Navy Department, Washington, 18th April, 1863.
Your two favors of the 27th ult. and 1st inst. were duly
received. We have been and are extra busy in consequence of results at
Charleston,1 etc., so that I seize a moment this Saturday evening to
acknowledge them.
I do not believe it expedient to purchase machinery as
suggested, nor do I think it advisable to buy either of the Cunarders.
If we can prevent the formidable craft which is being got up
for the “Emperor of China” from getting into rebel hands, or get hold of any
swift privateers which they are constructing or fitting out, the great purpose
of your mission will have been accomplished. I am not over-sanguine of success
in this matter, and shall not experience deep disappointment at your failure, —
assisted as I know the rebels are by British neutrality as well as by British
capital. There may be some fortunate contingency to aid you, but I do not rely
upon it. When you left I had strong hopes that the English government might
interfere to prevent the semi-piratical rovers from going abroad. Beyond any
government or people on earth, it is the interest, and should be the policy, of
Great Britain to maintain the police of the seas. She has so thought, and acted
heretofore. If in encouraging, or acquiescing in the policy of sending abroad
from her shores, these pirate steamers to prey upon the commerce of a friendly
nation, we are to understand there is a change of policy, there is no country
that will suffer more. With her immense commerce, and dependent colonies spread
over the globe, she would be ruined by retaliatory measures. I have no doubt
that it is a primary object with the rebel agents, enemies, and sympathizers,
to create a misunderstanding between us and England, and hence forbearance, to
its utmost limit, is with us a virtue.
On the subject of letters of marque, our views coincide, and
I think will prevail, unless we shall be compelled to resist other Alabamas and
Floridas, by letting loose similar vessels which may depredate on the commerce
of that country, which, under the rebel flag, is devastating ours.
We have an impression that but limited means will be derived
from the loan recently negotiated, yet it may for the moment give them some
credit. The statement of Mr. Laird in Parliament that propositions had been
made to him to build vessels for the United States is destitute of truth.
Certainly nothing of the kind has ever come from me, directly or indirectly,
nor from the Navy Department during my administration of its affairs; and there
is no other branch of the government authorized or possessed of means to make
such a proposition. All appropriations for constructing or purchasing naval
vessels are by Congress confided to the Navy Department. I am therefore
compelled to believe that Mr. L. states what he knew to be false to relieve
himself in difficulty.
Perhaps it may be advisable to expose Mr. Laird, though of
that you can best judge. Ordinarily I take little notice of false partisan
statements, but an exhibition of the low moral standard of the rebel agents may
not be without a beneficial influence on the British mind at this moment.
I am glad you have encouraged Mr. Dudley, our excellent and
vigilant consul at Liverpool, to persevere in legal measures. . . .
. . . What we want is to prevent the rebels from getting out
dangerous vessels; and if it means a necessity to buy and leave them, so be it.
We would have neither you nor the government compromised by any illegal
proceedings.
Our ironclad monitors proved their powers of resistance at
Charleston, and for harbor defense and assault are a success. But we want
chasers, — fast sailers for cruising, and must and will have them. The
suggestion in regard to blockade runners, if successful, would, like almost
every success, have great and general approval, but it would be attended with
many difficulties. With regards to Mr. Aspinwall, and hoping to hear from you
often, [etc., etc.].
_______________
1 Probably referring to the attack on Fort
Sumter, on the 7th of April, when the Union fleet under Admiral Dupont had had
to retire discomfited. — Ed.
SOURCE: Sarah Forbes Hughes, Letters and
Recollections of John Murray Forbes, Volume 2, p. 23-6
