19th instant, I am directed by Earl Russell to inform you that Her Majesty's government have considered, in communication with the law advisers of the Crown, the application, contained in your letter of the 10th ultimo, to be furnished with copies of the official correspondence respecting the case of the Georgia, for the purpose of proving that, at the time when a British register was granted to you, Her Majesty's government had a full knowledge of the antecedents of the Georgia, and also your request that Lord Lyons may be instructed to render your agents in the United States all the assistance in his power.

I am now to inform you that, although Her Majesty's government are of opinion that applications for copies of official correspondence ought very rarely to be acceded to, they think, nevertheleless, that, having regard to the peculiar circumstances of this case and to the consideration that evidence of the kind required may affect the legal bearings of the very important questions of international law which the prize-courts of the United States will have to decide in the case of the Georgia, you may be allowed to have official copies of the following documents, viz: (1) A report from the custom-house, dated 4th June, 1864, announcing the sale of the Georgia to you; (2) a letter, dated spondence forwarded 12th August, 1864, from Mr. Stewart, assistant collector at the Liverpool custom-house, to the commissioners of customs; and (3) a letter, dated 12th August, 1864, from Mr. Morgan, surveyor, Liverpool, to the collector of customs at Liverpool, on the subject of the dismantling of the warlike stores and provisions of the Georgia. I am accordingly directed by Lord Russell to transmit to you copies of the documents in question.

Copies of corre

to Mr. Bates.

With reference to the passage in your letter in which you state, “I take for granted that Her Majesty's government will instruct Lord Lyons to represent them in the proceedings which may be taken in the United States, and I have, therefore, to request that your lordship will be good enough to instruct Lord Lyons to render my agents in the United States all the assistance in his power," Lord Russell thinks it right that you should be apprised that you will obtain from Answer returned to Her Majesty's representative at Washington, if any circum- him as to assistance stance should render it necessary, the same assistance as any British registration other British subject would be entitled to in the prosecution of his claim in an American court of justice, but that you must rely entirely, like any other private suitor, for the successful conduct of your case, upon your own energy and upon the legal advice and assistance which you may think proper to employ upon your own behalf.

from Lord Lyons, and

of vessels

Lord Russell also thinks it right to inform you, in order to prevent any future misconception, that Her Majesty's government do not in any case warrant, as against any claims which may be advanced by foreigners or foreign governments, whether arising or not out of the exercise of belligerent rights during a state of war, the validity of any title acquired by means of the registration as a British ship of a vessel purchased by a British subject from a foreigner, and that the registration of such a title is a ministerial act, which it is the duty of the proper custom-house officers to perform under the mercantile marine acts, upon the mere production of proper documents, without any interference or responsibility on the part of Her Majesty's government.

I am, &c.,
(Signed)

E. HAMMOND.

[471]

SHENANDOAH.

1 Consul Grattan to foreign of- Oct. 30, 1864 Arrival of Captain Corbett at Tenefice.

Earl Russell to Mr. Adams.... Oct. 25, 1865 Representatious in No. 32 will be duly considered.