The Right Honorable Loud Stanley to Charles Francis Adams, May 11, 1868

Lord Stanley to Mr. Adams

Sir: I have had the honor to receive your note of the 9th instant, in which you inclose copy of a letter from the President of the United States to the Queen, granting you permission to retire from the post of envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States at her Majesty’s court, and you request an audience of her Majesty for the purpose of delivering the original.

I shall not fail to take the Queen’s pleasure with regard to granting you the audience which you solicit, and will hereafter have the honor of writing to you on that subject.

But in the mean time I cannot delay expressing to you my unfeigned regret at the approaching termination of your mission, and my high sense of the manner in which, in a time of peculiar difficulty and importance, you have fulfilled the arduous duties of your mission, proving the sincere desire of the President to maintain and improve the friendly relations which subsist between the two countries, a desire cordially reciprocated by her Majesty’s government.

I shall be happy to communicate with Mr. Moran, after your departure, upon any matters relating to the affairs of the two countries.

I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,