Right Hon. Earl Russell to Charles Francis Adams, May 27, 1863

Lord Russell to Mr. Adams.

Sir: I had the honor, in my note of the 3d ultimo, to communicate to you the result of the inquiries which had been instituted by her Majesty’s government on the receipt of your letter of the 26th of March, in which you denounced the Phantom steamer as being in course of construction at Liverpool as vessel-of-war for the service of the so-styled Confederate States.

The evidence which I was then able to lay before you seemed to show that you had been misinformed in this respect, but as the depositions enclosed in your letters of the 16th, 19th, and 23d instant appeared to call for further inquiry, her Majesty’s government did not lose a moment in causing such further inquiry to be made, and I now proceed to communicate to you the result.

First. With regard to the allegation that the Phantom has port-holes, the collector at Liverpool has obtained from the surveyor a report, from which it appears that though the Phantom has ports on deck, it is evident from their size and situation that they are intended for the escape of water, and not for guns, which the strength of the deck is not sufficient to carry; moreover, the permanent fittings on deck would interfere with the working of guns. The surveyor adds that, in his opinion, the Phantom is intended for mercantile pursuits, but whether of a lawful character or for running the blockade there is no evidence to show.

Secondly. The commissioners of customs, since the date of my last letter, have caused a strict watch to be kept upon the Phantom, but nothing has transpired worthy of special notice, and the several papers in regard to this vessel, including the depositions forwarded by you, having been submitted to the legal adviser of that board, he has reported that there is no evidence to warrant the slightest interference with her. Indeed, it is stated that during a recent interview between that officer and Mr. Squarey, the solicitor to the United States consul at Liverpool, Mr. Squarey admitted that there was no case against the Phantom, and that the recoil of a heavy gun would shake her to pieces.

I have the honor, &c.,