Mr. Adams to Mr.
Seward
No. 897.]
Legation of the United States,
London,
March 16, 1865.
Sir: Under your instructions, contained in No.
1272, of the 18th February, I addressed to Lord Russell a note on the
7th instant. A copy of it, as well as of his lordship’s acknowledgment,
of the 9th, is 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,
March 7, 1865.
My Lord: By a report made by the consul at
Nassau it would appear that he was in-formed by a government officer
at that place of the possibility that the vessel formerly well known
as the Alexandra, and now as the Mary, even if condemned and sold at
that port, under judicial process, for a violation of neutrality,
might be bought in by the same parties first interested in her, and
started again in the guise of a merchantman on her original errand
to carry on war against the United States.
I am instructed by my government to make to your lordship a
representation touching this matter, and to remonstrate against
giving permission to this vessel to depart from Nassau without
abundant security that she is not to be used for the hostile purpose
indicated. So much of deception and fraud has marked the previous
transactions of the insurgent agents engaged in these outfits from
British ports that no suspicion of any of their future operations
appears to be unreasonable.
I pray your lordship to accept the assurances of the highest
consideration with which I have the honor to be, my lord, your
lordship’s most obedient servant,
Right Hon. Earl Russell,
&c., &c., &c.
Earl Russell to Mr. Adams
Foreign Office,
March 9, 1865.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 7th instant, in which you represent
that your government is informed that the steamer Mary, late
Alexandra, even if condemned at Nassau, and sold under judicial
process for a violation of neutrality, may be bought in by the same
parties first interested in her, and started again in the guise of a
merchantman on her original errand to carry on war against the
United States; and you state that you are instructed to remonstrate
against giving permission to that vessel to depart from Nassau
without abundant security that she is not to be used for the hostile
purpose indicated.
I have the honor to inform you, in reply, that I have lost no time in
transmitting a copy of your representation to the proper department
of her Majesty’s government.
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
