[Untitled], April 28, 1871.

[Untitled]

I beg his excellency the minister of the United States to receive the homage of my respect, and to have the goodness to send the inclosed letter to Versailles.

The address of Mr. LaGarde, in case the representative of his excellency does not know it, can be found either at the residence of the nuncio or at the Episcopal palace at Versailles.

[Untitled]

I beg his excellency the minister of the United States to receive the homage of my respect, and to have the goodness to permit me to have recourse to his kindness to send the inclosed letter to Versailles.

I shall be very greatful to him for it.

G. DARBOY, Archbishop of Paris.

The address of Mr. La Garde is, without doubt, known to the representative of Mr. Washburne at Versailles.

In any case it can be had from the nuncio, or from the bishop of Versailles.]

Memorandum of the Archbishop of Paris.

It is not known precisely what answer Mr. Theirs has given to the proposition made to him for the release of Blanqui, with a view to obtain in exchange the release of the archbishop of Paris, and of four or five persons held like him. The vicaire general Lagarde, who went to Versailles to attend to this matter, has sent here only vague and incomplete reports on the results of this step, but as he does not return, it is believed that all hope of success is not lost.

In default of precise information, it is conjectured that the government fears that it will appear to be treating with the commune, if it accepts the proposed exchange, and in addition, possibly regards the liberation of Blanqui as dangerous, in the midst of the present excitement. Now, parties who are interesting themselves either for Mr. Blanqui, or for the archbishop, desire earnestly that the following considerations should be submitted to Mr. Thiers, who will appreciate them in his wisdom and humanity, and it is believed they would have great weight if presented to Mr. Thiers by his excellency the minister of the United States.

The question is not between the commune and the government, but between the government and the parties above mentioned. The latter have arranged that the archbishop, and four or five other prisoners, to be designated by Mr. Theirs, shall be sent to Versailles, if they can have the assurance that Mr. Blanqui will receive his liberty. This assurance is to be guaranteed verbally by the minister of the United States, he being verbally authorized by Mr. Theirs. As to the liberation of Mr. Blanqui, instead of ordering it officially, would it not be possible to accomplish it by allowing him the facility to escape, with the understanding, of course, that he will not be retaken unless it be for the commission of some new offense? In this manner the government would have nothing whatever to do with the commune, some one, apart from the commune, would receive the assurance given by Mr. Washburne, and all would be arranged.

There could be no serious danger in liberating Mr. Blanqui, even in the present condition of things.

The resistance of Paris is a military resistance entirely, and the presence of Mr. Blanqui could add nothing to it.

The political and social ideas which are represented by the commune are not in themselves, nor in their application, those of Mr. Blanqui, and if he should associate himself with the commune it would not be a bond of union between the members which compose it, but rather a new element of discord.

At all events it does not appear that a settlement of the present conflict will be brought about through the political or social theories or policy of the commune, but only by the force of arms. It could therefore be no embarrassment if Mr. Blanqui were set at liberty, even though he should return to Paris. Whether he would do so or not is unknown.

If it were known precisely for what reasons Mr. Thiers hesitates to act favorably upon the proposition of exchange which has been submitted to him, it might be possible to attenuate their force, and to bring him perhaps to a better conclusion. Besides, he should not remain in ignorance that the life of the archbishop is seriously menaced. In saving him, Mr. Thiers, we believe, would give great satisfaction to the French clergy, and particularly to the episcopate.

Memo.—Written in the prison of Mazas, May 10, 1871.

[Untitled]

Sir and Dear Colleague: Mr. McKean handed to me this morning the letter you did me the honor to address to me yesterday, as well as the copy of the memorandum written by the archbishop of Paris, and I also received only a few days ago, through the post office and much behind time, the other letter which you also had the kindness to write me on the 29th of April, to which were joined two letters of Mr. Darboy for the Abbé Lagarde, to whom I banded them immediately. This morning I sent confidentially to Mr. Thiers the memoir of the archbishop, and I have begged of him a confidential reply, that I may send it to you to be delivered to Mr. Darboy, through your kindness. If I should receive the reply, as has been promised me, by 3 o’clock, I shall hasten to transmit it to you, begging you to make it known to monseigneur the archbishop. In the mean time, it is well that you should know how matters stand.

Mr. Thiers, having received some time ago the letter brought by Abbé Lagarde, submitted, first to the council of the ministers, and then to the commission of the fifteen deputies whom he has associated with himself, the question of the exchange of Blanqui on one side and the archbishop and four or five ecclesiastics on the other, and all unanimously refused their consent to such an arrangement. After this, Mr. Thiers declared that, notwithstanding the desire he felt to see the archbishop at liberty, as well as the Abbé Duguerrey, who was his personal friend, he could not take upon himself to carry out the exchange. He added that Mr. Blanqui was to be submitted to a new trial, and if he was condemned to death, he, as President, would have the power to spare his life; but as for setting him free, above all before he was tried, he could not do it; this would be beyond his power as chief of the executive power. This reply, addressed to Mr. Darboy more than two weeks ago, was drawn up, and Mr. Lagarde was requested to carry it to the archbishop in a sealed envelope as it was. But Mr. Lagarde refused, and still refuses, giving as the motive of his refusal that he cannot carry a reply in a sealed letter to a letter which he brought unsealed. Thus the letter of Mr. Theirs remains still at the ministry “des cultes,” and they are unwilling to send it except by Mr. Lagarde, who, on his side, does not wish to take charge of it.

Mr. Thiers desires also to assure me that he has the conviction that neither the life of the archbishop of Paris, nor those of the other ecclesiastics who are at this moment in prison, are in danger.

For my part I do not share, I confess, the confidence of the President on this subject.

Four o’clock.—I have just returned from the palace of the prefecture. Mr. Thiers read attentively the copy of the memoir of which I have spoken above, and he repeated, after mature reflection, the same observations which he made in his reply to the letter of Mr. Darboy. He decided not to set Blanqui at liberty, but apparently to spare his life if he should be condemned to death. This is all his powers permit him to do. Besides, it would never be possible for him to sanction an iniquity consisting in seizing hostages among distinguished people in order to set free scamps and culprits by lending himself to such plans of exchange, more or less covered up. He repeated the assurance that the life of the archbishop ran no danger whatever, and he ended by saying that in about two days the troops would be in Paris, and all danger would disappear.

This, my dear colleague, is the answer which I can give you, and regret with you that it is not more in accordance with the desire of the archbishop and with your charitable and generous design. In terminating, permit me to communicate to you, in accordance with the orders his eminence Cardinal Antonelli has transmitted to me, the sentiments of gratitude of the Holy Father the Pope, and of the cardinal, for all that you have done and all that you may do in favor of the archbishop, so unjustly tortured.

Accept, sir, also, with my sincere and affectionate thanks, the renewed assurance, &c., &c., &c.,