Mr. Mason to Earl Russell.—(Received September 21.)
My Lord: In a despatch from the secretary of state of the Confederate States of America, dated the 4th of August last, and now just received, I am instructed to consider the commission which brought me to England as at an end, and I am directed to withdraw at once from the country.
The reasons for terminating this mission are set forth in an extract from the despatch which I have the honor to communicate herewith. The president believes that “the government of her Majesty has determined to decline the overtures made through you for establishing, by treaty, friendly relations between the two governments, and entertains no intention of receiving you as the accredited minister of this government near the British court.
“Under these circumstances, your continued residence in London is neither conducive to the interests nor consistent with the dignity of this government, and the president therefore requests that you consider your mission at an end, and that you withdraw with your secretary from London.”
Having made known to your lordship on my arrival here the character and purposes of the mission intrusted to me by my government, I have deemed it due to courtesy thus to make known to the government of her Majesty its determination, and that I shall, as directed, at once withdraw from England.
I have, &c.,