Charles Francis Adams to Right Hon. Earl Russell, April 14, 1863

Mr. Adams to Lord Russell.

My Lord: I have been instructed to lay before your lordship copies of a correspondence transmitted to me from Washington relative to the arrival of the steamer Georgiana at Nassau. It appears by these papers that she appeared and was received at that port in the singular guise of an armed British merchant vessel, although, from the evidence which your lordship was pleased to furnish to me from Liverpool, she was not represented as enacting any such part in that harbor. I have now every reason to believe that the information upon which I had the honor to base my representation of the character and purposes of that vessel was, in all essential particulars, correct.

Happily for the interests of both countries, this cause of complaint and irritation has been disposed of, in a summary way, in advance of any production of mischief. I wish I could have it in my power to make the same announcement in other cases to which I have been under the painful necessity to draw your lordship’s notice.

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,

[Enclosures.]

1. Consul Whiting to Mr. Seward, March 27, 1863.

2. Same to Governor of Bahamas, February 28, 1863.

3. Colonial Secretary to Mr. Whiting, March 2, 1863.

4. Mr. Whiting to Captain Kennedy, March 2, 1863.

5. Captain Kennedy to Mr. Whiting, March 2, 1863.

Lord Russell to Mr. Adams.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday’s date, enclosing copies of papers transmitted to you from Washington, respecting the case of the Georgiana.

I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,