William H. Seward to Charles Francis Adams, April 30, 1866

Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 12th instant, No. 1181. It contains an account of your interview with Lord Clarendon on the subject of the treatment of American citizens, native and naturalized, arrested under a suspension of the habeas corpus in Ireland.

It is with pleasure that we infer from the tone of Lord Clarendon in that conversation that the unreasonable discrimination between the prisoners made by the local authorities in Ireland, of which discrimination I complained in my previous communication, will probably be removed. It is to be regretted, however, that we are left in uncertainty upon that subject. Should the desire of this government still remain an open question when this communication shall have reached you, I have to request that you ask for an understanding sufficiently explicit to enable the government to define a policy.

It remains only to say that I approve of your own proceedings in the matter.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,