[
476]
of
Mrs. Grant and myself, and wish you a happy journey through life.
Please to say to
Miss Niles that I very much regret that I shall not have the pleasure of conferring her upon my old—not in years, but in date of service—Staff Officer.
Ever Your friend,
P. S.—I hope you will take
Washington in your tour and give
Mrs. Grant and me an opportunity of having you and
Mrs. Badeau meet some of our friends-and your old ones—socially.
U. S. G.
Letter no.
Twelve.
On the day of my marriage the
President sent me the following telegram:
Please accept my hearty congratulations upon the auspicious events of to-day and my regrets that public business prevents my being present to present the bride and congratulate you in person as I had expected to do.
Letter no.
Thirteen.
Before leaving
America I declined the mission to
Belgium for personal reasons, which are referred to in the omitted portion of this letter.
General Grant, however, knew that I had originally desired a diplomatic appointment, and he had always promised me one.
The promise had indeed been kept, for in 1870 he offered me the mission to
Uruguay and
Paraguay, when I preferred to be
Consul-General at
London; but now he proposed
Belgium, and pressed the place on me, even after I had declined it. My appointment was made out and sent to me in
London, together with the letter of credentials to the
King, without any further notice than this letter,
