Mr. Nelson to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches to No. 114, inclusive, and also of the executive order of April 29th, 1865; circular of the [Page 365] Department of State of the 25th of June, 1865, in regard to the American Geographical and Statistical Society; idem of September 19th, 1865, in regard to leaves of absence; and proclamation of October 12th, 1865, ending martial law in Kentucky.
In obedience to the instruction of the 10th of October, No. 112, I have had the pleasure of addressing under this day a note (A) to the committee of the citizens of Copiapo, who on the 17th of May addressed a letter of congratulation to the lamented late President of the United States, upon the overthrow of the rebellion and re-establishment of the national authority in Virginia.
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During the past fortnight nothing very important has occurred in regard to the war. The flag-ship Villa de Madrid has cruised diligently along the coasts of Chili, and instead of proceeding to Callao, as was supposed, was at last advices in Coquimbo, with the frigate Blanco. The Resolucion, (frigate,) and corvette Vencedora are blockading Valparaiso; and the squadron has been re-enforced by the arrival at Caldera, from Callao, of the iron-clad frigate Numancia, and transport Marquis de la Victoria. The frigate Berenguela is also at Caldera. Thus the entire squadron in the Pacific is at this moment concentrated in the waters of Chili.
The abandonment of Callao at the moment of the overthrow of the late government, and of the declaration of the dictatorship of General Prado, has excited surprise, and can only be accounted for by a determination on the part of Admiral Pareja to avenge the capture of the Covadonga by some act of hostility less passive than that of mere blockade.
The search on the part of the Spanish vessels for the Esmeralda, Maipu, and Covadonga, the three vessels now forming the navy of Chili, has hitherto been entirely fruitlesss.
On the 2d instant the Blanco left Coquimbo to give chase to two vessels outside the port, leaving the bark Domitila, a merchant vessel laden with supplies for her, in the bay. Eight small boats immediately put off from shore, boarded the bark, and would have towed her ashore but for the return of the frigate. The Domitila having hoisted the Italian flag, and her papers being Italian, the boarding party hesitated to destroy her, and abandoned the vessel, carrying with them the crew as prisoners. The frigate demanded their surrender under threat of bombardment in case of refusal, but the authorities declined to give them up, and there the affair ended.
I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.