Mr. Adams to Mr.
Seward.
No. 738.]
Legation of the United States,
London,
July 7, 1864.
Sir: In answer to the representation made by me
to Lord Russell, concerning the fitting out of the steamer Hawk, as
reported in my despatch No. 729, of the 23d of June, I have now the
honor to transmit a copy of his lordship’s note of the 4th instant.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward.
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Earl Russell to Mr. Adams.
Foreign Office,
July 4, 1864.
Sir: With reference to my note of the 20th
ultimo, I have the honor to inform you that it appears from further
inquiries which have been made by the
[Page 202]
board of customs with respect to the Hawk,
that vessel left the Victoria docks on the 13th ultimo, and is
stated to have passed Gravesend on the following day, cleared for
Bermuda.
The commissioners of customs report that the cargo of the Hawk
consisted of iron, iron bar, bar steel, and divers articles of
merchandise; that some of the packages were examined by their
officers, but that nothing of a suspicious nature was found
therein.
The commissioners add that they are informed that their officers had
no difficulty in going over every part of the ship, and that in so
doing they saw nothing whatever to arouse any suspicion of the
vessel; that she appeared to be a very fast merchant ship, and that
the general opinion seems to have been that she was not fitted for
war purposes, her iron plates being so thin and light.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your
most obedient, humble servant,
C. F. Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
