“I fully concur in every word you say in regard to the conduct of the British government towards us: and hope, with you, that they will see it is for our mutual interest, as well as for that of all mankind, that friendly feelings should always exist between ‘the two great branches of the Anglo-Saxon family.’ Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Milne left for Washington this morning....
“I have been very glad to do everything in my power to make his visit to this city agreeable as possible, and I hope he will take away with him from our shores very pleasing impressions of them, and of the country and people.”
The coming of the English fleet to New York had been the subject of discussion both in England and America; this command had been given to the admiral:
“The naval commander-in-chief on the North American and West India Station is especially directed by the eighth article of his instructions as follows:
“You are strictly to abstain from entering any port of the United States unless absolutely compelled to do so by the necessities of the service.”
The order was not modified until the fall of 1863, when Admiral Milne sailed from Halifax in H.M.S. Nile, with the Immortalité, Medea, and Nimble in company, and arrived off Sandy Hook early in October. To use his own words:
“On being visited by Mr. Archibald, Her Majesty’s counsel, he informed me of the strong and unfriendly feeling which then existed against England in consequence of the building of the two ships of war in Liverpool for the Southern States, and from various other matters connected with the existing civil war, and that my reception would probably be unsatisfactory. This, however, was not the case; my visit was evidently acceptable, and proved most satisfactory, and I received every attention from the authorities, as well as private individuals, not only at New York, but also at Washington, as will be seen by the following correspondence:
“ ‘Washington, November 30, 1863.
“ ‘Sir,—Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Milne having reported to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty the great kindness and courtesy with which he was received at Washington by the President of the United States and the members of the Cabinet, I have been instructed to convey to the government of the United States the expression of the gratification which their lordships have felt at the courtesy and attention so handsomely shown to the vice-admiral.