Mr. Haldeman to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of despatches Nos. 29 and 30, of the 22d and 26th of June, also circular of July 6th, with the glad information of the defeat of the insurgents near Gettysburg, and their retreat towards the Potomac the night of July 4. As a citizen of southern Pennsylvania (the valley of the Cumberland, in which my farms are situated) this news of victory by our valiant army was especially cheering to myself and family; but, when taking into consideration its national effect, was like sunshine after a night of darkness, as welcome as spring after a northern winter.
In my last interview with his excellency Count Manderstrom, minister of state, he read me an extract from a despatch of Count Piper, Swedish minister in Washington, in which he informed Count Manderstrom that the Secretary of State for the United States had read to him an extract from the despatch of B. F. Tefft, United States consul at Stockholm, in which he apprehended that Mr. Joseph Spence was in Stockholm to procure armaments for vessels built in England for the confederate service. Count M. thought it was not likely that Mr. Spence or confederate agents would come so far north with such purpose; that the immediate object of Mr. Spence’s visit was in relation to the Ward Jackson, of which I have advised the department. During the conversation Count Manderstrom admitted that there was free trade in arms in Sweden; that the great private cannon foundries of Sweden were established with a view to supply the foreign [Page 1317] more than the home demand; in fact, they looked beyond the tideless Baltic for their orders and best customers. Our frank and most satisfactory conference ended by Count Manderstrom assuring me that while he had great doubts of the existence of the danger apprehended, the Swedish government would prevent the carrying into effect any such design, and would act and take proper measures on information or sufficient suspicion.
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I remain your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c., Washington.