PERIOD FROM 1854 TO 1871. 573 



communicate to me a favourable answer. This answer may now be in 

 preparation. It is not unlikely that I may get it before the end of 

 the week, when the steamer sails; in which case I shall make to you 

 a further report on the subject. 



I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant. 



Charles Francis Adams. 

 Hon. William II. Seward, 



Secretary of State, Washington, D. G. 



Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward. 



No. 119C] Legation of the United States, 



London, May 10, 1866. 



Sir: On my casually meeting with Lord Clarendon at a reception 

 on Saturday evening, I seized the opportunity to remind him that 

 I had not yet heard from him in answer to the proposal furnished 

 through me of your protocol transmitted with your despatch No. 

 1737, of the 10th ultimo. 



His lordship replied by pleading the impossibility of getting any- 

 thing ready in time for the steamer of that day. This he stated to 

 be in consequence of the multiplied cabinet meetings on the reform 

 measures, intended to be laid before Parliament, and, perhaps, of the 

 duties imposed by the threatening aspect of matters on the continent. 

 His lordship, however, at once communicated to me the substance 

 of the decision of the government, which is to send out authority to 

 Sir Frederick Bruce to proceed in conjunction with you, after con- 

 sultation with the respective provincial authorities. This had been 

 thought the better course, as the latter had now substantially reached 

 such a position of independence as to make it unadvisable for the 

 government here to attempt to act without regard to them. I under- 

 stood him to say, what two other members of the cabinet had pre- 

 viously intimated in conversation with me, that they entirely ap- 

 proved of the measure proposed by you. 



Inasmuch as Lord Clarendon asked whether I would take this 

 conversation as sufficient official notice, and I agreed to do so, I am 

 bound to believe that I shall get no other. Hence I make the above 

 report. 



I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant. 



Charles Francis Adams. 

 Hon. William II . SbWARD, 



Secretary of State, Washington, D. G. 



Tl\r, Earl of Clarendon to Sir F. Bruce. 



Foreign Office, May //, 1866. 



Sir, Mr. Adams placed in iny bands on the Let instant the paper 

 of which I enclose a copy. The objeci <>f It, as yon will Bee, is to 

 provide by mutual agreement between the two ( lovernments for ascer- 



