[From Galignani's Messenger of December 5, 1864.] PARIS, December 5, 1864. The lamented death of Mr. Dayton, the United States representative, is touched on by sev eral of the Paris journals in terms of merited regret. The Constitutionnel says: "Mr. Dayton was one of the most distinguished and enlightened men of the United States. From his courteous manner and his always well-chosen and measured language, every one could recognize in him a diplomatist who had followed the good traditions bequeathed by the first generation of statesmen of the American republic." The Patrie, which had always supported the confederate cause, is not less warm in its appreciation: "Our political differences," it observes, "do not prevent us from joining with the Unionists in their regret for the death of the able diplomatist, as well as honest man and perfect gentlemen, whom their cause has just lost. In the difficult circumstances in which his country was placed, Mr. Dayton never departed from the dignity becoming a diplomatist. Being obliged to make himself the echo of the haughty and sometimes excessive exigencies of Mr. Seward, Mr. Dayton found means to mitigate their harshness, and thus to neutralize the just influence which the confederate representatives had acquired in Europe. Mr. Dayton was personally known to the Emperor Napoleon III, whom he frequently met during his residence in the State of New Jersey." The subjoined passage is from the Opinion Nationale: "The honorable gentleman fulfilled his diplomatic functions with a rectitude and tact which procured him the esteem of even his political adversaries; and assuredly he had to take an active part in a whole series of important and delicate questions. It will suffice to mention the affair of the Trent; the repeated visits of the confederate war vessels in ports of France: the different phases of the Mexican expedition; the offers of European mediation rejected by the United States; and the building of war vessels for the south at Nantes and Bordeaux. In all those difficult circumstances he always had a safe rule of conduct, an infallible guide— political probity.' The public funeral services of his excellency the Hon. William Lewis Dayton, late ambassador extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary at the court of the Tuileries, will be solemnized at the American Chapel in the Rue de Berry this day at two o'clock in the afternoon. The funeral cortége will proceed from the hotel of the legation, Rue de Presbourg, Champs Elysées, to the chapel, and after the service the body will be taken to the Western Railway to be conveyed to Havre, on its way to the United States. [From Galignani's Messenger of December 7, 1864.] The funeral service for the late Mr. Dayton was celebrated yesterday afternoon at the American chapel in the Rue de Berry, as announced, in presence of a great concourse of persons, the building and approaches to it being thronged. The Emperor was represented by Baron de Lajus, master of the ceremonies, the Duke de Cambacérès, and Count de Baciocchi; and Prince Napoleon by General de Franconnière. M. Drouyn de Lhuys, minister of foreign affairs, Lord Cowley, and the other members of the diplomatic body, were all in attendance with the principal members of their legations. The coffin was placed on the communion-table and covered with the United States flag, which in its turn was partly concealed by wreaths and flowers placed there by the friends of the deceased. All the principal citizens of the United States now in Paris were present, as well as a number of Americans of the south. Near Mr. Dayton, son of the deceased diplomatist, were to be seen Mr. Pennington, secretary of legation; Mr. Bigelow, American consul; Mr. Aspinwall, of New York, and a great number of political and literary men of France. A detachment of the 65th regiment lined the interior of the chapel. The service for the dead was read by the Rev. Mr. Lamson, after which an address appropriate to the occasion was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Sunderland, who, after touching on the early career and distinguished services of the deceased, referred to the events now in progress beyond the Atlantic, and declared that the United States government was resolved to maintain the struggle to the last. Mr. Bigelow and M. Laboulaye also spoke, after which the crowd withdrew in silence. No. 3.] Mr. Pennington to Mr. Seward. LEGATION of the United STATES, SIR: I promptly announced to the minister of foreign affairs the death of the Hon. Mr. Dayton, and I have received a reply to my communication. I here with enclose a copy of my note, and the minister's reply. I am sure the department will be gratified to read this testimonial of the Emperor's government of the high consideration in which the late minister of the United States was held, as well as the kind terms in which the minister of foreign affairs has been pleased to express his personal affliction. * * * * * * * * I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c. Mr. Pennington to Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys. PARIS, December 2, 1864. MONSIEUR LE MINISTRE: I have to communicate to your excellency the painful intelligence of the death of the Hon. William L. Dayton, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States in France. This event occurred last evening at nine o'clock, after an illness of a few minutes. I have the honor to present to your excellency assurances of my high consideration. M. DROUYN DE LHUYS, WILLIAM S. PENNINGTON. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paris. Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys to Mr. Pennington. PARIS, December 3, 1864. SIR: The information which you have done me the honor to communicate to me, of the decease of the Hon. William L. Dayton, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America at Paris, has caused me a keen and deep affliction. I hastened to inform the Emperor of the sad event, which nothing could have foreseen. His Majesty has felt it only the more since he bore a particular esteem for this minister. For my part, I have been able to appreciate personally the qualities, the talents, and the experience of Mr. Dayton, and I make it a duty to express here the sincere regrets which his loss has caused. Receive, sir, the assurances of the most distinguished consideration with which I have the honor to be, your very humble and very obedient servant, Mon. W. S. PENNINGTON, DROUYN DE LHUYS. First Secretary of the Legation of the United States of America. No. 724.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Dayton. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 17, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of November 25th, No. 567, with its accompaniment, namely, what is called a collec tive note, addressed by John Slidell, James M. Mason, and A. Dudley Mann to the government of France and all the other European states, except Turkey. It has about equal value with the similar emissions which an eccentric countryman, William Cornwell Jewett, conveys to the European sovereigns through the public press. I think the Sultan of Turkey is to be felicitated upon the frankness and loyalty which have secured him against insurgent persecutions affecting the form of diplomacy. I have not failed to notice your complaint against the unfriendly spirit of what is called the government press of France and of Great Britain. To re lieve any anxiety which that hostility excites it will be sufficient for you to know that the number of newspapers of every sort in the insurgent region is thirty-eight, which is not double the number of prints published in each of the several congressional districts of the loyal States. Thank God, therefore, and take courage, for though our enemies grow more inveterate abroad, they are rapidly diminishing in numbers, at least, at home. I am, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM L. DAYTON, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Pennington to Mr. Seward. No. 7.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Paris, December 20, 1864. SIR: Upon the receipt of your despatch No. 708, requesting this legation to forward to your department a copy of a late treaty between France and Japan, a communication was addressed to Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys with a view to complying with the request. An answer has just been received, stating in substance that there has been no late treaty entered into between France and Japan, although the subject was discussed when the Japanese ambassadors were in Paris. I herewith enclose a translation of Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys' answer. I am, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., &c. W. S. PENNINGTON. Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys to Mr. Pennington. PARIS, December 19, 1864. SIR: At the time the envoys of the Tycoon were in Paris, preliminary discuss ons (pour parlers) took place, in effect, with them, upon the subject of the pending questions, but these preliminary discussions have had no result. The events which have just taken place in Japan, and in which your government has participated, have created for all a completely new situation, the development of which, it seems to me, we can but wait. Receive, sir, the assurances of the most distinguished consideration with which I have the honor to be, your very humble and very obedient servant, W. S. PENNINGTON, Esq., Chargé d'Affaires of the United States, &c., Paris. DROUYN DE LHUYS. Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow. No. 1.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 22, 1864. SIR: I have received your despatch of the 2d of December, which was written upon the lamentable occasion of the sudden decease of our minister pleni potentiary, the late William L. Dayton, esq. That event is regarded by the President with profound grief and sorrow. The public character of the deceased, together with the gratitude of the government and people of the United States for faithful and important services at a critical period of our national life, will be an inestimable inheritance for his bereaved and afflicted family and kindred. It is thought expedient that you should assume the care of the legation as chargé d'affaires ad interim, until the vacancy in the mission shall be filled by appointment of a minister plenipotentiary, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. A letter of credence is herewith sent you. You will make such a temporary appointment of consul as your judgment shall approve, and will report thereon to this department. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN BIGELOW, Esq., S., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Seward to Mr. Pennington. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 23, 1864. SIR: I have received your despatch of the 2d instant, No. 1, announcing to this department the sudden death of the Hon. William L. Dayton, minister resident of the United States at Paris. You are instructed to commit the archives of the legation to J. Bigelow, esq., late the United States consul at Paris, who has been appointed chargé d'affaires ad interim. SIR Referring to my instruction No. 1, enclosing your commission as chargé d'affaires ad interim to France, and your credential letter, I have to observe that you will find in the records of the legation personal instructions which will be sufficient for your guidance. No special instructions are deemed necessary at present for a gentleman so conversant with the relations between the two countries as yourself. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN BIGELOW, Esq., &c, &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 5.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: Mr. Pennington's despatch of the 7th of December, No. 2, has been received, and I have read with mingled emotions of sorrow and pride the description it gives of the tributes so worthily paid in Paris by the government of the Emperor and the foreign legations, and the press of the metropolis, to the memory of William L. Dayton, esq., our late minister to France. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN BIGELOW, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 6.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 27, 1864. SIR: Mr. Pennington's despatch of the 7th, No. 3, has been received, and I perform an agreeable duty in approving of the communication he made to the imperial government on the occasion of the death of Mr. Dayton, and in making known to you that the President is highly gratified with the friendly and sympathetic manner in which Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys accepted the intelligence of that event, so deeply deplored by the government and people of the United States. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN BIGELOW, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. No. 9.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 29, 1864. SIR: On the 30th ultimo, and on the 7th instant, our consul at Nantes informed this department of suspicious circumstances in regard to the iron-clad vessels Shanghai and San Francisco, which he has reported to the legation at Paris. I will thank you to give your attention to the matter, and to take such steps as may, in your judgment, be expedient, towards preventing these vessels from falling into the hands of the insurgents. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN BIGELOW, Esq., &c., &c., &c. No. 9.] WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Pennington to Mr. Seward. [Extract.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I had the honor of an interview yesterday with M. Drouyn de Lhuys for the purpose of ascertaining if there were any unfinished matters between Mr. Dayton and the minister of foreign affairs. I find there was nothing; and after leaving a copy of your despatch asking for some more copies of the report of the returns of the railroads on the continent for 1861 and 1862, the conversation turned upon the sudden death of Mr. Dayton, Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys dwelling upon the high estimation in which he was held, not only by himself. but by all the corps diplomatic. Our last telegraphic news has changed the tone of the foreign press very much, and also the sentiments of the people. The journals of Great Britain and France have almost universally predicted the destruction of General Sherman in his retreat from Atlanta, as they call it. |