John Russell, 1st Earl Russell to Charles Francis Adams, May 11, 1864

Earl Russell to Mr. Adams.

Sir: Now that the governments of Great Britain and the United States are happily agreed in their determination to use every legitimate effort to put down the slave trade, I wish you would suggest to Mr. Seward that her Majesty’s government thinks it would be very useful if the two governments would mutually communicate to each other every incident of importance which may occur, and every measure that may seem to either of the two governments to tend to the suppression of this detestable traffic.

I have read with great interest the report of the United States commissioner and judge at Sierra Leone, and shall be happy to consider how the measures therein pointed out can best be carried into effect.

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