Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams
Sir. With sincere sadness and sorrow I inform you of the death of Edward Everett. His earnest and well-directed labors in support of the government during the civil war has won for him the unanimous confidence and affection of the American people.
We learn through Richmond that Rear-Admiral Porter’s fleet was again before Wilmington, and that the land forces had effected a landing on Friday last, the 13th instant. The weather was fine; the insurgents claimed to be prepared for successful defence. Major General Butler has been relieved of his command, at the suggestion of the Lieutenant General. The recent failure at Wilmington is under investigation in Congress. Major General Sherman is understood to have resumed his march, but its direction is not yet revealed. Henry S. Foote, formerly United States senator from Mississippi, and recently a member of the inurgent [Page 91] conclave at Richmond, was arrested on the 12th instant, on the bank of the Occoquan, on his way to this city; he yet remains in military custody. Jefferson Davis disclaims responsibility for the arrest. The reported agitation of the question of submission to the Union, in Georgia, is believed to be true, although not to the full extent claimed for it in the press.
A constitutional convention in Tennessee submitted to the people the constitutional question of abolishing slavery. The convention in Missouri has definitively abolished slavery in that State.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams. Esq., &c., &c., &c.
(Same, mutatis mutandis, to all our principal ministers in Europe.)