Cordell Hull to W. G. Bateson, January 26, 1866

Mr. Hull to Mr. Bateson.

My Dear Sir: From the little I have seen of Captain Waddell, I am satisfied that nothing would distress him more than to think that any respectable person should believe that he was guilty of destroying shipping after he was himself satisfied, or even entertained any reasonable doubt, as to the termination of the war.

I am sure that if her Majesty’s government want any information on this point, Captain Waddell will gladly give it. either to Mr. Greenwood or to yourself.

As I named to you to-day, Temple, alias Jones, is a fellow utterly unworthy of belief, and I am sorry that Mr. Dudley should be the dupe of such an unprincipled young rascal.

As I told you to-day, he volunteered to come to me, and after telling me that he was born in Madras, he said he was prepared to swear that he was born in Charleston, never having been in America in his life. I therefore declined his services, and he forthwith transferred them to Mr. Thompson, ex-detective, and thence to Mr. Dudley.

Captain Waddell has burst a blood-vessel since he came to this country, and is now in a very precarious state of health. I have not seen him for some months.

Believe me, &c., &c.,