ALABAMA CLAIMS. 19 



look with solicitude ou.tbe uneasy relations of the 

 British Government with the United States, and the 

 inconvenience thereof in case of possible complica- 

 tions in Europe. Thus impelled, the Government 

 dispatched to AYashiugton a gentleman, who enjoyed 

 the confidence of both Cabinets, Sir John Rose, to as- 

 certain whether overtures for re-opening negotiations 

 would be received by the President in spirit and 

 terms acceptable to Great Britain. 



It was the second time, in the present generation, 

 that the foreign 2:)olicy of England had been directed 

 by a sense of the importance to her of maintaining 

 good relations with the United States ; for, by argu- 

 ing from that point, France, at the opening of war 

 wdth Prussia, induced the British Government to de- 

 sist from those excessive belligerent pretensions to 

 the prejudice of neutrals, which in former times had 

 served to embroil her with both France and the Unit- 

 ed States. 



There is another fact, which, in my opinion, power- 

 fully contributed to induce this overture on the part 

 of the British Government, although it was not spok- 

 en of in this connection by Lord Granville. I allude 

 to the President's recommendation 'to Congress to ap- 

 point a coni^iission to audit the claims of American 

 citizens on Great Britain growing out of the acts of 

 Confederate cruisers, in view of havins; them assumed 

 by the Government of the United States. In this in- 

 cident there was matter of grave and serious reflection 

 to Great Britain. 



On arriving at Washington, Sir John Rose found 



