Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Washington, September 14, 1861.
Sir: Your despatch of August 30 (No. 34) has just been received. Your note to Lord John Russell, which accompanies it, is approved. My despatch to you, (No. 83,) under the date of the 7th instant, will have reached you before this communication can arrive. You will have learned from that paper that your course, as now made known to me, was anticipated by the President, [Page 158] and that he had already directed that the negotiation for our adhesion to the declaration of the congress of Paris should be suspended.
It is due to the British government to say that the letter of Lord John Russell to Mr. Edwards, upon Dominican affairs, to which you refer, and a copy of which you enclose, was read to me by Lord Lyons, pursuant to instructions from Lord Russell.
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.