Mr. Adams to Mr.
Seward.
No. 305.]
Legation of the United States,
London,
January 23, 1863.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit a copy of
Lord Russell’s note to me of the 15th instant, in reply to mine of the
30th ultimo, respecting the validity of the sale of the Sumter in the
port of Gibraltar. I have since then sent a telegraphic direction to the
consul at that port, a copy of which is also forwarded, as well as his
answer received last evening.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Page 102]
Earl Russell to Mr. Adams.
Foreign Office,
January 15,
1863.
Sir: With reference to my letter of the 1st
instant, in which I acknowledged the receipt of your letter of the
30th ultimo, respecting the sale of the Sumter at Gibraltar, I have
now the honor to inform you that her Majesty’s naval and military
officers at that port have received instructions not to give any
protection to that vessel beyond the waters of Gibraltar; but it
will of course be clearly understood that those instructions do not
preclude the owners of the Sumter, if that vessel should be taken by
United States cruisers, from appealing, according to usage and
practice of international law, to the prize court in the United
States against the captors; nor will her Majesty’s government be
precluded from taking any course which may hereafter appear to them
proper, if the Sumter, now assumed to be British property, should be
hereafter condemned, or otherwise dealt with in any manner which
might not be, in their judgment, warranted by international law.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your
most obedient, humble servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
[Telegram]
American Minister, London, to Mr. Sprague, American Consul,
Gibraltar.
London, January 19, 1863—12.30 p.
m.
The Sumter should be captured if she goes out of the British waters
on the high seas. If she have nominal British papers she must be
sent home for adjudication as prize.
Please notify the naval commanders.
[Telegram.]
San Roque,
January 21, 1863—2.5 p.m.
Mr. Adams, American
Minister, London:
Your telegram communicated to our commanders. Sumter coaling again
and provisioning to-day.
