FRANCE. Mr. Seward to Mr. Dix. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 23, 1866. SIR: I give you a copy of a despatch* which has just been received from Mr. Bigelow, and of the reply* thereto, which goes out by telegraph to-day in cipher. Should you find the question remaining open on your arrival in Paris, you will exercise all diligence, with sound discretion, to obtain some satisfactory resolution of the French government. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN A. DIX, Esq., §r., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 3.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Dix. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 14, 1866. SIR: I herewith transmit to you for your information a copy of a communication of the 11th instant, from the Secretary of War, accompanied by two telegraphic reports from General Sheridan relative to the present condition of affairs on the Rio Grande. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN A. DIX, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Stanton to Mr. Seward. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, December 11, 1866. SIR: I have the honor to submit the accompanying telegraphic report from General Sheridan to General [Grant, ] relating to the present condition of affairs on the Rio Grande. Yours, truly, EDWIN M. STANTON. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. General Sheridan to General Grant. OFFICE UNITED STATES MILITARY TELEGRAPH, WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., December 11, 1866. GENERAL: I have the honor to notify you of my return from the Rio Grande frontier. I have the honor to report affairs there in very good condition. On the 28th of November General Sedgwick demanded and obtained the surrender of the city of Matamoras from General Canales, occupying it with about 100 men. On the 30th he received my orders disapproving his action, and withdrew his men to our side of the river. *For enclosures see Diplomatic Correspondence for 1866, volume 1, pages 364 and 366. General Sedgwick's action was without authority, and in violation of written instructions as to manner in which the grievances of American citizens in Matamoras should be redressed. I have relieved him from his command, in obedience to orders from the Secretary of War, and placed him in arrest, subject to further orders from the President. Matamoras passed into the hands of Escobedo on the 30th of November, and a better condition of affairs now exists on the Rio Grande frontier than has for the last 18 months. A detailed report will be forwarded by to-morrow's mail. General U. S. GRANT, Washington. Official: P. H. SHERIDAN, Major General. NEW ORLEANS, December 10, 1866. Assistant Adjutant General. No. 1.] Mr. Dix to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to inform you that I arrived at this city on the 8th instant, and, as it was late on Saturday afternoon, I went on to Versailles, where my family were awaiting me. I notified Mr. Bigelow, my predecessor, of my arrival on the same day, and on Monday, the 10th, I called on him at the legation. He immediately asked an interview for me of the minister of foreign affairs, the Marquis de Moustier, and on the 12th we called on him, agreeably to an appointment which he made with us. I handed him the office copy of my letter of credence and requested him to ask for me an audience of the Emperor that I might deliver the original. The Emperor was at Compiegne, and did not return till Monday, the 17th. On the 19th I received a note, dated the preceding day, from the Duc de Cambaceres, the grand master of ceremonies, informing me that the Emperor would receive me on Sunday, the 23d. On the 19th I received a note from the first chamberlain of the Empress, advising me that she would receive me immediately after my presentation to the Emperor. 1 Yesterday one of the chamberlains of the Emperor called on me in a state carriage, according to the established ceremonial, and conducted me to the palace of the Tuileries. On my presentation to the Emperor I delivered the address of which the annexed paper, marked A, is a copy. I had sent a copy to the minister of foreign affairs three days before. A translation of the Emperor's reply, which was delivered in French, is annexed and marked B. A copy of the Moniteur of to-day, giving an account of the presentations yesterday, is also annexed, and marked C. The Emperor's manner was very kind, and indicated, like his reply to my address, an earnest desire to be on friendly terms with us. Immediately after my presentation to the Emperor I was conducted to the apartments of the Empress, who also received me with great kindness. She made many inquiries about the United States, and expressed a strong interest in the preservation of friendly relations between us and France. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. JOHN A. DIX. A. Address of Mr. Dix. SIRE: In presenting my letter of credence from the President of the United States, I am instructed by him to express his best wishes for your Majesty, and for the prosperity of the French empire, and his earnest desire that the good understanding now existing between the two countries may be perpetual. It has been the aim of the United States from the foundation of their government to cultivate friendly intercourse with all nations. There are special reasons why they desire to cherish the most amicable relations with France. They can never forget that she rendered them the most timely and effective aid in assuming their independent and equal rank among the other nations of the earth. Both countries-France during your Majesty's reign, and the United States during the corresponding period of time-have made extraordinary advances in the industrial arts, and in the applications of science to practical uses. Occupying respectively conspicuous positions in front of the great areas of civilization on two continents, the influence of a sympathetic movement on their part in giving expansion to the ideas and progress to the national interests which concern the welfare of communities cannot fail to be powerfully and beneficially felt far beyond their immediate spheres of action. I am sure I do not represent too strongly the feelings of the government or the people of the United States when I say that it is their earnest wish to see the association which has united them to France in the past, ripening in the future into a still more close and cordial friendship. I shall consider myself most fortunate if, in the discharge of my official duties near your Majesty's government, I shall be able to contribute in any degree to an object so intimately interwoven with the prosperity and happiness of both countries, and with the interests of humanity throughout the civilized world. B. Reply of the Emperor. I thank you, general, for the sentiments you have expressed to me in the name of the government of the United States. The historical recollections to which you have referred are a sure guarantee that no misunderstanding will disturb the friendly relations which have so long existed between France and the American Union. A loyal and sincere understanding will, I do not doubt, contribute to the interest of industry and commerce, which are every day astonishing the world by their prodigies, and will insure the progress of civilization. Your presence among us cannot fail to contribute to this happy result by maintaining relations to which I attach the greatest value. Mr. Dix to Mr. Seward. No. 3.] : LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Paris, December 31, 1866. SIR I have the honor to transmit a translation of an announcement which appeared in the Moniteur of yesterday in regard to the sailing of vessels of war and transports from France, for the purpose of bringing back the troops of the French expeditionary corps now in Mexico. I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, JOHN A. DIX. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. [From the Moniteur, December 30, 1866.-Translation.] BULLETIN. PARIS, December 29. The maritime movements which have taken place in the different parts of France for the purpose of bringing back the expeditionary corps of Mexico being now partly effected, we are able to give a general list of those vessels which have already put to sea for this purpose. Cherbourg, Brest, Lorient, Rochefort and Toulon, have furnished the following vessels of war and transports: The Fontenay, Bayard, Ville de Lyon, Ville de Bordeaux, Souverain, Mapana, Navarin, Costiglione, and Intrepide, vessels of war. The Avegron, Nievre, Gironde, Durance, Cher, Aube, Eure, Drôme, Zoune, Saône, Alher, Calradas, Pomone, Garonne, Ceres, Tarne, Var. Ardiche, Seine, Chareute, and Rhone, steam transports. Since the beginning of the present month vessels have left port every day, and some vessels have already arrived at Vera Cruz. By the eighth of January next, they will all have left the French ports. Besides this the concentration of our troops is being rapidly effected. Advices from Ma zatlan inform us that on the 12th November the French garrison evacuated that city, and was transported to San Blas by the Victoria, with a view to its being forwarded from that place to the port of embarcation. Mr. Dix to Mr. Seward. No. 4.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Paris, January 1, 1867. SIR: I received, on Sunday evening, your despatch of the 28th ultimo, by the Atlantic telegraph, directing me to "announce proclamation exempting French vessels." On Monday (yesterday) morning I called on the Marquis de Moustier, the minister of foreign affairs, and communicated the despatch to him. He understood that it related to a matter which had been brought before the government by the minister of France at Washington, and asked permission to take a copy of the despatch. He seemed gratified that the question had been arranged, and you will see that it is noticed in the Moniteur of this morning, a copy of which I enclose. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. JOHN A. DIX. [From the Moniteur, January 1, 1867.-Translation.], A telegram from New York informs us that a recent proclamation of President Johnson accords a national character to French ships in the United States. Consequently, in conformity with the terms of the decree published in the Moniteur last Friday, the American flag will hereafter be clothed with every right of navigation in our ports. No. 5.] Mr. Dix to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to transmit a copy of the Moniteur of yesterday, giving an account of the reception of the diplomatic body at the Tuileries, together with a translation of the Emperor's speech on that occasion. I am, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. JOHN A. DIX. [From the Moniteur, July 3, 1867.-Translation.] The New Year affords me an opportunity to utter my vows, for the stability of all thrones and for the prosperity of all peoples. I hope that we are entering upon a new era of peace and civilization, and that the Universal Exposition will contribute to calm all passions and to unite all interests. I thank the diplomatic corps for its congratulations, and I beg that it will make known my sentiments of friendship to the respective governments which it represents. Mr. Dix to Mr. Seward. No. 6.] LEGATION OF the United STATES, SIR: I enclose a translation of an extract copied from a Havre letter into the Moniteur of this morning, showing the friendly construction put upon the recent arrangement, which was the subject of your despatch by the Atlantic telegraph, in the commercial districts of France. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. JOHN A. DIX. [From the Moniteur, January 8. 1867.-Translation.} They write to us from Havre, January 1, to this effect: The merchants of our port have received with great satisfaction the news given by the Moniteur this morning, of the abolition of tonnage duties on French ships arriving in the United States. Reciprocal exemption had already been granted to American ships entering French ports. Our relations with the United States must receive a new impulse from the abrogation of this duty, which amounted to five francs a ton, carpenter's measure, and was a very heavy charge, especially for vessels of large tonnage. We cannot better give an idea of this, than by citing a fact connected with the trade between this port and the United States. The steamers of our postal service which make twenty-six (26) voyages a year have heretofore been obliged to pay, on arriving in New York, a sum exceeding ten thousand francs ($2,000) each. The liberal measure which the American and French governments have just taken effects an annual saving of nearly 300,000 francs ($60,000) to the General Transatlantic Company alone. We can judge from this single instance of the importance to all French commerce of the abolition of this tonnage duty. No. 8.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Dix. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I transmit herewith, for your information and use, a copy of the proceedings consequent upon the delivery to Mrs. Mary Lincoln of the gold medal presented by citizens of France. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN A. DIX, Esq, &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. |