John Bigelow to Monsieur Drouyn de Lhuys, August 10, 1865

Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys

Sir: I have the honor to enclose a communication received from Mr. Charles Adam, notary at Marmoutier, Bas Rhin, to which I beg your excellency’s attention.

Mr. Adam represents that a native of that canton named George Schneider left his native village with a passport at the age of seventeen years and went to the United States, where he became a naturalized citizen, and whence, after a residence of some thirteen or fourteen years, three of which were spent in the military service of his adopted country, he returned to France in July last.

Mr. Adam further represents that, in his absence, Schneider was conscripted, and, consequently, upon his return to France he was arrested, his naturalization papers taken from him, and he was thrown into prison at Strasbourg, where he is now lying.

I beg your excellency will take an early opportunity of satisfying yourself of the correctness of these allegations, and, if established, that no time maybe lost in restoring to Schneider the privileges and immunities to which he may be entitled in France as a citizen of the United States, including the naturalization papers of which he is alleged to have been deprived.

I beg your excellency will accept assurances of the high consideration with which I have the honor to be, your very humble and very obedient servant,