Mr. Adams to Mr.
Seward.
No. 666.]
Legation of the United States,
London,
April 22, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit copies of a
note addressed by me to Lord Russell, of the 16th instant, on the
subject of the outfit of the steamer Hawk, and his acknowledgment of it,
dated the 18th. Mr. Dudley’s letter, on which the representation is
based, was sent to you last week, as it came to me so addressed,
probably by mistake.
The Hawk is represented to have left the Clyde, her destination alleged
to be London; but, thus far, her arrival here has not been
announced.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.
Legation of the United
States, London,
April 16, 1864.
My Lord: I have the honor to submit to your
consideration the copy of a letter addressed to me by Mr. Dudley,
consul of the United States at Liverpool, touching a steam vessel in
process of construction and outfit at Renfrew, on the Clyde. My
information of the nature of the work put into this vessel convinced
me, some time since, that she was not intended for ordinary trade.
Later circumstances, more and more distinctly, point out her
destination and object to be to carry on hostilities against the
commerce of the United States. The difficulty of obtaining direct
evidence, in cases of this kind, has of late increased in proportion
to the apprehension felt by the parties engaged of the consequences
of detection. I shall, therefore, confine myself to a representation
of the case as it has been laid before me in this letter, and to
solicit attention to it on the part of her Majesty’s government.
I pray your lordship to accept the assurances of the highest
consideration with which I have the honor to be, my lord, your most
obedient servant,
Right Hon. Earl Russell, &c., &c., &c.
[Page 637]
Earl Russell to Mr. Adams.
Foreign Office,
April 18, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 16th instant, enclosing a copy of a
letter from the United States consul at Liverpool, respecting a
vessel called the Hawk, in process of construction and outfit, at
Renfrew, on the Clyde, and I have the honor to inform you that the
attention of her Majesty’s government had been already directed to
this vessel.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your
most obedient, humble servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
