In my brief despatch No. 366, written two days ago, and sent out of the
ordinary course, I referred to certain notes which had passed between
Lord Russell and myself, and to the detention of the Alexandra, for an
investigation. I now transmit a copy of my note of the 4th instant,
conveying a copy of Mr. Yonge’s deposition, the same that was forwarded
by me with my No. 364, sent last week; also a copy of his lordship’s
reply, on the 5th instant, announcing the detention of the Alexandra on
Sunday, and requesting me to instruct Mr. Dudley to aid in the
investigation of the facts; a copy of my reply on the 6th instant; and
lastly, a copy of my note to Mr. Dudley of the same date giving him the
desired instructions.
Since that time nothing has been heard of the result of the
investigations. A rumor was current yesterday that the law officers of
the crown had reported that no case was made out. If such be really the
fact it is probable that I shall be informed of it in season to let you
know by the present opportunity. In the meanwhile Mr. Dudley has written
to me that his legal advisers are prepared to proceed, if necessary, by
information on the part of the government in the courts, and has urged
me to call upon Lord Russell to know whether such a course would, in any
way, come in conflict with that proposed by the British government.
Unwilling to leave any stone unturned in this business, I have this
morning addressed a note to his lordship on this subject, a copy of
which is likewise forwarded.
This brings down the history of the Alexandra to the present moment.
The next subject of correspondence between us has been the case of the
Sumter. It should be noticed in this connexion that no answer has been
made to my note of the 16th of February, a copy of which was sent to you
with my No. 333. But his lordship chose to begin as if, de novo, by a spontaneous assurance, that that
vessel had been closely watched, and that there seemed no reason to
believe in any preparation for her early departure. A copy of his note
of the 4th instant is subjoined to this despatch, together with a copy
of my reply on the 6th instant. I still remain of the opinion that Mr.
Dudley’s information is more accurate than his lordship’s, and that that
vessel is ready to go as soon as she can slip away.
I am glad to learn that the Georgiana was driven ashore, and I hope the
statement that she was destroyed is true. The accounts received from
Nassau of her condition, both on arrival and departure, prove the
correctness of the representations of her character made by me to this
government. I mention this the more that Lord Russell has, upon one
occasion since, alluded to the subject in a manner to show that he
thought I had been for that time deceived.
[Enclosures.]
1. Mr. Adams to Lord Russell, with Mr. Yonge’s deposition, dated
April 4, 1863.
2. Lord Russell to Mr. Adams, announcing the arrest of the Alexandra,
April 5, 1863.
3. Mr. Adams to Lord Russell, April 6, 1863.
4. Mr. Adams to Mr. Dudley, April 6, 1863.
5. Mr. Adams to Lord Russell, April 9, 1863.
6. Lord Russell to Mr. Adams about the Sumter, dated April 4,
1863.
7. Mr. Adams to Lord Russell, in reply, April 6, 1863.
8. Lord Russell to Mr. Adams, on the Japan at Alderney, April 8,
1863.
Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.
Legation of the United
States, London,
April 4,
1863.
My Lord: I have the honor to submit to
your consideration the copy of an affidavit, voluntarily made by
Clarence R. Yonge, being, in the nature of cumulative evidence,
to show the execution of a deliberate plan to establish within
the limits of this kingdom a system of action in direct
hostility to the government of the United States. This appears
to corroborate in all essential particulars the evidence
heretofore adduced from other quarters. I append the copy of a
paper, marked A, showing the extent to which her Majesty’s
subjects, many of them alleged to belong to the naval reserve,
have been enlisted in a single example of illegal
enterprise.
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, April 5,
1863.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of yesterday, enclosing a deposition
made by a person named Yonge, respecting the Alabama and her
proceedings.
[Page 235]
I have, at the same time, the honor to acquaint you with
reference to your letter of the 30th ultimo, and to mine of the
following day, that orders have been sent to Liverpool for the
seizure of the Alexandra, the vessel to which you called my
attention, as intended to be employed in the naval service of
the so-called Confederate States.
I have, accordingly, to request that you will have the goodness
forthwith to instruct the United States consul at Liverpool to
place at the disposal of the persons who may be employed in
collecting evidence on the part of the crown all such
information as he may now possess, or may hereafter acquire,
leading to establish the guilt of the parties concerned in the
Alexandra, against whom proceedings may be taken under the
foreign enlistment act.
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient, humble
servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.
Legation of the United
States,
London,
April 6,
1863.
My Lord: I have the honor to
acknowledge the reception of your lordship’s note of the 5th
instant, in answer to mine of the 30th ultimo, making certain
representations in regard to the character of a vessel in
Liverpool known as the Alexandra. It is with the most lively
satisfaction that I learn the decision of her Majesty’s
government to detain that vessel. Believing that such an act, at
the present moment, is calculated to defeat the sanguine hopes
of the common enemies of both nations, to sow the seeds of
dissension among them, I shall remit no effort to procure all
the information possible to support it. To that end I have,
agreeably to your lordship’s suggestion, sent the necessary
instructions to the consul of the United States at Liverpool to
put himself in communication with the authorities designated at
that place to pursue the subject.
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.
Mr. Adams to Mr. Dudley.
Legation of the United
States,
London,
April 6,
1863.
Sir: I yesterday received a note from
Lord Russell, in answer to my representation concerning the
Alexandra, of the 30th ultimo, announcing that orders had been
sent to Liverpool for the seizure of that vessel. It ends with
the following paragraph, to which I ask your immediate
attention. I do not doubt that you will remit no exertion to
obtain evidence in aid of this first effort of her Majesty’s
government to obtain the condemnation of one of these vessels.
The moral effect of such a result could not fail to be great on
both sides of the ocean:
“I have, accordingly, to request that you will have the goodness
forthwith to instruct the United States consul at Liverpool to
place at the disposal of the persons who may be employed in
collecting evidence on the part of the crown
[Page 236]
all such information as he may now
possess, or may hereafter acquire, tending to establish the
guilt of parties concerned in the Alexandra, against whom
proceedings may be taken under the foreign enlistment act.”
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Thos. H. Dudley, Esq., United States Consul, Liverpool.
Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.
Legation of the United
States,
London,
April 9,
1863.
My Lord: Having received an opinion
from eminent counsel that the evidence in the case of the
Alexandra is sufficient to sustain proceedings for condemnation,
under the 6th section of the enlistment law, I pray your
lordship to have the kindness to inform me whether the measures
thus far adopted, or intended on the part of her Majesty’s
government in that case, would be, in any way, deranged by
simultaneous action on the part of the United States in a
different form. Should no inconvenience be apprehended, I am
informed by the lawyers that they are ready to proceed.
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, April 4,
1863.
Sir: My attention having been drawn to
a paragraph which appeared in the “Daily News,” of the 17th
ultimo, in which, under the head of “confederate war vessels,”
is included the Sumter, now called the Gibraltar, as having been
horoughly repaired at Birkenhead, and being ready for sea, I
deemed it advisabtle at once to request the proper authorities
to cause particular attention to be paid to this vessel.
I have now the honor to acquaint you that it appears from a
report which has been received from the collector of customs at
Liverpool, and which has been communicated to me, the lords
commissioners of her Majesty’s treasury, that, since the arrival
of the Sumter at that port on the 13th of February last, she has
been carefully watched by the custom-house officer and that,
although the vessel has received some repairs, nothing has taken
place regarding her of a suspicious character.
The Sumter appears to be laid up in the upper part of the great
float at Birkenhead, and there seems to be no sign of her being
at present intended for sea.
I have the honor to add that the authorities at Liverpool are
instructed to continue to observe this vessel, and to report,
without delay, any circumstances of an unusual character which
may happen to take place with regard to her.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your
most obedient, humble servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
[Page 237]
Mr. Adams to Mr. Russell.
Legation of the United
States,
London,
April 6,
1863.
My Lord: I have had the honor to
receive your note of the 4th instant, in reference to a
paragraph which appeared in the Daily News of the 17th ultimo,
respecting the immediate preparation of the Sumter for departure
from the port of Liverpool. I must confess that the information
received by me from Liverpool from wholly independent sources
had led me to believe the newspaper statement to be true. It is,
however, with very great satisfaction I receive the
contradiction of it from your lordship, as well as the assurance
that the movements of that vessel are under the observation of
her Majesty’s government. I am the more led to indulge this that
the notice appears to have been spontaneously furnished to me,
with a degree of courtesy which I should be wanting in my duty
if I were to fail properly to appreciate.
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, April 8,
1863.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of this day’s date, acquainting me
that you had reason to suppose that a steam-vessel, named the
Japan, or the Virginia, has just left the Clyde for Alderney,
where she is expected to receive on board an armament brought to
the island for her by a small steamer, the Allar, and a
considerable number of British subjects who have been enlisted
to serve on board of her; and having done this, to proceed and
depredate on the commerce of the United States.
I have to state to you, in reply, that copies of your letter were
sent, without loss of time, to the home department and to the
board of treasury, with a request that an immediate inquiry
might be made into the circumstances stated in it, and that if
the result should prove your suspicions to be well founded the
most effectual measures might be. taken which the law admits of
for defeating any such attempts to lit out a belligerent vessel
from a British port.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your
most obedient, humble servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
