Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the First Session Thirty-ninth Congress

[Translation.]

Mr. van Limhurg to Mr. Seward

New York, December 28, 1864.

Sir: I have just received information from the copy herewith of a telegram received by the consul of the etherlands at New Orleans, and purporting that the Netherlands ship Geziena Hildegonda, Captain B. P. Janson, going from Liverpool to Matamoras, had been captured by the United States gunboat Pembina. I have the honor, sir, to beg you to be so good as to communicate to me the motives for this capture, prima facie astonishing, if not contrary to the law of nations, and I deem it my duty to protest, meantime, against whatever may be illegal therein and hurtful to the interests of the captain, owners, and other Netherlanders interested.

I have the honor to reiterate to you the assurances of my high consideration.

ROEST VAN LIMBURG.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State of the U. S. of America, Washington.

[Enclosure.]

Office United States Military Telegraph.

The following telegram received at New Orleans, December 15, 1864:

[From Southwest Pass, dated December 15, 1864.]

Netherlands Consul: The Dutch brig Geziena Hildegonda has crossed the bar as a prize to the United States steam gunboat Pembina. I am from Liverpool, bound to Matamoras. Please advise the British consul of the above.

B. P. JANSON,

Master. Am. Conturie, Consul des Pays Bas.