Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward
Sir: The event of the week, which has excited the most public attention, has been the fate of the Archduke Maximilian, the first intelligence of which was transmitted from Austrian sources, but which appears since to be confirmed from other quarters. In consequence of it the Queen decided not to have the review of the troops in Hyde park which had been set down for the 5th, (yesterday,) nor yet the court ball, which was to have taken place in the evening. There is not yet any official announcement of court mourning, though it will doubtless soon be made, as the Queen was connected with the deceased through his marriage with the daughter of Leopold of Saxe Coburg, the late King of the Belgians.
The sensation made by this event has extended throughout Europe. It is, perhaps, fortunate for the United States that the intercession of the government in favor of a merciful policy took place as it did, for the effect has been to concentrate the public indignation upon the perpetrators of the deed, and incidentally to raise rather a share of sympathy with us. Hence the idea of intervention on our part for the regulation of the affairs of that country, which a few years ago would have excited much jealousy and aversion, is now suggested as presenting the only prospect of a satisfactory settlement. My reply to all such proposals, that we have no wish whatever to increase the existing complications in our own affairs by undertaking to assume the management of those of our neighbors, is regarded as idle. The odium to which the Mexicans have fallen drowns every other feeling. They are looked upon as ferocious savages whom it would be well for the world to be rid of as soon as possible; and as nobody else is in a condition to execute the process, that duty should necessarily fall upon the United States. One element of this opinion, though it does not appear much on the surface, is yet not without its secret force. It consists of those unfortunate persons, who have more or less of their means involved in the credit of the public securities of that country. These would gladly see it all transferred to us, provided we were willing to assume its pecuniary obligations. I feel it my duty to mention all these things as facts, without desiring to be understood in any way as intimating an opinion of my own.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.