The Right Honorable Earl Russell to Charles Francis Adams, September 14, 1863

Lord Russell to Mr. Adams.

Sir: In acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 24th ultimo, in which you request that Messrs. Upton’s claim on account of the destruction of their vessel, the Nora, by the Alabama, may be added to others of the same kind, which you have heretofore presented to me, I must, on the part of her Majesty’s government, repeat the disclaimer which, on more than one occasion, I have already made to you of all responsibility in regard to the proceedings of the Alabama, or of any other confederate cruiser.

But, as it is stated in your letter that the Alabama was “fitted out and despatched from the port of Liverpool,” and as these words imply that you suppose she was fitted out as a vessel-of-war, I have thought it right to ask Mr. Laird how far that statement is borne out by the facts; and I have the honor to enclose, for your information, a copy of a letter which I have received from that gentleman in reply, stating that, from the information he had received, it appears that the Alabama was not fitted out at Liverpool as a vessel-of-war. When the United States government assume to hold the government of Great Britain responsible for the captures made by vessels which may be fitted out as vessels-of-war in a foreign port, because such vessels were originally built in a British port, I have to observe that such pretensions are entirely at variance with the principles of international law and with the decisions of American courts of the highest authority; and I have only, in conclusion, to express my hope that you may not be instructed again to put forward claims which her Majesty’s government cannot admit to be founded on any grounds of law or justice.

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