Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow
Sir: I enclose a copy of a despatch of the 23d ultimo, No. 57, addressed to me by M. D. L. Lane, esq., the consul of the United States at Vera Cruz, giving a statement of the circumstances connected with a collision between the United States merchant schooner Three Sisters and the French transport ship Alhir, near Cape San Antonio.
You will be pleased to invite the attention of the imperial government to the case thus presented, with a view to such indemnification for the losses entailed upon the citizens of the United States concerned in the vessel and cargo, and such redress for the treatment of the officers and crew of the schooner as upon investigation may be found to be justly due.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
John Bigelow, Esq.&c., &c., &c.