Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.

No. 266.]

Sir: I have the honor to transmit copies of two notes which have passed between Lord Russell and myself in relation to certain attempts supposed to have been made to enlist recruits for the army of the United States within this kingdom. Foreseeing the possibility of the imputation of some such act, I have, ever since my arrival here, taken great care to decline all the very numerous propositions made to me to sanction engagements for service. I was more decided in taking this course, that I early had reason to know the continuance of a feeling of soreness at the treatment of Sir John Crampton in America for acts of the same kind during the Russian war. It was, therefore, very easy to reply with confidence to his lordship’s remonstrance. I have not yet been informed of the grounds upon which this was made; but from other sources rumors have reached me of efforts making by irresponsible individuals to send off persons as passengers to the United States, trusting to the security of the bounty paid on enlistments. It is possible that they may have constituted the basis of the remonstrance.

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

CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

Earl Russell to Mr. Adams.

The undersigned, her Britannic Majesty’s principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, has the honor to acquaint Mr. Adams, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States at this court, that her Majesty’s [Page 12] government are informed by persons, to whom they are disposed to give credit, that recruits are being raised in this country for service in the army of the United States, and that bounty money of a considerable amount is offered by agents of the United States to encourage British subjects to enlist.

Mr. Adams must be well aware that any of her Majesty’s subjects enlisting in the military service of either of the belligerent parties in America, or any persons procuring any of her Majesty’s subjects to enlist in that service, are guilty of a misdemeanor according to British law; and Mr. Adams will readily see that such a practice as that to which the undersigned now calls his attention is calculated seriously to increase the difficulties already incident to the observance of neutrality by her Majesty’s government.

The undersigned requests Mr. Adams to receive the assurance of his highest consideration.

RUSSELL.

Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.

The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States, has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a note from the right honorable Earl Russell, her Britannic Majesty’s principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, dated the 20th instant, acquainting him that her Majesty’s government are informed by persons to whom they are disposed to give credit, that recruits are being raised in this country for service in the army of the United States, and that bounty money of a considerable amount is offered by agents of the United States to encourage such enlistment. His lordship is further pleased to warn the undersigned of the fact that such acts are contrary to British law, and are calculated seriously to increase the difficulties already incident to the observance of neutrality by her Majesty’s government.

The undersigned flatters himself that the earnestness of his previous and long-continued urgency on her Majesty’s government to enforce the strict observance of neutrality in the ports of this kingdom in many cases of attempted violation. of it on behalf of rebels against the authority of the United States, to which it has been his painful duty to call their attention, must have secured him from the suspicion of any disposition himself to give the smallest countenance to any enterprise or effort of a similar kind on behalf of the United States.

The undersigned not only has no knowledge of any such proceedings, but he has no belief that they can have been attempted by any persons really vested with authority as agents of the United States. Should it turn out that there are individuals assuming to act under such an authority, the undersigned will be obliged to Lord Russell for such information as he may possess that may enable him to ascertain who these persons may be, and to take the necessary measures to disavow their operations.

The undersigned requests Earl Russell to receive the assurances of his highest consideration.

CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.

Right Hon. Earl Russell, &c., &c., &c.