Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the reception of despatches numbered from 904 to 909, inclusive. * * * * * * *
There is not much change to note in the course of events this week. The departure of General Garibaldi from London took place on Friday, and his embarkation on his return home followed on Tuesday. On the last morning he accepted an informal invitation to breakfast with Mr. Morse, our worthy consul, where he met with the principal Americans in London. Much as has been said of the state of his health, the fact is well understood that his sudden decision to leave England was owing to other causes. His presence was made a pretext for delay on the part of the German powers in coming to the conference. There is every reason to believe the demonstration on the part of the people of [Page 641] England to have been very unwelcome to most of the sovereigns of Europe. If continued it threatened to assume such proportions as materially to embarrass the position of the government and the relations of parties at home. Hence his departure on ground so unexceptionable as an affectionate anxiety for his health is a great relief, especially to the higher classes.
I am informed that the hopes of a successful issue to the conference are at this moment very feeble. On the first day a proposal of an armistice was made, and it was met in two ways: on the one hand by the Danish desire to make an exception on the water; on the other by the Germans advancing the claim of the uti possidetis, and assuming either the occupation of Jutland by themselves or the evacuation of it, as an offset to the abandonment of the island of Alsen by the Danes. Nothing was done beyond a reference of the subject to their respective governments for further instructions. An adjournment followed, without day named for reassembling.
The inference thus far is not favorable to the notion of that full understanding between England and France which had been anticipated from the late mission of Lord Clarendon to Paris. Without that it is plain that the ministry is not prepared to assume any line of positive action. The present prospect is that the Germans will have it all their own way, and fully execute the policy, whatever that may be, with which they entered on this war. The Danes will be likely to be sacrificed in any event. The concessions which they have been persuaded to make, to the urgency of Great Britain, appear to have only had the effect of weakening the moral power of their resistance, and making more easy the triumph of their enemies.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,