Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward
Sir: In a recent conversation with the minister of foreign affairs, his excellency spoke of two subjects which I had instructions to bring to his notice some months since—the case of the federal steamer Ark, seized on the Rio Grande, within Mexican jurisdiction, by confederates from Texas, and sold at Brownsville to Mexicans; and the case of certain deserters from the confederate army, sent back by the Mexican general to the confederate authorities. His excellency then read to me a report on the facts of these two cases, which had been prepared for him in the bureaus of war and marine, to which it had been referred, and offered to send me a copy if I wished it. I said my government would, of course, like to know what defence could be made to its reclamations, that it might know whether they deserved to be prosecuted. He said I should have one to-morrow, with the understanding that it should only be taken for what it was, and not as an official communication of a final determination of the government on those subjects. I told him I would receive it, if he pleased, as a memorandum of a conversation. He said I should receive it to-day. If it comes in time for this mail I will enclose it.
I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.