Four days later, while governmental action was still unknown to the public another editorial advocated seizure of the Rams[1027].

Russell had acted under the fear that one of the Rams might slip away as had the _Alabama_; he had sent orders to stop and investigate, but he delayed final seizure in the hope that better evidence might yet be secured, conducting a rapid exchange of letters with Lairds (the builders), seeking to get admissions from them.

It was only on September 9 that Lairds was officially ordered not to send the vessels on a "trial trip," and it was not until September 16 that public announcement was made of the Government's action[1028].
Russell has been regarded as careless and thoughtless in that it was not until September 8 he relieved Adams' mind by assuring him the Rams would be seized, even though three days before, on September 5, this information had been sent to Washington.

The explanation is Russell's eager search for evidence to _convict_, and his correspondence with Lairds which did not come to a head until the eighth, when the builders refused to give information.

To the builders Russell was writing as if a governmental decision had not yet been reached.