14. Mr. Mallory to Mr. Mason, October 30, 1862. 15. Mr. Memminger to Fraser, Trenholm & Co., October 21, 1862. 16. Same to James Spence, Liverpool, October 21, 1862. 17. Mr. Memminger to Fraser, Trenholm & Co., October 24, 1862. 18. Same to same, October 28, 1862. 19. Mr. St. John to Mr. Smith, October 28, 1862. Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward. No. 324.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have received from Mr. Sprague, the consul at Gibraltar, a telegram announcing that the Sumter left the port of Gibraltar on the night of the 7th instant, in a very high wind, when it was impossible to communicate with the Chippewa. He reports her as bound westward. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS. Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams. No. 475.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 13, 1863. SIR: The inails of the "Europa" have arrived at last. Your despatch of the 22d of January (No. 300) has been received, and with it the proceedings and resolutions of the popular meetings recently held at Chesterfield, Salsford, and Cross Hills. The President is highly gratified with those demonstrations of good feeling towards the United States, and desires you to make his satisfaction known to the parties by whom this generous support is given, in such an unostentatious manner as shall carry with it evidences of sincerity, and, at the same time, be consistent with the courtesy due to the British government. I am, sir, your obedient servant, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams. No. 476.J DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 14, 1862. SIR: The President has received the proceedings of a public meeting of the inhabitants of Cobham, in which they express a very earnest interest in the success of this government in the unhappy civil war in which it is engaged, and in the triumph of the sacred cause which is involved in the struggle. These proceedings were transmitted by Mr. Benjamin Scott, who acted as chairman of the assembly. You are authorized to make known to Mr. Scott the President's high appreciation of this sympathy with our country in such a manner as shall be consistent with the courtesy due to her Majesty and her Majesty's government. Mr. Scott's address is Heath House, Wexbridge, Surrey, and Chamber of London, Guildhall, E. C. I am, sir, your obedient servant, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams. No. 478.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 14, 1863. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch (No. 304) of the 23d ultimo, relative to your calling Earl Russell's attention to an instance during the Crimean war, in which it seems that Great Britain demanded the restitution of a vessel in circumstances similar to those which belong to the case of the Emily St. Pierre, and to inform you that your proceedings, as therein stated, are approved. I am, sir, your obedient servant, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 479.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 14, 1863. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch (No. 301) of the 22d ultimo, relative to your remonstrance against the departure of the steamer Georgiana from Liverpool, and to inform you that your proceedings in the matter are approved. I am, sir, your obedient servant, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams. No. 483.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 19, 1863. SIR: Your despatch of the 29th of January (No. 310) has been received, together with the copy of the correspondence which has recently passed between yourself and Earl Russell on the subject of the Alabama, or 290. Your reply to his lordship is approved, and it seems only necessary, so far as that particular case is concerned, to repeat what was said, in effect, in my instruction No. 454, that this government does not think itself bound in justice to relinquish its claim for redress for the injuries which have resulted from the fitting out and despatch of the Alabama in a British port. This government is very desirous to avert occasions of irritation and complaint, which necessarily tend to produce alienation between even the most friendly powers. And it is more especially inclined to this policy in its intercourse with Great Britain. The President is therefore hopeful that her Majesty's government will act upon the idea of which an intimation has been given by Earl Russell, namely, of proposing some amendments to the foreign enlistment acts of the two countries. You may, perhaps, mention the subject to Earl Russell informally, with some advantage. I send you a copy of the notes which have passed between Mr. Stuart and Lord Lyons on one side, and myself on the other, in relation to the seamen of the Sunbeam. I think it will show that my decision in that case affords no support to the British government in the case of the Alabama. The Senate has prepared a bill which confers upon the President of the United States the owner to grant letters of marque and reprisal in any war in which the country may at any time be engaged, and it is expected that the bill will become a law. Lord Lyons suggests that the transaction may possibly be misapprehended abroad, if it come upon foreign powers suddenly and without any explanations. You will be at liberty to say that, as the bill stands, the executive government will be left at liberty to put the law in force in its discretion, and that thus far the proper policy in regard to the exercise of that discretion has not engaged the President's attention. I have had little hesitation in saying to Lord Lyons that if no extreme circumstances occur, there will be entire frankness on the part of the government in communicating to him upon the subject, so far as to avoid any surprise on the part of friendly nations, whose commerce or navigation it might be feared would be incidentally and indirectly affected, if it shall be found expedient to put the act in force against the insurgents of the United States. I am, sir, your obedient servant, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. List of papers with instructions No. 483 to Mr. Adams. Mr. Stuart to Mr. Seward, November 1, 1862, with an accompaniment. Mr. Stuart to Mr. Seward, November 9, 1862, with an accompaniment. Mr. Welles to Mr. Seward, November 25, 1862, with accompaniments. Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons, February 19, 1863. Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward. No. 327.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have received with your despatch (No. 465) of the 2d of February at note of the President, which I am directed to transmit to the workingmen of London, in answer to the address voted at their meeting on the evening of the 31st of December. At the time of writing that note the President was not aware of the much larger proportions which the popular sentiment of London had taken at the meeting of the 29th of January. Neither could he have been prepared for the multiplication of addresses, from various quarters, which has ensued. Believing myself that it would not be his wish to notice them all separately, neither would it be expected here, and that a judicious selection of a few of the more prominent ones would answer for the whole, I have thought it best to postpone sending this note until after I can learn what his views are from a more full survey of the extent of the addresses, and especially what his answer will be to the great demonstration at Exeter Hall. I have this week to transmit only the proceedings of two meetings-one at Middleton, in Lancashire, and the other at Aberdane, in South Wales. The current of popular sentiment, however, flows with little abatement of strength, as was made manifest last night at another great assemblage at St. James's Hall, in this town. I have taken no part whatever in promoting these movements, having become well convinced that the smallest suspicion of my agency would do more harm than good. I am led to make this remark by the circumstance that the London Times has more than once endeavored to insinuate the contrary. I ought, however, in justice to Mr. Evans, the chairman of the Emancipation Society committee, and to Mr. Samuel Lucas, the principal editor of The Star, to bring to your notice their spontaneous and wholly disinterested labors to reestablish the amicable relations between the people of the two countries, which has been so severely shaken by the mischievous efforts of others. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS. Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. Mr. Williams to Mr. Adams. ABERDANE, February 16, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to forward you annexed a copy of a resolution passed at an enthusiastic meeting held at Aberdane on the 3d instant, and I have to request that you will kindly transmit the same to the President of the United States of America, as an evidence of the sympathy which we, as Welshmen, entertain for our transatlantic brethren, who are engaged in a painful and difficult struggle. I have the honor to remain your most obedient, humble servant, His Excellency CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, Legation of the United States, London. THOMAS WILLIAMS. At a largely attended meeting held at the Temperance Hall, Aberdane, Glamorganshire, on the 3d February, 1863, the following resolution was carried unanimously: That this meeting, being convinced that slavery is the cause of the tremendous struggle now going on in the American States, and being further convinced that the object of the southern States is to found a government to perpetuate, strengthen, and extend chattel slavery within their territory, earnestly prays that such object may be frustrated, and that the emancipation policy of President Lincoln be carried out till not a slave be left on the American soil; and that a copy of this resolution be sent to his excellency the President of the United States." THOMAS WILLIAMS, Chairman. RESOLUTIONS AT MIDDLETON, ENGLAND. At a crowded meeting held in Temperance Hall, Middleton, on Monday evening, February 9, 1863, Thomas B. Wood, esq., in the chair, it was proposed and carried by a very large majority— That this meeting desires to express its earnest sympathy with the people of the federal States of North America in their time of trouble, its hearty approval of the anti-slavery policy of President Lincoln, and its sincere wishes for its success. This meeting would also express its gratitude to the noble donors who, in the midst of dire domestic calamity, have sent provisions across three thousand miles of ocean to succor the operatives of Lancashire; and declares that, in its opinion, no possible amount of privation ought to, or will, induce the operatives of the cotton manufacturing districts to take one step towards the recognition of any confederacy based upon the doctrine that it is right for man to hold property in man. It was further unanimously Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing resolution, signed by the chairman, be forwarded to the honorable C. F. Adams, minister at London for the United States. No. 328.] THOMAS B WOOD. Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: In obedience to the instructions contained in your despatch (No. 462) of the 30th January, I have addressed a note to Lord Russell on the alleged pro ceeding of the Vesuvius steamer, a copy of which is herewith transmitted. You will perceive that I allude in it to a remark of Lord Russell's, in his last conversation with me, which indicated an earnest desire to avoid any complications like that which is said to have happened. Yet, in view of the known proclivities of most of the naval officers in the British service, both here and at sea, I am not surprised by any action which may be imputed to them. It was, probably, with a view of guarding against this that Lord Lyons acted in the way indicated, and evidently approved by his lordship. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS. Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. Mr. Adams to Lord Russell. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, MY LORD: I have the honor to submit to your lordship's consideration the copy of a letter addressed by the head of the Navy Department to the Secretary of State at Washington, touching an averment in a Bahama newspaper of the action of the commander of her Majesty's steamer Vesuvius in transporting a large sum of money belonging to the insurgents in his vessel. I am instructed to express the belief that the statement is erroneous and untrue. But, inasmuch as information has reached me from Liverpool that precisely the amount of money named did arrive at that port on or about the time specified, and as the possibility of such a proceeding involves questions of the gravest importance in international comity, I have been directed to call the attention of your lordship to the expediency of making such investigations and giving such instructions to her Majesty's naval officers as the occasion would seem to require. At the same time that I make this communication at the wish of my government, it is no more than justly due to your lordship that I should not fail to remember the fact that, in the last conversation which I had the honor to hold with you, I understood you to say that orders had already been given through the medium of Lord Lyons, at Washington, intended to anticipate the possibility of any practices of the kind whatever in her Majesty's ships. Renewing, &c., &c., CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS. Right Honorable EARL RUSSELL, &c., &c., &c. [Enclosures.] 1. Mr. Welles's letter to Mr. Seward, January 29, 1863. No. 331.] Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, London, February 19, 1863. SIR: In accordance with the desire expressed in your despatch (No. 466) of the 2d February, I have transmitted to Lord Russell a copy of the resolutions |