Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward, November 13, 1862

Mr. Adams to Mr.
Seward.

Sir: Your despatch (No. 381) of the 25th
October, covered copies of many papers received from Mr. Harvey, at
Lisbon, touching the piratical depredations committed by the gunboat 290
off the western islands, which I am instructed to bring before the
notice of Lord Russell in such manner as shall seem best calculated to
effect two objects—first, due redress for the national and private
injuries sustained; and secondly, a prevention of such lawless and
injurious proceedings hereafter.

I shall take the earliest opportunity to execute these orders, and, at
the same time, to add other papers which have been furnished to me by
Mr. Dudley, the consul at Liverpool, embracing still other cases of a
similar character. Even without the addition of this evidence I have
reason to suppose that the attention of the government here has been
much drawn to the difficulty in which the acts of this vessel have
involved them. There are statements current in the newspapers that they
have actually stopped a vessel at Cork laden with supplies for the
rebels, and have likewise prohibited the shipment of arms in the
steamers going to New York. With respect to the latter part of the
story, it seems to be admitted that the agents of those steamers no
longer consent to receive them, though a different reason is given for
it—the fear of some threat by Captain Semmes of what he would do if he
found them on board. I am quite incredulous as to any disposition of
that personage or of his owners in Liverpool voluntarily to incur the
risk of difficulty with the authorities in England.

The only noteworthy circumstance in this connexion seems to be the great
difference in the amount of evidence required to establish the
destination in the respective cases. Although the equipment of vessels
and cargoes from various ports of this kingdom, with the intent to run
the blockade, has been so notorious for a year past that the instances have become a frequent item of
newspaper gossip, the difficulty of establishing the proof by the
necessary evidence has been constantly urged in extenuation of a refusal
to do anything at all to check them. And the moment a determination to
do something is arrived at, the first manifestation of it appears to be
against the party that has committed comparatively no offence, and whose
limited operations have never acquired notoriety.

In the interview which I am to have with Lord Russell on Saturday, for
the consideration of another matter; I hope to be able, incidentally, to
gain a more complete insight into this.

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