Thile to Joseph A. Wright, April 14, 1866

Baron Thile to Mr. Wright.

In his note of the 21st of February last Mr. Wright, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States, called the attention of the government of his Majesty to the case of Simon Israel, a Prussian subject born at Chadizsen, province of Posen, who, after having gone to America in 1854, returned to Prussia in 1862, and was placed in the army the 17th of March, 1864.

The undersigned called the attention of the minister of war to the request of Mr. Wright to obtain the liberation of the said person. This minister regrets not being able to acquiesce in the desire of the American minister.

The said Israel has been absent about eight and a quarter years; that is, from the 7th of February, 1854, (the date of his passport,) till July, 1862, consequently he has not lost his Prussian nationality. It is true he has a slight hernia, and has also been treated for the sore eyes, (mal aux yeux contagieux,) but his condition is not such as to render him unfit for military service. He has no relatives in America; he is a partner in a commercial house at San Francisco. which he estimates at $4,000. His conduct in the regiment has not been, up to this time, sufficiently irreproachable to justify his release.

In bringing these facts to the knowledge of Mr. Wright, the undersigned profits by the occasion to offer the assurance of his high consideration.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, (By authority,)