Mr. Clay to Mr.
Seward
No. 112.]
Legation of the United States,
St. Petersburg, Russia,
May 31, 1866.
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.
[Page 415]
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,
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.
[Untitled]
Legation of the United
States, St. Petersburg,
Russia,
May 14-26, 1866.
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.