Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward
Sir: I have to acknowledge the reception from the department of dispatch No. 2141 of the 7th of March.
Although it is not presumed that any action on my part on the subject matter of that dispatch was contemplated, I shall endeavor to seize an occasion to converse with Lord Stanley upon it. Possibly this may contribute to accelerate action on the other side.
I have reason to believe that the intention is entertained by the authorities here to release, without further trial, Colonel Nagle and the six other persons remaining in prison, who were connected with the expedition of the Jacmel.
Stephen J. Meany has likewise been discharged from the remainder of the penalty inflicted upon him by the sentence of the court which tried him, on condition of his leaving the kingdom. Under an impression that the proposal to appropriate $50,000 to defray the expenses of persons in captivity here, which was adopted by the House of [Page 184] Representatives, had become a law, Mr. Meany called upon me to advance him two hundred dollars for the purpose of defraying his charges. The same impression prevails among the prisoners elsewhere. I was obliged in reply to apprise him that no information of the passage of such an appropriation had yet been received, and that no funds existed here from which to supply such a demand. It may be added that Mr. Meany has never yet furnished to this legation the necessary evidence to establish the fact of his naturalization.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D.C.