John Bigelow to Monsieur Drouyn de Lhuys, April 13, 1866

Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys

Sir: Recalling the communication which I had the honor to address to your excellency on the 27th ultimo in reference to the arrest and imprisonment of Francis Pierre, a naturalized citizen of the United States, I beg now to invite your excellency’s attention to the sworn statement of Pierre, which is enclosed.

By this statement, the main facts of which your excellency can readily verify, it would appear that Pierre has been treated with excessive rigor, and subjected to indignities which would hardly be visited upon the most degraded criminals. The only pretext assigned for his arrest is, that he was liable to military service, though he was fortified with papers which proved that he had been a citizen of the United States sixteen years, and with an American passport, which should have protected him from insult in all countries in friendly relation with the United States.

While I do not permit myself to suppose for a moment that the hardships of which I complain had their origin in any unkind feeling towards the, people or government of the United States, I feel it to be my duty, in view of the frequent recurrence of such cases during my residence near his imperial Majesty, to protest, and I accordingly do hereby formally protest, against the original incarceration of Francis Pierre, and against all the indignities of which he was subsequently the victim.

I beg to renew to your excellency the assurance of the high consideration with which I have the honor to be your excellency’s very obedient and very humble servant,