No. 198.
Mr. Wurts
to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Rome, July 30, 1882. (Received August 17.)
Sir: My telegram of the 24th instant informed you of the decease of Mr. Marsh, which took place at Vallombrosa, Tuscany, not on the morning of that day, as I was led to suppose by my first intimation of it, but on the evening previous. He died very suddenly of paralysis of the heart, without any premonitory symptoms and without suffering, his health being as usual up to a half hour of the event.
There being no telegraphic station in that out-of-the-way place, high up in the mountains, dispatches could be sent only the next day, and the earliest news of the sad event was communicated to me by the ministry of foreign affairs, which had its information from the Royal Institute of Forestry, and established in the former monastery of Vallombrosa.
I left at once to join Mrs. Marsh, both as a friend and the person indicated to provide for the interment befitting the rank of the deceased. On my arrival there I found that great difficulties had had to be overcome in the arrangement for the last offices to the dead, on account of the laws of Italy on the subject, but thanks to the energy and firmness of Signore Simone Peruzzi, an officer of the royal court, living near by, who assumed the responsibility of infringing upon the regulations, impossible [Page 372] to comply with there. These obstacles were surmounted, and I am happy to inform you that every mark of respect, and every honor due to the deceased as a distinguished man, and the representative of a friendly nation, were shown by the authorities of tbe Italian Government.
The remains were conveyed to Rome under my charge on the 28th, and on reaching the railway station were met by the diplomatic corps, the minister, director-general and secretary-general of foreign affairs, the director-general of the ministry of the interior, representing the prime minister, the syndic and a deputation from, the municipality of Rome, delegates from the provincial council, a representation of the royal household, the consul-general and vice-consul-general of the United States, and a number of Americans and friends of the family. A regiment of lancers was in attendance, and a squadron of it led and a battalion closed the procession to the cemetery at the opposite side of the city, where the body will remain in a mortuary chamber until the end of September, by which time the family will be able to return to Rome, and there will be some American Protestant clergyman present to perform the religious ceremony of the funeral.
I have returned thanks verbally to the officials of the Italian Government for the attentions shown upon this melancholy occasion, and have written a formal note of thanks to the minister of foreign affairs, and called in person to express to the syndic of Rome my appreciation of the honors rendered; and I would indicate as deserving of special thanks his excellency Signore Mancini, minister, of foreign affairs; the Signore Malvano, director-general of foreign, affairs Signore Simone Peruzzi, master of ceremonies: the delegate from the prefecture of Florence, the commander of carabineers, of Pontassieve (these two last named, having been ordered to Vallombrosa to be at Mrs. Marsh’s and my disposition, rendered most efficient services); the directors of the Royal Institute of Forestry, the syndics of Rome, Pontassieve, and Reggello.
All the principal journals of Italy have published highly eulogistic obituary articles on Mr. Marsh and his distinguished career, and expressions of condolence have been very general. The King and Queen both telegraphed to Mrs. Marsh their participation in her sorrow, the telegram of his Majesty expressing with much feeling his sympathy for her and his high appreciation of the eminent character of the late minister of the United States, who for twenty-one years shed luster upon his court.
I have, &c.,