relation to the details, and all equally rest on the practical
abnegation of will as well as of power to perform obvious international
obligations.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Enclosures.]
1. Lord Russell to Mr. Adams, March 9, 1863, on intercepted
correspondence.
2. The same to the same, March 9, 1863, on the Sumter at
Liverpool.
3. The same to the same, March 9, 1863, on claim of New York Mutual
Insurance Company for ravages of No. 290.
Lord Russell to Mr. Adams.
Foreign
Office, March 9,
1863.
Sir: With reference to my letter of the
12th ultimo, I have the honor to inform you that her Majesty’s
government have fully considered, in communication with the law
officers of the crown, the copies of intercepted correspondence
enclosed in your letter of the 9th ultimo, and which you
represent as showing “a deliberate attempt to establish within
the limits of this kingdom a system
[Page 166]
of action in direct hostility to the
government of the United States; this plan embracing not only
the building and fitting out of several ships-of-war under the
direction of agents especially commissioned for the purpose, but
the preparation of a series of measures, under the same
auspices, for the obtaining from her Majesty’s subjects ‘the
pecuniary means essential’ to the execution of these hostile
projects.”
I have now to state to you that this correspondence does not
appear to her Majesty’s government to contain any sufficient
evidence of “a system of action in direct hostility to the
United States” on the part of any of her Majesty’s subjects.
It goes merely to show that agents of the so-called Confederate
States, resident in this country, have received instructions
from their own government to endeavor to raise money on
securities of that government in England, and to enter into
contracts for the purchase of munitions of war, and for the
building of iron-clad vessels; but there is no proof in these
papers that the agents referred to have as yet brought
themselves within the reach of any criminal law of the United
Kingdom; for, even supposing that they have acted on their
instructions, it is not contrary to law for her Majesty’s
subjects to lend money, on securities or otherwise, to the
persons administering the government of the Confederate States,
nor to sell to that government ordinary munitions of war.
With respect to the building of iron-clad steamers for either
belligerent governments, although this is clearly prohibited by
the foreign enlistment act, her Majesty’s government do not find
in this correspondence sufficient information that anything of
that kind has actually been done within this country which could
form matter for a criminal prosecution.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your
obedient, humble servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c. &c., &c.
Lord Russell to Mr. Adams.
Foreign
Office, March 9,
1863.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you
that her Majesty’s government have had under their
consideration, in communication with the proper law advisers of
the crown, your letter of 16th ultimo, stating that you had
received information of the arrival of the steamer Sumter at
Liverpool, and calling my attention to the bearing on this case
of her Majesty’s proclamation limiting the stay within British
ports of vessels-of-war belonging to either of the belligerent
parties.
I have now to inform you that her Majesty’s government, in the
present state of their information on the subject, are unable to
assume, as you appear to do, that the ship lately called the
Sumter has not been legally and bona fide
sold to a British owner for commercial and peaceful purposes;
and, unless it were established that the sale was merely
fictitious, her Majesty’s proclamation, to which yon refer,
cannot be deemed applicable to that vessel in the port of
Liverpool.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your
most obedient, humble servant,
Charles Francis Adams, &c., &c., &c.
[Page 167]
Lord Russell to Mr. Adams.
Foreign
Office, March 9,
1863.
Sir: I have the honor to acquaint you
that her Majesty’s government have under their consideration
your letter of the 19th ultimo, enclosing a copy of a memorial
which has been addressed to the United States Secretary of
Stately the New York Mutual Insurance Company, claiming the
repayment by her Majesty’s government of certain policies of
insurance upon the United States vessels Brilliant and
Manchester, which have been destroyed on the high seas by the
confederate steam vessel Alabama.
I have the honor to state to you that her Majesty’s government
entirely disclaim all responsibility for any acts of the
Alabama, and they had hoped that they had already made this
decision on their part plain to the government of the United
States.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your
most obedient, humble servant,
