Admiral Andrew H. Foote

July 22, 1863 – Letter from the King of Siam to Admiral Foote

Admiral Foote, since his experience in the Chinese and Japanese waters, had kept up a correspondence with the Second King of Siam. The letters of the latter exhibit a high degree of intelligence regarding American affairs. The following was the latest received:

This letter had been submitted by Admiral Foote to the President and his Cabinet, all of whom read it with much satisfaction; but he hesitated to communicate it to the public. Only a few days before leaving Washington, on his way to his honorable command at Charleston, he gave a copy of it to Senator Sumner, with authority to use it as he should think proper. Now that the excellent Admiral has been removed by death, it has seemed that the letter ought to be generally known on his account, as well as from its intrinsic value, and the Senator has consented to its publication.