Mr. Mason to Earl Russell.—(Received July 6.)
My Lord: The newspaper slip which I have the honor to enclose herewith, marked No. 1, contains what purports to be the copy of a despatch from the secretary of state of the Confederate States, addressed to me as the commissioner of those States at London, dated on the 6th of June ultimo. It is taken from one of the public journals of London published within the last two days, and (as you will see from the introductory note) was transferred from a newspaper published at Richmond, Virginia, on the 12th of the same month.
I do not doubt that it is a genuine paper, and as it refers to the action of the confederate government on a subject that may be interesting to the government of her Majesty, I have thought it best to send it to you at once in the informal shape in which it has come before me.
None of the documents referred to in the despatch were published in the [Page 779] newspaper from which I have taken it, but from another, published yesterday, I have taken the enclosed, marked No. 2, which show from their dates and import that they are the documents designated in the despatch by the letters C and D.
You will see that I am instructed by the president to communicate to your lordship a copy of this despatch and of the documents accompanying it, which I will have the honor to do when they shall arrive.
I have, &c.,