Mr. Dayton to Mr.
Seward
No. 379.]
Paris,
November 27, 1863.
Sir: I yesterday saw Mr. Drouyn de l’Huys for
the first time within the last fortnight. His absence from Paris, and
pressing engagements the week before, have prevented his receiving the
diplomatic corps for business.
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I called his attention at once to the Florida at Brest, and to the
repairs and recruitment of her crew, reading to him extracts from
letters I had received on the subject. He begged I would give him a copy
of these papers, and I have this morning sent the same to him. I send
you herewith a copy of my communication to him, which will itself
explain the condition of things here, both as respects the Florida and
the vessels now being built at Bordeaux for the confederates.
I ought to add that he said that if any change or improvement in the
batteries or fighting powers of the Florida had been made, it was
against law and against orders. He said, furthermore, that he had
himself personally informed Messrs. Arman & Yoruz, (the constructor
and iron founder,) engaged on those vessels now being built at Bordeaux
and Nantes, that the work thereon must cease, unless they could satisfy
him that they were honestly intended for another government; and he
added to me that he would at once refer their proceedings to the
minister of marine.
We have obtained an elaborate opinion from——that all the parties engaged
on those vessels, at Bordeaux and Nantes, are responsible to the
criminal laws of France. We cannot proceed, however, against Mr. Arman
personally, except by an application to and permission from the Corps
Legislatif, of which body he is a member. I have already asked you what
you thought of the propriety, or rather the wisdom, of this course of
proceeding. I am very averse to initiate a ptoceeding at law unless
quite sure of the result. If adverse, the consequences would be
injurious.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward
Secretary of State, &c., &c.,
&c.
[Untitled]
Paris,
November 27, 1863.
Monsieur le Ministre: Herewith I enclose to
your excellency the copy of an extract from a letter addressed to me
by Mr. Davisson, United States consul at Marseilles, dated November
24, 1863, in reference to the construction of two of the vessels now
being built for the confederates at that port. One of these vessels
is advertised in the “Gironde,” of that city, to sail on the 28th of
February, and the other on the 31st of March. The pretence that they
are intended for the China seas is yet kept up in this
advertisement, though the papers heretofore shown to your excellency
(especially the letter of Mr. Arman) afford the clearest evidence
that this pretence is a false one.
I enclose you, likewise, the copy of an extract of a letter from
Captain Winslow, of the United States ship Kearsarge, in reference
to the assistance and repairs made upon the confederate ship
Florida, at Brest. To these two subjects I called the attention of
your excellency on yesterday, when I likewise apprised you of the
fact that they were recruiting a crew for that vessel in the ports
of France, and that twenty-six men had already been enlisted in the
ports of Havre and Nantes, prior to the 11th instant. They have not
yet been received on board the Florida, though kept in pay by that
vessel, and ready to be shipped when the complement is complete. The
Florida is ready now to go to sea, and may do so at any day, unless
prevented by the authority of this government.
I regret, likewise, to be under the necessity of enclosing to your
excellency the copy of a letter received this morning from our
consul at Calais. It would seem from this that another confederate
steamer, the Rappahannock, has just arrived in that port, and is
awaiting aid. The same protests which have been made in respect to
the others, I beg to extend to her.
I am, sir, your very obedient servant,
His Excellency M. Drouyn de l’Huys,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paris.
