Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-ninth Congress

Mr. Dayton to Mr. Seward

No. 566.]

Legation of the United States, Paris, November 21, 1864.

Sir: I herewith enclose you the copy of a memorandum, received by me from a gentleman in Paris, showing that the confederates have recently given a very large order to the house of Silvee & Co., London, for insulated telegraphic wire. The information comes to him from one of the partners in the house, and is, I presume, reliable. The wire is intended for use in exploding torpedoes, or vessels filled with powder, beneath federal ships, and its delivery should be prevented, if possible. I will give this information to Mr. Morse, our consul at London, in the hope that he, through some of his agents there, may find out the name of the ship which carries it out, when, and to what port she sails.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WM. L. DAYTON.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.

[Memorandum.]

Paris, November 19, 1864.

A large order for insulated telegraphic wire has been given by the confederates to Silvee & Co., London, with the intention of using it to explode torpedoes, or vessels filled with powder, beneath federal ships-of-war. The order is a very large one, and our agents should endeavor to prevent it arriving in a southern port.