Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part I

Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.

No. 629.]

Legation of the United States, London, March 24, 1864.

Sir: In connexion with my despatches, No. 610, of the 10th, and No. 623, of the 18th instant, both of them growing out of the instructions contained in your No. 847, of the 17th of February, I now transmit a copy of Lord Russell’s note of the 19th instant in reply.

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

CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.

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

Lord Russell to Mr. Adams.

Foreign Office, March 19, 1864.

Sir: With reference to my note of the 10th instant, I have the honor to inform you that her Majesty’s government have called upon Mr. Butterfield, the British vice-consul at Key West, to furnish a full report with regard to his proceedings in the case of Mr. E. T. Rich, which formed the subject of your letter of the 8th instant. With respect, however, to the proceedings of Mr. Butterfield in the case of Mr. Ring, also alluded to in your above-mentioned letter, I have the honor to inform you that Lord Lyons has been instructed to state to Mr. Seward, with whom he has been in communication on the subject, that, after careful consideration of all the circumstances of the case, her Majesty’s government are of opinion that Mr. Butterfield’s conduct in this matter has been proper, and has not, in any respect, merited animadversion.

I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

RUSSELL.

Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.