Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.
Sir: Lord Russell was so much engaged yesterday that he could not spare me much time for the discussion of any subject. I therefore made my representations as brief as possible.
In regard to the subject referred to in your No. 830, he asked me if I would not leave the copies of the papers with him for consideration. I saw no objection, and therefore assented.
The most important matter of all I brought up in connexion with your No. 835, of the 6th instant. I remarked upon the extraordinary manner in which the question of the Alabama was perpetually breeding new complications. Apropos to the question raised by the consul at the Mauritius as to the probable arrival there of a portion of the cargo of the Sea Bride, I took the occasion to express a hope that the British government would before long be induced to adopt some stringent measures upon the proceedings of that vessel in the ports of the British dependencies. It seemed as if the officers and people in those distant places considered themselves as having the right to apply the principles of neutral law with the utmost latitude of which they were susceptible to aid these operations. His lordship observed that the matter had been under the careful consideration of the law officers, who found the questions that arose of some novelty, [Page 244] as well as difficulty. They hope, however, to mature something before long— he could not at this moment say what. I then alluded to the proceedings at Cape Town and Simon’s bay as having given me much encouragement, especially the detention of the Tuscaloosa. He replied that on that point the law officers had come to a different conclusion, so that the Tuscaloosa would not be detained. He had addressed a despatch to Lord Lyons instructing him to explain this to the government at Washington. In that case, T remarked, that I should say no more about this subject.
I next proceeded to say, that, judging from the arguments in one of the late articles of the writer who signs himself “Historicus,” in the Times, and from some hints which had been reported to me by Mr. Evarts as having fallen from eminent counsel here, I had reason to believe that the propriety of having ever admitted the Alabama at all into British ports was now much questioned. It had been objected, on the other hand, that no remonstrance based upon such an idea had ever been made to the British by the American government. In respect to this I felt it my duty to observe, that, however acceptable such a step as her exclusion would have been at any time, the reason why it had not been pressed was, that by the act of consenting to receive the Alabama in Kingston, in Jamaica, after her action with the Hatteras, and permitting her to refit and supply herself at that port, we had considered the British government as having given her a positive recognition, and having assumed the responsibility for the consequences of that sanction. From that time it had never occurred to me that a persistence in a contrary line of argument could be just or proper on our part. But if I could be permitted to understand that there was any inclination to reconsider the proceeding, or that any action on the part of my government would be likely to lead the way to an opposite decision, I knew nothing that it would give them and myself more satisfaction to undertake.
His lordship said that I was right in my construction of the course taken in the reception of the vessel at Kingston. It was adopted after deliberation, under the belief that she had been commissioned by the confederates. Hence there could be no occasion for any further representations. There was no change in their position on that subject.
Furthermore I added, were it a fact that the British government contemplated the adoption of a more rigid rule toward the Alabama, it seemed to me much better to await the event as a spontaneous act, than by any effort at interposition to entail upon it a possible interpretation of concession to a demand. His lordship assented to this at once. All that was left me to say in addition was, that after hearing out of doors what I had done, it seemed absolutely essential to preclude any inference that might be drawn in favor of abstaining from action of the kind suggested, purely because no emergency for it had been exerted on the side of my government.
Want of time prevented me from developing my views of the expediency of some movement or other before long, in order to preserve the kindly relations between the two countries. I could only turn to your despatch No. 837, of the 8th instant, and read to his lordship those paragraphs of it relating to the reciprocity treaty. His lordship said that he had received from Lord Lyons much information on that subject. He well understood the situation of the American government, and its disinclination to disturb the treaty. He could say no more than that he regretted such a consequence, at the same time that he saw no present way of avoiding it. He alluded to the debate in the House of Commons on Tuesday evening as an evidence of what they were doing, and spoke of a consul, just returned from Richmond, who reported a great amount of indigna tion there because the iron-clads had been seized. Thus it was that both sides complained of their neutrality. * * * * * *
I very hastily referred to your despatch No. 839, of the 8th February, and spoke of your satisfaction with the report made by Mr. Burlingame, of the [Page 245] course of Sir Frederick Bruce in China. His lordship, on his part, said that Sir Frederick had spoken very favorably of Mr. Burlingame’s conciliatory spirit and effective labors. I alluded also to the provision made against the conversion of the English gunboats to the use of the rebels, by placing them under the control of the government.
I then took my leave, at the same time observing that I hoped to find another time, when his lordship would be more at leisure, to renew my efforts to persuade him to the adoption of more positive measures, on the strength of which my government would be enabled completely to quiet the popular uneasiness at home. I thought this the more necessary, as the prospect grew clearer to me of an early settlement of our difficulties. His lordship was evidently incredulous, though he made little response.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.