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

Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward

No. 169.]

Legation of the United States, Madrid, February 25, 1865.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit enclosed the translation of Mr. Benavide’s note to me of 21st instant, in reply to mine of the 18th instant, which was forwarded as enclosure of despatch No. 168, of February 20th. This note confirms the result announced to you in that despatch. Last night in company I saw Mr. Benavides, and inquired of him if this note was intended to be the end, or whether repairs on the Stonewall would ever be recommenced in this jurisdiction. Mr. Benavides said no; that this was the end of repairs on that ship, and that such was the meaning of his note.

He then said, pleasantly, I think you have caught this one, meaning the Stonewall, and asked me what force we had there watching her. I told him we had the Niagara and Sacramento, and that both ships had moved over to Corunna, probably to avoid the operation of this twenty-four hours rule. As he appeared not to be at all chagrined at the announcement of this idea, I then said in the same tone that he must remember there was a point loose in his diplomacy as regarded the enforcement of the twenty-four hours rule in this case. He had officially stated to me that the Spanish government had not power enough at Ferrol to detain the Stonewall if she chose to go. How could he pretend to stop our ships from following the Stonewall if he could not give me the guarantee that they might not be followed for twenty-four hours by the iron-clad, in case ours should wish to leave first? Mr. Benavides laughed, and without answering this question, turned the conversation by saying that he was persuaded the Stonewall would not start.

A telegram from the consular agent at Ferrol, on the evening of the 23d, informs me that the Stonewall continued leaking; that nothing happened, and he would advise me of anything new.

With sentiments of the highest respect, sir, your obedient servant,

HORATIO J. PERRY.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington.

Received and read at the legation at Paris, March 1, 1865, and posted same day.

BIGELOW.

[Translation.]

Department of State, Palace, February 21, 1865.

Sir: I have had the honor to receive your note of the 18th instant, in which you are so good as to manifest to me, referring to telegraphic despatches of the consular agent at Ferrol, that, after the termination of the repairs on the iron-clad steamer Stonewall, this vessel is still not in a condition to take the seas because of certain radical defects of construction which you solicit may not be permitted to be remedied in the ship-yard of the said port of Ferrol, nor in any other in Spain.

The reasons which you present in support of your wishes have been duly appreciated by the government of the Queen, which, being convinced of its duty not to separate its conduct from the line marked out for it in the royal decree of June 17, 1861, has dictated the proper orders that it be thus done in the case to which you refer.

The minister of marine, confirming the orders previously communicated that the repairs which might be made on the Stonewall should not be such as to better her military or seagoing qualities, has instructed the naval authority at Ferrol to strictly comply with those orders, and not to permit any other work on the said vessel than that qualified by the commandant of naval engineers as indispensable to repair the particular damage which obliged her to come into the port where she now is.

I take pleasure in believing that you will find this resolution of her Majesty’s government in accordance with the suggestions of the note to which I reply, and I avail myself of this occasion to renew to you the assurance of my distinguished consideration.

A. BENAVIDES.

Chargé d’Affaires of the United States.