Office of the Historian

Mr. Seward to Mr. Clay

No. 164.]
Department of State, Washington, July 14, 1865.

Sir: I transmit to you a letter of condolence from the President of the United States to the Emperor of Russia, in answer to one just received from his Majesty, announcing to the President the melancholy intelligence of the death of his Majesty’s son—his Imperial Highness the Cesarowitch—at Nice. An office copy of the President’s letter is also enclosed. You will communicate these to the minister for foreign affairs, requesting him to place the original in the hands of the Emperor,

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Cassius M. Clay, Esq., &c., &c., &c., Russia.

Andrew Johnson, President of the United States of America to his Majesty Alexander II, Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russias

Great and Good Friend: I have received the letter which your Majesty addressed to me on the 28th of April last, announcing the melancholy intelligence of the decease, after painful suffering, on the 12th of that month, at Nice, of your Majesty’s much-loved son, his Imperial Highness the Cesarowitch and Hereditary Grand Duke Nicholas Alexandrowitch.

Deeply sympathizing in the grief into which this afflicting event has plunged your Majesty and your Majesty’s Imperial house, I offer to your Majesty my sincere condolence on the occasion, and pray God to have your Majesty, and your Majesty’s Imperial family, always in His safe and holy keeping.

Written at Washington, this fourteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five. Your good friend,

ANDREW JOHNSON.

By the President:

William H. Seward,

Secretary of State.