Mr. Seward to Mr. Burlingame
Sir: Your despatch of the 20th of June (No. 42) has been submitted to the President. The policy which you have adopted in the conduct of your difficult and responsible mission is able and wise; it is also just towards the Chinese government and people, and liberal towards all other nations. It is an occasion of special felicitation that it meets the concurrence of the enlightened representatives of Great Britain, Russia, and France. One may very reasonably fear that the beneficial policy thus agreed upon would fall into disuse, if those ministers, or any of them, should at any time give place to less intelligent and able statesmen. But this consideration does not deter the President from giving it his entire approval; and he sincerely hopes that a successful trial of it, during the residence of those ministers in China, will render its continuance afterwards a cardinal fact in the policy of all the maritime powers.
You will express to Lord Bruce the great pleasure and satisfaction which [Page 961] I have received from a perusal of the copy of his very able despatch on the subject to Earl Russell.
Your injunctions, in regard to its confidential character, will be strictly observed.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Anson Burlingame, Esq., &c., &c., &c.