Captain Bullock had indeed made such a contract of sale to French merchants but with the proviso of resale to him, after delivery.

On his part, Russell was seeking _proof_ fully adequate to seizure, but this was difficult to obtain and such as was submitted was regarded by the law officers as inadequate.

They reported that there was "no evidence capable of being presented to a court of justice." He informed Adams of this legal opinion at the moment when the latter, knowing the Rams to be nearing completion, and fearing that Russell was weakening in his earlier determination, began that series of diplomatic protests which very nearly approached a threat of war.
At Washington also anxiety was again aroused by the court's decision in the _Alexandra_ case, and shortly after the great Northern victories at Vicksburg and Gettysburg, Seward wrote a despatch to Adams, July 11, which has been interpreted as a definite threat of war.

In substance Seward wrote that he still felt confident the Government of Great Britain would find a way to nullify the _Alexandra_ decision, but renewed, in case this did not prove true, his assertion of Northern intention to issue letters of marque, adding a phrase about the right to "pursue" Southern vessels even into neutral ports[1019].

But there are two considerations in respect to this despatch that largely negative the belligerent intent attributed to it: Seward did not read or communicate it to Lyons, as was his wont when anything serious was in mind; and he did not instruct Adams to communicate it to Russell.