Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Sir: Your despatch of the 24th of October (No. 249) has been received. I have lost no time in communicating the information it contains to the Secretary of the Navy, and he will doubtlessly direct an inquiry to be made upon the subject. In the meantime I am authorized to say that the President, while he thinks that possibly some of our naval officers might, in some cases, have practiced greater energy in enforcing the blockade, has had no reason to question either the integrity or the loyalty of any one intrusted with that honorable command. When we consider the number of contraband vessels recently captured or destroyed, it seems probable that the communications which we shall next receive from Europe will be of a character very different from the one now before me. Instead of suggestions for explaining too great laxity, I expect that we shall soon again hear complaints of too great rigor.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.