John M. Forbes to Salmon P. Chase, April 1, 1863

London, April 1, 1863.

My Dear Sir, — . . . Our consul tells me that among the developments reached in searching evidence against privateers, this one is clear, that the robbers’ object in pushing that expedient is chiefly to get us into difficulty with England! To this end their efforts are directed here far more than to the mere injury of our commerce. We must not play their game for them by issuing letters of marque. . . .

SOURCE: Sarah Forbes Hughes, Letters and Recollections of John Murray Forbes, Volume 2, p. 21