Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part I

Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.

No. 839.]

Department of State, Washington, February 8, 1864.

Sir: I transmit, for your information, a copy of a despatch (No. 56) which has been received from Mr. Burlingame, our minister resident in China.

The proceedings of Sir Frederick Bruce, her Britannic Majesty’s minister in China, in regard to the vessels sent out to that country from Great Britain, as described in this paper, seem so considerate, just, and wise, that it is thought proper that you should inform her Majesty’s government of the satisfaction with which they are regarded by the President, unless, indeed, circumstances existing in Great Britain, and unknown here, should, in your judgment, render such a communication inexpedient at this time.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &.

[For enclosure see Mr. Burlingame’s despatch in this series.]