Charles Francis Adams to William H. Seward, November 20, 1862

Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.

Sir: I have to acknowledge the reception from the department of despatches, numbered from 383 to 368, inclusive. * * * I am directed in these despatches to make representations to the British government in three forms:

1. By No. 386, I am to protest against the construction of war vessels for the use of the rebels in the ports of this kingdom.

2. By No. 383, to present a copy of the resolutions of the Chamber of Commerce of New York on the depredations committed by the pirate 290 on American shipping.

3. By No. 384, to bring to its notice the conduct of the commander of her Majesty’s gunboat Bull Dog, as described in a letter of Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes to the Secretary of the Navy.

Being engaged at this moment in the preparation of a note to Lord Russell, in execution of your prior instructions contained in despatch No. 381, and intended to present the whole case of the government in respect to the action of No. 290, which, on account of its great importance, I have taken time to mature, I rather incline to postpone action on the other topics for a little while. I am led to do this, not simply because it does not seem to me the most propitious moment to multiply causes of offence with this court, but because there are accidental obstacles to my action in some of the despatches themselves.

* * * * * * * * *

For the various reasons thus enumerated, I shall venture to postpone, at least for the present, any particular remonstrance based on these later despatches. Much of the general subject will indeed be covered by the note to which I have alluded as already prepared.

The telegraphic despatch by the Edinburgh, which appears in all the morning newspapers, contains a report of the substance of a letter addressed by you to the Chamber of Commerce of New York on the depredations of No. 290, which announces that the minister at London had been directed to make reclamations of the British government. This intelligence has had a little effect in commercial circles here, it being charitably construed as symptomatic of a desire to create difficulties with England to counteract the tendency of the elections at home. For this reason I am glad that a sense of the importance of the proceeding has happened to delay my preparation of the note I propose to present until after this news was received. That note was finished yesterday, and is now in the hands of the secretary who is preparing a fair copy for my signature. A copy will likewise accompany this despatch. Lord Russell is not altogether unprepared for the reception of something of the kind, as in the last conference which I had with him, on Saturday, I apprised him that I had received a mass of testimony, upon which I was instructed to make a further representation on the subject. The labor of copying all the papers, with the present abridged force in the legation, has also contributed to the delay.

In the precise conjuncture of affairs in Europe it is a little unfortunate that this difficulty should interpose itself between Great Britain and the United States. I am rather inclined to treat it as a question of right and wrong, to be settled after amicable discussion at a convenient time hereafter, and not as a cause of immediate and pressing urgency. * * * *

The publication of the notes of the three powers on the question proposed by France seems to have had an important influence upon opinion all over Europe. * * * As a consequence, there has been a slight tendency to reaction towards the cause of the United States. This has likewise been, to some extent, re-enforced by an active revival of the anti-slavery feeling among the people at large. I am particularly anxious at this time to avoid action which should have the smallest effect to modify this current.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,