the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

---- ----, _Adjutant-General_.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, August 25, 1887_.

It appearing to me that the promoters of the International Military
Encampment to be held in Chicago in October proximo, in commemoration of
the fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of that city, have extended
to the militia organizations of foreign countries, in behalf of the
citizen soldiers of the State of Illinois, an invitation to take part
in said encampment as the guests of the city of Chicago, and that
representatives of the soldiery of certain foreign countries have
accepted such invitation and are about to arrive in the United States:

I hereby direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the collectors
of customs at the several ports of entry that upon being satisfied that
such visitors come as guests, in pursuance of the aforesaid invitation,
they shall permit the entrance of such foreign soldiers into the United
States, with their personal baggage, uniforms, arms, and equipments,
without payment of customs duties thereon, and without other formality
than such as may be necessary to insure the reexportation of said
uniforms, baggage, arms, and equipments.

GROVER CLEVELAND.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, _Washington, October 24, 1887_.

By direction of the President the undersigned is charged with the sad
duty of announcing the death, on the 22d instant, at 4 o'clock p.m., at
his residence, Chicago, Ill., of Elihu B. Washburne, an illustrious
citizen, formerly Secretary of State of the United States.

Mr. Washburne rendered great service to the people of the United States
in many and important capacities. As a Representative from the State
of Illinois in the National Legislature, and subsequently as envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States to
France, his career was marked by eminent usefulness, in which abilities
of a high order were applied with unsparing devotion and fidelity in the
performance of the trusts of public power.

His private life was unstained, his public service unquestionably great,
and his memory will be cherished with affection and respect by his
grateful countrymen.

On the day of his funeral this Department will be closed for all public
business, and be draped in mourning for ten days thereafter.

The diplomatic and consular officers of the United States in foreign
countries will be directed to make pr