David A. Russell to J. F, Crampton, January 5, 1865

Earl Russell to Sir J. Crampton

Sir: I have to instruct you to request an interview with Marshal Narvaez, in order to speak to him again on the subject of slave-trade.

You will represent to his excellency, that the honor of Spain must suffer from the continued connivance of Spanish authorities at the violation of a solemn treaty concluded with England in the year 1835. You will point out to him that, by the operation of a British act of Parliament, and the consequent vigilance and activity of Brazilian governments, slave-trade has for the last ten years been unknown on the coast of Brazil; that unhappily it is not unknown on the coast of Cuba; but that it is impossible to believe that the Spanish government cannot do that which the Brazilian government has been able to do with ease and complete effect.

That by my despatch No. 41, of the 7th ultimo, 1 have asked the Spanish government to concur in submitting Spanish subjects captured in slave-trading ships to the jurisdiction of British courts—British subjects similarly captured being similarly subjected to the jurisdiction of Spanish courts—and that in both cases the offenders should be liable to the penalties attached to piracy. I have made a similar proposal to other governments in Europe and America.

A correspondence which I send you. and which has recently taken place between the British admiralty, the foreign office, and commodore commanding on the western coast of Africa, will enable you to show to Marshal Narvaez the mischief of letting loose miscreants, quite unworthy of the protection of the Crown of Spain, who, after being taken in one slave vessel, are liberated, and forthwith enlist in the same service in some other ship, bound on a similar unchristian and inhuman errand.

You will urge upon the marshal, so well known for his chivalrous sentiments and lofty character, the duty which devolves upon him of effacing a stain from the escutcheon of Spain, and of rendering a brilliant service to the cause of African freedom.