Mr. Adams to Mr.
Seward.
No. 328.]
Legation of the United States,
London,
February 19, 1863.
Sir: In obedience to the instructions contained
in your despatch (No. 462) of the 30th January, I have addressed a note
to Lord Russell on the alleged proceeding of the Vesuvius steamer, a
copy of which is herewith transmitted. You will perceive that I allude
in it to a remark of Lord Russell’s, in his last
[Page 138]
conversation with me, which indicated an earnest
desire to avoid any complications like that which is said to have
happened. Yet, in view of the known proclivities of most of the naval
officers in the British service, both here and at sea, I am not
surprised by any action which may be imputed to them. It was, probably,
with a view of guarding against this that Lord Lyons acted in the way
indicated, and evidently approved by his lordship.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Adams to Lord Russell.
Legation of the United
States, London,
February 19, 1863.
My Lord: I have the honor to submit to your
lordship’s consideration the copy of a letter addressed by the head
of the Navy Department to the Secretary of State at Washington,
touching an averment in a Bahama newspaper of the action of the
commander of her Majesty’s steamer Vesuvius in transporting a large
sum of money belonging to the insurgents in his vessel. I am
instructed to express the belief that the statement is erroneous and
untrue. But, inasmuch as information has reached me from Liverpool
that precisely the amount of money named did arrive at that port on
or about the time specified, and as the possibility of such a
proceeding involves questions of the gravest importance in
international comity, I have been directed to call the attention of
your lordship to the expediency of making such investigations and
giving such instructions to her Majesty’s naval officers as the
occasion would seem to require. At the same time that I make this
communication at the wish of my government, it is no more than
justly due to your lordship that I should not fail to remember the
fact that, in the last conversation which I had the honor to hold
with you, I understood you to say that orders had already been given
through the medium of Lord Lyons, at Washington, intended to
anticipate the possibility of any practices of the kind whatever in
her Majesty’s ships.
Renewing, &c., &c.
Right Honorable Earl Russell, &c., &c., &c.
[Enclosures.]
1. Mr. Welles’s letter to Mr. Seward, January 29, 1863.
2. Mr. Memminger to Mr. Spence, October 21, 1862.
3. Statement from Bahama Herald.
