The letters were examined and among them was one which related Bunch's recent activities and stated that "Mr.B., on oath of secrecy, communicated to me also that the first step of recognition was taken[355]." The sealed bag was sent unopened to be handed by Adams to Russell with an enquiry whether in fact it contained any papers on the alleged "negotiation" with the South.
Bunch had issued to Mure a paper which the latter regarded as a passport, as did the United States.

This also was made matter of complaint by Adams, when on September 3 the affair was presented to Russell.

America complained of Bunch on several counts, the three principal ones being (1) that he had apparently conducted a negotiation with the Confederacy, (2) that he had issued a passport, not countersigned by the Secretary of State as required by the United States rules respecting foreign consuls, (3) that he had permitted the person to whom this passport was issued to carry letters from the enemies of the United States to their agents abroad.

On these grounds the British Government was requested to remove Bunch from his office.

On first learning of Mure's arrest Lyons expressed the firm belief that Bunch's conduct had been perfectly proper and that the sealed bag would be found to contain nothing supporting the suspicion of the American Government[356].