Mr. Seward to Mr. Harvey.

No. 60.]

Sir: Your despatch of June 5 (No. 123) was received. I think the Portuguese government and nation are to be congratulated upon the solution of the educational question which the French Emperor has so quietly and promptly effected.

How much the old European nations suffer from the immobility of classes and masses which this new nation needs! We could receive and employ all the conscientious teachers of Europe without fear of danger from their imputed heresies in politics or in religion. France, Belgium, and England are agitated and excited to make war against and destroy us by classes of persons thrown out of employment, who, if they should make their way here, would find abundant and harmless occupation, with large rewards. Indeed, some of them might become founders of States which would, at no distant day, become as great as those which are disordered by reason of their wants. Let us hope that the European mind may be sagacious enough to discern that the cure for all the social evils in both hemispheres is migration of surplus population to regions where population is deficient. If it does not like us of the United States, why should Spanish America be longer left to languish for want of the invigoration which European emigration would afford.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

James E. Harvey, Esq., &c. &c, &c, Lisbon.