Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.
Sir: Your despatch (No. 381) of the 25th October, covered copies of many papers received from Mr. Harvey, at Lisbon, touching the piratical depredations committed by the gunboat 290 off the western islands, which I am instructed to bring before the notice of Lord Russell in such manner as shall seem best calculated to effect two objects—first, due redress for the national and private injuries sustained; and secondly, a prevention of such lawless and injurious proceedings hereafter.
I shall take the earliest opportunity to execute these orders, and, at the same time, to add other papers which have been furnished to me by Mr. Dudley, the consul at Liverpool, embracing still other cases of a similar character. Even without the addition of this evidence I have reason to suppose that the attention of the government here has been much drawn to the difficulty in which the acts of this vessel have involved them. There are statements current in the newspapers that they have actually stopped a vessel at Cork laden with supplies for the rebels, and have likewise prohibited the shipment of arms in the steamers going to New York. With respect to the latter part of the story, it seems to be admitted that the agents of those steamers no longer consent to receive them, though a different reason is given for it—the fear of some threat by Captain Semmes of what he would do if he found them on board. I am quite incredulous as to any disposition of that personage or of his owners in Liverpool voluntarily to incur the risk of difficulty with the authorities in England.
The only noteworthy circumstance in this connexion seems to be the great difference in the amount of evidence required to establish the destination in the respective cases. Although the equipment of vessels and cargoes from various ports of this kingdom, with the intent to run the blockade, has been so notorious [Page 5] for a year past that the instances have become a frequent item of newspaper gossip, the difficulty of establishing the proof by the necessary evidence has been constantly urged in extenuation of a refusal to do anything at all to check them. And the moment a determination to do something is arrived at, the first manifestation of it appears to be against the party that has committed comparatively no offence, and whose limited operations have never acquired notoriety.
In the interview which I am to have with Lord Russell on Saturday, for the consideration of another matter; I hope to be able, incidentally, to gain a more complete insight into this.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.