Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part III

Mr. Seward to Mr. Dayton

No. 689.]

Department of State, Washington, October 26, 1864.

Sir: With reference to your despatches of the 29th and 30th ultimo, Nos. 542 and 543, concerning the disposal of the vessels building at Bordeaux and Nantes, I have the pleasure of enclosing a copy of a letter of the 21st instant from the Secretary of the Navy, expressing satisfaction with the manner in which you conducted the correspondence to so favorable result.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

William L. Dayton, Esq., &c., &c., &c.

Mr. Welles to Mr. Seward

Navy Department, October 21, 1864.

Sir: I have the honor to return herewith despatches Nos. 542 and 543 from Mr. Dayton, United States minister at Paris, which were transmitted to me with your letter of the 17th instant, relative to the vessels being constructed at Bordeaux and Nantes for war purposes, which it seems, from Mr. Dayton’s despatches, are not to be permitted to pass into the hands of the insurgents.

The department is gratified at this announcement, and must be permitted to express its appreciation of the able manner in which our minister, Mr. Dayton, maintained the correspondence with the French government concerning the vessels in question, from which such satisfactory results have followed.

Very respectfully, &c.,

GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy.

Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.