Mr. Burnley to Mr. Seward
Sir: The state of Lord Lyons’s health having obliged him to retire definitively from the post which he has held for the last six years as her Majesty’s envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary at Washington, the Queen has been graciously pleased to appoint Sir Frederick Bruce, now her Majesty’s envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary at Pekin, to be his lordship’s successor in that character. I am accordingly instructed to notify this appointment to you, and to say that Sir Frederick Bruce will be instructed to repair to Washington so soon as he can make arrangements for doing so, and that her Majesty’s government trust that the appointment will be in every respect acceptable to the President of the United States.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
Hon. William H. Seward.