Charles Francis Adams to Right Hon. Earl Russell, June 11, 1862

Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.

My Lord: I am instructed to submit to the consideration of her Majesty’s government copies of papers relating to the ship Daring, of Boston, in the United States, and to the damage and loss experienced by the owners, growing out of the detention of a shipment of a quantity of saltpetre at Calcutta, in the month of December last, made prior to the reception of her Majesty’s proclamation prohibiting the export thereof.

As I cannot entertain a doubt of the disposition of her Majesty’s government to administer relief in cases of hardship to citizens of a friendly nation engaged in legitimate trade, occasioned by the retroactive operation of a public act of which they could have had no knowledge, provided that the facts be clearly established, I simply content myself with expressing the hope that the papers will receive from your lordship such attention as they shall appear on examination to deserve.

Renewing the assurances of my highest consideration, I have the honor to be, my lord, your most obedient servant,