Mr. Thomas to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Stockholm, October 27, 1890.
(Received November 11.)
No. 82.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that on
Tuesday, September 16, while the Baltimore was still
lying in the harbor of Stockholm, I was waited on at the legation of the
United States by seven Swedish gentlemen, forming a deputation of the
Swedish Inventors’ Society. The deputation, through its president, Commander
C. C. Engstrom, then formally presented me with an address, beautifully
engrossed upon parchment, requesting me to convey the hearty thanks of the
Swedish Inventors’ Society to the Government of the United States for the
honor paid the inventor Ericsson by causing his body to be brought home to
his native country in a manner so distinguished and exceptional.
I received the testimonial in behalf of the United States, making a speech of
acknowledgment therefor, and afterwards entertained the gentlemen of the
deputation with a collation.
As President Engstrom suggested that his society would be pleased to receive
a reply in writing, I sent him next day a formal acknowledgment addressed to
the gentlemen of the deputation.
I transmit under separate cover the original address of the Swedish
Inventors’ Society and inclose herewith a copy of my letter in reply
thereto.
I have also the honor to inform you that on the evening of September 15 I
received a telegram from the governor of the province of Wermland, Sweden,
stating that the Swedes present at a banquet which took place immediately
after the burial of Ericsson had drank the toast to the President of the
United States.
[Page 715]
To this polite message I immediately replied by sending a telegram of
thanks.
I inclose herewith a translation of the telegram of the governor of Wermland
and a copy of my reply thereto.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 82.]
Swedish Inventors’
Society to Mr. Thomas.
His Excellency W. W. Thomas,
Jr.,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary for the United States of North America in Sweden and
Norway:
The Swedish Inventors’ Society begs, through this its deputation,
respectfully to request that you, Mr. Minister, will have the goodness
to convey to your Government the hearty thanks of the Swedish Inventors’
Society for the great acknowledgment which has been shown our celebrated
countryman, Capt. John Ericsson, as an inventor by causing his body to
be brought home to his native country in a manner so distinguished and
exceptional.
Our society, though young in pedigree, nevertheless looks upon J.
Ericsson as having emanated from the class of persons who form this our
society; the same known difficulties and struggles, disappointed hopes,
but sometimes also exultations have likewise been met with, and will
continue to be met with, by all inventors in all times.
But if J. Ericsson’s struggle in this life was hard, his reward was a
great triumph. He occupied the first rank amongst inventors, not only
through the geniality of his inventions, but he knew also how the same
should be carried out practically. Not enough with this, he had a unique
ability which only a few inventors can in any degree boast of. He knew
to wit to choose the right point of time and the proper manner for
carrying his projects, and in such a case, opinions can not be divided,
that his Monitor could never have made its appearance more
appropriately, either in respect of the point of time for its
construction, or nature of its details of construction, adapted for the
sea waters where it was intended to work, and the short time for
effectuating it. In a few words, the Monitor was just what was required
for the occasion, and was without its equal in the whole world at the
point of time for its appearance at the seat of hostilities.
It happened thus, that its management in the combat by experienced and
skillful officers and men by itself was equally excellent, so that the
brilliant victory also followed.
As the Swedish Inventors’ Society feels itself, through this magnificent
homage of John Ericsson’s memory and work of life, honored and
encouraged, it is our desire to tender in this manner and on this
occasion to the Government of the United States of North America and the
people of the great Republic our thankfulness, we regarding this homage
of the inventor also as an acknowledgment of invention activity as one
of the most powerful levers of civilization. The Government of North
America has by this action given an example which without doubt will
bear fruit and prompt to imitation by other governments and people.
- C. C. Engström,
Commander in the Reserve, Royal Swedish
Navy, Aid-de-Camp to His Majesty the King of Sweden,
President.
- Otto Fahnehjelm,
Civil Engineer, Vice
President.
- With. Ridderstad,
Captain in the Royal Swedish Life
Guard.
- C. Wittenström,
Civil Engineer.
- Gustav de Lavel,
Ph. Doctor, Civil Engineer.
- Carl Setterberg,
Ph. Doctor and Chemist.
- N. A. Alexanderson,
Engineer, Secretary.
[Page 716]
[Inclosure 2 in No. 82.]
Mr. Thomas to
deputies of the Swedish Inventors’
Society.
Commander C. C. Engström, President; Civil Engineer Otto Fahnehjelm, Vice President;
Captain With. Ridderstad, Ph. Doctor Gustav de Laval, Ph. Doctor Carl Setterberg, Civil Engineer C. Wittenström, Engineer N. A. Alexanderson, Secretary:
Gentlemen: I had the honor of receiving from
your hands yesterday, at the legation of the United States, an address,
beautifully engrossed upon parchment, in which the Swedish Inventors’
Society requested, through you, its deputation, that I would convey to
my Government the hearty thanks of your society for the honor America
had shown the memory of John Ericsson by sending home his remains to his
native country in so distinguished and exceptional a manner. As I desire
that the acknowledgment of such a testimonial may appear upon the
records of your honorable society, permit me now to express briefly in
writing what I stated to you more fully at the time of the
presentation:
That, in behalf of the Government of the United States, I beg to convey
to you its sincere thanks for the address and for the appreciative and
sympathetic sentiments expressed therein.
The great Swedish-American, whose death as well as life has drawn our two
countries more closely together, was greatest as an inventor.
It was as an inventor that Ericsson gave to America the Monitor that at a
critical moment rendered the Republic inestimable service.
It seems to me, therefore, peculiarly fitting that a society of Swedish
inventors should proffer its thanks to the Government and people of the
United States for honors bestowed upon your illustrious
fellow-countryman and fellow-worker; and I beg you to believe it will be
a peculiar pleasure to me to forward your address to my Government,
which, I am sure, will receive it with feelings of profound
satisfaction.
I have, etc.,
W. W. Thomas, Jr.,
United States Minister.
[Inclosure 3 in No.
82.—Translation.]
Governor Malmboeg
to Mr Thomas.
Filipstad, September 15,
1890.
In John Ericsson’s native province, the Swedish men present at his burial
have, at a banquet immediately following, drank the health of the Chief
of State of that land which witnessed the triumph of Ericsson’s greatest
achievement, which toast they request will be forwarded by you to the
President.
Adolf Malmboeg,
Governor of the Province of
Wermland.
[Inclosure 4 in No. 82.]
Mr. Thomas to
Governor Malmboeg,
Filipstad.
Stockholm, September 15,
1890.
Thanks for your toast to the Chief Magistrate of America, which I gladly
forward to the President.
