Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. I.djvu/299

 JOHN QUINCY ADAMS 245 and intriguing diplomats. He pursued his ends in the way natural to him, firmly, if quietly, main taining the cause of his country, and faithfully car rying out his instructions. He early won the confi dence of Earl Russell, then the British Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and the two maintained mu tually respecting friendly relations, which proved highly advantageous to the Union cause. When, however, a direct issue, as in the case of the &quot;Laird Rams,&quot; (1863) presented itself, Mr. Adams evinced unflinching firmness, making his famous written announcement to the Foreign Secretary that, in the contingency of the escape of the &quot;Rams,&quot; it would be &quot;superfluous to point out to your Lordship that this is war.&quot; The &quot;Rams&quot; were detained. His opponent, Mr. Mason, the Confederate commissioner, subsequently retired from the field leaving Mr. Adams complete master of it. Taken altogether his career in England from 1861 to 1868 must be cited among the fore most triumphs of American diplomacy. In 1872 it was attempted to nominate him for the presi dency of the United States, as the candidate of the liberal republicans, but Horace Greeley was selected as the candidate in preference. He was elected in 1869 a member of the board of overseers of Har vard university, and was for several years president of the board. In 1870 Mr. Adams was appointed the American