Mr. Murphy to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have the honor to enclose to you shipper’s receipt for seventy-nine packages of linen and lint, shipped in the Hamburg steamer Hammonia, Captain Schwensen, consigned to Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, Washington, and care of Austin, Baldwin & Co., New York. This last shipment is for 12,033 German pounds, and what is equivalent to 13,036 English pounds, and is a part of those articles contributed by the Germans, mostly in my consular jurisdiction, for the wounded soldiers in the Union army.
The freight on this I have paid to Hamburg; from thence to New York I have procured it to be carried tree. The amount paid for this freight was included in my draft drawn on the Department of State the 31st of March ultimo.
The next shipment will be for over fifteen thousand pounds, and will be made direct to the Secretary of State, unless different instructions shall in the mean time be received.
The charges on this have all been paid and included in the draft before mentioned. I am in hopes of being able to get it carried down the Rhine to Rotterdam without any charge.
From a letter published in one of the Washington papers I observe that a large quantity of lint and linen will not be needed for the soldiers, but the contributors will be satisfied to have it sold and put to any other uses which the Surgeon General of the army shall deem fit and proper.
[Page 1372]The linen must now he of great value in America, and can he sold for high prices. I regret to say, the Hanoverian government detained this last shipment of linen and lint for nearly four weeks, demanding the export duty of three thalers, or $2 10, per quintal. I have been enabled, however, to furnish the said government with satisfactory evidence, and procured the release of the shipment.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, sir, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington.