Charles Francis Adams to Right Hon. Earl Russell, July 7, 1863

Mr. Adams to Lord Russell.

My Lord: As constituting one of the claims of citizens of the United States growing out of the lawless depredations upon American commerce by vessels fitted out and sent from the ports of Great Britain, I am directed to transmit to your lordship copies of the papers herewith submitted, marked A.

I have the honor, at the same time, to annex copies of two other depositions, furnished to me from the consul of the United States at Liverpool, relating to the same general subject, marked B.

It is with great regret that I feel myself once more compelled to call your lordship’s attention to the circumstances attending the outfit of the steamer called the Japan. It now appears that that vessel was at the time of her escape, and has continued until very lately to be, the property of a British subject residing in Liverpool. That person is Thomas Bold, a member of the commercial house of Jones & Co. I have information which leads me to believe that only within a few days has Mr. Bold notified the collector of customs at Liverpool of his sale of this vessel to foreign owners, and requested the register to he cancelled. That act was not completed until the 23d of June last. It would appear, from these facts, should they prove to be true, that this vessel has remained the property of a British subject during a considerable time, in which she has been engaged in committing extensive ravages upon the commerce of a nation with which her Majesty is at peace. The fact of the outfit of that vessel for hostile purposes has already occupied the attention of your lordship, in consequence of former representations unhappily made too late for effective interposition. But the circumstance of the retention of the ownership by a British subject for so long a period after she was known to be engaged in hostilities against the United States is of too grave a character to justify me in omitting to call your lordship’s particular attention to it in advance of the possibility of receiving instructions respecting it.

I pray your lordship, &c.,