London, April 18,1863.
SIR, — . . . By availing of the consuls' service we avoid
drawing upon ourselves the observation which would perhaps defeat our object,
and we also avail of the arrangements and experiments which both these
gentlemen have made. Mr. Dudley, having a vice-consul, will be able to leave
his post, in case of need, upon this business; and we have assured him that you
will not only make any explanations regarding such absence which may hereafter
be required by the Secretary of State, but will also fully appreciate his zeal.
. . .
To offer to buy the ironclads without success, would only be
to stimulate the builders to greater activity, and even to building new ones in
the expectation of finding a market for them from one party or the other. . . .
We call your attention to the inclosed article by Professor Goldwin Smith. . .
. We understand that Professor Smith is a high authority, and we presume he is
writing entirely of “his own motion,” and in the interests of his own country.
Could we find a sound legal writer to lay open to the people of England the
consequences to their own commerce hereafter, and also, though a more delicate
point, the danger to it now, through a war with us, and to do it entirely from
an English point of view, we think the value of the ironclads, the Southerner,
and other dangerous vessels, would decline rapidly. We shall carefully consider
this and other points before acting. . . .
Respectfully yours,
W. H. Aspinwall,
J. M. Forbes.
SOURCE: Sarah Forbes Hughes, Letters and
Recollections of John Murray Forbes, Volume 2, p. 40-1
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