Count be Bismarck to Elihu B. Washburne, January 28, 1871

Count de Bismarck to Mr. E. B. Washburne

Sir: I had the honor of receiving your answer, dated the 19th instant, to my two letters of 15th, relating to your correspondence with the United States legation in London. I should very much regret if you should have construed anything in these two letters so as to convey the indication, of any complaint against you. Nothing, indeed, could be further from my thought, and I take pleasure in renewing the expression how deeply sensible I am of all the trouble you have in carrying on your correspondence with the authorities in Paris, and in taking care of our countrymen there. But the balloon letters having been brought officially under my notice by the military authorities, I thought it my duty to inform you of the reference made in those letters to your legation, and to that in London. The delay occurred now and then in the transmission of your dispatch-bags, is not occasioned by any doubt as to the right of your Government to correspond with you, but by obstacles it was out of my power to remove. I hope that for the future there will not be any more delay of that kind.

I avail myself, &c., &c.,