Mr. Morris to Mr. Seward.
Sir:* * * * * * **
A French translation of Circular No. 39, relative to the progress of our arms in the suppression of the rebellion against the Union, was communicated to his Highness, Aali Pasha, minister of foreign affairs. As on all occasions [Page 373] when allusion has been made to this subject, his Highness expressed an earnest desire for the triumph of the Union cause, and his satisfaction at the steady progress which had been made towards the achievement of that result from the commencement of the war to the present time. His views are those of all the members of the imperial cabinet, notwithstanding the zealous efforts of my disloyal predecessor to prejudice the government of the Sultan in favor of the rebellion by false statements as to the true origin and nature of the conflict.
As the exhibition of our resources, population, and actual condition is of importance in demonstrating the wealth of the country and power of the government, and in giving proper ideas of our capacity for future development and growth, I recently presented, on my own account, to the Grand Vizier, the minister of foreign affairs, and the minister of commerce, a French edition of Mr. Consul Bigelow’s admirable work, entitled “The United States of America in 1863.” I know of no work in the French language which presents such a condensed yet satisfactory account of the agricultural and mineral resources of the United States, of our progress in arts and arms, and of our political institutions, and of our power as a nation. The chapter on the conflict between free and slave labor is a brief but instructive summary of the true character of that struggle.
These distinguished functionaries assured me that the gift was to them a very acceptable one, as the subject-matter was to them peculiarly interesting, about which it was difficult to obtain reliable information. I have also distributed copies of the work to several other influential persons, and I am satisfied it will do much good.
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I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.