Benjamin Moran to William H. Seward, May 19, 1868

Mr. Moran to Mr. Seward

Sir: On the 9th instant Mr. Adams addressed a note to Lord Stanley, her Majesty’s principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, announcing his desire to deliver to the Queen at an early day the letter of recall forwarded to him at his own request by the President, and on the 11th instant he received his lordship’s reply. I now have the honor to inclose copies of these notes. The Queen granted the audience on the 13th at 3 p. m., and Mr. Adams accordingly took his leave of her Majesty at that time, as reported in his dispatch No. 1590 of that date.

I should be remiss in my duty both to him and myself if I were to permit this occasion to pass without giving expression to my sense of the courtesy I have experienced at the hands of Mr. Adams during the seven years it has been my fortune to serve under him, and of the sincere regret I feel at his retirement from a post he filled so ably and with so much credit to his government and himself. * * * *

I have the honor to be, sir, your very obedient servant,