Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-01-10
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
THE CASE OF MASON AND
SLl9GLL.
MR.. SEWARD TO MR.. ADAMS.
TExTRACT.]
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, l
" WASuyScToy Nov al lS61

WASHINGTON, Nov. 81, 1861.
Charles Francis adams, Esq, DC, de-:
SIR: Your confidential note of the
18th of November, not marked as a dis
patch, has been submitted to the Presi-
dent, and | hasten to reply to it in time
for Wednesdays mail.
No Minister ever spoke or acted more
wisely in crisis which excited deep
public solicitude than you did on the
nccasion OF the Lord Mayors dinner
We are impressed very fnxorably by
Lord Palmerston' conversation with
you. You spoke simply the fact when
you told him that the nie of this inour-
rcction is sustained by its hopes OF re
cugnition in Great Britain and in
France Ii would perishin ninety days
II those hopes should cease have
never for moment believed that such
IL recognition could take place without
producing l.nmediatey y IA war between
the United States and all the recogniz-
ing powers. have not supposed ii
possible that the British Government
could fail to see this; and at the same
time have sincerely believed the Brit
ish Government must, in its inmost
heart, be as ayerse from such War as |
know this Government is.
AM sure that this Government has
carefully avoided giving any cause OF
otfense or irritation to Great Britain -
But it has seemed to me that the Brit
ish Government has been inattentive te
the currents that seemed to be bringing
the two countries into collision. x !
infer from Lord Palmerston's s re-
mark that the British Government is
now awake to the importance of avert
ing possible conflict, and disposed te
confer and act with earnestness to that
end Ii so, we are disposed to meet
them in the same spirit, as a nation
ch,efy OF British lineage, sentiments
and sympathies-a civilized aud hu
name nation, Christian. people.
Since that conversation was held
Captain Wilkes. in the stea mer San ia.
cinto, has boarded a British colonial
steamer and taken from her deck two
insurgents who were proceeding te
Europe on an errand of treason agains
their own country. This is new in.
cident, unknown to and unforeseen, al
least in its circumstances. by Lore
Palmerston. 1t is to be met and dis
posed Of by the two Governments, i
possible, in the spirit to which I have
adverted. Lord Lyons has prudently
refraiued from opening the subject t,
me, as lpresume he is waiting instruc
tions from home. We have done nothin.
on the subject to anticipate the discussion
and we have not furnished you with any
ex plantations We adhere to that cours,
now, because we think it more pruden
that the ground taken by the British
Government should first be made know
to us here; and that the discussion, i
there must be one, shall be had here
1t is proper, however, that you sh,ulC
know one fact in the case without indi
eating that we attach Importance to it
namely, that in the capture of Messrs
Mason and Slidell on board a British
vessel, Capt. Wilkes having acted with
out any instructions from the Govern
ment the subject is therefore free fron
the embarrassment which might hav
resulted if the act had been specially di
rected by US.
I trust that the British Governmen
will consider the subject in a friendl
temper, and it may expect the best dis
position on the part Of this Government
Although this is confidential note
l shall not object to your reading it t
Earl Russell and Lord Palmerston
you deem it expedient.
am, sir, your ossedient servant,
WILLIAM IL SEWARD.