But diplomatic and public quiescence was disturbed when the United States war vessel _Kearsarge_, while in port at Queenstown, November, 1863, took on board fifteen Irishmen and sailed away with them.

Russell at once received indirectly from Mason (who was now in France), charges that these men had been enlisted and in the presence of the American consul at Queenstown; he was prompt in investigation but before this was well under way the _Kearsarge_ sailed into Queenstown again and landed the men.

She had gone to a French port and no doubt Adams was quick to give orders for her return.

Adams was soon able to disprove the accusation against the consul but it still remained a question whether the commander of the vessel was guilty of a bold defiance of British neutrality.

On March 31, 1864, the Irishmen, on trial at Cork, pleaded guilty to violation of the Foreign Enlistment Act, but the question of the commander's responsibility was permitted to drop on Adams' promise, April 11, of further investigation[1166].
The _Kearsarge_ case occurred as Parliament was drawing to a close in 1863, and at a time when Southern efforts were at low ebb.