No. 217.
Mr. Frelinghuysen to Mr. Lowell.
Department
of State,
Washington, October 21,
1882.
No. 475.]
Sir: I transmit herewith a copy of a letter
addressed to me by Mr. W. W. Corcoran, a resident of this city, in which he
acquaints me with his wish to provide for the disinterment of the remains of
John Howard Payne, author of “Home, Sweet Home,” and their removal to the
United States for sepulture among his countrymen.
Mr. Corcoran’s proposal has my approbation. In carrying it out, however, some
difficulty is found in the want of a representative of the United States in
Tunis.
I will therefore thank you to bring the matter to the attention of Earl
Granville, by communicating to him a copy of Mr. Corcoran’s letter, and
asking that Her Majesty’s consul at Tunis may be requested to apply to the
proper authorities there for permission to exhume Mr. Payne’s remains, and
to make arrangements for their transportation to this country. This
Department will take charge of the necessary reimbursement when informed of
the amount.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure in No. 475.]
Mr. Corcoran to Mr.
Frelinghuysen.
Washington, D. C., October 14, 1882.
Dear Sir: I respectfully ask permission of the
State Department to disinter the remains of our countryman, John Howard
Payne, which now rest in a grave near Tunis, in Africa, that they may
receive more appropriate sepulture in the bosom of his native land.
Mr. Payne died, as is well known, in the service of the State Department
on the 9th of April, 1852, while acting as consul of the United States
at Tunis, and I understand
[Page 408]
that, a marble slab, erected by order of the Department, still marks the
spot where his body was laid.
It has seemed to me that the precious dust of an American citizen who
sang so sweetly in praise of Home, Sweet Home” should not be left to
mingle with any soil less dear to him than that of the land which gave
him birth, and which, by the beauty of its home life, gave to him his
best poetical inspiration.
If you concur with me in this sent intent, I beg leave to say that I
will, when favored with your official permission, charge myself with the
duty of providing for the , removal of his remains to this country, and,
on their arrival here, will give to them a new and suitable resting
place in Oak Hill Cemetery, taking care, of course, to mark the spot
with a monument which shall perpetuate in the eyes of his countrymen the
name of the poet already embalmed in their hearts by his immortal
lyric.
I ought to add that I make this application to you because, as the
honored head of the State Department, you seem to be the natural
custodian of Mr. Payne’s grave in Tunis. I am further induced to make
this appeal to you because, after careful inquiry, I am led to believe
that Mr. Payne has now no descendant or collateral kindred to whom I
could address a communication on the subject.
I have, &c.,
