Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward, May 17, 1861

Mr. Adams to Mr.
Seward.

Sir: I have the satisfaction to announce my
safe arrival at this place on Monday evening, the 13th of this month.
The steamer reached Liverpool at eleven in the morning, where I was
received with the utmost kindness, and strongly solicited to remain at
least one day. A large deputation of the American Chamber of Commerce
waited upon me and delivered an address, to which I made a brief reply.
Both have been printed in the newspapers, and I transmit a copy of the
Times containing them. I could not fail to observe, in the course of
these proceedings, the great anxiety and the fluctuating sentiment that
prevail in regard to the probable issue of affairs in America. I could
also perceive that my arrival had been expected with far more solicitude
than I had anticipated. It was not disguised from me that a supposed
community of interest in the cotton culture was weighing heavily in that
city in favor of the disaffected; and that much misapprehension
prevailed as to the relative position of parties in the United States,
which it was of some consequence to dispel. To this end it had been the
wish that I could have found it convenient to make a longer stay in the
place.

Under other circumstances I might have so far deferred to these
representations as to delay my departure for twenty-four hours. But, on
the other hand, some incidental allusions to the state of things in
London convinced me of the importance of losing no time on my way.
Accordingly I took the next train in the afternoon, and was in a
condition to proceed at once to business on the morning of Tuesday, the
14th. In the interval between my departure from Boston on the 1st and my
arrival on the 14th, I discovered that some events had taken place
deserving of attention. The agents of the so-called Confederate States
had arrived, and, as it is supposed, through their instigation certain
inquiries and motions had been initiated in Parliament for the purpose
of developing the views of the ministry in regard to American affairs. I
allude more particularly to the questions proposed by Mr. Gregory, of
Galway, and to the motion of Mr. Horsfall, the member for Liverpool,
touching the effect of the blockade proclaimed by the President against
the southern ports. The answer given by Lord John Russell, in the
proceedings of the 6th of May, will, of course, have attracted your
attention long before these lines meet your eye. I need not say that it excited general surprise,
especially among those most friendly to the government of the United
States. There seemed to be not a little precipitation in at once raising
the disaffected States up to the level of a belligerent power, before it
had developed a single one of the real elements which constitute
military efficiency outside of its geographical limits. The case of the
Greeks was by no means a parallel case, for the declaration had not been
made until such time had intervened as was necessary to prove, by the
very words quoted by Lord John Russell from the instructions of the
British government, that the power was sufficient “to cover the sea with
its cruisers.” Whereas in the present instance there was no evidence to
show as yet the existence of a single privateer afloat. The inference
seemed almost inevitable that there existed a disposition at least not
to chill the hopes of those who are now drawing the very breath of life
only from the expectation of sympathy in Great Britain. Yet I am not
quite prepared to say that there is just ground for the idea. On the
contrary, I am led to believe, from the incidental discussion afterwards
held in both houses, as well as from other information, that the
language of Lord John Russell was viewed as not altogether sufficiently
guarded, and that the ministry as a whole are not prepared to
countenance any such conclusion.

There are still other reasons which occasion in me great surprise at the
action of his lordship. I need not say that I was received by my
predecessor, Mr. Dallas, with the greatest kindness and cordiality. I
immediately learned from him that he had declined himself to enter into
any discussions on the subject, because he knew that I was already on my
way out, and that I should probably come fully possessed of the views of
my government, and ready to communicate them freely to the authorities
here. To this end he had already concerted with Lord John Russell the
earliest possible measures for my presentation and for a conference with
him. In regard to the ceremony, there were circumstances attending it
which, in the precise posture of affairs, give it some significance. * *
On Tuesday morning Mr. Dallas called on me to accompany him on his visit
to Lord John Russell, at his house, at eleven o’clock. Great was our
disappointment, however, to find that he had been suddenly called away,
at an early hour, to visit his brother, the Duke of Bedford, at Woburn
Abbey, who was very ill, and who actually died at two o’clock in the
afternoon of that day. This, of course, has put an end to all further
communication with him for the present. I very much regretted this
circumstance, as I should have been glad to converse with him prior to
the final action upon the proclamation which was adopted by the Privy
Council, and which was issued in the Gazette on the very same day. A
copy of that proclamation is to be found in the Times of the 15th of
May, the same paper which I have already desired to transmit for another
purpose. I submit it to your consideration without comment.

Feeling doubtful how the informal arrangement of Lord John Russell might
have been affected by his sudden departure, I at once addressed to him
the customary announcement of my arrival, and a request for an audience
of her Majesty at an early day. This brought me immediate replies from
the minister and from his secretary, Mr. Hammond, confirming the
appointment of Thursday (yesterday) as the time for my presentation,
while the latter gentleman notified me that in the absence of Lord John
Russell Lord Palmerston would be in waiting at the palace at three
o’clock to present me. At the same time Mr. Dallas received a similar
notification, appointing the same hour and place for his audience of
leave. This arrangement was fully carried out yesterday according to the
programme. Mr. Dallas was introduced first, and took his leave, after
which I presented my credentials, with a few words expressive of the
desire of my government to
maintain the friendly relations existing between the two countries; and
thus I became the recognized minister.

Thus an end is put to all the speculations which have been set afloat in
some quarters for interested purposes touching the probable position of
the minister of the United States at this court. I might add, that so
far I have every reason to be fully satisfied with the reception which I
have met with from everybody. Fortunately the news which came from the
United States by the same steamer which brought me was calculated to
dispel many of the illusions that had been industriously elaborated
during the period of isolation of the city of Washington, and to
confirm, the faith of those who had permitted themselves to doubt
whether all government in the United States was of any more cohesiveness
than a rope of sand. Yet I cannot say that the public opinion is yet
exactly what we would wish it. Much depends upon the course of things in
the United States, and the firmness and energy made visible in the
direction of affairs.

The morning papers contain a report of the debate in the House of Lords
on the Queen’s proclamation, to which I beg to call your particular
attention. I cannot say that the tone of it is generally such as I could
wish. There is undoubtedly a considerable influence at work here both in
and out of the ministry which must be met and counteracted at as early a
moment as practicable. Mr. Gregory yesterday gave notice of a
postponement of the consideration of his motion until the 7th of June.
The reason assigned is the situation of Lord John Russell. * * The same
cause, however, which postpones this debate also delays my opportunities
of conference with the minister. My wish has been to confer with him
rather than with any of the subordinates, for reasons which will readily
occur to you. Next week come the Whitsuntide holidays, and the
adjournment of Parliament for ten days, during which little can be done
with effect. I propose, nevertheless, at once to apply for a conference
at as early a period as possible.

I have just received a visit from a Mr. Arrowsmith, who came on behalf of
Mr. Cunard’s Steamship Company, to know whether the government would
desire any number of their steam vessels to further their operations of
blockade. I said, in reply, that I had no instructions on that point,
and could give no information, but that I was now writing and would
communicate the proposal. Mr. Arrowsmith says that fifteen or twenty
vessels could be furnished at a moment’s notice, which, by preparations
of cotton pressed between decks, could be made to sustain guns, and thus
be efficient instruments in closing the southern ports.

I have the honor to be your obedient servant,