Mr. Kreismann to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 11, dated July 28, 1864.
Another of the three vessels built at Bordeaux for the insurgents, but now transferred to Prussia, the Victoria, a steam corvette, the mate to the Augusta, late Yedo, has been completed, and her speedy arrival at Cuxhafen, Hamburg, where she is to receive her armament and crew, is looked for by the Prussian [Page 222] authorities. The third, a steam frigate of powerful dimensions, I am informed, will likewise soon be completed, and will constitute the pride of the Prussian navy. I will duly advise you when she shall have been delivered, by Mr. Armann, the builder, to the Prussian government.
The Schleswig-Holstein question, since the close of the Vienna conference, where the preliminaries of peace were settled, continues the topic of interest in diplomatic and political circles. The actual meeting of the plenipotentiaries to arrange the terms of a final peace has not yet taken place, but is expected to occur this week. Herr Von Bismarck, who desires to add to the triumph he has so far achieved the greatest of all, that of transferring the whole or part of the duchies to Prussia, is manifestly endeavoring to delay and postpone a final settlement of the question of succession. Meanwhile the minor German states are clamorous against Prussian aggression and the like; but as long as Austria follows the lead of Herr Von Bismarck their outcries will avail them nothing. It is expected, however, that during the visit of King William at Vienna, where he arrived on Saturday and remains until to-day, an intermistic government of the duchies will be arranged in the shape of a board of commissioners, one from Prussia, one from Austria, and, as a concession and peace-offering to the smaller states, one from the federal Diet. As yet nothing has transpired as to the result of the interview of the two sovereigns. Herr Von Bismarck, of course, is with the King at Vienna, and will from there accompany him to Baden-Baden, where he goes before returning here to pay a visit to the Queen. Present arrangements fix the King’s return for the first week in September.
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I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.