Mr. Adams to Mr.
Seward.
No. 758.]
Legation of the United States,
London,
August 4, 1864.
Sir: In consequence of a representation made to
me by Mr. Wilding, the vice-consul at Liverpool, as to the outfit of the
Georgia, I felt it my duty on the 27th of July to address a note to Lord
Russell on the subject. A copy of that note, as well as of the
enclosure, is herewith transmitted. Also Lord Russell’s acknowledgment
of the 28th.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.
Legation of the United
States,
London,
July 27, 1864
My Lord: I have the honor to submit to your
consideration a copy of a let ter just received by me from the
vice-consul of the United States at Liverpool
It would seem, if the statements therein have any foundation in
truth, that further attempts are in contemplation, under the shelter
of the names of British subjects, to carry on from British ports war
with the people of the United States.
Deeply regretting the continued manifestation of this inimical
temper, I feel it again my duty to call your lordship’s attention to
the abuse thus made by the insurgents of the neutrality of her
Majesty’s harbors by sham transfers of their war vessels to British
subjects, the better to cover their hostile operations.
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I pray permission to observe that the complaint thus made is not
against the vessel, for I have already been compelled to apprise
your lordship of the fact that my government declines to recognize
her as possessing any other character than that which she had
assumed, and in which she was received when she came into Liverpool.
The material point to which I beg your lordship’s attention is the
intervention of one or more British subjects in the war by taking
all the necessary measures in British ports to send out in their
name this vessel in a shape fitted for further hostile
operations.
I pray your lordship, &c., &c.,
&c.
The Hon. Earl Russell,
&c., &c., &c.
Mr. Wilding to Mr. Adams.
United States Consulate,
Liverpool,
July 26, 1864.
Sir: Tn accordance with an order left by
Mr. Dudley, I beg to transmit a certified copy of the register of
the Georgia, the certificate dated yesterday.
I deem it my duty to state to you my fear that the recorded sale of
this vessel is all a sham, and that there is no intention of
converting her into a merchant vessel.
She has left the Graving dock at Birkenhead, where she has had her
bottom cleaned and painted, some trifling repairs made, and her
engines Overhauled, and is now in the Queen’s dock at Liverpool.
Nothing has been done to her to change her character beyond
unshipping her guns, and taking up the tracks or rails on which they
worked on deck; but the guns are in a warehouse at Birkenhead,
easily attainable, and the rails still on board the ship.
She has also attached to her three of the men (non-commissioned
officers, an engineer, quartermaster, and another) who were in her
before, and one (the boatswain, I believe) from the Alabama. They
are also going to fit up the nettings for the hammocks as they were
before.
The chief foreman of the yard or Graving dock, where she was
repaired, stated while she was there that Mr. Bates was going to
send her out on her old trade,
I know also that Mr. Curtis, who advertises that claims for wages of
deceased seamen of the Alabama are to be addressed to him, and is a
confederate agent, is in communication with Mr. Bates.
And you will recollect also that Mr. Bates, some time since, in
contradiction to the statements of the ship-owners of Liverpool in
their memorial to the House of Commons, published a letter avowing
himself a dissentient from the memorial, and, by inference, in favor
of fitting out vessels for belligerents.
Of the facts of the rails being on board, and of the persons
mentioned as being attached to the vessel, I can send you the
deposition of the person who has seen them; I can also send you the
deposition of the person to whom the foreman of the Graving dock
made the statement referred to, if you think they will be of any
use.
Very respectfully, I am, sir, your obedient servant,
His Excellency Charles Francis Adams,
&c., &c., &c.
Earl Russell to Mr. Adams.
Foreign Office,
July 28, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of yesterday’s
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date, and its enclosure, respecting the vessel
Georgia, and I have to state to you that the matter will not fail to
receive the immediate attention of her Majesty’s government.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your
most obedient, humble servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
