Charles Francis Adams to Right Honorable the Earl of Clarendon, November 21, 1865

Mr. Adams to Lord Clarendon

My Lord: I have the honor to acknowledge the reception of two notes from your lordship—one of the 17th instant, the other of the 18th instant—both of them relating to the case of the vessel heretofore known as the Shenandoah.

The arguments presented in those notes appear to me, substantially, so much the same as have been urged in the correspondence I have heretofore had the honor to conduct with your predecessor, that I deem it unnecessary, on my own responsibility, further to enlarge upon the opposite views already submitted.

Regretting that the result has been to bring us no nearer to any agreement in our respective convictions, I shall content myself with transmitting copies of your lordship’s notes for the consideration of my government, and awaiting specific instructions.

I pray your lordship to accept, &c.