Sir F. Bruce to Mr. Hunter
Sir: It will be in your recollection that, in the year 1864, a correspondence passed between this legation and the State Department, arising out of an offer on the part of the United States government to station a squadron on the African coast for the suppression of the slave trade, in fulfilment of the obligations of the treaty of July, 1862.
This plan for a joint co-operation, however, could not then be carried into effect, owing to difficulties arising on the terms of the proposal for the admission of the vessels of the United States into British ports on the African coast, but the Secretary of the Navy of the United States, in declining the proposal, expressed a hope that no long time would elapse before the Naval Department would be able to tender the means of an efficient co-operation on the terms of the treaty for the suppression of the slave trade.
I am now instructed, by her Majesty’s principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, to invite the attention of the United States government to this matter, and to state that her Majesty’s government are still most anxious to obtain the assistance of United States cruisers in putting down the slave trade; and I am at the same time to assure the government of the United States that their [Page 174] cruisers will be received in all British ports on the African coast on the most friendly terms.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
Hon. W. Hunter, &c., &c., &c.