No. 399.
Mr. Birney to Mr. Evarts.

No. 74.]

Sir: Having been advised that the Ex-President of the United States and Mrs. Grant would visit The Hague, I met them upon their arrival on the 15th instant, and they accepted invitations to be my guests.

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I had made known his coming to the minister for foreign affairs, and in his behalf asked audience of His Majesty the King, and presentation to their royal highnesses, Prince Frederick and Prince Alexander. The King, through his minister expressed by note his very great regret that he could not be at the capitol to give the Ex-President, and illustrious general, welcome to the Netherlands. In compliance with the invitation, the Ex-President and Mrs. Grant, accompanied by the minister resident of the United States, visited Prince Frederick at his castle in the country, where they were most hospitably received and entertained. On the same day, the Ex-President also had a pleasant interview with Prince Alexander.

During the evening of the second day after their arrival, General and Mrs. Grant dined with the diplomatic corps and their wives, at the residence of the minister of the United States, and afterward, at same place, met at reception a large number of the citizens of the Hague.

On the next day, His Excellency Baron van Heckeran van Kell, minister for foreign affairs of Holland, very kindly entertained a large party at dinner, and held a reception in honor of the Ex-President.

Upon a suggestion being made that it might be pleasing to General Grant as a military man to witness a parade of Dutch troops, a review was promptly ordered, at which he attended and received complimentary salutes.

The general while here was called upon by the burgomaster of Rotterdam, and by prominent citizens of Amsterdam, and accepted invitations to dinner in both cities.

On the part of the officials of the government here, every disposition was shown to treat with the highest respect the Ex-President of the United States, and wherever he went in Holland the same feeling was manifested, which he acknowledged as a tribute of good-will to the republic over which he had the honor to preside as its executive.

This is written as responsive to your circular of May 23, 1877, and you may be assured that it gave me “patriotic pleasure” to express the “wishes of the Department,” in showing any attention and consideration in my power “to a citizen of the republic so signally distinguished both in official service and personal renown.”

I have, &c.,

JAMES BIRNEY.