Mr. Dayton to Mr.
Seward
No. 517.]
Paris,
July 20, 1864.
Sir: Herewith I enclose the copy of a late note
from Mr. de la Montagnie, our consul at Nantes, in reference to the
vessels building at that port.
He seems to think that a man named Hansarson, who has been a rebel agent,
as supposed, at that port, has yet charge of those vessels, and the
inference consequently is, that the rebels yet hold their interest and
control in and over those two clipper ships building there. These you
will remember are not the iron-clads.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward
Secretary of State, &c., &c.,
&c.
Mr. John de la Montagnie to
Mr. Dayton
No. 41.]
Consulate of the United
States,
Nantes,
July 14, 1864.
Sir: Since my last communication which I
had the honor of addressing, July 2, I have to report: On Tuesday of
this week (July 12) I went to St. Nazaire, hoping to learn something
about the rebel ships there. If Mr. Bourcard was correct in saying
that Hansarson, the rebel agent, was not in command at the time,
such is no longer true, for he is again in control. Still the number
of workmen is limited, and little progress has been made since my
last report. I continue of the opinion that they cannot be finished
before the close of August.
I learned yesterday, from a respectable source, that Prussian and
Peruvian agents had applied to purchase these ships, but the rebel
agents had declined the sale.
Application was made some time ago by Prussian agents to a gentleman
in St. Nazaire for the purchase of the Shooting Star, an American
ship then in port. The price was too large and the transaction
failed.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William L. Dayton
United States Minister, Paris.
