No. 120.
Mr. Washburne to Mr.
Fish
No. 399.]
Legation of the United States, Versailles,
March 30, 1871. (Received April
14.)
Sir: I have the honor to inform the Department
that, on the 17th instant, I notified Mr. Jules Favre that the citizens of
Boston had sent a large quantity of provisions to France, for the benefit of
those who had suffered by the war, and that the Government of the United
States had placed a national vessel at the disposition of the donors to
carry those provisions to Havre. To-day I am in receipt of a letter from Mr.
Favre, a translation of which I have the honor to forward herewith,
conveying the thanks of the French government to that of the United States
and to the city of Boston. I beg that you will transmit a copy of Mr.
Favre’s letter to the committee of the donors in that city.
I am, &c.,
[Page 318]
[Translation.]
Mr. Jules Favre to Mr. Washburne
Versailles, March 29, 1871.
Sir: You did me the honor to inform me, by your
letter of the 17th of this month, that a subscription had been opened in
Boston with the object of sending provisions to those French families
which have suffered most during the war, and you add that the Government
of the United States has placed at the disposition of the donors the
United States frigate Worcester, which should already have sailed for
Havre with the cargo.
I hasten, sir, to address to you the thanks of the French government for
the kindness of the Cabinet of Washington, and I beg you to transmit to
the city of Bosten the expression of our gratitude for the generosity it
has shown toward our people who have suffered from the war.
In conformity with the wish which you have expressed to me, the proper
authorities at Havre have been requested to grant to the Worcester all
desirable facilities for discharging her cargo, as well as immunity from
all port and custom-house charges.
