Mr. Dayton to Mr. Seward
Sir: I send you herewith what, for the want of time, I could not get ready for the last steamer, to wit, a copy of the original memorandum handed to me by Mr. Drouyn de l’Huys in reference to the views taken by the French government of the certificate lately given by Mr. Adams to the Mexican agents in London. It is not signed, you will observe, and was given to me, as I have informed you, not as a formal communication, but as mere memoranda of conversation.
[Page 734]I should have added in my last despatch that Mr. Drouyn de l’Huys again observed to me, in that conversation, that it would manifestly be bad policy in the United States to adopt a course of action which would identify the policy of France with that of England; that he knows there was much exasperation of feeling in our country against England, but that heretofore France had done nothing of which we could complain. He assumes that they have been friendly throughout; says they have built no Alabamas, &c.
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I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c.
P. S.—It is reported to me that an additional loan of eight millions of francs has been effected by the confederates here.
D.