David A. Russell to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, October 13, 1865
Eurl Russell to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty
My Lords: With reference to my letter of the 2d of June last, prescribing the course to be taken by her Majesty’s several authorities in all ports, harbors, and waters belonging to her Majesty, whether in the United Kingdom or beyond the seas, in consequence of the recognition by her Majesty’s government that peace was restored within the whole territory of which the United States of North America before the commencement of the civil war were in undisturbed possession; and with reference more particularly to that passage in my letter, in which it was laid down that confederate vessels departing, in pursuance of requisitions to be made by her Majesty’s authorities, from any ports, harbors, and waters belonging to her Majesty, in which at the time of the receipt by those authorities of the fresh orders such vessels might be found, should then, and for the last time, have the full benefit of the prohibition theretofore enforced against pursuit of them within twenty-four hours by a cruiser of the United States lying at the time within any such ports, harbors, and waters, I have the honor to state to your lordships that her Majesty’s government are of opinion that it is desirable that her Majesty’s naval and other authorities at home, and in her Majesty’s possessions abroad, should be formally apprised that, as full time has now elapsed since my letter of the 2d of June for giving effect to the provisions of that letter, all measures of a restrictive nature on vessels-of-war of the United States in British ports, harbors, or waters, are now to be considered as at an end, and that it is the desire and intention of her Majesty’s government that unrestricted hospitality and friendship should be shown to vessels-of-war of the United States in all her Majesty’s ports, whether at home or abroad.
I have addressed a similar letter to the secretaries of state for the colonial, home, and India offices, and also to the lords commissioners of her Majesty’s treasury.
I am, &c,