Mr. Ford to Mr. Seward
Sir: The melancholy intelligence will have already reached you of the sudden death of Sir Frederick Wright Bruce, G. C. B., her Britannic Majesty’s late accredited minister to the government of the United States.
[Page 204]In fulfilling the painful duty of announcing officially to you the decease of the head of her Majesty’s mission at Washington, I have the honor to express the hope that, pending a formal introduction to you from my government constituting me her Majesty’s chargé d’affaires ad interim, you will permit me to hold such communications with you as the transactions of business between the Department of State of the United States and her Britannic Majesty’s legation may render necessary.
I avail myself of this opportunity to express to you the assurance of my highest consideration.
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.