torious warlike character. The vessel was, furthermore, libelled at
Nassau, a British colonial port, but the British officials allowed her
to take in supplies and put to sea. The Shenandoah set sail from
Liverpool with the connivance of the Government, received her armament
at the Madeira Islands, and after a destructive career was welcomed at
the British port of Melbourne, repaired in a government slip, and
furnished with supplies and recruits. The award held Great Britain
responsible only for her career after leaving Melbourne.

The American case further claimed damages for national expense in
chasing the cruisers, and for the prospective earnings of the lost
merchantmen, but these claims, along with those explicitly denounced as
indirect, were rejected.

The tribunal awarded $15,500,000 damages in gold for the vessels and
cargoes destroyed by the three cruisers and their tenders. Of this sum,
about $2,000,000 was interest at six per cent. The only dissenting voice
was that of the British member, who submitted a long and able, but
somewhat spiteful, minority report.

The award naturally gave great satisfaction in the United States. The
money compensation was in itself a source of considerable gratulation;
but the fact that stiff-backed England had by a clearly impartial
tribunal of the highest character been declared in the wrong was not the
least pleasurable side of the result. American citizens should never
forget the services, in this delicate and difficult matter, of Mr.
Adams. By his great knowledge of law, his careful gathering of evidence,
and his brave, sturdy and incessant, though apparently useless,
remonstrances with the British authorities while the cruisers were
building and their depredations going on, he established a case which
could not be gainsaid. Hardly had he opened his portfolio at Geneva when
the learned arbitrators saw that his suit must be allowed.

England promptly handed over to the United States the price of her
sympathy with rebellion and slavery. The course of Congress in dealing
with the award was not very creditable. For four years the money lay in
the treasury vaults, piling up interest at five per cent. until it
amounted to $20,000,000. A Court of Alabama Claims was then convened,
where private claimants might press their suits. Insurance companies
which could show that their losses on vessels destroyed by the cruisers
exceeded the premiums received, were entitled to be paid the di