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

Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams.

No. 374.]

Department of State, Washington, October 20, 1862.

Sir: With reference to the operations of the insurgent steamer 290, an extract from a letter of Mr. Dabney, United States consul at Teneriffe, to Mr. Perry, charge d’affaires at Madrid, is herewith appended.

I am your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

C. F. Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.

[Untitled]

Consulate of the United States of America, Teneriffe, Canary Islands, September 24, 1862.

Sir: * * * * * * * * *

The vessel referred to is probably the 290, a powerful vessel, which you are, of course, cognizant of, and an equally powerful steamer is necessary to overhaul her, which, perhaps, you may have the power to despatch after her. I would inform you that, about the 22d ultimo, two steamers and a ship, all showing the English flag, anchored at an out-of-the-way place, at the island of Terceira, Azores, and were two days engaged in passing cargo from the ship to the steamers, of which this is probably one, and there may have been two fitted out at that time.

I remain, sir, your most obedient,

WILLIAM H. DABNEY.

Horatio J. Perry, Esq.,United States Legation, Madrid.