Mr. Clay to Mr. Seward

No. 112.]

Dear Sir: Your despatches to No. 209, inclusive, are received.

In reference to 208, I at once sent note No. 100 to Prince Gortchacow, who promptly responded that the Emperor would give me an audience.

The Emperor on the 29th instant, coming in from Tzarskoselo, gave me a special audience at the winter palace.

My address and his imperial Majesty’s reply are made (A A) a part of this despatch.

His Majesty, after the more formal addresses, in a familiar conversation expressed his high admiration of the ability and statesmanlike policy of the President, saying that a magnanimous and conciliatory policy towards the South seems to be the only secure restoration of the Union.

The Emperor reads all the prominent journals each day, and marks with red pencil all the paragraphs to which he desires to call the special attention of the several departments. The Russian journals are full of the discussion of our affairs; and the Emperor is thoroughly conversant with the policies of the President and the Congress.

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The Russian journals laud very much your conduct of the French-Mexican correspondence, and the summary settlement of Austrian intervention.

Very truly, your obedient servant,

C. M. CLAY.

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

P. S.—You will observe that I avoided alluding to the nobles or serfs in this matter; because it is the policy of the government to heal up all differences between classes.

CLAY.

A A.

Address of C. M. Clay.

Your Imperial Majesty: I am instructed by the President of the United States in this personal interview to say to your Majesty that he has heard of the events of the 4th of April last “with profound concern;” and I am ordered, “in the name of the United States, to congratulate” your imperial Majesty “upon the escape which Divine Providence has vouchsafed” to your Majesty, and to assure your imperial Majesty “of the sincere respect, affection, and friendship of the American people.”

I need not assure your imperial Majesty that these words from the President and people of the United States reflect my own sentiments for we are all unanimous in our aspirations for the preservation of your imperial Majesty and your imperial Majesty’s dynasty, on which are founded our hopes of the future advance of Russia and the eastern world in civilization, in Christianity, and in happiness.

Reply of His Imperial Majesty.

The unhappy events of the 4th of April are not without compensation. I thank God for his merciful interposition in my behalf, and next my heart is filled with gratitude and pleasure in view of the sympathy which has been called forth by these sad events, not only from all classes of my own people, but from other nations. The words of sympathy are most heartily appreciated which you bear me from the President of the United States and the American people. Under similar circumstances I assured them of my solicitude and sorrow, and I trust under Providence that these our mutual calamities will strengthen our friendly relations and render them ever permanent.

You will return, then, my sincere thanks to the President and the people of the United States, and accept yourself my grateful acknowledgments for the personal good wishes which you have uttered towards myself, my family and my people.

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The American minister has this day received a despatch from the Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, in which he informs this legation that in an interview with “his excellency Edward de Stoeckl,” they “had received an official confirmation of the exciting report that on the 4th day of April last an attempt was made to assassinate his Majesty the Emperor of Russia,” and that this intelligence is received “by the President of the United States with profound concern,” &c.

And he concludes: “The President desires that you will ask a personal interview with his Majesty, and in the name of the United States congratulate him upon the escape which Divine Providence vouchsafed to him, and assure him of the sincere respect, affection, and friendship of the American people.”

The American minister therefore begs his excellency Prince Gortchakoff, vice-chancellor and minister of foreign affairs, &c., to communicate these instructions to his imperial Majesty, and ascertain when it would be agreeable to his imperial Majesty that the American minister should have the honor to perform that pleasant duty.

The minister of the United States has the honor to assure his excellency Prince Gortchakoff of his most distinguished consideration.

C. M. CLAY.