Annotation
[1] Thirty-seventh Congress, Second Session, Senate Executive Document No. 19. William L. Dayton's letter of January 14, 1862, recounted the refusal of the French Court to admit Americans for presentation on the night of the court ball unless ``the social quality'' of each person was specified. This Dayton refused to do, on the ground that ``The French minister at Washington presents. . . to his excellency [the president] any or as many of his countrymen as he may choose. . . without question to their quality, social position, or profession.'' Seward's reply of February 3 advised Dayton, ``Let the Emperor and Empress receive whom they will. . . and let all others, as well as those who are admitted, turn their attention to. . . how they can serve their country abroad; and if they find no better way to do it than by making their attendance in the saloons of the Tuileries, let them return home. . . .'' (Ibid.).