Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams
Sir: On the 19th instant I announced to you by telegraph the sudden death of Sir Frederick Bruce, and instructed you to express to Lord Stanley the President’s sympathy with her Majesty’s government upon that lamented event. To what was said on that occasion I have now to add that his remains have received the care which was required, while necessary preparations were made for their removal to his own country, under the direction of her Majesty’s government. Whatever could be done by this government to manifest a sincere national respect and sorrow has been done. The flag of the United States remained at half-mast everywhere throughout the republic until after the funeral obsequies were closed. Two officers of this department proceeded to Boston to co-operate with her Majesty’s legation in the performance of those obsequies. Condolences were exchanged with the diplomatic body. The legislative and executive officers of the United States, and especially those of the army and navy in the vicinity of Boston, were requested by the President to be in attendance, and, as I learn by telegraph, the request was complied with. At the funeral, the pall-bearers were Mr. Sumner, senator of the United States, Mr. Hooper, member of Congress, Mr. Longfellow, the mayor of Boston, Mr. Berthemy, the French Minister, Mr. Pratt, of the State Department, Mr. Bayard, of Boston, and his excellency the Governor of Massachusetts. The combined flags of the United States and of Great Britain were borne over the hearse. A considerable portion of the diplomatic body, together with consuls of many countries, were in attendance, as were also the chief justice of Massachusetts, the collector of customs for the port of New York, his excellency the late Governor Andrew, Commodore Rogers, of the United States navy, and General Foster, in command of the United States forces at Boston.
It may give a mournful pleasure to her Majesty’s ministers and to the British people to receive these details.
I cannot dismiss this melancholy subject without bearing testimony to the [Page 155] ability, liberality, and loyalty of the three distinguished persons who have successively and through a very critical period represented the British government in the United States—Lord Napier, Lord Lyons, and Sir Frederick Bruce. It is a circumstance full of good auguries that each of those persons, and the last as completely as either of his predecessors, while preserving the confidence of his own government, was eminently successful in winning the respect, confidence, and affection of the President of the United States and of the whole American people. I am permitted by the President to add that in the death of the late Sir Frederick Bruce my own feelings are those which are produced by the bereavement of a near and dear friend, and to ask that the assurance of my personal sympathy may be made known to the family and friends of the deceased.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Francis Adams, &c., &c., &c.