George Villiers Clarendon to Charles Francis Adams, January 20, 1866

[Circular.]

Sir: As it would be a very great convenience to her Majesty’s government to have an assurance that vessels evidently calculated for warlike purposes and alleged to be building in the private ship-building yards of this country, on account of foreign governments, are really intended for the service of such governments, whereby all questions and suspicions in regard to their possible destination would be obviated, I have the honor to request that you will have the goodness to obtain from your government authority to make known to her Majesty’s government, as occasion may exist, the mere fact that any such vessels are constructing or are ordered to be constructed in this country, on its account.

You may safely give an assurance to your government, that the object in seeking this information is not for the purpose of instituting any inquiry or of exercising any influence or control in regard to the orders which it may give for building ships of war in this country, but solely that her Majesty’s government may know that any such ships which may be in course of construction are really destined for the service of a foreign power not at war with any other foreign power friendly to her Majesty.

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