M. Berthemy to Mr. Seward
Mr. Secretary of State: My predecessor had the honor to send you, on the 28th September last year, a copy of the code of maritime signals adopted by the governments of France and England, asking you at the same time to be so good as to let him know whether the government of the United States was disposed to adhere to this new mode of international communication. Since that I have myself had occasion, the 7th January last, to revert to that communication, on completing it, by sending a note relative to the application of this new code, and the establishment of an electro-semaphoric service on the coasts of France.
While making account of the time which the study of a plan of this kind requires, I think, Mr. Secretary of State, On looking back to the date of the first note from M. de Montholon on the subject, that I might anew remind you of the value which the government of the Emperor would attach to information of the manner in which the government of the United States regards a question which interests in such high degree all maritime nations.
Accept, Mr. Secretary of State, the assurances of my high consideration,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.