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. 414.]

Legation of the United States, London, May 14, 1863.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit a copy of a note of Lord Russell to me of the 8th instant, in reply to mine of the 22d ultimo, which was sent to you with my No. 389, of the 24th of April, on the subject of the steamer Sumter. I presume this closes the correspondence.

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

CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c.

Lord Russell to Mr. Adams.

Foreign Office, May 8, 1863.

Sir: It is not necessary or desirable to prolong the controversy with regard to the steamer Gibraltar, otherwise Sumter. I shall, therefore, merely observe, with reference to the letter which you did me the honor to address to me on the 23d ultimo, that I have not stated any intention on the part of her Majesty’s government to deviate in this case from any acknowledged principles of international law, or from the exposition of those principles, hitherto given in courts administering that law. On the contrary, it is the firm intention of her Majesty’s government, both in the case of the Sumter and in every other case, to abide by those principles, which they have hitherto most scrupulously maintained during the whole course of the present war.

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

RUSSELL.

Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c.