No. 48

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Grace's
Despatch marked "Confidential", of the 11th of May last, on
the subject of the impending hostilities, which have since
commenced, between the United and Confederate States of North
America, and informing me that it was the intention of Her
Majesty's Government to apprise me, from time to time of their
views on the questions which are likely to arise out of this
state of conflict, and in respect to which I may be called upon to act.

I observe by the same Despatch that Her Majesty's Government
are disposed to admit the claim of the Southern States to be
recognized as a Belligerent, and as such, invested with all
the rights and prerogatives of a Belligerent.

I presume by those terms is meant that we are bound to
respect their Blockades, and to abstain from any act which may
violate the conditions of the strictest neutrality.

I also observe that it is the intention of Her Majesty's
Government to dispatch adequate reinforcements to the Squadrons
on the North American and West Indian Stations for the protection
of British Shipping; and that it is Her Majesty's pleasure that
nothing should be done by the Naval Forces, indicative of
partiality or preference of either party in the conflict.

I will, according to Your Grace's instructions, consider
those directions as indicating the course which Her Majesty's
Government desire me, in any emergency, to pursue.