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., Sr. 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. 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 a 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 Loudon 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, 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 of the New York Mutual Insurance Company relating to depredations committed by No. 290. 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, London, February 19, 1863. MY LORD: At the request of my government I have the honor to submit to your lordship's consideration a copy of a memorial addressed to the Secretary of State by an association of underwriters in New York. SIR: Shortly after I received the intelligence of the arrival of the Sumter at Liverpool, I addressed a note to Lord Russell on the subject, a copy of which I have the honor to transmit herewith. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS. Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. [Enclosure.] Mr. Adams to Earl Russell, February 16, 1863. Mr. Adams to Lord Russell. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, MY LORD: I have received information of the arrival of the steamer Sumter at Liverpool. Having done myself the honor to suggest to your lordship the view taken by my government of the true nature of her position at Gibraltar after the event of the nominal transformation of her by a fictitious sale, I content myself with respectfully requesting your attention to the bearing on this case of her Majesty's proclamation limiting the stay of vessels of the. respective parties to the present struggle in America within her Majesty's ports. I pray your lordship to accept the assurances of the highest consideration with which I have the honor to be, my lord, your most obedient servant, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS. Right Honorable EARL RUSSELL, &c., §x., &c. No. 485.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 24, 1863, SIR: The mails again leave in advance of the arrival of incoming despatches. The military and naval conditions remain unchanged. Congress is diligent in loyal and effective legislation. Some little excitement has followed the publication of the recent correspondence with the French government, but the effect seems to be not unwholesome. You will give no credit to rumors of alienation between Mr. Mercier and this government. The Canada's advices of the organization of the British Parliament, telegraphed, are not different from what was anticipated. It is manifest that the national interest is absorbed by the expectation of military achievements regarded as imminent. SIR: I have received the proceedings of a meeting which was recently held in the borough of the Tower Hamlets, and which unanimously expressed a very earnest and generous sympathy with the United States in their contest with a rebellion not more disloyal in its character than injurious to all human society in its principles. Those proceedings have been submitted to the President, in compliance with a request of the meeting, which was communicated to this department by Harper Twelvetrees, esq., of Eversly House, Bromley, Middlesex. It is supposed that before this time you will have discovered some mode of communicating the President's grateful responses to subjects of her Majesty who thus generously address him concerning our affairs, which mode, while it does justice to the sentiments of this government, is not disrespectful or displeasing to that of her Majesty. If this is the case, you will, in your discretion, make the proper acknowledgment to the meeting of the Tower Hamlets. I am, sir, your obedient servant, CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams. No. 487.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 26, 1863. SIR: Your despatch of the 6th of February (No. 316) has been received, together with a report of her Majesty's speech and the debate which occurred on the opening of Parliament. If the expressions made on that occasion in regard to our affairs seem less generous than we think we might have expected, it cannot be denied, on the other hand, that they are far more tolerant than the sentiments which were under |