following again peremptorily claimed as a right by Lord Aberdeen, would have been abrogated, as equally incompatible with the laws of nations and with the independence of the United States.  I confined myself, therefore, to a simple communication of your letter.”  It may be true that the British pretension leads necessarily to consequences as broad and general as your statement.  But it is no more than fair to state that pretension in the words of the British government itself, and then it becomes matter of consideration and argument how broad and extensive it really is.  The last statement of this pretension, or claim, by the British government, is contained in Lord Aberdeen’s note to Mr. Stevenson of the 13th of October, 1841.  It is in these words:—­

“The undersigned readily admits, that to visit and search American vessels in time of peace, when that right of search is not granted by treaty, would be an infraction of public law, and a violation of national dignity and independence.  But no such right is asserted.  We sincerely desire to respect the vessels of the United States, but we may reasonably expect to know what it really is that we respect.  Doubtless the flag is prima facie evidence of the nationality of the vessel; and, if this evidence were in its nature conclusive and irrefragable, it ought to preclude all further inquiry.  But it is sufficiently notorious that the flags of all nations are liable to be assumed by those who have no right or title to bear them.  Mr. Stevenson himself fully admits the extent to which the American flag has been employed for the purpose of covering this infamous traffic.  The undersigned joins with Mr. Stevenson in deeply lamenting the evil; and he agrees with him in thinking that the United States ought not to be considered responsible for this abuse of their flag.  But if all inquiry be resisted, even when carried no further than to ascertain the nationality of the vessel, and impunity be claimed for the most lawless and desperate of mankind, in the commission of this fraud, the undersigned greatly fears that it may be regarded as something like an assumption of that responsibility which has been deprecated by Mr. Stevenson....

“The undersigned renounces all pretension on the part of the British government to visit and search American vessels in time of peace.  Nor is it as American that such vessels are ever visited; but, it has been the invariable practice of the British navy, and, as the undersigned believes, of all navies in the world, to ascertain by visit the real nationality of merchant-vessels met with on the high seas, if there be good reason to apprehend their illegal character....

“The undersigned admits, that, if the British cruiser should possess a knowledge of the American character of any vessel, his visitation of such vessel would be entirely unjustifiable.  He further admits, that so much respect and honor