Hon. William H. Seward,
&c., &c., &c.
Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.
Legation of the United
States,
London,
August 2, 1864.
My Lord: In consequence of the decision of
her Majesty’s government to decline the recognition of consular,
agents of the United States in Canada, I have the honor to inform
you that instructions have been sent to the vice consul general at
Montreal to make the same known to the several parties concerned,
and to direct them to cease at once from the further exercise of all
consular duties.
The Secretary of the Treasury has also been made acquainted with the
facts, in order that the regular instructions may be sent to the
collectors of the customs.
I am further directed to say that the vice consul general has
executed the duty imposed upon him, so far as that all the persons
concerned have received the necessary instructions to desist from
all further exercise of their authority.
Information has been nevertheless received from the vice consul
general at Montreal, which leads to the belief that much
inconvenience, trouble, and delay will be occasioned to the
merchants and others in portions of Upper Canada, doing business
with the United States, from the necessity at present imposed upon
them of sending their invoices, as required by law, to be verified
to places so distant as Montreal or Toronto.
Under the circumstances, the question of modifying the consular
establishment in Canada in such a manner as to remedy these
difficulties has been lately under consideration in the Congress of
the United States.
The conclusion arrived at has been to make provision for the
discontinuance of most of the consular
agencies, and to substitute in their places a number of
consuls, not exceeding ten, who shall be placed under bonds not to
engage in trading or other commercial business.
The effect of this arrangement would not be to increase the number of
consular officers of the United States, but, on the contrary,
greatly to reduce them, for most of the agencies, which in 1868
exceeded thirty in number, will be discontinued.
The points at which it is proposed that these officers should reside
are Clifton, Coaticook, Erie, Goderich, Kingston, Port Sarnia,
Prescott, St. Lambert and Longueil, Toronto, and Windsor.
In view of all the circumstances, it is hoped that this proposal will
receive the favorable consideration 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.
