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  4. Document 330

Mr. Pennington to Mr. Seward

No. 1.]
Legation of the United States, Paris, December 2, 1864.

Sir: I perform the painful duty of announcing to the Department of State the sudden death of the Hon. William L. Dayton, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States to France. Mr. Dayton expired yesterday evening at nine o’clock very suddenly of apoplexy.

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I will be guided by my circular instruction, and will respectfully await further instructions from the department in reference to the performance of the functions of my office.

I hasten to communicate this sad event to the department.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. S. PENNINGTON.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State,