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,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c.
[Page 293]
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,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c.
