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

[Extracts.]

Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.

No. 683]

Legation of the United States, London, May 12, 1864.

Sir: Since the date of my last, despatches from the department have been received, numbered 915, 916, 918, 921 to 923, inclusive. Nos. 917, 919, and 920 failed to come to hand. I have also to acknowledge the reception, at an earlier date, of a copy of the National Almanac for 1864.

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Whilst upon this subject I may as well mention the fact of the recognition, under an application made as directed in your No. 758, of the 7th of November last, of Messrs. Hoets, Eager and Cato, and the rejection of Mr. J. C. Hess, for the reason given in the note of Lord Russell to me of the 7th instant, a copy of which is transmitted. The certificates of the gentlemen recognized have been transmitted, as requested, to Mr. Graham, at Cape Town. That of Mr. Hess is herewith returned.

At the same time I seize the opportunity to return the certificates enclosed with your No. 92, of September 18, 1861, No. 134, of November 27, 1861, No. 135, of 30th of November, 1861, and No. 139, of 5th of December, 1861, of Messrs. J. C. Clark, Franklin Myers, Erastus Hill, Edward Fennessy, John W. Stoakes, Joel Harris, and John D. Irvin, designated as consular agents in Canada, but whom the British government has definitely declined to recognize. There is also another certificate of Daniel Ferguson, which has never been acted upon, the place for which he was destined not having been sufficiently defined. It was sent to this legation with your despatch No. 458, of the 23d January, 1863. The report upon it, contained in my No. 431, of the 18th of June, 1863, does not appear even to have been noticed. Under these circumstances I venture to add this one to the others.

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

CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.

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

Earl Russell to Mr. Adams.

Foreign Office, May 7, 1864.

Sir: With reference to my note of the 7th of December last, I have the honor to state to you that, I have been informed by the secretary of state for the colonies, that the governor of the Cape of Good Hope has recognized Mr. Hoets, Mr. Eager, and Mr. Cato, respectively, as consular agents for the United States at Simon’s Bay, Mossel Bay, and Port Natal, but that he has abstained from recognizing Mr. J. C. Hess, who has lately assigned his estate to his creditors, as United States consular agent at Port Elizabeth.

I have the honor to return herewith the certificates of these gentlemen’s appointment, which were enclosed in your letter of the 4th of December.

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

RUSSELL.

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