Office of the Historian

Mr. Seward to Sir F. Bruce

Department of State, Washington, October 31, 1865.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of yesterday’s date, enclosing a copy of a letter addressed by her Majesty’s principal secretary of state for foreign affairs to the admiralty and other departments of her Majesty’s government, directing that all measures of a restrictive nature on vessels-of-war of the United States in British ports, harbors, and waters, are now to be considered at an end, and apprising them that it is the desire and intention of her Majesty’s government that the most unrestricted hospitality and friendship should be shown to vessels-of-war of the United States in all her Majesty’s ports, whether at home or abroad. In reply, I have the honor to state that, having received through Mr. Adams a copy of the order referred to, I have instructed him to express to Earl Russell the satisfaction with which this government regards the action of her Britannic Majesty’s government.

I have the honor to be, with high consideration, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Hon. Sir Frederick W. A. Bruce, &c., &c., &c.