No. 146.] Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Since the date of my last, despatches from the department, numbered from 218 to 226, both inclusive, have been received. I do not perceive that they call for particular comment, as in some cases the directions given have been anticipated, and in others the topics have already been in a measure exhausted. The most important event that has happened here, as connected with this legation, has been the notice received from Mr. Dudley, the consul at Liverpool, of the arrival of the ship Emily St. Pierre, on Monday, the 21st instant, at that port, instead of Philadelphia, to which she had been ordered by Captain Goldsborough for attempting to break the blockade, and the application made by the crew to him for aid, they having been mastered by the captain and two hands left on board whilst on the voyage. Mr. Dudley sent at once to this legation for instructions how to act. I directed him to take the depositions of the men, and send them to me, together with all the papers in their hands connected with the case. These did not fully reach me until this morning. After a full consideration of the substance of them, I considered the matter so clear as to justify me in proceeding at once to present a claim on her Majesty's government for the restoration of the ship. I have therefore addressed a note this morning to Lord Russell, recapitulating the facts of the case, and assuming the law without the necessity of argument. I have the honor to transmit a copy herewith. The probability is, that this ship has been placed under a British register by the firm of Fraser, Trenholm & Co., of Liverpool, for the purpose of covering the property which they hold in common with persons in South Carolina. Some time in the month of July last I received from Mr. Wilding information of the transfer under British protection of a number of vessels, of which this was one. They have been since employed, more or less actively, in carrying supplies to the rebels by evasions of the blockade. I have so little confidence in the efficacy of any reclamation that I may make, that I will not predict what the issue in this case will be. But it seems to me to form an important part of the record which will remain to show the disposition of this country towards the United States during their day of trial. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS. Mr. Adams to Earl Russell. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, MY LORD: I have the honor to submit to your consideration copies of certain depositions and other papers which have been transmitted to me by Thomas H. Dudley, esq., the consul of the United States at Liverpool, touching the case of the Emily St. Pierre, a vessel which arrived on the 21st instant at that port. It would appear from these papers that the Emily St. Pierre, a ship sail ing under a British register, and belonging to British subjects residing in Liverpool, was found, on the 18th of March last, by the officer commanding the naval force of the United States, attempting to run into the port of Charleston, in South Carolina, in violation of the blockade there legitimately established. In consequence of this, the ship was seized, the crew, with the exception of the commander, the steward, and cook, taken out, and a prize crew, consisting of three officers and twelve men, put on board, with direc tions to proceed to Philadelphia, in order that the necessary measures might be at once adopted to submit the question of the validity of the capture to the regularly constituted tribunal for final adjudication. The original papers establishing these facts are now in my hands, prior to their transmission of them to the government of the United States. It further appears that the captain of the Emily St. Pierre, being, according to the established rule in the case of neutral vessels so seized, left at large and under no constraint, assumed the responsibility of preventing the regular process of adjudication, and of taking the law into his own hands, by contriving a method of surprise and rescue by force of the ship so situated out of the hands of the possessor. Having succeeded in this attempt, he has compelled the United States seamen, by threatening their lives, to navigate the ship to the port of Liverpool, where he threw them upon the mercy of the world, whilst he seeks to shelter himself under the protection of her Majesty's authority against the consequences of this outrageous proceeding. Should the facts prove to be as herein stated, I believe I may say with confidence that the law bearing upon the case is quite well established. Such an act committed by the master of a neutral vessel has long since been decided not simply to be wrongful, but even to work a total confiscation of vessel and cargo intrusted to his care. The opposition thus shown to lawful inquiry too strongly indicates the unlawful intent of the voyage to justify the extension to it of any protection by the government of a friendly power. Not doubting the sincere disposition of her Majesty's government to adhere to the principles which it declared at the outset of the differences in the United States, I pray your lordship's early consideration of the subject, to the end that suitable directions may be given to restore the vessel at an early day to the authority from which it has been so violently taken. Renewing to your lordship the assurance of my highest consideration, I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Right Hon. EARL RUSSELL, &c., &c., &c. CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS. No. 148.] Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: In consequence of the necessity of another removal of the legation, which has been attended with the usual amount of confusion, I am not in a situation to write this week so fully as I could wish. I can only call your attention to the speech of Mr. Gladstone, at Manchester, which is reported in the Times of this morning. I am sorry to say that it is not in quite so friendly a tone as his former one on the same subject. Indeed, it seems to me that public opinion shows signs of fluctuation, just in proportion to the character of the news from America. The paragraph in the President's proclamation which relates to the removal of the dangers from foreign intervention is not well received, perhaps, because it touches the sore too abruptly. As the period approaches when the end of the existing stock of cotton grows more and more visible, the distress of the operatives appears more aggravated, and the speculations as to the future are more freely indulged in. The movements of the Emperor are watched with more interest, and hopes are undoubtedly cherished, in secret, that he will have the courage to do what many here wish, but are ashamed to declare to the world. In the meantime outfits of vessels with supplies to run the blockade go on with increased vigor. Every account received of a successful voyage stimulates to enlarged contributions. It is very much to be regretted that our seamen have not shown themselves so well skilled in the duty of patient vigilance on the sea-coast, as in more daring and positive enterprises on our internal waters. The successes of the latter, however brilliant and prized at home, do not have an effect in this country sufficient to compensate for the former deficiencies. Unfortunately, there are many men in Great Britain ready to re-echo the saying of the Dutch merchants caught in supplying the enemy with powder in the war of independence in Holland, that "they would, if money were to be made by it, send supplies even to hell, at the risk of burning their sails." I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, SIR: Your despatch of April 11, 1862, has been received. It is certainly to be regretted that the British government does not see fit to arrest, in some way, the proceedings of the parties engaged in supplying the insurrectionists in our country with materiel of war. How singularly this course contrasts with the generous enthusiasm of those states which send us soldiers by hundreds of thousands to uphold the American Union. I have little to add to my recent communications concerning the military movements of the hour. Our generals are crowding the insurgents before them in northern and western Virginia. We hear, at last, of course through insurgent organs, of the beginning of the bombardment of the forts on the Mississippi, below New Orleans, by Captain Porter. We constantly expect the surrender of Fort Macon. But the exciting care of the hour is divided between Yorktown and Corinth. Battles there are imminent. The gain of either of these fields would have a decisive effect. The loss of both seems hardly possible, although calculations upon particular results in war are always uncertain. The President approves of your visit at Paris, and of the policy you have concluded to adopt as a result of your conference with Mr. Dayton. I am, sir, your obedient servant, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams. No. 240.] Department of State, Washington, April 28, 1862. SIR: To-day the country is assuming that the fate of this unnatural war is determined by the great event of the capture of New Orleans, which was effected by a naval expedition on the 24th instant. I trust that the anticipation will be sustained. Captain Bullock, of Georgia, is understood to have written that he has five steamers built, or bought, armed, and supplied with materiel of war in England, which are now about leaving or are on their way to aid the insurgents. We are prepared to meet them. But the reflection occurs, are the maritime powers of Europe willing that the suppression of this insurrection shall be forever associated in the memory of mankind with the conviction that the sympathies of Europe were lent to the abortive revolution? I am, sir, your obedient servant, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams. No. 244.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 1, 1862. SIR Mr. Dudley, our vigilant consul at Liverpool, writes that the subscription which was gotten up in that place to aid the insurrection in this country mounted up to £40,000 sterling, and that all that large sum of money has been invested in arms and munitions of war. He states also that a second subscription for the same purpose is now being filled up at the same place. I can hardly doubt that he has brought these facts to your notice, and you have called the attention of her Majesty's government to them. I am, sir, your obedient servant, that CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward. No. 150.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Yesterday the great international exhibition was opened with a formal ceremony by the commissioners to whom the Queen had delegated the power. It was, in every respect, successful, though the absence of the sovereign and the loss of the guiding spirit of the movement could not fail to have its influence in checking the enthusiasm of the occasion. In the meantime, however, no business has been done, and the public attention has been so much concentrated upon the immediate object as to leave little disposition to dwell upon others more remote. At the same time it is impossible not to perceive a slight revival of the hopes of the enemies of our government, and a decided increase of the pressure for some kind of intervention in the struggle. The intelligence of the expedition of Mr. Mercier to Richmond has been received with more or less favor, as well as the confederate version of the conflict at Pittsburg Landing, and the supposed obstacles to our advance at Yorktown. I mention all these things only as symptoms of a disposition, in some influential quarters, which nothing but the steady current of our success for a period, nearly, of three months last past has been able to keep in check. There is no reason to doubt that the distress in the manufacturing districts is becoming more and more serious as the season advances. Movements are already on foot for procuring the aid of Parliament, which may have the effect of reopening the discussion of the American question. At the same time there is no indication of any power to raise up party divisions. Lord Palmerston and Mr. Gladstone appear to carry through all their measures of supply so rapidly that there is every prospect of an early prorogation of Parliament, from the exhaustion of materials with which to keep it together. I am not without strong hopes that it may take place in season to avoid further causes of irritation between us. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, SIR: Some days ago I received from Lord Russell the note, a copy of which I now transmit, making a representation to me concerning the capture of the steamer Labuan. As the case had been already placed before you by Lord Lyons, and as whatever evidence there was in relation to it must have been known by his lordship to be on the other side of the water, I confess this proceeding caused in me some little surprise. But as information had been long since furnished to me that this was one of the vessels sent from here by the friends of the insurgents with supplies, I postponed my answer for a few days, in the hope of being able to obtain more specific details as to her operations. In this hope, therefore, I have been disappointed for reasons which I fully understand; of the truth of the averment, however, I have no reason to doubt. Under these circumstances I have at last concluded to draw up a reply to his lordship's note, embodying some general views drawn from the substance of my last conversation with him, which I deem this a good opportunity to put in writing. A copy of my note will accompany this despatch. Nothing has been received touching my claim for the restoration of the Emily St. Pierre, excepting an acknowledgment of its reception and a promise to give it consideration. I transmit a copy of his lordship's note on that subject. In the meantime the prize crew still remains at Liverpool under my directions awaiting a decision of the question. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. |