Mr. Adams to Mr.
Seward.
No. 581.]
Legation of the United
States, London,
January 22, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit a copy of my
note to Lord Russell, of the 20th instant based upon your despatch, No.
792, of the 28th December last, and claiming indemnity for the capture
of the bark Sea Bride and her cargo.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Untitled]
Legation of the United
States, London,
January 20, 1864.
My Lord: I have the honor to submit to your
lordship’s consideration copies of certain papers relating to the
case of the bark Sea Bride, of Boston, captured by the Alabama.
It is affirmed in the depositions making a part of these papers that
the Sea Bride was taken within the maritime jurisdiction of Great
Britain, in Table bay, at the Cape of Good Hope. It is presumed that
if this fact can be established, her Majesty’s government will not
hesitate to accord that full reparation to the claimants for this
lawless proceeding which is justly their due.
Should it, however, turn out, on a fuller investigation of the facts,
that the capture was not made within the jurisdiction of Great
Britain, I am nevertheless instructed to present the claim, under
the general argument set forth in the note which I had the honor to
address to your lordship on the 23d of October last.
I pray your lordship to accept the assurance of the highest
consideration with which I have the honor to be, my lord, your most
obedient servant,
Right Hon. Earl Russell,
&c., &c., &c.
