Charles Francis Adams to Right Honorable the Earl of Clarendon, June 7, 1866

Mr. Adams to the Earl of Clarendon.

My Lord: I have had the honor to receive your note of the 6th instant, together with the papers to which it refers, touching certain points raised in the course of the cruise of the vessel known as the Shenandoah.

I have read the evidence thus presented with great care, but I regret to say without materially changing my conviction of the substantial correctness of the propositions which it became my painful duty to advance. The attempt made to break down the character of the principal witness, Temple, appears to me more successful than the invalidation of the chief facts stated by him, corroborated as they are by much incidental testimony, which has since that time come to my knowledge. But as it seems to me likely to serve no useful purpose to either of the two governments or nations, to prosecute investigations into these painful details of a most unfortunate period to their harmonious relations, I shall pray your lordship’s permission to transmit, without further comment, copies of these papers to my government, which will, I doubt not, give to them the respectful consideration due to the source from which they immediately come.

I pray your lordship to accept; &c., &c.,