Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward
Sir: The telegraph now communicates the news of events which occur on this side with so much rapidity that it seems to supersede the necessity of doing more than to allude to them in my dispatches that lag behind.
The issue of the debate on the Irish church indicates that the opposition party has once more become consolidated. The only question left is, then, whether the ministry will yield at once, or try the experiment of a dissolution of Parliament. It is generally understood that the first will not be done. Resistance will be made as long as possible, and if the worst comes to the worst, an appeal will be made to the people on the issue of the church in danger. Inasmuch as all the preparatory measures necessary to carry into effect the law extending the franchise are not yet completed, it may happen that a dissolution will now interpose another House of Commons elected on the old basis, prior to the organization of the new system. So great will be the reluctance of members to incur the risk of a heavy double expense by this process, that I cannot help thinking the prime minister may succeed in holding over the present session after all. It is scarcely likely that his term can extend beyond that; for nothing seems more clearly written in the future than the ultimate overthrow of the established church in Ireland, whichever may be the issue of the immediate struggle.
The consequence may be some further delay in the negotiations between the two countries on the questions now open between them. A change of ministry will probably bring in persons even more friendly to us than the present one, but past experience teaches that the best opportunities for arriving at practical results are generally offered during a state of parties similar to that which now prevails. I fear that the prospect for reaching any immediate settlement is growing less and less promising.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.