Mr. Pruyn to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 34, dated the 29th January, 1863.
I shall avail myself of the earliest opportunity to make it known to this government, and shall again assure it that my action in the premises must necessarily be unofficial.
In all my conversations and in the letters and papers I have had occasion to sign, I have studiously avoided acting in an official capacity.
I hope that before the completion of the vessels all their armament and equipent may be supplied without interfering with the wants of the United States, which I trust may by that time happily need no further supply.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.