Mr. Campbell to Mr. Seward.
Sir: The United States squadron, composed of the double-turreted monitor Miantonomoh and steamship Augusta, under command of Captain Alexander Murray, senior officer, and having the honorable G. V. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, on board, reached its anchorage in the port of Stockholm before noon on the eighteenth ultimo. A boat was sent off for the consul of the United States, A. W. Frestadius, jr., who went on board, and received the consul’s salute. Honorable G. V. Fox and Captain Murray then called at this legation, where I was pleased to received my countrymen. We then paid our respects to Admiral Lilliehook, commanding this naval department, and subsequently called upon Count Manderström, the Swedish minister of state and foreign affairs, who received us in the most cordial manner. He remarked to me, in the course of the interview, that the reception of Mr. Fox and the American officers might “not be on so grand a scale as their Russian ovation, but that it would be none the less cordial.” He informed us that the King would be at Upsala at the opening of the railroad connecting Stockholm with that place, on the following Thursday and Friday, but that upon his return he would be pleased to receive the American visitors, and he requested me to furnish him with the names and rank of those who desired presentation. I furnished Count Manderström with the names and rank of officers as requested, and at the same time intimated that the officers of the squadron would be gratified if the King and members of the royal family would visit the Miantonomoh.
We then called upon Count Platen, minister of marine, and upon M. Daschkow, the Russian minister at this court.
On the 19th ultimo I visited the vessels and received the usual salute, while Mr. Fox and some of the officers examined the Scandinavian industrial exhibition, including guns, metals and manufactures, as well as places of interest in the neighborhood.
On the 20th ultimo Mr. Fox, Captain Murray, Commander Beaumont, and several officers of the fleet, as well as Consul Frestadius and myself, availed ourselves of the invitation of Admiral Lilliehook, Captain Addlespavre, and a number of Swedish naval officers, to proceed by steamer up the Mälar lake to Shoklosten, one of the most ancient and interesting chateaus in Sweden. The company dined on board the steamer. The most friendly sentiments were exchanged, and the bonds of good feeling between American and Swedish officers strengthened.
On the 21st ultimo I received a note from Count Manderström, of which enclosure No. 1 is a copy, and on the same day, after partaking of a delightful collation with the Swedish and American naval officers at consul Frestadius’, Mr. Fox, the commanders of the vessels, and others were dined by the Russian minister.
On the 22d ultimo, according to appointment, I had the pleasure to present [Page 180] the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, as well as Captain Murray and Commander Beaumont, to the King, at his palace in Stockholm. The reception was friendly and free from ceremony. The King expressed his gratification at seeing American officers in Sweden, and asked Mr. Fox questions in relation to the vessels, at the same time expressing his intention of visiting them. The interview made a favorable impression on the minds of the visitors.
At three o’clock p. m. of the same day, his Majesty, with the Crown Prince Oscar, the minister of marine and officials of his household, went on board the Augusta, and received the royal salute. He then proceeded with his suite to the Miantonomoh, and examined that vessel somewhat in detail. He conversed freely with the officers, gave one sailor some money for his family, and left, expressing himself gratified with his visit. Mr. Fox and the commanders of the vessels were on board to receive the King, and every mark of attention and respect was shown the distinguished party.
After the King had left the Miantonomoh, the diplomatic corps accredited to Sweden, on my invitation visited that vessel. The ministers of Prussia, France, Austria, Italy, &c., &c., with their secretaries and consuls, were received on board by Commander Beaumont and his subordinates, and every facility afforded for the inspection of an iron-clad of which Europe had heard so much.
On the same day at a subsequent hour I had the honor to dine the Swedish and American naval officers, as well as the diplomatic corps, the leading officials of the Swedish government, including Count Manderström, Count Platen and others. The health of the King of Sweden and Norway was proposed by me, and in reply Count Manderström gave the health of the President of the United States. He prefaced his toast by an allusion to the fact that Sweden had formed a treaty with the United States as early as the 3rd of April, 1783, and said we had been good friends ever since; “And now,” he observed, “there is not a cloud on our political horizon.” Count Manderström further spoke of Mr. Fox as a gentleman to whom Sweden was indebted for much valuable information on naval matters, as well as for courtesy to her officers, and was kind enough to say of the American minister that his influence had always been exerted to increase friendly relations between the respective governments and peoples of the two countries. Mr. Fox in reply reciprocated the friendly sentiments expressed by Count Manderström, and said the Swedes were welcome in America, where they formed a valuable portion of the population. He also paid a merited tribute to John Ericsson. As the diplomatic corps were present, I subsequently gave the health of friendly sovereigns, peoples, and governments, and said that the mission of my country was peace and progress, where these could be secured with justice and honor. Nothing transpired to mar the good feeling that prevailed among the guests.
On the 23d ultimo, Mr. Fox, Captain Murray, Commanders Beaumont and Cornwell, Lieutenant Commanders Pritchett and Stuyvesant, Dr. Scofield, and the American minister dined with the King at the palace of Ulriksdal. The Queen Louisa, Prince Oscar, Count Manderström, and Count Platen were present. The entertainment was marked by kindness and affability. Captain Murray had concluded to sail on the following day, but the King urged him to remain until Wednesday, to afford the Queen dowager Josephine, the mother of the present sovereign, an opportunity to entertain the American visitors; the King was urgent, and Captain Murray consented.
On Monday, the 24th September, Count Platen dined Mr. Fox and the Americans, as well as several distinguished Swedes. He proposed the health of Mr. Fox, and spoke of that gentleman in high terms for information the government of Sweden had derived from him, or through his instrumentality, and said he was pleased to have an opportunity to thank him at his own table, &c., &c.
On Tuesday the American officers, including Captain Murray, Commanders Beaumont and Cornwell, Mr. Fox, the American minister, as well as Count [Page 181] Platen and Admiral Lilliehook, and accompanied by the King and Prince Oscar, went by steamer up the Mälar lake to the palace of Drottningholm, one of the most beautifully located and interesting palaces of Europe. The visitors were received in the most friendly and courtly manner by Queen Josephine, the King, and all the members of the royal family, nor was anything omitted in the reception, the sumptuous repast, the examination of paintings and works of art, the drive through the beautiful grounds of the palace, the friendly and general conversation that followed, to assure the guests that it was a pleasure to see and entertain them.
On Wednesday, the 26th ultimo, a dense fog prevented the squadron from sailing, but they got away early on the morning of the 27th of September, the Swedish naval department sending a gunboat to escort them out to sea.
It is but just to Consul Frestadius to say that he was unfailing in his attentions to officers and men, and that he placed a small steamer with hands and fuel at the disposal of the officers of the squadron during the whole period of the visit.
Every reasonable facility was politely afforded by Commander Beaumont for the examination of the Miantonomoh, and thousands of persons visited her daily. Her coming has been of service to my country, by impressing foreigners with the mechanical skill, enterprise, power, and resources of the people of the United States, while the intelligence, courteous bearing, and kindness of Mr. Fox, Captain Murray, and the officers generally, has made friends for America.
Mr. Fox did me the honor to make my house his home during his visit to Stockholm.
I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.