No. 55

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Graces 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.