Charles Francis Adams to Right Hon. Earl Russell, March 7, 1865

Mr. Adams to Earl Russell

My Lord: By a report made by the consul at Nassau it would appear that he was in-formed by a government officer at that place of the possibility that the vessel formerly well known as the Alexandra, and now as the Mary, even if condemned and sold at that port, under judicial process, for a violation of neutrality, might be bought in by the same parties first interested in her, and started again in the guise of a merchantman on her original errand to carry on war against the United States.

I am instructed by my government to make to your lordship a representation touching this matter, and to remonstrate against giving permission to this vessel to depart from Nassau without abundant security that she is not to be used for the hostile purpose indicated. So much of deception and fraud has marked the previous transactions of the insurgent agents engaged in these outfits from British ports that no suspicion of any of their future operations appears to be unreasonable.

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,