Mr. Sanford to Mr. Seward.
[Extract.]
No. 261.]
Sir: His royal highness the Count de Flanders, sent to me yesterday one of his officers of “ordnance” to express in his name his condolence on the untimely death of the President.
I also received in the afternoon a private note from M. Rogier, expressive of his sentiments, of which, as he refers to it in public debate, I venture to enclose a copy, “A.” I replied to it by a few lines of thanks.
In the house of representatives this afternoon, M. Hardy De Beaulieu, a member of the extreme left, moved, in accordance with previous notice, for an expression of feeling at the late tragic events at Washington. He was followed and warmly seconded by the late Canon De Hearne of the “conservative” party, who is the author of a widely disseminated pamphlet on our war, and is an ardent friend of the cause of the Union, and by M. Rogier, who announced that he adopted on the part of the government the views just expressed, and that he hoped the house would join in the expression of his desire for the recovery of the eminent statesman, Mr. Seward, to whose existence was attached, in so great a degree, the definitive pacification of the country, for too long a time desolated by war; and after rendering homage to the moderation which he had displayed, the minister expressed the hope “that they might one day rejoice over the restoration of his health, at the same time with the re-establishment of peace between the factions of a great people whom they admired, and which had always had their sympathies, and which he hoped would take again in the world the great part which is assigned to it.”
[Page 18]All which, interrupted by frequent marks of approval by the members, was declared by the president to be the unanimous sentiment of the house.
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I have the honor to be, with great respéct, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.