Office of the Historian

Mr. Seward to Mr. Dayton

No. 707.]
Department of State, Washington, November 18, 1864.

Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 4th instant, No. 556, and, in reply, to approve your course relative to the vessels which have been built at Bordeaux and Nantes, and your proceedings in your interview with Commodore Craven, of the United States ship Niagara.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

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

[Page 197]

[No. 709, Mr. Seward to Mr. Dayton, of the 21st of November, 1864, relating to military affairs, is the game mutatis mutandis as No. 1159 to Mr. Adams, minister to London, published in this series.

A copy of the following accompanied the same, and is published here because it was omitted in printing the instruction to Mr. Adams referred to.]

Mr. Seward to Mr. Webb

No. 123.]
Department of State, Washington, November 11, 1864.

Sir: In the years 1862 and 1863 remonstrances were addressed by us to the government of Brazil against its policy, different as it was from all other American States in regard to the furnishing of shelter and a haven to pirates who were engaged in depredating upon the peaceful commerce of the United States. The correspondence came to a close without having produced any satisfactory result, and not without leaving a painful presentiment that a continuance of measures so injurious to the United States would sooner or later affect the harmonious relations heretofore existing between the two countries.

We have just now heard of the capture of the Florida by the Wachusett, at Bahia, and of the consequent hostilities adopted by the Brazilian forces in that port, but we have no particular information of the circumstances which preceded the collision, and our information concerning the transaction itself is incomplete. At the same time we are absolutely without knowledge of any correspondence that it may have elicited between yourself and the Brazilian government.

In this stage of the matter the President thinks it proper that you should inform the minister for foreign affairs that we are not indisposed to examine the subject upon its merits carefully, and to consider whatever questions may arise out of it in a becoming and friendly spirit, if that spirit shall be adopted by his Imperial Majesty’s government.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

James Watson Webb, Esq., &c., &c., &c., Brazil.