London, April 1,1863.
. . . The rebel loan, although much of a bubble, got up by
the foxes, already in the trap, who have lost their tails, and want others to
follow their bright examples, is still to a certain extent a successful
swindle, and it gives the enemy new life. Still I have reason to hope that it
only pays off old scores, having been negotiated at 60, by takers, chiefly
creditors, it is supposed, who are now swindling the green ones in their foul
bargain. This gives the enemy £1,800,000 to square the score and begin a new
one; but it does not prove conclusively that they can pay for their ironclads,
especially the one at Glasgow, which we are taking measures to investigate. . .
.
It occurs to me as within the spirit of our orders, though
not the letter, in case we get a dangerous blockade runner, to put on board
cargo useful to us, cover her up carefully, and send her under a sharp captain
to Nassau, where she might get valuable information, and then run into the arms
of our squadron, if still outside of Charleston; and perhaps bring along with
her some of her Confederate friends to help her run the blockade. I throw this out
for your consideration. It may be too dangerous a game to play, but might, if
well played, double her value by giving us some of her infernal Confederates!
The worst of it is, I fear, that it requires many to be in the secret. I write
Secretary Chase upon financial matters.
SOURCE: Sarah Forbes Hughes, Letters and
Recollections of John Murray Forbes, Volume 2, p. 21-2
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