Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Sir: I have a special pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of your despatch of May 13, No. 692, which is accompanied by a copy of the recent debate in the House of Commons on parliamentary reform.
The friends of the system of self-government everywhere may well rejoice in the indications furnished by this debate, of progress in Great Britain towards universal suffrage. To the United States that progress is an assurance that in the future trials of our system it will have the advantage, if not of sympathy, at least of toleration, throughout the British empire. We have so far succeeded in the present trial without this advantage, but the want of it has been severely felt.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.