Mr. Seward to Mr. Bigelow
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of several despatches from you, relating to a piratical vessel which was built for the insurgents by Arman, ship-builder at Bordeaux, went under a sale, or negotiation for sale, to Copen-hagen, came from that port to Honat island, received an armament and a crew there from an English steamer, and coal from a French steamer, and then took her departure in a southwesterly direction. These despatches are: No. 13, dated January 30th; No. 14, dated January 31st; Nos. 16 and 17, both of which bear the date of February 3d. I have also received several telegraphic despatches in relation to the same vessel from our very vigilant consul at Nantes.
I have also received advices from our minister at Madrid, to the effect that a piratical vessel from Copenhagen has put into Ferrol for repairs, which vessel may or may not be the one to which your despatches refer. The knowledge of the affair which we have thus far been able to acquire is very vague and unsatisfactory. It is uncertain whether there are not at large two of the vessels built at Bordeaux for the insurgents, instead of one. We cannot certainly ascertain whether the vessel which was reported at Ferrol is the same vessel which is also reported at Corunna, under the name of the Shenandoah. We cannot definitely decide whether the Danish government has been derelict in the performance of international duty, nor will we for a moment believe that the French government has intentionally permitted its faith to be compromitted. We do not yet certainly know that the vessel or vessels in question have passed into [Page 231] the hands of the rebels. It is only in general terms, therefore, that I am able to write upon the subject, and what I do must be on condition that the facts represented shall be verified. I approve the communication you have addressed to Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys, and I sincerely hope that the next steamer may bring us intelligence that the Emperor’s government has adopted effectual means to vindicate its sovereignty, and to defeat those of its subjects who have engaged in this new attempt to commit it to a war with the United States. You are authorized to say this to Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys, and to add that this government will expect indemnity for whatever injuries to the United States shall be inflicted by the pirate vessel in question from the parties to whom, in the end, the responsibility shall be traced; that after an endurance of covert war from the subjects of maritime states, of which we admit with pleasure that France has not been one, but which covert war has been rendered practically effective by the policy in which all the maritime states have hitherto concurred, in opposition to the unremitted remonstrances of the United States, this government now expects that the maritime powers will rescind all decrees, orders, and regulations, by which they concede belligerent naval privileges to vessels built, fitted out, armed and equipped in foreign states with which the United States are maintaining relations of peace and amity. I reserve more definitive instructions until we shall hear your report of the proceedings of the Emperor’s government.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
John Bigelow, Esq, &c., &c., &c.