Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, For the Year 1887, Transmitted to Congress, With a Message of the President, June 26, 1888

No. 227.
Mr. Bayard to Mr. McLane.

Department of State,
Washington, December 1, 1886.

No. 176.]

Sir: I inclose a copy of a statement,^* with affidavit, addressed to this Department by Mr. Edward A. Simmert, concerning an alleged estate in France left by Baron von Kuhmann, who died at the Military Academy of St. Cyr in 1811. You will be so good as to give the matter such attention as in your judgment it appears to deserve, and report the result to the Department.

For the convenience of the Department, as well as of your own legation, it would be well for you to make such a report in regard to this and the many cases of its class, embodying the provisions of the French laws regarding unclaimed estates, and the experience of your legation in searching for them, which may be printed by the Department as a circular to send, as is done in regard to estates in England, Germany, and Holland, by way of reply to the inquiries of claimants, who are in most cases the victims of designing agents.

I am, etc.,

T. F. Bayard.

1. Not printed herewith.