Letter

William H. Seward to Richard Lyons, 1st Viscount Lyons, March 20, 1865

Author

William H. Seward

Recipient

Richard Lyons, 1st Viscount Lyons

Date

March 20, 1865

Type

Letter

Language

English

Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons

Department of State, Washington, March 20, 1865.

My Dear Lord Lyons: I accept your farewell with sincere sorrow, but I reconcile myself to it because it is a condition of restoration of your health. All of my family command me to tender you assurances of sympathy,

I have never desponded of my country, of emancipation of her slaves, and of her resumption of her position as an agent of peace, progress, and civilization, interests which I never fail to believe are common with all branches of the British family. So I have had no doubt that, when this dreadful war shall be ended, the United States and Great Britain would be reconciled and become better friends than ever. I have thought that you are entitled to share in these great successes, as you have borne so great a part of the trials of the war.

But God disposes. I feel now that if I never find leisure to go abroad again, that you with renewed health will come here to see the reign of peace and order; so I shall not dwell upon our parting as a final one.

Faithfully your friend,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

The Eight Hon. Lord Lyons.

Topics

19th Century Diplomacy Reconstruction

Sources

FRUS u2014 Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-ninth C View original source ↗

U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian. Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-ninth C.