Office of the Historian

No. 420.
Mr. Hoffman to Mr. Evarts.

Legation of the United States,
St Petersburg, April 15, 1879. (Received May 5.)
No. 89.]

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that very early this morning I received your telegram of yesterday in the following words:

“President and people cordially congratulate His Majesty on providential escape.”

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I wrote at once to Prince Gortchakoff, and beg to inclose herewith a copy of my note.

The Austrian ambassador, as dean of the diplomatic corps at St. Petersburg, called upon Prince Gortchakoff to state the desire of the corps to express their congratulations to the Emperor in person. The Emperor while thanking them for their congratulations and good wishes, which he highly appreciated, preferred not to receive them in special audience.

I have heard nothing new in regard to the attempted assassination beyond the details I gave you in my No. 87.

I have, &c.,

WICKHAM HOFFMAN.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 89.]
Legation of the United States,
St. Petersburg, April 15, 1879.

Prince: I telegraphed to my government yesterday the news of the infamous attempt upon the Emperor’s life, and of his happy escape.

To-day I am in receipt of a telegram in reply instructing me to say to His Majesty that “the President and people of the United States cordially congratulate His Majesty on his providential escape.”

I need scarcely add that I heartily join my own felicitations to those of the President and of my countrymen.

Will your highness kindly convey to the Emperor the expression of these cordial congratulations.

I take this opportunity, &c.

WICKHAM HOFFMAN.