Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward
Sir: Mr. Molkté, the Danish minister, whom I have just left, confirms substantially everything stated in my despatch No. 13 in regard to the Stoerkodder, except that from what he says I am inclined to believe that our consul’s despatches from Nantes all relate to one and the same vessel-of-war. Mr. Molkte says that the Stoerkodder was sent to Copenhagen with a French crew, in charge of Mr. Amons de la Riviere, one of Arman’s agents, whose name is already familiar to you in connexion with past negotiations between Arman and the confederates; that on her arrival at Copenhagen the crew were sent home; that after lying there some three months, she was finally rejected, as the Danish inspector at Bordeaux had previously told Arman she would be, he having refused to report in her favor before his departure; that upon receiving his final answer, Amons hired a Danish captain and crew to bring her to Bordeaux; that Amons, who called to see him yesterday, with the Danish pilot and captain, represented as his reason for stopping at Honat, that his engineers were unskilful, his sailors mutinous, and that, like the improvident virgins, their oil had given out. This last struck Mr. Molkte as quite a novelty in the category of maritime disasters, and contributed to inspire suspicion in regard to the whole transaction.
Mr. Molkte said there could be no mistake about the main fact, so important in determining where the responsibility must rest for the escape of the Stoerkodder that she never for one moment passed out of the control of Arman or his agents, and of course was never for one moment in the possession of the Danish government. If this be so, the question of responsibility will not be difficult to solve.
I have written to our minister at Copenhagen to procure, with as little delay [Page 212] as possible, all the information within his reach pertinent to the issue, and to communicate directly both to the State Department and to this legation.
In speaking of the defective construction of the Stoerkodder, about which there seems little difference of opinion, Mr. Molkte remarked that Amons insisted that she was a terrible vessel, and she was going to make terrible havoc among the blockading squadrons of the federals.
I am, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.