Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the reception of despatches from the department numbered from 1066 to 1071, inclusive.
The most important of these is No. 1069, of the 15th of August, relating to the interference of Mr. Lancaster in the contest between the Kearsarge and the Alabama. I must admit to you that I have not as yet acted upon the instructions contained in your preceding despatches on the same subject, No. 1025 of the 8th and No. 1035 of the 15th of July. The reason is this: Whenever 1 sat down to draw up a note on the matter, I met with so many obstacles growing out of the misconception of the actual state of the facts, under the imperfect information you had received at the time of writing, that, in view of the grave nature of the responsibility to be incurred, I decided to await the moment when you would have before you everything that could be supplied to form a judgment, including the letter of Mr. Lancaster to Lord Russell, which I had sent to you with my No. 755 of the 29th of July. It is only at this moment that your latest views, formed on a complete survey of the case, have reached me. I now propose to draw up a note to Lord Russell embodying the substance of your argument as embraced in the respective despatches, disconnecting it as far as possible from the various errors of fact which were intermingled with all the early representations that went to America. Inasmuch as this process will require some care, and perhaps repeated consideration, I fear I shall not be able to get a copy ready to send in time for the present steamer.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.