Office of the Historian
No. 351.

General Sickles to Mr. Fish

No. 240.]
Legation of the United States, Madrid, December 31, 1870. (Received January 28, 1871.)

Sir: The official gazette of to-day announces that the president of the council of ministers, General Prim, died last night at forty-five minutes past 8 o’clock. I heard of his death at the palace of the minister of war, soon after it happened, as I had gone thither to inquire about him, in consequence of the rumors of his decease which had spread through the city at an early hour in the evening. It is now acknowledged that, from the first, no hope of his recovery was expressed [Page 752] by the attending physicians, and that grave reasons of state made it expedient to publish official statements of his convalescence. The members of the diplomatic body are requested to join the funeral procession to-morrow at the war department, and proceed thence to the church of Atocha, where the offices will be celebrated. I have the honor to forward herewith a copy of a note I have to-day addressed to the minister of state on the occasion of this sad event. The Countess of Rens, the widow of the late minister, has been created Duchess of Prim in her own right, and a further decree provides that she shall enjoy all the honors pertaining to a captain general of the army. General Prim’s only son, the Vizconde del Bruch, a lad some ten or twelve years old, is created Duke of Los Castillejos, so named from a battle in the late war in Africa in which General Prim bore a distinguished part, and for which he was made a marquis by Queen Isabella. He conferred upon himself the grade of captain general after the revolution.

So far, no serious disturbance of the public tranquillity has followed the tragic occurrence to which the prime minister has fallen a victim. This fact repels the suggestion that the assault was the act of a political conspiracy, having for its object to seize possession of the government. It rather tends to confirm the more probable supposition that motives of personal revenge, perhaps originating in one of the many executions which have taken place during the past year in Cuba and on the peninsula, led to this signal crime. Although several arrests have been made, nothing is yet known of the offenders, nor is it probable, considering the inefficiency of the police in Spain and the impunity with which like offenses have been committed during the past year, that the guilty parties will ever be brought to justice.

I am, &c.,

D. E. SICKLES.

General Sickles to Admiral Topete

Legation of the United States, Madrid, December 31, 1870,

Sir: I cannot refrain from tendering to your excellency the expression of my sympathy with the government and people of Spain in the severe and untimely loss they have suffered by the sudden decease of his excellency the Conde de Rens, president of the council of ministers. If any circumstance could deepen the impression made by this sad event, it would be found in the untoward means employed to put an end to the career of a distinguished general and statesman, whose services had often been signalized by tokens of public approbation and gratitude. The people of the United States, who have themselves suffered a like bereavement, will share with the chivalrous Spanish nation its regard for the memory of a great minister and its abhorrence of the unseen and unhallowed hands that struck him down at his post of duty.

I avail myself, &c.,

D. E. SICKLES.

His Excellency the Minister of State.