[Extract.]
Mr. Adams to Mr.
Seward.
No. 610.]
Legation of the United
States, London,
March 10, 1864.
Sir: Despatches from the department, numbered
from 847 to 851, inclusive, have been received at this legation.
Under the instructions contained in No. 847, of the 17th of February, I
have addressed a note to Lord Russell respecting the conduct of Mr.
Butterfield, the British vice-consul at Key West. A copy is
transmitted.
* * * * * * * * *
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.
Legation of the United
States, London,
March 8, 1864.
My Lord: I regret very much to be obliged
to make a representation to your lordship touching the repeated
interference of Aubrey G. Butterfield, esq., her Majesty’s
vice-consul at Key West, for the protection of persons engaged in
violating the regulations now establishing a blockade of certain
portions of the United States, as well as the laws of the land.
I am informed that the first instance of the kind has been already
brought to the notice of her Majesty’s government, on the 28th of
January last, through her minister at Washington. I am now
instructed by my government to ask your lordship’s attention to what
appears to be a much more flagrant proceeding.
[Page 310]
I have the honor to submit to your
consideration copies of papers which go to prove that Mr.
Butterfleld has actually attempted to use his privilege as an
officer in her Majesty’s service to shelter a person who is a native
citizen of the United States from the just consequences of his evil
deeds. I am directed to request that an examination be made of these
transactions, and if the allegations shall be found correct, that
the vice-consul may be made sensible of the displeasure of her
Majesty’s government.
I pray your lordship to accept, &c., &c.,
Right Hon. Earl Russell,
&c., &c., &c.
Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.
Legation of the United
States, London,
March 8, 1864.
My Lord: I have received instructions from
my government to express to you its thanks for the promptness and
energy manifested by Admiral Augustus L. Kuper, of her Majesty’s
service, in tendering assistance to a vessel of the United States
when in distress.
It appears that on the night of the 21st of October last, the United
States sloop-of-war the Jamestown, while on the way up from Yokohama
to Yeddo, in Japan, was run aground by the pilot. Upon hearing of
this mishap Admiral Kuper immediately despatched one of his vessels,
the Cormorant, to her relief. The Jamestown had been floated before
the arrival of the Cormorant, but the act of courtesy and kindness
was not the less appreciated by Captain Price, who commanded the
vessel, and who has made a grateful report of the same to the
department at Washington.
I pray your lordship to accept the assurances, &c., &c.,
Right Hon. Earl Russell,
&c., &c., &c.
