[*[3271]*]
Department of State
Washington, 22nd December 1866

To Mrs Abraham Lincoln,

My dear Madam,

I have just now received from John
Bigelow, Esq., the United States
Minister Penipotentiary in France,
a letter which was written at Paris, on the
7th of December inst. In that letter, Mr.
Bigelow states to me that he has been
requested by a committee of some of the
most eminent Republicans of France, to 
transmit an accompanying Medal and
Letter to the Widow of our late President 
Lincoln; that no opportunity having presented
 itself immediately of sending directly,
be thought best to send the Medal and Letter
by the customary dispatch to the State Department 
and to rely upon me to find or
provide suitable means for its delivery to

[*43642*]

Mrs. Lincoln
In execution of this important and
affecting trust, I have thought proper to 
place those precious memorials in the 
conditions in which they were received by 
me, in a parcel covered with the Seal of
this Department, in the care of Mr.
Dimon, who, as the Agent of this 
Department, will have the honor to
deliver the same, without unnecessary
delay into your own hands. 
I have the honor to be, my dear
Madam, with profound respect,
Your humble servant,
William H. Seward

[*[3271]*]

Madame la Présidante Lincoln

(Comte de Paris)

[*[1866?]*]
[*43643*]

Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.