Charles Francis Adams to Right Hon. Earl Russell, June 7, 1864

[Enclosures.]

1. Mr. Adams to Lord Russell, June 7, 1864.

2. Lord Russell to Mr. Adams, June 8, 1864.

Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.

My Lord: I have received from the consul of the United States at Liverpool information which leads me to believe that a transfer, purporting to be a sale, has been made of the steamer heretofore known as the Japan, alias the Georgia, by the insurgents or their agents at that port.

In such a contingency, I must pray your lordship’s pardon if I take the liberty to renew, in this case, the observations which I had the honor to submit in my note of the 14th of March of last year, on the case of the steamer Sumter, alias the Gibraltar. On behalf of my government, I feel it my duty, in consonance with the practice heretofore adopted by Great Britain, to decline to recognize the validity of the sale of this armed vessel, heretofore engaged in carrying on war against the people of the United States, in a neutral port, and to claim the right of seizing it wherever it may be found on the high seas.

I pray your lordship to accept the assurances of the highest consideration with which I have the honor to be, my lord, your lordship’s most obedient servant,

Earl Russell to Mr. Adams.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday’s date, relative to the sale of the steamer Georgia at Liverpool.

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