Charles Francis Adams to William H. Seward, September 7, 1861

Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the reception of despatches from the department, numbered from 61 to 67, both inclusive.

Since the date of your No. 61, of the 17th of August, you will have learned ere this that the enigmatical extract from Lord Russell’s note to me, of which you instructed me to ask an explanation, has taken a very distinct and unequivocal shape, superseding all necessity for further inquiry. I may take occasion to remark upon the similarity of some of the reasoning in your despatch with that which you will find already made use of in my letter to his lordship, of the 23d August, declining to conclude the negotiation. On the whole, it seems to me that it is perhaps as well to let it stay for the present in the situation in which her Majesty’s ministers have placed it. But in this I remain to be directed at the pleasure of the President.

In this connexion I have the honor to transmit a copy of Lord Russell’s note of the 28th of August, in reply to mine of the 23d of that month to him, already referred to in the preceding paragraph. I likewise send a copy of his instructions to Lord Lyons, which he seems to have furnished to me as an evidence of his good faith in the representation he made of them to me at the conference.

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