Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons
My Dear Lord Lyons: I accept your farewell with sincere sorrow, but I reconcile myself to it because it is a condition of restoration of your health. All of my family command me to tender you assurances of sympathy,
I have never desponded of my country, of emancipation of her slaves, and of her resumption of her position as an agent of peace, progress, and civilization, interests which I never fail to believe are common with all branches of the British family. So I have had no doubt that, when this dreadful war shall be ended, the United States and Great Britain would be reconciled and become better friends than ever. I have thought that you are entitled to share in these great successes, as you have borne so great a part of the trials of the war.
[Page 103]But God disposes. I feel now that if I never find leisure to go abroad again, that you with renewed health will come here to see the reign of peace and order; so I shall not dwell upon our parting as a final one.
Faithfully your friend,