Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward
No. 79.]
Steamer Persia, near New York
Harbor,
Evening of October 3,
1865.
Sir: I have the honor to report the arrival
on our coast of the Tunisian embassy, accompanied by his
aide-de-camp, secretary and servant. Enclosed are literal
translations of three letters that are in the hands of General
Hashem, They are copied subject to the influence of the turbulent
waves. Letter No. 1 was first brought to my knowledge on the ocean.
Tunisian appreciation of our country and its rulers, though
expressed in flowery language, may be regarded as a reflection of
European sentiments.
[Page 349]
Our plan is to rest in New York two or three days, and then proceed
to Washington. The portrait is on board the ship. It will afford me
pleasure to receive instructions from the department as soon as
possible.
Very respectfully,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington.
No. 1.
[Literal translation from the Arabic.]
Praise to the only God: To the excellency of him who has given
distinction to the ministry, who has at the same time ordered
and directed its affairs; to the excellency of him who is the
glory of eminent ministers; whose renown is universal, and whose
character and services are above all praise—Monsieur William H.
Seward, minister of state and of foreign affairs of the United
States of America: may he always be the head of the ministry and
the director of eminent men. Rendering due honor to the
distinguished office and to the high character of your
excellency, we make known to you that his Highness, our august
sovereign, ceases not to entertain for your government an
abiding and ever-increasing friendship and regard, the cause of
which is, your admirable conduct and your noble policy. His
Highness has received the news of the re-establishment of peace
and tranquillity in your great country. This news has afforded
him unmeasured satisfaction; and sincere friendship makes him
share with you the pleasure consequent upon this happy result
and great event.
To this end, then, his Highness sends to your government the
honorable, the beloved, the elect General Otman. Hashem, to
express to the President his sincere felicitations, and also to
express to the President the heartfelt grief which his Highness
experienced at the death of the lamented President, Abraham
Lincoln, which sad event wounded all our hearts. We pray God
that this may be the end of trials and misfortunes to your
beloved country. His Highness also sends with his ambassador his
portrait, to serve as a souvenir of his friendship, as stated in
his letter.
His Highness looks with confidence to your excellency to arrange
for an agreeable reception of his envoy, General Hashem, by his
excellency the President.
We take this occasion, also, to inform your excellency that we
have found in the conduct of him who is distinguished among his
colleagues, Mr. Amos Perry, consul of your government at this
court, the best disposition to maintain and strengthen the bonds
of friendship which unite our two governments. His courtesy and
honorable bearing merits and receives the approbation and the
best compliments of his Highness, our august sovereign. We make
this statement to bear our testimony to a worthy representative,
and to show that your choice falls only on meritorious men.
Written by the poor before his God.
MUSTAPHA,
Major General, Prime Minister and Minister
of Foreign Affairs of his Highness the Bey of
Tunis.
Tunis, the 7th
Rabi el tami, 1282—A. C., August 29,
1865.
No.
2.
[Literal translation from the Arabic.]
Praise to the only God: To the excellency of the eminent
personage whose merits are celebrated and whose renown is
universal like the light of the sun which cannot be hidden from
the day; to the excellency of him who is the glory of great
men—the cream of men of distinction—and whose virtues are above
all praise, to our friend Andrew Johnson, President of the
United States of America, may he always be exalted, and may his
days be ever prospered.
Having rendered due honor to the elevated rank and to the eminent
character of your excellency, we inform you that we have heard
the agreeable news of the fruitful victory gained by your
government, and of the consequent re-establishment of peace and
tranquillity in your great country. This news has rejoiced us
beyond measure, and has awakened our warmest sentiments of
gratitude by reason of the great and sincere friendship which
unites our two governments—which friendship has been bequeathed
to us as a heritage by our ancestors to become stronger and
stronger forever.
We were the more cheered by this news by having shared in the
grief of the American people in the loss which they experienced
in the death of their late President, Mr. Abraham [Page 350] Lincoln, a loss which
we keenly felt. This grief would have remained unalterably fixed
in our hearts, but for the news of the re-establishment of
tranquillity in your country, which news comes to moderate and
assuage our affliction.
We desire to present to your excellency, and to your people, our
best compliments, with expressions of condolence in your
affliction and sorrow, and with expressions of felicitation in
your prosperity and joy. We despatch our envoy, the honorable,
the beloved, the elect, our son, General Otman Hashem, to be the
interpreter of our sentiments in the presence of your excellency
and in your country. We send at the same time with him our
portrait, to be a souvenir of our friendship.
May God preserve your excellency, and perpetuate the happiness
and prosperity of yourself and of your illustrious nation.
Written by him who has for your excellency the highest
consideration, the slave of his God, the Mooshr Mohammed
Essadek, Bashaw Bey, possessor of the Kingdom of Tunis.
The 7th Rabi el tami, 1282, A. C.,
August 29, 1865.
[locus
sigilli.]
No. 1.
[Literal translation from the Arabic.]
Praise to the only God: To the lady for whom we pray God that he
would save her from trial and affliction, and protect her from
dangers and sorrows both by day and by night; to her who is
distinguished among ladies of distinction, the cream of elevated
personages, and whose virtues are above all praise—to Madam
Abraham Lincoln—may God shield her from every ill.
Acknowledging the honor due to your elevated character and
position, we desire to express to you the pain inflicted on our
heart by the sad death of your beloved husband. How cruel this
fate, and how deep the wound inflicted by this terrible event!
All hearts are put in mourning. The news of this catrastophe
both plunged us into affliction and overwhelmed us with
consternation. It turned our eyes upon the distressed of this
earth, and our spirits were troubled.
Against death all effort is vain, and our sole remedy is to
resign himself to the decrees of the Great God, and with Him to
seek consolation. May the Great God then grant you patience and
resignation, increasing your worthiness in proportion to the
keenness and depth of your affliction and pain. May He order
that this be the last of your trials, and that your days become
long years.
Written by him who has for you the highest consideration, the
slave of his God, the Moosher Mohammed Essadek, Bashaw Bey,
possessor of the Kingdom of Tunis.
Tunis,
7th
Rabi el tami, 1282, A. C., August 29,
1865.
[L.S.]
