The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-18 00:00:00

MR. SEWARD TO MR. MOTLEY.

I Department of State, Washington, Nov. 21, 1866.
Sir,—A citizen of the United States has ad-
dressed a letter to the President of the United
States from Paris, in which he represents that he
had travelled extensively in Europe during the
last year, in the course of which he had occasion
to see something of our ministers and consuls in
various countries ; that most of those whom he met
were bitterly hostile to the President and his ad-
ministration, and expressed that hostility in so free
a !tanner as to astonish Americans and to leave a
very bad impression on Europeans. Ire adds that
you do not pretend to conceal your disgust, PI, he
says, you style it, at the President's whole conduct ;
that you despise American democracy, and loudly
proclaim that an English gentleman is the model of
human perfection ; that the President has deserted
his pledges and principles in common with Mr.
Seward, who, you say, is hopelessly degraded.
Your denial or affirmation of the truth of these re-
ports is requested.—l am, sir, your obedient
servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
To J. L. Lothrop Motley, Esq.
MR. MOTLEY TO MP.. SEWARD.

Legation of the United States, Vienna,
Dec. 11, 1866.

Hon. William 11. Seward, Secretary of State,—
Sir,—An hour or two ago I received a letter from
you, dated 21st November, 1866, to which I hasten
to reply. You inform me that a citizm of the
United States has addressed a letter to the Presi-
dent, from Paris, stating that in the course of the
last year " he had occasion to see something of our
ministers and consuls in various countries ;" that
moat of those whom he met were bitterly hostile to
the President and his Administration, and expressel
that hostility in so open a manner as to astonish
Americans and leave a very bad impression on
Europeans. With the opening paragraph relating
generally to the United States ministers and consuls
abroad I have nothing especially to do. Other
gentlemen are fully competent to answer for them-
selves. You proceed to say, "He adds that you
do not pretend to conceal your disgust, as he says
you style it, at the President's whole conduct ; that
you despise American democracy, and loudly pro-
claim that an English gentleman is the model of
perfection ; that the President has deserted his
pledges and principles in common with Mr.
Seward, who, you say, is hopelessly degraded."
You close by requesting me to deny or confirm
the truth of these reports. My first impulse on
receiving the letter was to content myself with a
flat denial of their truth. On a little further re-
flection, however, I do not wish that there should
be doubt as to my political sentiments as a repre-
sentative of the foreign politics of the Government.
I have done my best faithfully to discharge my
duties in strict conformity with my instructions. In
the conflict of opinions in regard to home questions,
especially that of reconstruction, my views have
never been asked for by the United States Govern-
ment, and I should have considered it unbecoming
and superfluous to volunteer a public declaration
of them, as certainly should I have deemed it
my duty to express them frankly whenever they were
officially demanded. That I have called " Mr.
Seward hopelessly degraded" is a vile calumny ;
and it wounds me deeply that you could listen for a
moment to such a falsehood. In conclusion, I have
only to add that I beg herewith respectfully to re-
sign my post as United States Minister at Vienna.
—.I am, sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) LOTIIROP J. MOTLEY.

The Duchess of Inverness received their Royal
Highnesses the Duko of Cambridge, tho Duchess of Cam-
bridge, and Princess Mary, Princess of Tack, as• dinner on
Friday evening, at Kensington Palace. A select and dis-
tinguished party had the honour to meet the illustrious
guests.
The Ist battalion of Scots Fusilier Guards, under
the command of Colonel H. P. Hepburn, which left Lon-
don for Chester in anticipation of their services being re-
quired in support of the local authorities, returned to St.
George's Barracks on Saturday afternoon.
CONVICTION OF STEPHEN JOSEPH MEANY.-011
Saturday Stephen Joseph Meany, who has been connected
with the Fenian conspirators both in Ireland and America,
was tried in Dublin on a charge of treason-felony, and was
found guilty. Sentence was postponed, pending a ruling
on the point reserved as to the jurisdiction of the Court to
try the case.

LONDON, CHATHAM, AND DOVER RAILWAY.
We understand that representatives of the debenture
holders and of the other securities of this railway have
been in communication with the directors, and that there
is now every prospect of an amicable settlement of all
points in dispute.—Rzilleay News.
THE FENIANS TAPPING THE WIRES.—It is more
than probable that among the Fenians who have
been recently operating about Killarney there are a few
experts—as far as tapping the wires go. In the late war
in America Forrest, Stuart, and Morgan gained much popu-
larity in consequence of the manner in which they tapped
the wires, and thereby convoyed important Federal news to
the Southern authorities. One or two tricks of this kind
have been just enacted in Ireland, and it is stated that the
Fenians, had there really been any serious assemblage,
could have tapped every wire from Fairijead Valentia.
THE RAILWAY TUNNEL TIIROUGII TILE ALPS.—
The official report on the progress of the Mont Cenis
Tunnel states, that on the 31st of December last 3,9-10
metros were completed on the Bardoneche side, and 2,434
metres on that of Modena; that 1,025 metres wore com-
pleted in 1866 ; and that 5,840 metros remain to be coin •
pleted.

ARMOUR OF NAPOLEON lll.—The line collection
of ancient armour belonging to Napoleon the Third is
about to bo removed from tho Tuileries to tho Chateau of
Pierrefonds, where it will be exhibited in a large hall of
tbo sixteenth century, appropriately restored by M. Viollot-
Leduc.

EPIDEMIC INFLUENZA IN LONDON.—Practitioners
at the West-end speak of a rather considerable epidemic of
influenza which has prevailed during the last three weeks,
although it does not seem to have yet made any show in
the Registrar-General's weekly return. Violent catarrh
and great sense of muscular fatigue aro the early symp-
toms; and those are followed by neuralgia in tile 14ead and
face.—Medical