Lord Russell.  Canada has been denuded of troops for some time back.  The new movement is regarded, in restoring a part of them, as a proper measure of precaution in the present disordered condition of things in the United States.  But Mr. Ashmun is in Canada, remonstrating as to alleged breaches of neutrality.

(Lord Lyons.  I viewed the subject as cause of complaint.

Mr. Seward.  And I instantly recalled Mr. Ashmun.)

Mr. Adams.  He was in Canada to watch and prevent just such a transaction as the fitting out of a pirate or privateer—­the Peerless case.

Lord Russell.  Mr. Seward threatened to have the Peerless seized on Lake Ontario.

Mr. Adams.  I respectfully doubt your Lordship’s information.  It was surely an odd way of proceeding to furnish at once the warning in time to provide against its execution!

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Mr. Adams.  I deeply regret a painful necessity which compels me to make a representation touching the conduct of Consul Bunch at Charleston.  A private and opened letter, intercepted on the person of a naturalized American citizen and colonel in the confederate army,—­Robert Mure, bearer of dispatches to Great Britain,—­disclosed these words:  ’Mr. Bunch, on oath of secrecy, communicated to me that the first step to recognition was taken. So prepare for active business BY THE FIRST OF JANUARY.’

Lord Russell.  I will without hesitation state to you that, in pursuance of an agreement between the British and French governments, Mr. Bunch was instructed to communicate to the persons exercising authority in the so-called confederate States, the desire of those governments that certain articles of the declaration of Paris should be observed by them in their hostilities(!) But regarding the other statement, I as frankly say, Her Majesty’s government have not recognized, and are not prepared to recognize, the so-called confederate States as a separate and independent power.

Mr. Seward (aside to Mr. Adams).  The President revokes the exequatur of Consul Bunch, who has not only been the bearer of communications between the insurgents and a foreign government in violation of our laws, but has abused equally the confidence of the two governments by reporting, without the authority of his government, and in violation of their own policy, as well as of our national rights, that the proceeding in which he was engaged was in the nature of a treaty with the insurgents, and the first step toward a recognition by Great Britain of their sovereignty.  His whole conduct has been, not that of a friend to this government, nor of a neutral even, but of a partisan of faction and disunion.

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Lord Lyons.  My government are concerned to find that two British subjects, Mr. Patrick and Mr. Rahming, have been subjected to arbitrary arrest.