31 GRAPE CULTUEE AND WINE-MAKING. 



"To the Diplomatic Agents and Consuls of the TTnited States in 

 Foreign Countries. 



, ^^ Department of State, Washington, Gth July, 1861. 



" Gentlemen, — Mr, A. Ilavaszthy, the bearer of this communica- 

 tion, has been appointed by the government of the State of Cahfor- 

 nia to proceed abroad for the purpose of collecting information in 

 regard to wine-producing countries, and reporting the results of his 

 observations and inquiries to that government. 



" I will consequently thank you to extend to him any facilities 

 which may be necessary for so important an object. 

 " I am your obedient servant, 



" William H. Sewakd." 



Having been furnished with the above letter and my passport, 

 I returned to New York and embarked on the Hamburg steamer 

 Hammonia for Southampton on the 13th of July, The passage 

 was agreeable, the weather being fine. We arrived in port in 

 the morning of July 26th. 



After landing, we procured a carriage and drove into the sur- 

 rounding country, examining several farms and manufactories. 

 Returning to town in the evening, we took at midnight a French 

 steamer for Havre, where we arrived next morning at 11 o'clock. 

 The Custom-house officers very civilly passed our baggage with- 

 out inspection. After partaking of a good breakfast at our hotel, 

 we strolled through the town, and at 5 o'clock in the afternoon 

 started in the extra train for Paris, where we arrived at 11|- 

 o'clock that night. 



We took lodgings in the Hotel de Louvre. The next day I 

 saw my son Arpad, to whom I had telegraphed from Southamp- 

 ton, My son had been four years at school in Paris, and latterly 

 in the Champagne districts, where he is now learning the manu- 

 facture of Champagne and other wines. He proved a great as- 

 sistaruje to us during our stay in Europe ; he acted as my secre- 

 tary, my correspondence with scientific societies increasing daily, 

 as well as with prominent officers of different governments. He 

 copied also my journal entries, in which duty, however, he had 

 the assistance of my daughter, as he was not able alone to copy 

 both letters and journal. 



The first day of our arrival being Sunday, we enjoyed a good 

 rest, whicb was much needed after our long journey. The fol- 

 lowing day I called upon the United States minister, Mr, Dayton. 

 This gentleman, being so much occupied in getting up his dis- 

 patches, was unable to receive me. Finding through his secre- 



