Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-02-27
Light ON an IMPORTANT mar.
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Tie Csres.s,fa1.ces or " .1Te-eser,s E.;,s,
20 Riehnlona LII 9nrfng.

AN MAAe
Tie Csrc'sasstanres of VI sEerefer's E.fssi
90 RsehnsoHd Lnf sPrfsg.
-
The following is a literal translation Of The
dispatch from N. Mercier to N. Thouyenel. Civ
ing an account Of tbs circumstances under
which the formers weIl-known visit 10 Rich
mpnd last sp.ng wss made
MONSIEUR LIE MiSIsrRE: In the Last con
v@ersati9n I sad with him (Mr Ssward1 under
the impression Of the Satisfactory news which
he had received from the West, he laid before
me gl The reasons which be believed went 10
prove the approaching ro-establisbment of The
Union
AZ we were talking, the remark escaped me
az if by chance, that I regretted much not
being able 70 assure myself Of the condition of
things At Richmond. Mr.. Seward repled to
me at once, that / could very easily 90 thither /.
that ell l had to do was to send for one Of our
ships that it might carry me to Norfolk. and
hat he was entirely willing 70 give me a PASS
for this visit Having had no intention Of cali
ing out this response, and not having foresseu
il, said 70 him that | would reflect and soon
bring him my answer.
] decided then TO accomplish Il, but I iud0ad
If indispensable not TO leave my colleague. the
minister Of England, in ignorance Of ny de-
parture, and | took pains to announce it to him
declaring to him that in informing Mr.. sew
sid Of my determination, 1 should take care 10
tan him that ] had not definitely taken il until
after conversation with my colleague. I then
repaired to Mr. Seward, aud lold him that TIE
Emperor, being always disposed to lend his
good Offices to the Federal government. I be-
Heved that was faithful 70 bis sentiments in
d~eciling, the Secretary Of State seeing no IN
convenience in the proceeding, 70 depart for
Richmond. It was natural, moreover, that /
should have the desire, under the present cir
eumstauces, to put myself in communication
with our c%onsuls, ia order to Judge for myself
Of the situation, while using the recognized
right Of foreign ministers residing in the United
States to visit oil points in the territory Of the
Unioa.
Taking al things into consideration, cen
cluded from Ire moment that I undertook this
voyage, with tbe scquiescencs so thorough Of
the Secretary of State, almost, 81 it seemed, in
compliance with his desire, it would be essy for
me, BY the exercise OF a little prudence, to pre-
vent any inconvenisnt result, and fhst on the
other hand, besides the advantage Of furnishing
ms the opportunity to collect precious informa-
ton, it could have that Of preparing the way for
recourse to good Offices as a means Of faciHEs-
ting the pacific arrangement Of which we expe-
rieneed so strongly the need.
As 10 the language that [ should hold, It was
easy TO divine it. As the war involved consid-
erzble injury to our interests, I should 90 in or
der to assure myself Of the chances that might
sxiss that its end would soon be reached. IF
while on this subject, overtures were made to
me relative a. the recognition Of the Confeder-
acy Of the South, | should answer that 1t ought
to be understood that in my position l could
only speak Of the establishment Of the Union
that our general interests had always made
US look upon separation with regret, and that
our interests st the moment ought TO make Us
wish before everything else, the end Of the war
which interrupted Cur commerce That in the
disposition in which the population of the North
scanned to be, recognition would not decide the
Federal government TO raise the blockade. This
for US peace was the only prayer we coull form,
and that we should be consequently disposed to
do everything which depended on us, in order
that 1t might be made as soon as possible In the
c Invenionce Of both parties.
1t was understood, besides, that I should re-
port to Mr. Seward only what I was authorized
to repeat to him Mr.. Seward said to ms that
1 might add, if fouud an opportuue occasion,
that ia his opiRion the North was animated By
no sentiment Of vengesnce, and that for him
self be should with pleasure find himself sgain
n the senate, IN the presence OF all those whom
the South thought it fit to send thithsr.
After this conversation 1 wrote q word BY
telegraph to the commander of the Gsssendi.
which was at Fortress Monroe, to beg him to
and take me, at the earliest possible mo-
ment, on board his ship, at Alexandria or An
napolis, and / begged Mr.. Seward to take the
to expedite the delivery of the dispatch.
MERCER.