Mr. Seward to Mr. Marsh
Sir: Your despatch of the 16th of January, No. 111, has been received, and your proceedings therein mentioned are approved.
I thank you for the information you have given me concerning the political affairs of Italy.
The United States rejoice in everything that contributes to the stability of the Italian government, or tends to promote the welfare and happiness of the Italian people. If, as you suppose, these sentiments are not fully reciprocated by the government of Italy at the present moment, we may regret the circumstance without allowing it to affect our settled policy in regard to that very interesting country. Once we enjoyed the general respect of European states, some of them became unfriendly when we entered the ways of adversity. We shall always gratefully remember that Italy was not one of these nations. However unfriendly any of its governing statesmen may regard us, we do not cease to remember that the fate of the civil war in which we are engaged is [Page 142] little dependent on foreign favor; that if we fail we cannot expect friends, and if we continue to be successful, it will be less necessary than it has been hitherto to plead for friendship.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
George P. Marsh, Esq., &c., &c. Turin.