Her Majesty’s Admiralty to Laird Brothers.
Gentlemen: I am commanded by my lords commissioners of the admiralty to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th instant, forwarding a copy of the telegram sent by you to this office yesterday morning, and confirming its contents, by which you protest against the two iron-clads being taken into the river Mersey, and request that the orders given to Captain Inglefield may be reconsidered.
In reply, I am to inform you that my lords have referred your telegram to the secretary of state for foreign affairs.
I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,
Messrs. Laird Brothers, Birkenhead.