Hammond to Under-Secretary of State
July 22 1864
Sir,
I am directed by Earl Russell to state to you that His Lordships referred to the Law Officers of the Crown your letter of the 18th Ultimo and its inclosure as well as a Despatch which had been received from Her Majesty's Consul at San Francisco, respecting the seven men who were arrested on suspicion of being implicated in a plot to seize one of theVesselsManuscript image Vessels of the Panama Line of Steamers, and I am now to transmit to you, to be laid before Mr Secretary Cardwell, a copy of the report which has been received from the Law Officers upon this case.
I am
Sir
Your most obedient
humble Servant
E. Hammond
Minutes by CO staff
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Sir F. Rogers
Do you think it will be necessary to say more to Govr Kennedy than that H.M. Govt have considered the statement transmitted in his despatch of the 23rd April & that they are, on the whole, of opinion that it would not be expedient for them to interfere officially in the matter.
ABd 25 July
I think I shd say something here in order to give theManuscript image Govr a key to the views of HMG.
State that his dph & another from the consul at S. Francisco have been under the cons. of HMG but that HMG have not on the whole thought it expedient to interfere.
Then state the reasons given by the L.O. omitting the three last lines, and transposing the two last sentences as marked in pencil.
FR 26/7
To Govr that H.M. Govt having considered the circs do not think it desirable to interfere.
EC 27
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Copy, Roundell Palmer, R.P. Collier and Robert Phillimore to Earl Russell, 15 July 1864, reporting that after considering all the papers at their disposal, it was felt that the government should not interfere in the case, with explanation.
Other documents included in the file
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Draft, Cardwell to Kennedy, No. 25, 29 July 1864.