Office of the Historian
No. 134.

Mr. Washburne to Mr. Fish

No. 425.]
Legation of the United States, Paris, April 25, 1871. (Received May 10.)

Sir: Though I stated in my dispatch, No. 433, upon whose application it was that I intervened on behalf of the archbishop of Paris, I think it better to send you a copy of the letter of his excellency Monseigneur Chigi, the papal nuncio accredited to the government of France, and also a copy of the letter of the vicar-general of Paris and his associates, both of which were addressed to me, showing the grounds upon which they based their request. I have just learned that the British embassy was appealed to in this matter, before any application was made to me, and that all intervention whatever was declined. This action, however, of the English legation, if it had been known to me, would have made no difference, for I should have considered myself perfectly justified in extending my good offices, officiously, in behalf of a man so eminent for his piety and so distinguished for his liberal sentiments and philanthropic views as the archbishop of Paris, now so cruelly persecuted.

I have, &c.,

E. B. WASHBURNE.
[Translation.]

Monseigneur Chigi to Mr. Washburne

Versailles Mantreuil, 2 Old Church Street, April 18, 1871.

Mr. Minister and Dear Colleague: Permit me to request you to receive with kindness, in quite a confidential way, four ecclesiastic canons of the Metropolitan [Page 334] Church in Paris, who come to implore your protection in behalf of the archbishop, incarcerated by the insurgents in Paris. Permit me to add my entreaties to those of the good canous, and to assure you of my deep gratitude for all you may be able to do, and to try, at least, to obtain that the life of Monseigneur Darboy be not in danger.

Be pleased, Mr. Minister, to accept the assurance of my high consideration and my gratitude.

FLAVIUS CHIGI, Arch. de Mejren, Nonce Apostolique.

Mr. Minister Plenipotentiary: The sad events which are taking place in Paris have not failed to attract the attention of your excellency, and among other deplorable excesses which the civil war has caused in this unhappy city, the arrest of monseigneur the archbishop and the principal members of his clergy, will have been particularly remarked by the different representatives of powers friends to France.

Taking ground upon this friendship, and upon the good relations that exist between the Government of the United States of America and our country, we, the canons and members of the Metropolitan Church Chapter of Paris, such that could assemble, take the liberty to beg your excellency to be so kind as to interpose your good offices in a manner which you may think proper, in order to obtain as soon as possible the deliverance of our archbishop, and that the cause of humanity and civilization may cease to suffer in his person, doubly respectable, as well in his dignity as by his merits, one of the greatest infringements which could ever have been indicted upon him.

Every political idea, however, being excluded, we place ourselves entirely upon the law of nations, and upon the sympathy that such unmerited treatment cannot fail to inspire, and we venture to hope that your excellency may favorably receive our request, and that you will give it such results as we may wish.

In this hope and confidence, we have the honor to be, Mr. Minister Plenipotentiary, your excellency’s very humble and obedient servants.

LOUVRIER, Chanoine Penitencier da Diocése de Paris.
J. SAGARDE, Vicaire Général de Paris, Archie-diacre.
En BOUNET, Chanoine.
L. ALLAIN, Chanoine, Secrétaire.