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

[Extracts.]

Mr. Canisius to Mr. Seward

No. 57.]

Consulate of the United States of America, Vienna, May 8, 1866.

Sir:* * * * The news received here per telegraph that you have demanded of Austria the discontinuation of sending any more volunteers to Maximilian, of Mexico, has created here quite a sensation. The people of Austria feel now, in their distress, more than ever, that this enterprise of Maximilian, and the subsequent agreement made by this government to aid him by sending soldiers to that distant country, of no value to the people of this empire, was a great mistake.

I found in this morning’s paper the following item:

[Translation.]

“Laybach, (near Trieste,) May 5.

“The Mexican free corps.—The recruiting for the Mexican free corps will definitely be closed to-day. All the recruits have to be ready on the 8th of this month at the principal depot at Laybach, as the embarcation commences in Trieste on the 10th instant. The Mexican Colonel Leisser will personally attend to the embarcation.”

What the Austrian government will decide now, after your protest, will soon he seen, as the embarcation was to take place on the 10th of this month.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

T. CANISIUS, United States Consul.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.