rnment did not escape Derby's caustic
criticism. June 12, he referred in Parliament to Houghton's previous
inquiry and Russell's answer, asking why the Government had not stuck to
its earlier position and calling attention to the fact that the United
States, while now proclaiming certain ports open to trade, yet specified
others as still closed and threatened with punishment as pirates, any
vessel attempting to enter them. Derby desired information as to what
the Government had done about this remarkable American proclamation.
Russell, "who was very imperfectly heard," answered that undoubtedly it
was embarrassing that no "regular communication" had been received from
America giving notice of the end of the war, but that the two
Confederate cruisers still at sea and the entrance of one of them to
various Australian ports had compelled some British action. He had
consulted Adams, who had no instructions but felt confident the United
States would soon formally declare the end of the war. The "piracy
proclamation" was certainly a strange proceeding. Derby pushed for an
answer as to whether the Government intended to let it go by unnoticed.
Russell replied that a despatch from Bruce showed that "notice" had been
taken of it. Derby asked whether the papers would be presented to
Parliament; Russell "was understood to reply in the affirmative[1314]."
Derby's inquiry was plainly merely a hectoring of Russell for his quick
shift from the position taken a month earlier. But the very indifference
of Russell to this attack, his carelessness and evasion in reply,
indicate confidence that Parliament was as eager as the Government to
satisfy the North and to avoid friction. The only actual "notice" taken
by Bruce at Washington of the "piracy proclamation" was in fact, to
report it to Russell, commenting that it was "unintelligible" and
probably a mere attempt to frighten foreign ship-owners[1315]. Russell
instructed Bruce not to ask for an explanation since Galveston had been
captured subsequent to the date of the proclamation and there was
presumably no port left where it could be applied[1316].

In truth the actual events of the closing days of the war had outrun
diplomatic action by America. Scattered Southern forces still in the
field surrendered with an unexpected rapidity, while at Washington all
was temporarily in confusion upon the death of Lincoln and the illness
of Seward. Bruce's advice had been wise and the prompt action of