Mr. Adams to Mr.
Seward.
No. 712.]
Legation of the United States,
London,
June 10, 1864.
Sir: In regard to the observations contained in
your despatch No. 958, upon the substance of my No. 679, relating to the
steamer Japan, alias the Georgia, I need only remark that the next
steamer must have brought to you, with my despatch No. 687, a copy of
the note I addressed to Lord Russell on that subject. I trust it may
have answered the purpose you desired to see accomplished.
Since that time a sale of the Georgia is reported to have been effected
in Liverpool. I thought the occasion a suitable one to enter a protest
against the validity of the transfer. A copy of my note to Lord Russell
of the 7th instant on that subject is herewith transmitted, together
with one of his reply.
His lordship is evidently so much absorbed in the vortex of the
conference that he has little inclination to enter into other questions
just now. To him the sale of that vessel was undoubtedly a great relief.
It kept before him the worst question of them all.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c, &c.
[Enclosures.]
1. Mr. Adams to Lord Russell, June 7, 1864.
2. Lord Russell to Mr. Adams, June 8, 1864.
Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.
Legation of the United
States,
London,
June 7,
1864.
My Lord: I have received from the
consul of the United States at Liverpool information which leads
me to believe that a transfer, purporting to be a sale, has been
made of the steamer heretofore known as the Japan, alias the
Georgia, by the insurgents or their agents at that port.
In such a contingency, I must pray your lordship’s pardon if I
take the
[Page 101]
liberty to
renew, in this case, the observations which I had the honor to
submit in my note of the 14th of March of last year, on the case
of the steamer Sumter, alias the Gibraltar. On behalf of my
government, I feel it my duty, in consonance with the practice
heretofore adopted by Great Britain, to decline to recognize the
validity of the sale of this armed vessel, heretofore engaged in
carrying on war against the people of the United States, in a
neutral port, and to claim the right of seizing it wherever it
may be found on the high seas.
I pray your lordship to accept the assurances of the highest
consideration with which I have the honor to be, my lord, your
lordship’s most obedient servant,
Right Hon. Earl Russell, &c, &c, &c.
Earl Russell to Mr. Adams.
Foreign
Office,
June 8,
1864.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of yesterday’s date, relative to the
sale of the steamer Georgia at Liverpool.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your
most obedient, humble servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c, &c, &c.
