766, No.282.Lyons to Russell, June 17, 1861.

Seward's account, in close agreement with that of Lyons, is in _U.S.Messages and Documents, 1861-2_, p.106.Seward to Adams, June 19, 1861.] [Footnote 179: Bancroft in his _Seward_ (II, p.

183) prints a portion of an unpublished despatch of Seward to Dayton in Paris, July 1, 1861, as "his clearest and most characteristic explanation of what the attitude of the government must be in regard to the action of the foreign nations that have recognized the belligerency of the 'insurgents.'" "Neither Great Britain nor France, separately nor both together, can, by any declaration they can make, impair the sovereignty of the United States over the insurgents, nor confer upon them any public rights whatever.

From first to last we have acted, and we shall continue to act, for the whole people of the United States, and to make treaties for disloyal as well as loyal citizens with foreign nations, and shall expect, when the public welfare requires it, foreign nations to respect and observe the treaties.
"We do not admit, and we never shall admit, even the fundamental statement you assume--namely, that Great Britain and France have recognized the insurgents as a belligerent party.

True, you say they have so declared.