St Petersburg
June 26, 1862.
My dear Sir,
I must begin this my first letter from Russia, by thanking
you for your message
to Congress, in relation to the N. York agencies. It was a good act,
bravely done. Right, in itself, as it was, very many men, in your situation,
would have permitted an innocent man to suffer rather than incur
responsibility. I am glad to see that the leading presses of Europe speak of it,
in high terms, as an act of “nobleness”; and if I can believe what I hear from
home, you will lose nothing there. At all events, I can assure you, that I will
never cease to be grateful for it.
Yesterday, I had the honor of being introduced to the
Emperor, of which I shall send an official account to-day to the State Dept.
The interview was a long one, and his majesty was more than cordial. He asked
me many questions shewing his interest in our affairs, and when I thanked him,
in your name, for his prompt sympathy in our cause, the expression of his eyes,
and his subsequent remarks, shewed me very clearly that he was particularly
well pleased for he soon after turned the conversation to England.
The whole Court is at present out of the city, and all the
high officials will remain absent, for some months. The Emperor came to town
only to receive me. There is never much to be done here by an American
Minister, and now there is really nothing for me to do. I more than ever regret
that Mr Seward did not give me authority to travel, as you said I might have.
Feeling sure that no harm can come to the Government, by the
absence of its minister at this time, I am induced now to ask you for a forlough
to go home, as was given I think to Mr. Schurze, to look after my private
affairs I make this request with more confidence in the assurance that the
Legation will be well conducted, during my absence by Mr Taylor. I certainly
would not have left home when the attack was made on me in the House of Reps
strengthened as I was by your repeated assurances that I might take my own time
for leaving, only that all my arrangements had been made for sailing, my
passage taken and paid for, to which I had been urged by the belief that wrong
was being done to Mr Clay by my delay, = but when I came here I found he was
entirely content, and would have been satisfied if my arrival had been still
later.
I should like to leave here by the middle of September, as
then the lease of the house which I took from Mr. Clay to relieve him, will
expire. The rent is a heavy item in the expenditures of a Minister, being over
$3000 & more than one fourth of his yearly pay. Going at that time too,
will enable me to reach home in time before the Pennsa. election to be of some
service to my country, for I think your troubles will soon be removed from the
Army to Congress. I shall make this application to the State Department
officially – but I ask it now, from your friendship
I have been gratified all over Europe to find the high
reputation you are making, and from home, too, there are indications of a
growing belief that you will have to be your own successor. While it is, in my
judgment, the last place to find happiness, I think you will have to make up
your mind to endure it.
This is a great city and Russia is a mighty nation, and I
have many things to say of them, which will be deferred till we meet. The
climate I regret to say does not suit the health of my family, and they wish to
leave it.
Please give to Mrs. Lincoln, the kindest regards of my wife,
and believe me
Your friend Truly
Simon Cameron
Hon. A. Lincoln
Your prompt reply to my request, will especially oblige me.
SOURCE: The Abraham Lincoln
Papers at the Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
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