File No. 763.72111Ap4/173
The British Ambassador (Spring Rice) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 5 (?)]
Dear Mr. Secretary: May I again call your attention to the fact that the British steamship Appam, brought into Hampton Roads in violation of the neutrality of the United States, as your Department and the District Court of the United States have both held, still remains in that port.
My Government again requests me to call your attention to her prolonged detention and to request that she be released to her British owners as originally requested by my Government.
My Government also requests me to state that it considers itself entitled, under the law of nations, to all damages necessarily incurred by the withholding of the vessel from her rightful owners.
I beg to add that my Government requests that in the event of the Appam not being handed over to the original owners, the United States Government as being responsible for her safe keeping, should take charge of her pending a final settlement.
I am [etc.]