The Right Honorable Earl Russell to Charles Francis Adams, September 25, 1863

Lord Russell to Mr. Adams.

Sir: I have had the honor to receive your letters of the 16th and 17th of September.

As the whole question is under the consideration of her Majesty’s government, and the orders given not to permit the iron-clads to leave Liverpool until further inquiry has been made, seem to be sufficient for the purpose of the present moment, I will delay any answer to their letters till the facts have been more fully ascertained.

It is right to inform you that upon receiving assurance, which the Treasury consider satisfactory, that the vessel shall be returned to Birkenhead, the Messrs. Laird have been permitted to make a trial trip with the vessel which is the most advanced.

I can assure you that I am not less anxious than yourself that the duties of neutrality should be performed strictly and impartially by the government of Great Britain.

There are, however, passages in your letter of the 16th, as well as in some of your former ones, which so plainly and repeatedly imply an intimation of hostile proceeding towards Great Britain on the part of the government of the United States, unless steps are taken by her Majesty’s government which the law does not authorize, or unless the law, which you consider as insufficient, is altered, that I deem it incumbent upon me, in behalf of her Majesty’s government, frankly to state to you that her Majesty’s government will not be induced by any such consideration either to overstep the limits of the law, or to propose to Parliament any new law which they may not, for reasons of their own, think proper to be adopted. They will not shrink from any consequences of such a decision,

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