Right Hon. Earl Russell to Charles Francis Adams, December 16, 1863

Earl Russell to Mr. Adams.

Sir: The circumstances connected with the sale and subsequent removal from Sheerness of the vessel now called the Rappahannock, but formerly her Majesty’s gun-vessel Victor, to which you called my attention in, your letters of the 28th of November and 5th of December, have engaged the serious attention of her Majesty’s government, and I have the honor to inform you that her Majesty’s government are fully determined to take such steps as may legally be within their power to put in force the laws of this country against any persons who in this matter may appear to have transgressed them.

As regards the other vessels which, in your letter of the 28th of November, you state that you have reason to believe may be charged with the materials for the armament, and possibly with a portion of the crew of the Rappahannock, I have the honor to state to you that the collector of customs at Plymouth has reported that the Agrippina, which arrived at that port wind-bound on the 20th of November, sailed again on the following morning for Bermuda, having not shipped at Plymouth either, cargo, crew, or passengers, and with her hatches battened down and her boats stowed away in the usual manner for a long voyage.

The Harriet Pinckney, whose destination was also Bermuda, put into Plymouth under stress of weather on the 21st of November, and has been obliged to discharge her cargo there in order to obtain necessary repairs, the completion of which will probably require considerable time.

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