Mr. Dayton to Mr. Seward
Sir: A letter received from Commodore Craven, of United States ship Niagara, sent to me last night, informed me that Mr. Morse, United States consul at London, has sent a report to him that Captain Semmes, late of the Alabama, is at Cape Bajado, on the coast of Africa, with the Sea King and two other ships, preparing for a cruise, and it was suggested that Commodore Craven should go with the Niagara to that port. He sought to obtain my advice or direction in this matter. I told him the information was too vague and unreliable to justify me in advising so distant a cruise, but if he had full confidence in the correctness of this information to go, not otherwise. The point indicated is about 2,200 or 2,400 miles from Antwerp, where the Niagara now lies, and which port he was directed by the Secretary of the Navy to make his headquarters. I left the matter, therefore, to his own judgment, and am not aware as yet to what conclusion he will come. I have so frequently been deceived by these reports coming through Mr. Morse that I have little confidence in their reliability.
I sincerely hope that the account we have received of the taking of the Florida in the harbor of Bahia may be an erroneous statement of the facts, or, if it be a correct statement of facts, then that the action of the United States consul and the captain of the Wachusett may be promptly disclaimed and they punished. The accounts published in all the European papers (the Moniteur among the rest) make it out to be a gross outrage on Brazil, committed after express warning from her authorities, and an express promise on the part of our consul to respect the neutrality of the port. I cannot believe that the facts are correctly stated. If they are, it would be better for us that the Florida was yet in the hands of the confederates.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.