No. 277.
Mr. Pendleton to Mr. Bayard .

No. 410.]

Sir: Yesterday morning I received from the foreign office a note, of which I send herewith a copy and translation. It informs me that the Emperor, owing to ill health, will probably be prevented for some time from granting audiences; that His Majesty regrets very sincerely his inability to receive me in person for the purpose of the delivery of the congratulatory letter of the President of the United States; and that he has instructed Count Bismarck to express his thanks for the kind wishes of President Cleveland and of the Secretary of State, Mr. Bayard, and to receive from my hands the original letter. Count Bismarck, therefore begs that I may either deliver the President’s letter to him personally or convey the same with a note, that it may be presented to His Majesty. I preferred the latter course, and therefore prepared and sent last evening the note, of which I also annex a copy, inclosing with it the original letter of the President.

I have, etc.,

Geo, H. Pendleton.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 410—Translation.]

Count Bismarck to Mr. Pendleton .

The undersigned, has the honor to state in reply to the esteemed note of the 26th instant, of the envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America, Mr. Pendleton, that His Majesty the Emperor and King will, in consequence of his illness, probably be prevented for some time to come from granting audiences.

His Majesty regrets very sincerely his inability to receive in person the envoy for the purpose of the delivery of the congratulatory letter of the President of the United States, and has instructed the undersigned to express his thanks for the kind wishes of President Cleveland and of the Secretary of State, Mr. Bayard, and to receive the original letter from the hands of the envoy.

The undersigned, therefore, begs that the letter referred to may be either handed to him, or conveyed to him by means of a note, in order that it may be presented to His Majesty, and avails himself, &c.

H. Bismarck.
[Page 386]
[Inclosure 2 in No. 410.]

Mr. Pendleton to Count Bismarck .

The undersigned, envoy, etc., of the United States of America, has the honor; in accordance with the permission granted by his excellency Count Bismarck-Schönhausen, Imperial secretary of state for foreign affairs, in his polite note of the 31st ultimo, received to-day, to hand herewith to his excellency the letter of the President of the United States, addressed to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, expressing the respectful and cordial congratulations of the President on the happy completion by His Majesty of the ninetieth year of his life, crowned with the prosperity of his Empire and the affections of his people.

The undersigned can express but feebly the sentiments of regret and sympathy which he is assured will fill the breast of the President when he shall learn that ill health, which all good men hope may be merely a passing indisposition, affects His Majesty, and will prevent an audience in which the undersigned might place in the hands of the Emperor personally this letter of the President, with the verbal assurance of the profound respect and good will of the people and. Government of the United States, which he was commissioned by the President to communicate, and to explain the unfortunate contretemps of adverse winds and stormy seas, by which the arrival of the President’s letter was delayed beyond the fête of His Majesty’s birthday.

The undersigned gladly avails himself, &c.

Geo. h. Pendleton.
[Inclosure 3 in No. 410.]

Grover Cleveland, the President of the United States, to His Majesty William, Emperor of Germany.

Great and Good Friend: Accept, I pray you, my sincere felicitations upon the attainment of your ninetieth year, in peace and honor, in health and strength, with unclouded faculties to perceive, a heart to enjoy the affection and respect of the people over whom, in the providence of God, you have ruled so long and wisely.

I am confident that I truly reflect the sentiment of tens of thousands of native Germans, who are now prosperous and happy citizens of this Republic, when I express the hope that your life may be prolonged for the welfare of your people and the peace of your Empire.

May God have your Majesty and your Majesty’s family in His wise keeping.

Your good friend,

Grover Cleveland.