FLAVIUS CHIGI, Arch. de Mejren, Nonce Apostolique to E. B. Washburne stands for Elihu Benjamin Washburne, April 18, 1871
Monseigneur Chigi to Mr. Washburne
Mr. Minister and Dear Colleague: Permit me to request you to receive with kindness, in quite a confidential way, four ecclesiastic canons of the Metropolitan Church in Paris, who come to implore your protection in behalf of the archbishop, incarcerated by the insurgents in Paris. Permit me to add my entreaties to those of the good canous, and to assure you of my deep gratitude for all you may be able to do, and to try, at least, to obtain that the life of Monseigneur Darboy be not in danger.
Be pleased, Mr. Minister, to accept the assurance of my high consideration and my gratitude.
Mr. Minister Plenipotentiary: The sad events which are taking place in Paris have not failed to attract the attention of your excellency, and among other deplorable excesses which the civil war has caused in this unhappy city, the arrest of monseigneur the archbishop and the principal members of his clergy, will have been particularly remarked by the different representatives of powers friends to France.
Taking ground upon this friendship, and upon the good relations that exist between the Government of the United States of America and our country, we, the canons and members of the Metropolitan Church Chapter of Paris, such that could assemble, take the liberty to beg your excellency to be so kind as to interpose your good offices in a manner which you may think proper, in order to obtain as soon as possible the deliverance of our archbishop, and that the cause of humanity and civilization may cease to suffer in his person, doubly respectable, as well in his dignity as by his merits, one of the greatest infringements which could ever have been indicted upon him.
Every political idea, however, being excluded, we place ourselves entirely upon the law of nations, and upon the sympathy that such unmerited treatment cannot fail to inspire, and we venture to hope that your excellency may favorably receive our request, and that you will give it such results as we may wish.
In this hope and confidence, we have the honor to be, Mr. Minister Plenipotentiary, your excellency’s very humble and obedient servants.