Mr. Harvey to Mr. Seward.
Sir:The enclosed extracts from an official letter addressed to me by Commander Preble, of the United States steamer St. Louis, will explain themselves.
Private letters, of four days later date, inform me that the rebel cruiser Florida left Funchal clandestinely on the night of the 29th of February, and was seen [Page 297] the next day in the neighborhood of the island, when the St. Louis put to sea. It is to be presumed, as the rebel did not desire an engagement, that he took advantage of his steam-power to escape.
It appears, from the statement of Commander Preble, that the Florida entered Funchal bay on the 28th of February, after a cruise of eighteen days from Brest, short of coal, water, bread, &c., and that a concerted arrangement had been made with an English merchant named Blandy to furnish her with one hundred and ten tons of coal. At first the governor of the island would not permit any coal to be supplied, but after various conferences he agreed to allow twenty tons to be taken on board, and the Florida left Funchal with that limited provision, probably to seek a more hospitable port.
I take it for granted, if a question were to be raised on this subject, which cannot now be done for the want of official and precise information, that the governor will claim to justify his action in the premises upon the ground that the ease was included in the category provided for by the royal proclamation of July 29, 1861, which excepts from the rule therein prescribed “cases of overruling necessity, (force majeure,) in which, according to the laws of nations, hospitality is indispensable.” In any event, I shall esteem it to be my duty to state the facts to the minister of foreign affairs at the first opportunity which may be offered for that purpose.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.