No. 209.
[Extracts.]
General Schenck to Mr. Fish
No. 9.]
Legation of the United States, London, June
22, 1871. (Received July 6.)
Sir: Last Friday, the 16th, I sent a telegram
informing you that the next day was appointed for the exchange of
ratifications of the treaty.
* * * * * * *
A copy of that telegram is inclosed. * * *
I have the satisfaction to inform you that, having produced and exchanged
powers from our respective governments, the formal exchange of ratifications
took place, as agreed between Lord Granville and myself, on Saturday the
17th, at quarter past 2 o’clock p. m., at the Foreign Office. I note the
exact time and place as marking an interesting and momentous point in the
history of the two countries and their governments. Besides Lord Granville
and myself, there were present and assisting on our part, Mr. Moran,
secretary of legation, and General Woodhull, assistant secretary; and on the
other side, Lord Tenderden and Mr. Bergne, of the Foreign Office. No
particular ceremony was observed beyond the signing of the certificates of
our action. There was, however, an interchange of hearty mutual
congratulation that we had completed an act which has not only removed all
present serious differences, but established, we hope, lasting peace and
better understanding between the two countries.
Mr. Bancroft C. Davis, your bearer of dispatches, who brought to me the
American copy of the treaty, will carry back with him, as directed, the
British copy. He will sail with it from Liverpool on Saturday, the 24th
instant, in the steamer Scotia. He has acquitted himself with faithful
attention to the trust you committed to him.
I send with the treaty a copy of the power to Lord Granville exchanged with
me, and the certificate of the due execution of our authority.
I have, &c.,
[Telegram.]
General Schenck to Mr. Fish
Will exchange ratifications to-morrow.
Victoria R.
Victoria, by the grace of God, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c., &c., &c. To
all and singular to whom these presents shall come, greeting:
Whereas, for the better treating of and arranging certain matters which
are now in discussion, or which may come into discussion, between us and
any other powers and states, we have judged it expedient to invest a fit
person with full power to conduct the said discussion on our part: Know
ye, therefore, that we, reposing especial trust and confidence in the
wisdom, loyalty, diligence, and circumspection of right trusty and right
well-beloved cousin and counselor Granville, George Earl Granville, Lord
Leveson, a Peer of our United Kingdom, Knight of our most noble order of
the Garter, our principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, have
named, made, constituted, and appointed, as we do by these presents,
name, make, constitute, and appoint him our
[Page 449]
undoubted commissioner, procurator, and
plenipotentiary, giving to him all manner of power and authority to
treat, adjust, and conclude, with such minister or ministers as may be
vested with similar power and authority on the part of any powers or
states as aforesaid, any treaties, conventions, or agreements that may
tend to the attainment of the above-mentioned end, and to sign for us
and in our name everything so agreed upon and concluded, and to do and
transact all such other matters as may appertain to the finishing of the
aforesaid work, in as ample manner and form, and with equal force and
efficacy, as we ourselves could do, if personally present; engaging and
promising, upon our royal word, that whatever things shall be so
transacted and concluded by our said commissioner, procurator, and
plenipotentiary, shall be agreed to, acknowledged, and accepted by us in
the fullest manner, and that we will never suffer, either in the whole
or in part, any person whatsoever, to infringe the same, or act contrary
thereto, as far as it lies in our power.
In witness whereof, we have caused the great seal of our United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland to be affixed to these presents, which we
have signed with our royal hand.
Given at our court at
Osborne, the nineteenth day of July, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy, and in the
thirty-fourth year of our reign.
