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that country. Switzerland passed through a similar crisis fourteen years ago, which threatened to tear asunder the then loose connexion of the twenty-two cantons. But renewed rose the present confederation from that tempest; strengthened internally and abroad, she now stands there, esteemed by the nations. May God grant that the connexion of the States of the United States of America may also emerge renewed and strengthened out of this crisis.

The president of the Swiss confederation presents his best thanks, through your excellency, to the President of the United States for his assurances of friendship and sympathy. He hopes that the new minister resident will thoroughly acquaint himself with our relations and laws. That would render the more possible for him a strict performance of his duties; the protection of the rights and interests of American citizens, and the preservation of a good and ever friendly understanding with the Swiss government, which wishes to unite loyauté with their maintenance of authority. The President of the confederation may add that he thinks the retiring minister resident has learned to esteem Switzerland, her authorities and nation, and he may give to Mr. Fay the plain assurance that he has acquired the esteem and the love of the country and her magistrates. The President of the confederation doubts not a moment that the relations between the federal council and the present representative of America will always be of the most friendly character.

No. 1.]

Mr. Fogg to Mr. Seward.

UNITED STATES LEGATION,

Berne, July 8, 1861.

SIR: Leaving New York for my post of duty on the steamer "Adriatic," the 14th day of May, I reached Berne via Galway, London, and Paris, June 27, having previously ascertained by correspondence with my predecessor that it would be agreeable to him for me to take possession of the office, legation property, &c., the 1st day of July.

Making it my first duty, after arriving, to call on Mr. Fay at his house, I was received with the utmost frankness and cordiality, and with the offer of every facility to render my entrance upon my new duties pleasant to myself and favorable to the non-interruption of that entente cordiale, now and for years past so happily existing between the American legation and the several members of the Swiss government.

Mr. Fay very kindly undertook to notify the president of the confederation of my arrival, and ask an audience to enable him to present his own letter of recall, and myself and my letter of credence on the Monday following. Having received promise of an audience on the day named, Mr. Fay called with his carriage, and we went together to the palace of the federal council. The sequel has been narrated and transmitted to the State Department by Mr. Fay in his despatch numbered 431, dated July 2, 1861.

Subsequently we called upon the other members of the Swiss government and upon the foreign ambassadors resident at Berne, to all of whom I was kindly introduced, and by all of whom as cordially received-not without uniform, and, I am sure I may add, sincere expressions of regret at the termination of Mr. Fay's official relations with the government and the diplomatic corps.

During our entire round of visits and presentations it was painfully pleasing to be constantly reminded of the profound interest with which the Ex. Doc. 122

contest now going on in the United States, between liberty and union on the one hand, and despotism and secession on the other, is watched alike by the friends of republicanism and of absolutism. Here, however, the rebels have no friends-not even among the representatives of absolutism in Europe On all sides, the sanguine assurances I have felt at liberty to give of the certain triumph of our system and constitution of government over the conspirators for its overthrow, has seemed to give unalloyed satisfaction. That the future may justify these my assurances, will be my constant prayer, with that of millions in other lands.

I should not do justice to my own feelings did I omit to say that I have found Mr. Fay a true Christian gentleman, and an American whose heart has, by absence, lost none of its devotion to the liberties and good name of his native land. Thoroughly sympathizing with the principles and purposes of the present administration of the United States government, and possessing large experience and an enviable reputation in Europe, I trust it may not be deemed impertinent in me to express the hope that the State Department will not be a long time in finding some field where his familiarity with international and diplomatic affairs will be a necessity to the govern

ment.

With an ardent desire for the preservation of the free spirit of our government and the integrity of our national Union, I have the honor to subscribe myself, with the highest consideration, your obedient servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD,

GEORGE G. FOGG.

Secretary of State of the United States of America.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Fogg.
[Extract.]

No. 6.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, July 29, 1861.

SIR: Mr. Fay's despatch of July 2 (No. 431) has been duly received. The account he has given us of his retirement and your entrance upon the mission, as also the sentiments expressed by him and by yourself to the president of the republic, and the reply of that eminent magistrate, are exceedingly interesting. The President of the United States appreciates very highly the liberal and friendly feelings of the Swiss republic, and derives from them new motives to maintain relations so auspiciously established.

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SIR: Your despatch No. 1, dated 8th July last, has been received. Your account of your interview with Mr. Fay, and of the circumstances of the audience granted you by the government of the republic of Switzerland, is

interesting and entirely satisfactory. The sentiments you expressed on that occasion are approved by the President of the United States, and the generous reply made to you by the president of the federal council of Switzerland, as narrated to us in the last despatch of Mr. Fay, has been received with deep emotion. We feel assured that whatever may be the changes of existing relations between us and other countries, Switzerland and the United States will always remain friends.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

GEORGE G. FOGG, Esq., &c., &c., Berne.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Fogg.

No. 13.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 14, 1861.

SIR: Among the important instructions addressed to your predecessor are those concerning the restrictions of certain of the Swiss cantons against citizens of the United States professing Judaism—a subject which received at Mr. Fay's hands a large share of earnest attention, and upon which he addressed the department repeatedly and at much length. It is very desirable that his efforts to procure the removal of the restrictions referred to-which, though not completely successful, have no doubt had much effect in smoothing the way to such a result-should be followed up by you. You will, therefore, after having fully acquainted yourself with what Mr. Fay has done in the premises, and with the views of the department, as expressed to him in the despatches on file in the legation, take such steps as you may deem judicious and likely to advance the benevolent object in question.

It is not doubted that further proper appeals to the justice and liberality of the authorities of the several cantons whose laws discriminate against Israelitish citizens of the United States will result in a removal of the odious restrictions and a recognition of the just rights of those citizens.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

GEORGE G. FOGG, Esq., &c., &c., Berne

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

NETHERLANDS.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Pike.

No. 4.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, May 16, 1861.

SIR: The government is preoccupied with the civil war which has been inaugurated with the reckless purpose of overthrowing the Constitution and the federal Union. It has little time to think of our foreign relations, and when it does think of them it is chiefly to consider how and in what way it can most effectually counteract the efforts of the reyolutionists to procure European intervention in their favor.

The Netherlands lost even their independence for a time through the disastrous operations of the French revolution of 1789. They are slowly, but surely, recovering advantages and prestige which they enjoyed before that calamity occurred. Their policy is peace and friendship with all nations, and certainly they have always manifested the most liberal sentiments towards the United States. In view of these circumstances and dispositions the President does not apprehend any danger that the government of the Netherlands, or its very intelligent people, will lend aid, countenance, or sympathy to the misguided partisans who, in a frenzy of passion, are compassing the ruin of our country.

I have looked through the correspondence of this department with your legation, and I find that, although our commerce is known in every part of the world, and although the Netherlands have no insignificant possessions in each of its great continental divisions, yet that there is not even one case of controversy or dispute between the two nations.

What, then, will you do at the Hague? You can do much, and, first, in relation to Japan. The government of the Netherlands is probably an ally of Japan. I enclose the copy of a note of the 14th instant, addressed by this department to the respective diplomatic representatives of Christian powers here who have treaties with Japan. You will submit the suggestions contained therein to his Majesty's government, and if they should be frankly received, I shall be prepared to submit a project of a convention to carry them into effect.

I have especially called the attention of Baron de Limburg here to this matter, and invited him to consult with his government. Should he comply with this request, your own action will be merely in co-operation with him, and the needful negotiations may be had with him here if his government shall prefer.

The government of the Netherlands may perhaps have forgotten that New York, one of the largest and most prosperous of these States, was colonized by emigrants from that country, and that their descendants still cherish lively affection for the land of their ancestors. The flow of emigration from the Netherlands to this country was arrested by the revolutionary wars which occurred in both countries at the close of the last

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