Mr. Adams to Mr.
Seward.
No. 454.]
Legation of the United States,
London,
July 16, 1863.
Sir: In obedience to the directions contained
in your despatch (No. 630) of the 18th of
June, I addressed a note to Lord Russell in respect to the claim made in
the case of the Golden Eagle, destroyed by the Alabama.
At the same time I transmitted two depositions, furnished to me by Mr.
Dudley, the consul at Liverpool, respecting the case of the
Henrietta.
I seized the opportunity to send another representation as to the
ownership of the Japan, which has likewise been supplied by Mr. Dudley.
Copies of this note, with the accompanying papers, and of his lordship’s
answer of the 13th instant, are herewith transmitted.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c.
Mr. Adams to Lord Russell.
Legation of the United
States,
London,
July 7, 1863.
My Lord: As constituting one of the claims
of citizens of the United States growing out of the lawless
depredations upon American commerce by vessels fitted out and sent
from the ports of Great Britain, I am directed to transmit to your
lordship copies of the papers herewith submitted, marked A.
I have the honor, at the same time, to annex copies of two other
depositions, furnished to me from the consul of the United States at
Liverpool, relating to the same general subject, marked B.
It is with great regret that I feel myself once more compelled to
call your lordship’s attention to the circumstances attending the
outfit of the steamer called the Japan. It now appears that that
vessel was at the time of her escape, and has continued until very
lately to be, the property of a British subject residing in
Liverpool. That person is Thomas Bold, a member of the commercial
house
[Page 364]
of Jones & Co. I
have information which leads me to believe that only within a few
days has Mr. Bold notified the collector of customs at Liverpool of
his sale of this vessel to foreign owners, and requested the
register to he cancelled. That act was not completed until the 23d
of June last. It would appear, from these facts, should they prove
to be true, that this vessel has remained the property of a British
subject during a considerable time, in which she has been engaged in
committing extensive ravages upon the commerce of a nation with
which her Majesty is at peace. The fact of the outfit of that vessel
for hostile purposes has already occupied the attention of your
lordship, in consequence of former representations unhappily made
too late for effective interposition. But the circumstance of the
retention of the ownership by a British subject for so long a period
after she was known to be engaged in hostilities against the United
States is of too grave a character to justify me in omitting to call
your lordship’s particular attention to it in advance of the
possibility of receiving instructions respecting it.
I pray your lordship, &c.,
Right Hon. Earl Russell, &c., &c.
Lord Russell to Mr. Adams.
Foreign Office,
July 13, 1863.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter of the 7th instant, enclosing papers relative to the
destruction of the American ships Golden Eagle and Henrietta by the
Alabama and Florida, and calling attention to the circumstance that
the Virginia continued up to the 23d ultimo to be the property of a
British subject residing at Liverpool. So far as it may be intended,
by the communication of the enclosed papers, to assert or record a
claim against her Majesty’s government on account of the destruction
of those vessels, I would beg leave to refer you to my letter of the
9th of March last, and to repeat that her Majesty’s government
entirely disclaim all responsibility for the acts of vessels-of-war
of the so-styled confederate government.
I have, however, called for a report from the proper authorities with
regard to your statement respecting the Virginia.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your
most obedient, humble servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c. &c., &c.
