Mr. Adams to Mr.
Seward
No. 840.]
Legation of the United States,
London,
December 22, 1864.
Sir: In connexion with your despatch, No. 1164,
of the 29th of November, I have the honor now to transmit copies of a
letter addressed by me to Earl Russell on the 12th, and of his
lordship’s reply of the 16th instant, relative to General Dix’s report
of the hostile movements in Canada.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward
Secretary of State, &c., &c.,
&c.
Mr. Adams to Earl Russell
Legation of the United
States,
London,
December 12, 1864.
My Lord: I have the honor to submit to your
consideration a copy of a letter addressed to the Secretary of War,
at Washington, by the officer holding the chief command in the
military department embracing the northern frontier of the United
States. I have already been called upon to enter so fully into the
argument connected with this subject, that I deem it superfluous on
the present occasion to do more than to furnish this paper as an
additional illustration.
I pray your lordship to accept the assurance of the highest
consideration with which I have the honor to be, my lord, your
lordship’s most obedient servant,
The Right Hon. Earl Russell,
&c., &c., &c.
Earl Russell to Mr. Adams
Foreign Office,
December 16, 1864,
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 12th instant, enclosing a copy of a
letter addressed to the Secretary of War of the, United States, by
the officer holding the chief command in the military department
embracing the northern frontier of the United States, respecting the
organization of a party of persons in Canada, apparently with a view
of hostile operations against the territory of the United
States.
I have to state to you, in reply, that the attention of her Majesty’s
government is very seriously directed to the means of preventing
such inroads on the territory of the United States-as that which is
commonly known by the name of the St. Albans raid.
If it should appear that the persons concerned in such inroads are
for any reason not subject to extradition, they and others must in
some way be effectually prevented from committing similar offences
against a neighboring state.
But I need scarcely point out to you that any invasion of the Canada
territory from the United States would excite hostile feelings in
Canada against the people of the United States, and might prove
extremely injurious to the pacific relations between the two
countries.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your
most obedient, humble servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
