No. 319.
Mr. Bayard
to Mr. Phelps.
Department
of State,
Washington, May 27,
1887.
No. 629.]
Sir: I inclose herewith a letter, with office copy
thereof, from the President to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, congratulating
her upon the arrival of the fiftieth anniversary of her accession to the
Crowri of Great Britian.
[Page 479]
You will transmit the office copy to the foreign office with the statement
that you will be pleased to present the original in the manner most
agreeable to Her Majesty.
I am, etc.,
Grover Cleveland,
the President of the United States, to Her Majesty Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and
Ireland and Empress of India.
Great and Good Friend; In the name and on
behalf of the people of the United States I present their sincere
felicitations upon the arrival of the fiftieth anniversary of Your
Majesty’s accession to the Crown of Great Britain.
I but utter the general voice of my fellow countrymen in wishing for your
people the prolongation of a reign so marked with advance in popular
well-being, physical, moral, and intellectual.
It is justice and not adulation to acknowledge the debt of gratitude and
respect due to your personal virtues, for their important influence in
producing and conserving the prosperous and well-ordered condition of
affairs now generally prevailing throughout your dominions.
May your life be prolonged, and peace, honor, and prosperity bless the
people over whom you have been called to rule; may liberty flourish
throughout your Empire under just and equal laws, and your Government be
strong in the affections of all who live under it.
And I pray God to have your Majesty in His holy keeping.
Done at Washington, this 26th of May, A. D. 1887.
Your good friend,
By the President:
T. F. Bayard,
Secretary of State.
