Mr. Adams to Mr.
Hunter
No. 962.]
Legation of the United States,
London,
May 19, 1865.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith
copies of a correspondence between Earl Russell and the lords
commissioners of her Majesty’s treasury, just published in the
newspapers, revoking the order of his lordship of 31st January, 1862,
regulating the visits of United States ships-of-war to British
ports.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Wm. Hunter, Esq., Acting
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Correspondence between Earl Russell and the lords commissioners
of her Majesty’s treasury]
“Treasury
Chambers,
May 12, 1865.
“Gentlemen: With reference to previous
correspondence, I am commanded by the lord commissioners of her
Majesty’s treasury to transmit to you herewith, for your information
[Page 370]
and guidance, a copy
of a letter from the Foreign Office, dated 11th instant, in regard
to a modification of the regulations for the treatment of war
vessels belonging to the belligerent States in North America which
may arrive at ports in her Majesty’s dominions.
“The Commissioners of Customs.”
[Copy of letter referred to.]
“Foreign
Office,
May 11, 1865.
“My Lords: I have the honor to acquaint
your lordships that in the existing state of the civil war in
America, and the uncertainty which may be felt as to its
continuance, it appears to her Majesty’s government that the time
has arrived for ceasing to enforce so much of the orders which, in
pursuance of my letter of the 31st January, 1862, were issued by the
several departments of her Majesty’s government, as empowered the
authorities of any port belonging to her Majesty, either in the
United Kingdom or in the Channel islands, or in any of her Majesty’s
colonies, or foreign possessions or dependencies, to require any
ship-of-war or privateer of either belligerent which might enter any
port, roadstead, or waters belonging to her Majesty, in order to
obtain provisions or things necessary for the subsistence of her
crew, or to effect repairs, to put to sea as soon as possible after
the expiration of a period of twenty-four hours, without permitting
her to take in supplies beyond what might be necessary for her
immediate use, and not to suffer any such vessel as might have been
allowed to remain within British waters for the purpose of repair,
to continue in any port, roadstead, or waters, belonging to her
Majesty for a longer period than twenty-four hours after the
necessary repairs should have been completed, and also so much of
the same orders as limited the quantity of coal, and the period
within which it might be obtained, to be embarked on board any such
ship-of-war or privateer of either belligerent.
“I have addressed a similar letter to the secretaries of state for
the home, colonial, war, and India departments, and the lords
commissioners of the admiralty.
“I have, &c.,
“The Lords Commissioners of her Majesty’s
Treasury.”
[Untitled]
“Custom House,
London,
May 13, 1865.
“The aforegoing copy of a letter from Mr. Hamilton, one of the
secretaries to the lords, of the treasury, dated 11th instant,
together with copy of the letter from the Foreign Office therein
referred to, is transmitted to the collector at for his
government.
“By order of the commissioners,
