Mr. Wood to Mr. Seward.
Sir:Your despatches Nos. 87, of the 6th of April, 88, of the 19th of April, and 89, of the 7th of May, (the latter enclosing the President’s letter of condolence,) have been duly received. His Majesty is at present in the country, but I shall avail myself of the earliest opportunity to present the same. You will have learned, perhaps, before this reaches you, of the extension of the armistice to the 25th instant. The Danish minister has not much hope of peace, though his government is willing to accept a division of Schleswig on the line of Heü and Frederickstadt, a surrender of the whole country occupied by Germans. I am more hopeful of peace, as I can hardly conceive that the four powers not interested would have advised this line unless they were prepared to back it up. To leave the matter to a vote, under the auspices of Prussian and Austrian bayonets, would be to forestall it with a vengeance. I see no reason to change the opinion hitherto expressed, that the object of Prussia was the dismemberment of Denmark. The same fate, I fear, awaits every small power in Europe at all liberal. I shall send herewith a map, (if I can procure one,) with the proposed line of division, and beyond which the Danes will not go.
I remain, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington.