Mr. Seward to Sir F. Bruce
My Dear Sir: In view of my recent preoccupations, you were kind enough to defer until now the presenting to me of Lord Stanley’s letter of the 24th of May, on the subject of the Alabama claims. You are authorized to inform him that immediately after my return to Washington, I will take the President’s directions, and I feel sure that I shall be able to reply to his lordship’s suggestions in the friendly spirit in which they are conceived.
I am, my dear sir, with high consideration, your obedient servant,
Hon. Frederick Wright Bruce, &c., &c., &c.