The New York herald., 1862-02-12
Tho Famous Jenkins Correspendencs
Between the French and American
state Departments.

The following correspondence wss to-day TRANSMITTED
TO Congress by the President OF the United Statss:-
No. 10z
PARIS, Jan. IA, 1882.
SRl write 10 you in reference 10 small matter out
side or the business OF the but which,
me, not improper TO communicates the especially
our citizens abroad attach 10 such things ian i'm
portsnce much beyond what they 10 to
merit In this mission have fallen heir, you doubt
lsss know, to inheritance Of social trouble and
ton, not growing out Of business duties but out OF
such connected with to the Court and
such like matters The great numbers Of country
msa who visit Paris, the facilities which have been
given oy my predecessors for Introduction At the
palace and the grsa. bsraty OF the Court itself In ad
msns such iarOducons have brought about state Of
things under which suppose the officers OF ceremony Al
the palace have not unnAturaiIy become rsstivs For
instance IN looking back for few years past. dad that
In 1857 at presentation only eighty four Americans
introduced st tho two presentations In 1858 there
introduced forty at and dysevsn at the
other ct the two presentations in 1859 sixty eight a.
the and atty al the other at tho three prssen-
tatons in $780, at the one thirty four and a. the other
two three In 1851 the list so marked that II
dlcult say the precise number but one OF my pre-
decsssors despatches say thai at one presentation 40
introduced thirty nv' ana f. aanss @ A..
aware the night OF the court ball, and all who
are presented are, Of course, invited to tho bah.
In addition, there ID an average OF perhaps nfty
other Americans, resident in Paris, who have
been presented in past years some, or perhaps
most Of whom expect Invitations As the rules OF Codrt
limit the introduction OF the subjects or other European
countries small and privileged Glass; the result s that
these occasions the citizens Of the United States out
number only the subscts Of any other country ex
csp France but probably outnumbsr the citizens sub
Of ali foreign countries OF the world together There
IS limit NOS to royal hospitality at least to space In
a ball and supper room, though they be In palace
fact which countr ym9n have not always remember
ed in addition to thsse matters at one Of the pressnta
tions last year, unpleasant difficulty occurred with
young American and tharo was, besides another viola
Iiou Of etiquette Of the Court 10 which IL Is needcss
particularly 20 refor From these or other causes
the last presentation OF last year bsng tho one next
after the above ncident Mr. Faulkner after ho had son
his list called apoa to add to their names their
dated February 1861, he declined 10 do this He said
that his list conformity with pas, practice and to
which exception had been before tsken hst he could
not add "the quality because an American abroad
could legally have quality except that OF citizen OF
the repnblc, but that II the number ordinarily sub
mitted for presentation vas lsrgsr than was agree
able suggestion to that effect would in future DO
remembered On the next day February p lie Baron dc
Conche writes in that that which had besn asked
for universally practiasd and that it ought In fact
to be to she end that they might know who il was
who was presented 10 the sovereign. Tbs result was
that, tho list not being amended. the tickets were not
sept, and no Americans were presented.
Such was the condition Of things when came here.
Ihs FIRST presentation day and court ball OF this
season came on at he rueriss on sth inst On the I'd
inst. ! had sent In (outsice Of the Legation) list
OF thirty Americans for presentation. Two OF these
parties emily had Official designation-one late
Consul, with their families respectively. On the
evening OF the 9th instant received from n. Thouve
mel letter in which he acknowledges the reception Of
my list but says-"You have joined TO tho names OF
two Of these persons the enunciaton OF their quality
(de sw q3as); for the ohors this necessary informa
enable me 70 place under The eyes Of thsr Msses the
complete list adding the Information it ought 10 contain,
to wtthe social position and tho profession N position
~uf~ Ia IN ho
ed" The nsxi morning | examined what had been the
past practice of the legation and found the correspon
before referred 10 in the time Of my
l Immediately addressed to II. Thouveuei note, OF
Which the following 10 . copy
ISoArioS THE USrsD STATES, PAns, Jan. Z, 1852.
MONSIEUR MIssrkE-The letter which you did me
tho honor 10 write In reference 10 the list OF persons
proposed be presented by their i'm persl Males
ties received last night, and hasten 10 reply to IT,
forty with what had boon the established usage Of
and TO which no exception had been taken
far the records Of tho Legation show until the last
lst presented by my Immediate predecessor Mr..
Faulkner.
whsrs an official Of tho American government has
been named for presentation heretofore find il has
been usual 10 designate him. aud have done l,
iu this ease; but of tho great number Of private
gentlemen and ladies who have been honored by presen
ta,on to their Msssties in instance do find that
"their quality eocia position and profession have
besn set forth Tho reasons Of hs mus, be obvious to
your Exceency In the social and political Organization
Of seosty tho United States titles Of honor nob
ty exist Every citizen Of good character may be SO
EXCelency proper 0CC1
sons tho French Minister at Washington presents In
like 10 his excsloncy as many Of his
tymsn he may choose "a present. without question as
to hsir quality social position or profession. But II
disposed to comply with the request Of your Ex
oslloney, l know OF DO mode by which II could
bs done In the absence or any recos snized iuls
csnnot. il would. ds.isus:s "thc Quality" or draw
nice distinctions TO the socia position OF those who
may apply for presentation. osn only say they are
gentlemen and ladies' need not add am sure, or
exceptional character some have been presented st
other Ruropcaa courts SONS are the wives children
those who have been presented at this Court, while
others aiorty, psrhsps--srs As am informed, pri-
yats gentlemen, without bs'isve, profession
pa,ioa Ia view OF ell the circumstances, and OF she
great numbers which have heretofore been presented
my predecessors, have felt 1t my duty TO say this
much in reference TO the application OF your Exceency
;or al amended list. Bu, the privilege of a
presentation Is . courtesy extended by their Majss
ties not right elaine Cd behalf Of American citizens
r. thsrsore, your Excellsncy win prescribe nxsd
Legation, and you will give pleasure tc
comply with it,
Accept the assurance of the high eOaaidcrasi0o with
which have the honor 10 be-
Your Exeellsusy q very obsdisnt servant.
wM. l.. DAYTON.
To his Excseaey w. TBorysss 10 Ministrs dss Afars,
To this letter have recsIysd answer and the par
ties on the list, except the officials, no cards
In the evening Of the next day (beng the day OF tbs
prssentaon) had the honor receive Ave cards fol
the use OF the official gentlemen, with their families
They received however too late 70 snable them
avail them solves OF he honor intended and tc cards
we're returned By me the following orring, With rs
speetfal note stating thai fact have know
.ha, the delay ia sending these card mistake ans
regretted But respects the Others who hold, or have
held Official rank position, the p1attsr stands where
the correspondsncs has placed IL.
This Court has in time past bcsn most liberal in the
extension Of this courtesy u our cizsDs, and IL h
taiply been used without stint. should be limited
ofciAs of goysrnrnsn; oaiy, whether s.sts oI
national II would exclude you we'll know tbs
that cass Of citizens who according TO European ideas
are best entitled 10 prossntaiios.
But unless soms explar stion volunteered or further
suggestion made 20 The wishes Of the Cosrt know
not how with proper self respect, san do say
more tsan / have already done or said. I an
quite open, however 10 any suggestion from yourself
you ,nink the matter worthy suggestion.
with much respsct your obsdient servant.
wN l.. DAYTON.
His Erc.l!sncy wm. II. sxvA.D. secretary Of STATE.
No lo6.
DnPRuassI STATE.
wssHsGroS, Feb. 3, 1862 (
W. T. D.rros Esq, nc Ss.:-
sa-Yoar despatch Of January IA mo: 102) has been
rs,slvsd. II IL accompanied By COPY Of note VII ich
you addressed NJ Thouvene the subject 81 ID,
Introduction of American citizens VI the imperial Court
very freely sonfsss 10 thu opinionsFirst, that an
audience presentation Of suy but diplomatic psfsoaI
Court W be regarded not in any degree az right Of