Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Fortieth Congress

Mr. Ewing to Mr. Seward

No. 9.]

United States Legation, The Hague, March 16, 1867.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 15th ultimo, No. 8.

Since the date of my last despatch on the subject, the rinderpest has spread into Belgium and France. The following report of its progress in Holland, [Page 411] from the 5th January to the 17th February, shows a decline, from week to week, that gives reason to hope for its speedy extinction.

Week ending—	Cases.	Deaths,	Slaughtered.
January 13	4,387	2,002	558
January 20	3,886	1,523	939
January 27	3,249	1,353	1,128
February 3	2,617	858	809
February 10	2,048	789	477
February 17	1,735	650	510
Total	17,922	7,175	4,421
			7,175
Total loss			11,596

I am expecting a report from the Dutch authorities, which I will transmit when received, giving the result of experiments with chloroform to remedy the pest, made at the suggestion of Mr. Henry D. J. Pratt.

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

HUGH EWING.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.