Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Sir: A pressure of business has prevented an earlier acknowledgment of your very interesting despatch of December 4, No. 549.
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Contrary to European speculation, I am slow to believe that there will be a war in Europe in the spring. A formidable increase of the resistance to British authority in India might tend to produce an European war, but I do not think it likely to happen otherwise.
American people, justly earnest, and truly loyal, seem almost to demand in these times occasional utterances from their executive agents, at home and abroad, by way of evidence that they are not lacking either in loyalty or in earnestness. They do not always consider that self-respect, as well as deference to official proprieties, concur in requiring reserve and moderation on the part of executive agents, especially on the part of agents in foreign countries. Yet I am sure they would not be slow to criticise Lord Lyons or Baron Von Gerolt, if he should open to the ears of the American people the debate which is going on with so much earnestness between the political parties of his own country. The error, however, is an error on the side of patriotism and virtue. Your speech on Thanksgiving day was a tribute, not unseasonably paid, to the exactions I have described. I cannot express my satisfaction with it more strongly than I do when I say that, since you must speak, you could not have spoken more prudently, wisely, or loyally.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles F. Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.