[Extracts]
Mr. Dayton to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I write this in haste to acknowledge the receipt this day of your circular, dated 4th September, 1862, with the printed letter from the Hon. Mr. Blair, Postmaster General, enclosed; likewise despatch No. 208, enclosing a copy of your despatch to Mr. Adams No. 336; likewise despatch No. 207.
[Page 392]The suggestions by Mr. Blair, as to improvements in international postal arrangements, will be promptly submitted to Mr. Thouvenel, and through him to the proper department here.
* * * * * * * *
I feel much gratified with the full satisfaction which you, in your own behalf and in behalf of the President, have expressed with my conduct in this mission. Certainly, if I have in any respect failed, it has not been for want of proper attention and care. Indeed, I am not now aware that anything could have been done here usefully which has not been done. There is a certain class of people who seem to think diplomacy consists in mousing out and reporting small matters, having really no kind of weight in settling international relations. I have not troubled you with these things, and I am glad of it.
Nor have I troubled you about Garibaldi or Italy or any other matters not directly connected with my mission here. I wish that some other of our officials on the continent could restrain their love of notoriety, and confine themselves to their business. This remark grows out of a letter, which I have just seen, from our consul at Vienna (Mr. Theodore Canisius) to Garibaldi, and his answers, copies of which are enclosed. The sentiments may be all right, but just at this point of time, when Austria and Italy and France are so sensitive, it was scarcely worth while for our consul to throw them in the face of these powers.
I am your very obedient servant,
Hon. Wm. H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.,