The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-06-30
The Alabama correspondence
From the Pail Mall e.zstte 4


One of the morning papers publishes
part Of "the Alabama correspondence"
It begins with q letter from Mr.. Adams,
the American Minister to Earl Russell,
transmitting Captain WinsloW's report Of
the sinking of the Alabama, and a list of
those of her crew who were saved BY the
Deerhound. To this Earl Russell replies,
jusGifying she conduct of Mr.. Lancaster in
rescuing the drowning men of the Alabs,
ma, and declaring that it does not appear
to him TO be the duty of 3 neutral TO make
prisoners Of war for one of the belligerents
Next comes letter from Mr.. Lancaster,
IN which he repudiates 3 charge of COM
plicity between his yacht the Deerhound
and the Alabama, and declared that he
had the warrant Of Captain WinsloW to
save the Alabama's crew from drowning
Then, after the American official account
of the sction, we have more important
dispatch from Mr.. Adams to Earl Russell,
raising the question, whether the men SO
saved by the Deerhqund were not lawful
prizes Of war TO the Kearssrge, and de-
manded that they be given up as such. In
this dipstch Mr.. Adams goes beyond the
immediate question. He remarks upon the
building and equipment Of the Alabama in
an English pert, and tasks with earnest.
ness Of Msjesty's Government that
it should adopt such measures as
may be effective to prevent
the preparation, equipment and outfit of
any further naval expedition from. British
shores to make war against the United
States" At this point the correspondence
becomes serious. Earl Russell takes time
To consider his rep1Y 3 reply which will be
readlWlth more satisfaction than most OF his
lordship's dispatches. It is clear, temper-
ate, decisive. Of course there is the custo-
mary snap but this time it is exeusable,
though sharp enough. His lcrdship will
not repeat arguments already exhausted
he will content himself with stating the
conclusions at which her msjesty's govern
ment have arrived, Iand which differ from
those your government have come to from
the same faets." II is undoubtedly true,
says his lordship, that the Alabama was
partly fitted out in British port. But Is
soon as the hand Of the law could be laid
upon her, orders were given that she should
be seized. She escaped from British VS.
tsrs IN 3 state of half equipment undar
pretence of making trial trip. Her equip
ment Wss afterwards completed In foreign
port, and there she was delivered TO her
commander, an American citizen. Mr.
Adams letter being disposed of thus far,
Earl Russell declares himself with adrnira-
DIe breyity upon the question more immed-
stely in dispute .:....I j. .....flo. ... 3
~ have to state that it appears. TO her
Msjestys government that the commander
of the British yacht, the Deerhound, in
saving from drowning some Of the officers
and crew Of the Alabama, after the vessel
was sunk, performed pFaissworthy set of
humanity, TO which, moreover, he hsd been
exhortsd by the officer commanding the
X Kearsarge, TO which vessel the Deefhound
hsd in the first instance gone IN order to
offer to the Kesrssrgs any assistance which
after her action with the Alabama, she
might stand in need of and it further sp
pears to her Majesty goyernment that un-
der all the circumstances in the case, Mr..
LsncAst was not under any obligation TO
deliver to the captain Of the Kearssrge the
sficeFs and men whom he had rescued from
the waVea But however that NAV be,
With regard to the demand made by yos,
by Instructions from your government
that those officers and men ahould now Be