Mr. Harvey to Mr.
Seward.
No. 218.]
Legation of the United States,
Lisbon,
April 19, 1863.
Sir: I have the honor to enclose in this
despatch the copy of a note addressed to me by his excellency the Duke
de Soulé, in reply to mine which communicated the concurrent resolutions
of Congress concerning foreign intervention in the rebellion.
The duke’s answer is sufficiently non-committal to allow him the utmost
margin for any action or opinion that he may adopt hereafter, either
from necessity or from choice. And it may be assumed that the course of
this government will be determined, to a very great extent, by the
exterior counsels upon which it has been too much accustomed to rely,
and by the direction which its closest alliances may take.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
[Page 1304]
[Translation.]
Duke de Soulé to Mr. Harvey.
Department of State for Foreign
Affairs,
April 18, 1863.
I had the honor of receiving the note which you were pleased to
address to me, under date of 9th instant, making known to me, by
order of your government, some resolutions taken by the Congress of
the United States regarding foreign intervention in the warfare
which is now unfortunately interfering with the peace of the
American Union.
Having most attentively read your said note, it is my duty to tender
you my thanks for the transmission of the document which accompanied
it.
I avail of this opportunity to renew the assurance of my most
distinguished consideration.
James E. Harvey, Esq., &c., &c.,
&c.
