[Translation.]

Mr. Drouyn de l’Huys to Mr. Mercier.

No. 20.]

Sir: I have received the despatches which you have done me the honor to write to me, up to No. 161.

In one of the late sittings of the Parliament, Lord Palmerston, on being formally questioned by Mr. Cobden in regard to maritime armaments going on at Liverpool, spoke of a plated vessel which was said to have been ordered of an English builder, Mr. Laird, by the Emperor’s government. On his part the minister of the United States at Paris concerned himself about the construction of this vessel, which he supposed to be intended for the confederate government. Mr. Dayton requested of me information in this regard, and the consul of the United States at Liverpool made a similar application to Mr. Lenglet, our consul in that city. The assertion of the first lord of the treasury rested on an incorrect report. No order of this kind has been made in England on account of the Emperor’s government, and the following are the only facts which could have occasioned the involuntary error of Lord Palmerston. At the beginning of the month of July a Frenchman named Bravay, calling himself a partner in the house of Bravay & Co., of Paris, went with Mr. Laird, the builder at Birkenhead, to the office of the chancellor of our consulate at Liverpool, and asked what were the formalities to be complied with in order to give the French flag to a plated vessel which was about to be built. The information, was furnished, and Mr. Bravay announced that he would subsequently be in a posture to prove the French ownership of the vessel. Shortly afterwards, Mr. Laird having learned that the consul of the United States at Liverpool was trying to have the newly constructed vessel seized, came and asked Mr. Lenglet to make unofficial [officieuse] application at the custom-house. Our consul limited himself to making known the circumstances of this affair to the head of that branch of service, but without making any formal demand, which, however, he neither had the right nor was in a posture to do. After that Mr. Bravay went no more to the office of the chancellor, nor has he yet addressed to the office of customs of the empire any request with a view of obtaining French nationality for the vessel in question.

Such, sir, are the explanations which I have already given to Mr. Dayton, and which I deem it my duty to communicate to you, in order that you may, if you are called on to do so, on your part, enlighten the cabinet at Washington as to the true character of this incident.

Accept, sir, assurances of my high consideration.

DROUYN DE L’HUYS.

Mr. Mercier, Minister of the Emperor at Washington.