Mr. Seward to Sir F. Bruce
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of yesterday, relative to the notice given by Mr. Adams to Earl Russell in November, 1864, and also having reference to a subsequent note of the 8th of March, which Mr. Adams addressed to his lordship, touching the increase of naval armaments on the lakes. In reply, I have the honor to inform you that the instruction to the United States minister at London, upon which his note of the 8th of March referred to was based, was intended as a withdrawal of the previous notice within the time allowed, and that it is so held by this government.
I have the honor to be, with high consideration, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. Sir Frederick W. A. Bruce, &c., &c., &c.