The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-11
MOTLEY.
The Ex-MInIatsr to Austria Declines q
Public Rsceptions

Public Reception.
Mr.. Motley's letter declininga public reception
in Boston, reads as follows:-
BosToN, July 2S.-To hs Excellency Alexan-
der H.. Bullock, Governor of Massachusetts; his
Honor N B. Shurtleff, Mayor OF Boston; the
Rev. Thomas Hill, President of Harvard UnIver-
sity; the bon. John II. Clifford; tue Hon. George
I. Bigelow; the Hon. David Sears; jacob Btge-
low, NJ. D., and others,-Gentlemen: have
just had the honor to receive your letter OF July
IA, in which you request me to name an occasion
upon which could meet yourselves, and such
Others of our fellow-citizens might be inclined
to greet me after my lone, absence; | find it
difficult 10 say 10 adequate language how deeply
] am touched by this unexpected and cordial
letter OF welcome.
No manifestation Of regard has ever gratifed
me SO much as this which now receive from so
large a number Of my fello w-citzens, men
whose names are most honored in our Comman-
wealth, and many Of whom / am proud
to COZ count tr,oa among my my familiar ts, ana ana
letter and the signatures which it bears Will
always be treasured by me among my most
valuable possessions; and it is because so fully
appreciate yonr kind expressions of esteem that
] trust you will not misinterpret my motives nor
think me in any degree wanting in sensibity to
your very aattering proposition if ask leave to
decline the honor Of a public reception,
T1shes ar this ezpIsssloe respeet 0f yo9T yso
cient gratihcation to me, and I cannot
but feel that too long a period has elapsed,
owing 10 accidental circumstances between the
abrupt conclusion of my term of public service
and my return to Boston, to permit my giving
you any recent details of political affairs ut my
late place OF duty. 1t Will be my good foriuse,
| trust, to meet every one OF those esteemed
friends and fellow citizens who have signed the
letter, and to exchange with them the friendly
greetings, without any tormality, which are so
grateful TO one who has been so long absent
from his country. Seven years have passed
since left the United States, and hardly think
an to any hsy eHve Al ore
taken by the republic in it's onward and
upward progress during those event
full years is without a precedent or parallel
Democracy has been upon its trial, and irrevo-
cably as the American people yiLndicated the
right and the capacity of the people to govern
itself. Selfgovernment might have perlshed
from the earth, had the great republic fallen in
ita struggle with the oligarchy, had our faith in
the democratic principle faltered during the
awful conflict to which we were doomed by the
ineXorable logic of history. Perhaps you will
not think it outof place for me to say on this
Casion that in the country where have so long
been officially residing, it was never my lot to
hear or to read any expressions OF unfriendly
feeling towards our country. Every mani
testation was courteous, kindly and sincere,
the Imperial Government throughout the war
maintaining its anicable relations unimpaired
with the Government of the United States.
There are many clouds hanging over the present
and the future of that ancient empire, but there
is light breaking above them, and no man that
has hopes of human progress but must wish
God-speed to the efforts of the administration of
the present sovereign to advance the cause Of
constitutional freedom and the emancipation of
the people from civil and sacerdotal thradom.
l have written more than intended, 1t may be
more than l ought, but it was impossible for me
not TO respond with the utmost sympathy to
your congratulations on the abolition of slavery,
and the successful issue of the civil war.
am, gentlemen, with sincere respect and re-
gard, your frlend and obedient servant,
j. l.. MOTLEY.