Charles Francis Adams to I pray your lordship, December 28, 1865

Mr. Adams to the Earl of Clarendon.

My Lord: In a conversation which I had the honor to hold with your predecessor the right honorable Earl Russell, on the 25th of February, 1864, I acquitted myself of what was to me a most agreeable duty, of signifying to her Majesty’s government the high sense entertained by that which I have the honor to represent, of the friendly proceedings of her Majesty’s envoy in China, Sir Frederick Bruce, in regard to the disposition to be made of the vessels then known as the Osborne flotilla.

I now have the honor to submit to your lordship’s consideration copies of certain papers which have been transmitted to me for the purpose of explaining the view held by my government of the further measures which Sir Frederick has been pleased to adopt to facilitate the complete execution of the plan proposed in that case.

I am instructed to express to your lordship the entire satisfaction of the United States with the course pursued by Sir Frederick in reference to this matter, as also in his relations with the government at Washington, and to inform you that it would be agreeable to it if the views to be presented should find favor with her Majesty’s government.