Right Hon. Earl Russell to Charles Francis Adams, June 27, 1864

Earl Russell to Mr. Adams.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 25th instant, complaining of the interference of a British vessel, the Deerhound, with a view to aid in effecting the escape of a number of persons belonging to the Alabama, who you state had already surrendered themselves prisoners of war, and calling my attention to the remarkable proportion of officers and American insurgents as compared with the whole number of persons rescued from the waves. You state, further, that you can scarcely entertain a doubt that this selection was made tby British subjects with a view to connive at the escape of these particular individuals from captivity.

I have the honor to state to you, in reply, that it appears to me that the owner of the Deerhound, of the royal yacht squadron, performed only a common duty of humanity in saving from the waves the captain and several of the crew of the Alabama. They would otherwise, in all probability, have been drowned, and thus would never have been in the situation of prisoners of war.

It does not appear to me to be any part of the duty of a neutral to assist in making prisoners of war for one of the belligerents.

I shall, however, transmit to the owner of the Deerhound a copy of your letter and its enclosures, together with a copy of this letter.

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