Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams
Sir: I have to acknowledge your two despatches, one of 19th October, No. 1067, and the other of the 20th of October, No. 1072. Previously to the receipt of these despatches your closing argument on the subjects of the claims of this government against her Majesty’s government, growing out of the depredations of the Alabama and kindred vessels upon American commerce, had been submitted to the President, and considered by him with careful attention. I have now to inform you that this government commends and approves that elaborate argument, and consequently you are authorized to state that the United States respectfully adhere to the claims upon which you have thus insisted.
I also approve of your note to Earl Russell of the 17th October, in which you informed his lordship that henceforward no proposition of arbitration upon the class of claims before referred to will be insisted upon or submitted by this government. I approve also of your proceeding in asking Earl Russell to explain and distinguish as well what, among the classes of claims existing between the two governments, her Majesty’s government is willing to refer to such joint commission as that government has proposed, as also what classes it is not willing so to refer.
Your application in that respect was made in exact conformity with my instructions No. 1551. It is observed, however, that the necessity for the application had in the mean time been removed by a note written by Earl Russell to you on the 15th October, a copy of which is appended to your No. 1067. In that note his lordship, as we anticipated, has now informed us that our claims for depredations committed by the Alabama and kindred vessels upon our commerce fall within the class of claims in regard to which her Majesty’s government are not prepared to consent to a reference to such a joint commission as they proposed.
Adhering, as this government does, to the opinion that our claims of that class are just and reasonable, it has now no occasion to delay giving an answer to the earl’s proposition. You will therefore inform his lordship that the proposition of her Majesty’s government for the creating of a joint commission is respectfully declined.
In view of the actual condition of the correspondence between the two countries, no explanation of the reasons for the decision is believed to be necessary. You will, however, exercise your discretion upon this point.
Of course you will not be inattentive to any temporary inconvenience under which the ministry may be laboring in consequence of the death of the distinguished minister who has so long presided in the cabinet.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c.