Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward
Sir: I have your despatch No. 459, marked “confidential,” and had proposed to discuss its contents to-day with the minister of foreign affairs. His excellency, however, had received a summons to the palace, which compelled him to terminate his reception of the diplomatic corps abruptly. He remarked, with a smile, as I entered, that he knew what I came for—that I had a harsh message to him. “Am I not right?” he asked. I told him that I had been instructed, as he was aware, it seemed, to acquaint him with the disquiet which certain reports in regard to the transport of fresh troops from different quarters of the world, to Mexico, had occasioned in the United States, and I expressed my fear that these reports, unless met promptly by some satisfactory assurances, might develop discussion upon another theatre imperfectly informed of the actual situation, and of the dispositions of the imperial government, thereby aggravating the difficulties with which both governments already had to contend. I then said, that as he was called elsewhere, I would wait upon him at any other more convenient hour that he would name. He proposed that I should call again on Saturday at 1½ p. m.; mean time he wished me to be [Page 309] assured, as he had assured me on several previous occasions, that the troops reported to have sailed for Vera Cruz were to replace others whose terms of service had expired, and in numbers less rather than more than were there before. He believed, also, that the orders for their shipment were given before the proposed recall of the army was announced. Upon all these points he expected to have more precise information from the minister of war to give me on Saturday. As I was going out, his excellency repeated what he has often said, that they were but too anxious to withdraw their troops from Mexico; that they would be withdrawn certainly not later, but probably sooner, than the time proposed.
I then took my leave without alluding to the other subjects about which I was specially instructed to confer with him.
I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.