William H Seward to Charles Francis Adams, September 7, 1865

Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams

Sir: The capture of numerous United States whaling vessels in the waters northwest of this hemisphere by the Shenandoah has naturally excited in this country generally, and particularly among the worthy persons more directly interested, great dissatisfaction. The antecedents of the captor, her course from her departure from England, and particularly the aid and comfort extended to her at Melbourne, Australia, where prior to her recent career above adverted to she was last heard of, warrant us in regarding her as substantially a British vessel, for whose acts her Majesty’s government may lawfully and justly be held accountable. You will, consequently, address a note to this effect to Earl Russell, if you should not already have done so pursuant to my general instructions. Mr. Dudley, the consul at Liverpool, who is familiar with the subject, will furnish you with any facts of which you may not be aware relative to her history, at least before she left England, and the accompanying copy of a despatch of the 23d of February last to this department, from the United States consul at Melbourne, furnishes full details in regard to the proceedings of the Shenandoah at that place.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,