Mr. Benjamin to Mr. Mason.
Sir: Since my No. 7, of 26th ultimo, I have had the pleasure of receiving your Nos. 14, 15, 16, and 17, dated, respectively, 30th July, 5th August, 18th September, and 18th September. The two latter were received by special messenger, who reached Richmond on the 21st instant. The two former were delivered by Mr. Fearn, who did not arrive till 25th instant.
The contents of Nos. 14 and 15 are so voluminous, (and they were accompanied by others of equal bulk from Mr. Slidell,) that I have not yet been able to confer with the president in relation to them, and shall therefore defer replying, the more especially as I shall have another opportunity of forwarding despatches in a very few days.
The arrangements made by the bearer of despatches 16 and 17, for facilitating intercourse between us, have been approved, and will be continued as long as successful. The details will be explained to you by the bearer of this despatch, (Mr. George Sanders,) in person.
The subject of a loan, based on cotton certificates, has been fully considered, [Page 82] and you will receive herewith a communication from the secretary of the treasury informing you of the conclusions reached by us after much deliberation. I communicated to the secretary your tender of services in connexion with this matter, and he requests me to express his thanks and to solicit your aid and co-operation in any movements that may be made to secure success by Mr. Spence, to whom the government has confided the business, in consequence chiefly of your recommendation. He had been appointed to take charge of other negotiations before the receipt of your last despatches.
The president desires me to express his approval and satisfaction with your conduct in assuming, under the circumstances, the responsibility of making the arrangements necessary for the success of Captain Sinclair in his arrangements for building a ship.
It is gratifying to perceive that you had, as was confidently anticipated, reviewed your impressions, and determined not to withdraw from London without the previous instructions of the president. Your correspondence with Earl Russell shows with what scant courtesy you have been treated, and exhibits a marked contrast between the conduct of the English and French statesmen now in office, in their intercourse with foreign agents, eminently discreditable to the former. It is lamentable that, at this late period in the nineteenth century, a nation so enlightened as Great Britain should have failed yet to discover that a principal cause of the dislike and hatred towards England, of which complaints are rife in her Parliament and in her press, is the offensive arrogance of some of her public men. The contrast is striking between the polished courtesy of Mr. Thouvenel and the rude incivility of Earl Russell. Your determination to submit to these annoyances in the service of your country, and to overlook personal slights, while hope remains that your continued presence in England may benefit our cause, cannot fail to meet the warm approval of your government. I refrain, however, from further comment on the contents of your despatches till the attention of the president, (now concentrated on efforts to repair the ill effects of the failure of the Kentucky campaign,) can be directed to your correspondence with Earl Russell.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. James M. Mason, &c., &c., &c., London.