Letter

Right Honorable Earl Russell to Charles Francis Adams, February 25, 1863

Author

Right Honorable Earl Russell

Recipient

Charles Francis Adams

Date

February 25, 1863

Type

Letter

Language

English

Lord Russell to Mr. Adams.

Foreign Office, February 25, 1863.

Sir: You are quite right in having understood me to say that orders had been given through Lord Lyons intended to anticipate the possibility of any shipments of specie, such as you spoke of in your letter of the 19th instant.

Notwithstanding Lord Lyons’s precautions, however, I received on the 14th instant an account of the shipment of money in her Majesty’s ship Vesuvius, by Mr. Acting Consul Magee. The money was said to be sent for the purpose of furnishing payment of interest, due in London, on bonds of the State of Alabama.

I, however, thought it necessary at once, and on the same day, to dismiss Mr. Magee from her Majesty’s service.

Orders have been given also to the admiralty to forbid any similar shipment from confederate ports.

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

RUSSELL.

Topics

19th Century Civil War Diplomacy

Sources

FRUS u2014 Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-eighth View original source ↗

U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian. Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-eighth .