[Translation.]
Count Wydenbruck to Mr.
Seward,.
Washington,
December 26, 1865.
The Austrian agricultural society, under the patronage of his imperial
highness, the Archduke Charles Louis, has determined to open an
exhibition for agricultural and woodland machines next year in Vienna,
like the one held there in 1857, the result of which was to open an
extensive market in Austria for English agricultural machines. The
increasing demand for agricultural machines in Austria, and the great
reputation of American machines in that country, on account of their
strength and the simplicity of their construction, induce the society to
wish to see that branch of American manufactures worthily represented in
the exhibition of 1866, convinced that such a participation will benefit
Austrian agriculture and American industry.
With this object in view, Prince Schwarzenberg, president of the society,
which reckons several Austrian archdukes and the largest landholders of
the empire among its numbers, requests the government of the United
States to use its influence with the different State societies for the
encouragement of agriculture, and the manufactories of agricultural and
woodland machines to induce them to take part in our exhibition.
The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of his
Majesty the Emperor of Austria, has the honor to transmit herewith
Prince Schwarzenberg’s letter and the programme of the exhibition to the
honorable Mr. Seward, Secretary of State of the United States, and obeys
an order of his court in requesting him to use his good offices for the
success of an enterprise intended to be of mutual advantage to the two
countries.
The undersigned, in sending with the present many copies of the programme
and advertising samples, in case the honorable Mr. Seward chooses to
make use of them for the benefit of the exhibition, takes this occasion
to reiterate the expression of his most distinguished consideration.
Hon William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
[Page 689]
[Translation.]
Vienna, November 13, 1865.
The Royal Imperial Agricultural Society of Vienna will hold a grand
agricultural and industrial exhibition in that city next year,
expressly for international agricultural machines and
implements.
The society, which gave its grand exhibition in 1857, had no other
design than to show the condition of these branches of industry in
past years in Austria, and the wonderful present improvement of
agricultural machines; but when the agricultural society endeavored,
at its last exhibition, to procure a large collection, through
English machine manufactories, and thereby induce an extensive use
of them in Austria, and were only partially successful, the
committee for next year’s exhibition determined to have a collection
of American agricultural machines and implements, as their solidity
and the simplicity of their structure make their introduction into
Austria very desirable.
Now everything is quite ready for next summer, and the Royal Imperial
Society puts itself in communication with the agricultural unions of
the United States by sending these programmes and advertisements, to
encourage machine factors of that country to contribute largely to
this exhibition; and the committee of arrangements has also
determined to address a high authority, asking aid for the separate
states in their efforts, and especially to help the machine factors,
so they can transmit their work in a proper manner.
As a reason for this request, the committee of arrangements must
remind you that the present Vienna exhibition will in no way compare
with many similar exhibitions held of late years in Germany, (as in
Hamburg and Cologne;) for most of these, not to say anything in
their disparagement, were solely intended to make money.
This Vienna enterprise is an effort of the first agricultural society
in the Austrian empire—a society composed of the most distinguished
persons, the largest landholders and the dignitaries of the country;
and twelve members of the imperial house of Austria belong to
it.
At a late meeting of the society the sum of 20,000 francs was voted
for the increased estimates for the expenses of the exhibition.
The council and commune of the royal imperial capital and residence,
city of Vienna, have tendered their welcome assistance.
The committee of arrangements have determined to make this exhibition
worthy of the society and of the state, and will certainly succeed,
as it will be joined by the twenty-sixth assembly of the German Land
and Forest Company, which is already extensively known by its annual
reports.
The committee expresses the conviction that American machine factors,
from the great need of agricultural machines in Austria, will do as
good business as the English did in the exhibition of 1857.
The committee also request that consuls be empowered, or special
agents appointed, if thought necessary, to inquire about the
machines and utensils intended for sale.
As the committee of arrangements desires to complete its work, the
above requests are repeated; and it informs all other societies that
it is ready to give any information on the subject.
By the Exhibition Committee:
JOHANN ADOLPH, Fürst von
schwarzenberg.
CARL GUNDAKEN SUTHEN, Ritter.
