Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward
Sir: I have just returned from Buckingham Palace, where the Queen granted me an audience at three o’clock for the purpose of receiving my letter of recall. I said only a few words, reminding her of the amicable assurances I had been instructed to give on my first arrival, and of their having been fully sustained in fact. I then recognized her own disposition to reciprocate the feeling, and alluded to one of the latest acts of conciliation in the life of the prince consort as being fully appreciated in America. With these evidences of good feeling I could confidently entertain the belief that the promise of the future would be fully as good as the performance of the past.
The Queen said a few words in the same sense, acknowledged that she had been touched by my allusion, and referred to my own performance of my duties here in a complimentary manner. I then took my leave.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.