Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 17th of February, No. 36, which gives me the information you have been able to acquire concerning the insurgent proceedings to enlist Polish subjects of Russia.
It is a pitiable result of the loss of national life that any of the children of Poland should, under influences of whatever form of demoralization, be disposed to pass into the military ranks of the army of disunion and slavery in the United States. Happily, the waning fortunes of the rebels seem likely to render the acceptance of such persons to the insurgent forces practically impossible, and so to prevent their incurring a disgrace to which we can only lament that they have so blindly consented. I am, sir, your obedient servant,
John Bigelow, Esq., &c., &c., &c.