Mr. Adams to Mr.
Seward.
No. 608.]
Legation of the United
States, London,
March 3, 1864.
Sir: Under the directions contained in your No.
834, of the 6th of February, I addressed a note to Lord Russell on the
subject of the steamer Will-o’-the-Wisp. Copies of that and of his
lordship’s reply are herewith transmitted.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.
Legation of the United
States, London,
February 22, 1864.
My Lord: I am directed by my government to
represent to your lordship that it has been advised of the early
departure from the port of Halifax of the British steamer
Will-o’-the-Wisp, in ballast, for the island of Bermuda, on account
of the insurgents of the United States, and under the direction of
their agents now having harbor at Halifax; furthermore, that, on
arriving at Bermuda, this steamer will take in ordnance and stores
for the use of the insurgents, and attempt to make her way into
Wilmington, all under the direction of emissaries of the insurgents
at Bermuda.
It is deeply to be regretted that the efforts pertinaciously made to
procrastinate this struggle in America should appear to be
exclusively undertaken from the kingdom of her Majesty and its
various dependencies. There is evidently an impression widely spread
in the latter that all evasions of neutrality not positively
flagrant may escape reprehension. I am requested, very respectfully,
to suggest to your lordship that the colonial authorities at Bermuda
may be apprized of this hostile proceeding, in order that, if deemed
advisable, it may be arrested.
I pray your lordship to accept the assurances 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.
Earl Russell to Mr. Adams.
Foreign Office,
February 25, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 22d instant, and to state to you, in
reply, that I have requested his grace the Duke of Newcastle to call
the attention of the colonial authorities at Halifax and Bermuda to
the movements of the steamer Will-o’-the-Wisp.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your
most obedient, humble servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
