Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams, January 12, 1864

Mr. Seward to Mr.
Adams.

Sir: I have received, and have submitted to the
President, your despatch of December 4, No. 550, which is accompanied by
a copy of a note addressed to
you by Earl Russell, in reply to the representation you have made
concerning a contract by insurgents with British subjects, in which
Bermuda was designated as a place for the receipt of contraband
merchandise, to be shipped to the insurgents.

While I admit that the evidence, to which reference is made, is attended
by the uncertainty and want of directness which his lordship indicates,
I cannot but think that it is sufficient to justify the United States in
expecting her Majesty’s government to institute precautionary measures
against the execution of a purpose, in the island of Bermuda, so
manifestly injurious to this country, and derogating from the impartial
neutrality which Great Britain has proclaimed. It is hardly to be
expected that the United States could procure direct and conclusive
evidences of frauds and combinations plotted by its enemies living under
the protection of British laws.

I shall continue to furnish you with such circumstantial proofs upon the
point involved as fall into my hands. Of this class is the accompanying
extract from the Morning Telegraph, a newspaper printed at St. John’s,
New Brunswick, on the 5th instant.

Of the same class is the fact that Lieutenant Rooke, of her Majesty’s
army, was detected carrying a contraband mail to Bermuda, to be
delivered to insurgent agents there.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

Letter from Halifax.

The Bermuda packet, arrived to-day, brings absolutely nothing of
interest from the Confederate States. There are two passengers
through from Wilmington, 12th instant. I have one solitary paper of
that date. The Flora is the only blockade steamer out since the last
moon, a month ago. One schooner came through from Wilmington,
successfully, and another schooner had got in. The Don and Hansa had
been captured by the federals off Charleston, and the Beauregard and
Ceres run ashore near Wilmington and destroyed. The Ceres is the
only steamer of all blockade runners that has not paid for herself;
it was her first trip. The Beauregard had a very valuable cargo.
Steamers continue to arrive at Nassau and Bermuda, to take the
places of those destroyed. The number is increased rather than
diminished. This business is reduced to a mathematical nicety, and
the chances of profit and loss are fully computed. No vessel is
expected to have nine lives, although a half dozen or so are
reckoned upon.