Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 25th of May, which relates to the case of Colonel Burke, who is now held in prison in Ireland.
You inform me that her Majesty’s government decline to release him, and assign as a reason the fact that he is believed to be deeply implicated in the Fenian plot.
You also inform me that this is one of the only two cases in which her Majesty’s government have declined to surrender United States citizens at our request. At this distance it seems to me that the danger of an attempt at revolution in Ireland has already passed. I think that the British nation will be satisfied by intelligence of recent events on this side of the Atlantic that all danger of disturbance in Ireland from this quarter has also passed.
Under these circumstances you will be expected to suggest to Lord Clarendon the expediency of the exercise of clemency to the extent, at least, of releasing all of the American citizens, native or naturalized, who are in confinement, upon the condition of their returning to the United States. While such a proceeding on the part of the British government would seem to be an entirely safe one, it cannot be doubted that it would have a tranquillizing effect here.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.