The Right Honorable the Earl Granville to Count Bernstorff, October 14, 1870

Earl Granville to Count Bernstorff

M. l’Ambassadeur: On the departure from Paris of Her Majesty’s ambassador, he felt it his duty to leave behind him one of the second secretaries of the embassy, Mr. Wodehouse, in order that he might afford, as long as possible, protection to such subjects of Her Majesty as, from various causes, had not already withdrawn from Paris, and that he might, as far as he was able, preserve the archives of the embassy and other property belonging to Her Majesty’s government from injury. Together with these, he directed to remain certain servants attached to the embassy and to himself, for the discharge of their usual duties.

Colonel Claremont, military attaché to the embassy, and Captain Hore, the naval attaché, the latter being wholly incapacitated by illness from leaving Paris, remained behind under the instructions and with the sanction of Her Majesty’s ambassador after his departure.

My object in now addressing your excellency is to request you, without loss of time, to bring the case of these public officers and servants, and generally of the remaining British residents, before the King of Prussia, and those acting under His Majesty’s orders, whether in a civil or military capacity, and to express the earnest hope of Her Majesty’s government that, before the operations at Paris assume a character by which their lives may be endangered, those persons who are in the service of the British government, and residing hitherto in Paris in execution of their public duties, as well as all other inoffensive British subjects, may be allowed an opportunity to quit the place; and Her Majesty’s government do not doubt that such a request will readily be acceded to by the King of Prussia and His Majesty’s advisers.

I am, &c.,