Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Sir: Your despatch of the 25th of February, No. 604, has been received. I infer from the division in the House of Commons, which it describes, that the negative policy of her Majesty’s ministers in regard to foreign complications, although obnoxious to the criticism of their opponents and not entirely satisfactory to the ministers themselves, has a strong foundation in the instincts of the British people.
The London rumors of designs of French interference on our domestic affairs which you mention, have of course reached the United States. There seem to [Page 317] be persons who believe anything—others who hope everything—and still others who fear everything from the Emperor of France. The number of either class here is not less than it is in Europe. We have heard no intimations from France of any such purpose as is here attributed to his Majesty, nor do we give credit to any. France, as well as Great Britain, seems unprepared to fully admit the decline of the insurrection. But I think we cannot be mistaken in the opinion that either of the nations would now propose to recede rather than to go farther in the line of favor to that unprincipled and calamitous attempt at revolution.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
C. F. Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.