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

Mr. Seward to Mr. Harvey.

No. 155.]

Department of State, Washington, December 2, 1864.

Sir:Your despatch, No. 298, dated October 23, in relation to the suspicious steamer Laurel, has been received.

It will be proper for you to announce to the Portuguese government that her waters have been used for the equipment of another pirate to commit depredations upon the commerce of the United States, and that this is the result of a toleration on the part of Portugal, which is practically, though not intentionally, hostile to this government, which must be expected hereafter to act as its own safety shall require.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

James E. Harvey, Esq., &c., &c., &c., Lisbon.