Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Sir: I have received your despatch of the 13th of November, (No. 259,) and also your despatch of November 15, (No. 261.) They relate to the proposition recently made by the Emperor of France to the Emperor of Russia and to the Queen of Great Britain, to join him in recommending an armistice in our unhappy civil war. Your statements upon that subject are very interesting and satisfactory. At the same time I do not propose to discuss the transaction.
You will learn the impression which it has made upon the President from the copy which I send you of my despatch of this date to Mr. Dayton. I send a. copy of the same paper to Mr. Taylor, in Russia; and thus, by the President’s direction, I leave the French proposal to take its place among the incidents already past of the lamentable civil war of which we again think we are beginning to see an approaching end.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
(The enclosure will be found in the correspondence with France.)