Office of the Historian

Mr. Seward to Mr. Motley.

No. 62.]
Department of State, Washington, March 25, 1864.

Sir: It affords me much pleasure to express my obligations to you for the explanations you have given me in your despatch, No 47, of the causes which have moved the imperial royal government to adopt restrictive military measures in Gallicia. It has been difficult to decide here upon the just value of the rumors which allege that the proceeding was taken upon false or frivolous pretences, and with a design to recombine the so-called Holy Alliance.

I am not less indebted to you for your survey of the state of the war existing between Germany and Denmark. Politicians are perplexed mainly with three questions which arise out of that strange transaction. Will Denmark consent to a dismemberment, perfect in all things, except in the retaining of a union between the disputed provinces and Denmark proper, through the person of the King as the sovereign of both? Will Austria and Germany, after subjugating the provinces of Schleswig and Holstein, restore them voluntarily to the King of Denmark? And third, will the other European powers refrain from intervention? After making as careful an examination of the facts as possible, and collating the conflicting opinions of European statesmen, I confess that I think the solution of each of these questions depends on contingencies that cannot now be foreseen. What is seen is, that calm and conservative statesmen in Europe earnestly desire a continuance of peace, and that, on the other hand, revolutionary agencies have already been set in motion, which, without concerted action that now seems impossible, cannot be subdued.

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Perhaps you think I ought to give you a survey of our political condition in return for your interesting communication on that of Europe. But the time has not arrived for performing that duty. We have had a season of rest and invigoration. Although that season has passed, the new campaign is only now beginning. It must suffice to say, that the government is believed to be manifestly stronger and the insurrection manifestly weaker than at any former period in the war. Our military men are hopeful, and some advance in the work of reconstruction of the States has been made.

I am sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

J. Lothrop Motley, &c., &c., &c., Vienna.