Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-10-16
VOLUME LXI.--NUMHER p

Laying aside, hou ever, this question of the
conduct of Mr.. Acting Consul Magee, ut which
Her Majesty is the so:e Judge. am wiling 10
| acknowledge that the so styled Confederate
Suites are MT bound iorccrgniIe an authority
derived from Lord Lyons. Her Majesty's Min
lister ut Washington.
But it is very desirable tfat persons author
lied by Her ty should have The means Of
representing =. Richmond. anl elsewhere in the
Confederate States, the interests of-Briiish sub
iects, who may be in the course of tho war
grevously wronged by the acts of subordinate
officers This has been done in other similar
cases of States not recognized by Her Majesty.
and it would be in conformity with the a!ni'y
| professed by the so-stylrd Conft d"ra'e States
tow ar,ls Her bfajesty AMI the British Nation, if
arrangements could be made for correspondence
between agents appointed by Her Majesty 5
Government, to reside in the Confederate States,
and the authorities of such States.
have the honor to be-, sir, your most obedi-
edt, humble servant,
(Signed) Russell.
ER. MASON TO Earl. RUSSELL.
"A UPPER SEYMOUR STREET,
PoRTMAN SQUARE.
September 4. 1863.
The Right Hon. Earl Russell, Her Majesty S
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs:
MY Lord have had the horror to receive
your Lprdshlp's letter of the 10Th August,
| utimo, in reply to mine Of the 9th and 29th
July, ultimo. | shall transmit Il copy Of your
Lorlship's letter to the Secretary Of State at
Richmond.
These dispatches of Mr.. Benilmn. full copies
| of which have by his direction, furnished to
your Lordship, certainly evlfce no ,'isincilatiOn
to permit any persons accredited to Her Majerty S
Governments rs its Consular or other agents. 10
reside within the COnfrdcras" States. and rs such
| tn be in communication with the IoverIin"nf
| there. They explain only (and certainly in terms
of anlity) how il has resulted thrt the Govern
mcnt IF The Confederate States has tcl. itself con.
strained to prohibit, in future, any direct commit,
| nication between such agents and Her Majesty $
| Minister resident at Washington, prob bition.
| which, understand from these dispatches. iS
equally extended to al Ike agents of foreign
powers and their Ministers 1T Washington. All
communications To or from such agents are i'll
| future. tn be made through vessels arriving from
or despatched tn neu'ra! ports.
That it should have become necessary to i'm
pose this restriction. il, am sure. matter ol
regret to the Prcrident of the Confederate Safes
but the circumstances which have called it forth
are under the control of foreign Governments,
| and not under the control OF the President
In regard to the suggestion in y"ur Lord
ships letter, that it would he ''vc,y desirable
that persons authorized by Her Majesty
! should have the means OF representing at
| Richmond, and elsewhere in the Confederate"
States, the interest of British subjects, which.
as your Lordship states, has been done in
| other similar cases of States not recognized
| by Her Majesty" under arrangements for
correspondence between agents appointed lN
Her Maiesty's Government to reside in the
| Confederate States, and the authorities in
such States, can only say that il it be your
Lordships pleasure to make this prnrnsltion
in such form as may be agreeable tn Her Ma
jesty's Government, aud not ut variance with
the views expressed in the despatch Of Mr..
| Benjamin, Do not doubt it would receive tho
favorable consideration of the Government at
Richmond and l should be happy in being
the medium tn communicate it.
have the honor to be-
Your Lordship's,
Very obedient servant,
(Signed) j. NJ. Mason.
| Special Commissioner, &c.