Mr. Pruyn to Mr. Seward
Sir: Sir Rutherford Alcock has shown me a letter from Earl Russell to Lord Cowley, in reply to questions addressed to him by the French minister for foreign affairs, M. Drouyn de l’Huys, in which he says that her Majesty’s government has no wish to see the Japanese embassay in London, and that it will most decidedly decline consenting to the closing of this port.
The President has doubtless been made acquainted with the views of the British government, and it is needless for me to express any opinion, as he has already approved of my resistance to this demand.
I am pleased to see from the language used by Earl Russell that the reception of the Japanese envoys will be of such a character, and the answer to their request so decided, as to prevent hereafter any appeal to the treaty powers from the ministers accredited to this government, as success in such an appeal would make the position of the foreign ministers unpleasant, and deprive them of all influence, and almost render their presence here useless.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.