London, 25 April, 1863.
. . . We have now to acknowledge receipt of your letter
of 30 March, handed to us by the Hon. Robert J. Walker, and to say that
this gentleman has also repeated to us the verbal explanations which you made
to him before his departure. We have carefully considered both, and we find
that the main object of his visit to Europe is to acquaint European capitalists
with the actual circumstances and resources of our country.1 We
think it will render great service in helping to stem the current of ignorance
and misapprehension so generally prevalent in Europe, and in compliance with
your suggestions we shall confer freely with him on all occasions, when we
think he can, by his advice or his knowledge of facts, or by his political
position, aid us in carrying out the objects of our mission; but we do not
consider ourselves called on, either by your letters or by our own judgment of
what is expedient, to show him our instructions, although he has exhibited to
us his own; nor do we feel justified, under our understanding with Messrs.
Baring Bros. & Co., to mention to him, or any one else here, the
particulars of our temporary loan.
. . . We have not been negligent on the last suggestion of
your letter, and are prepared to resort to it whenever other means fail; but
the institution of criminal prosecution against Laird and other builders by us,
or any American or official party, would be liable to raise up such an
excitement as would frustrate the object in view. The English government must
be moved to take these proceedings, or, failing to do this effectually, we can
count on a local English association for action; and either of these must
command a support we could not rely on, and both must be exhausted before we
take the last chance. . . .
_______________
1 Mr. Walker had been Secretary of the Treasury
under President Polk, 1845 to 1849. — Ed.
SOURCE: Sarah Forbes Hughes, Letters and
Recollections of John Murray Forbes, Volume 2, p. 43-4
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