Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I was very glad to receive a visit on Sunday evening last from Mr. Evarts, who had just arrived in London from America, in the steamer Australasian. He came just in time for the decision of the court of exchequer in the case of the Alexandra, which was delivered on Monday. The opinions of the four judges were read seriatim. A copy of the report in the Times has been already transmitted to you from this legation. The result is as I have already hinted to you it was likely to be. There had been some expectation of an agreement. The facility with which the arrangement was made for an appeal leads me to infer that this was, on the whole, not unacceptable to the government. The practical effect of it is to suspend the matter for some time longer a result not altogether disadvantageous. It is impossible to deny that public opinion is essentially changing in regard to the obligation of this country to prevent the gross violations of neutrality that have been heretofore tolerated. The sympathy with the rebels is waning in proportion as the character of their reckless and desperate proceedings becomes well understood. The speeches of members of Parliament during the present season show something of this. Those made by Mr. Massey and Mr. Buxton are more particularly deserving of attention on this account. Mr. Foster’s is in a different style, but equally shows his sense of the altered aspect of the question. The understanding is general that no action can possibly be expected in Parliament. The labor expended in circulating petitions is now confined to the promotion of the cessation of hostilities, and the appeal is particularly addressed to the clergy. The threatening aspect of continental politics renders any more decided policy hopeless.
I perceive in the newspapers a notice that the case of the Pampero, at Glasgow, is to be soon brought into court.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. Wm. H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.