"Je m'empresse à cette occasion, Monsieur, de renouveler à votre Excellence l'assurance de ma considération très distinguée.
"A Son Excellence M. LE COMTE DE KNUTH, Ministre d'Etat, et Chef du Département des Affaires Etrangères.
TRANSLATION. [Footnote: This and the other translations of the French letters are printed as received in this country.]
"Legation of the United States of America,} City of Copenhagen, September 6th, 1848. }
"Sir: I have the honor to communicate to you a letter from a distinguished citizen of my own country, together with a correspondence relating to a subject in which Denmark and the United States appear somewhat equally interested, the former in furnishing a laudable motive, and the latter as happily achieving the object.
"I commend these papers to your careful examination, being well aware of the deep interest you take in all such subjects, and of the eminent reputation you so justly enjoy as a gentleman of science and of literature. They are accompanied by a letter from myself addressed to His Majesty the King of Denmark.
"This subject will not be the less interesting to you, sir, as it would appear to be a returning voice addressed to ancient Scandinavia, speaking of the wonderful achievements of modern science, from the 'Vinland' of the hardy and enterprising 'Northmen' of the tenth and the eleventh centuries.
"I beg, therefore, that you will obligingly lay them all before His Majesty, and should they happily impress you that my countrywoman, Miss Mitchell, is fairly entitled to the generous offering of King Frederic VI., be pleased, sir, to accompany the application of her friends in her behalf by your own very valuable and potent recommendation.
"I avail myself of this occasion to renew to your Excellency the assurance of my most distinguished consideration.
"To His Excellency THE COUNT DE KNUTH, Minister of State and Chief of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
R. P. FLENIKEN, ESQ., TO THE KING OF DENMARK.
"Légation des Etats Unis d'Amérique,} à Copenhague, le 6 Septembre, 1848. }
"SIRE: Le soussigné a l'honneur, par l'intermédiaire de M. votre ministre d'état et chef du département des affaires étrangères, de soumettre à votre Majesté une lettre d'un citoyen très distingué des Etats Unis, accompagnée de la copie d'une correspondance concernant une matière a laquelle votre Majesté, souverain également distingué par la libéralité généreuse qu'elle fait voir dans ses rapports sociaux et politiques, et par l'admiration ardente qu'elle manifeste envers la science et la littérature, ne peut manquer de prendre un vif intérêt.