Mr. Hale to Mr. Seward

No. 65.]

Sir: On the 3d instant our consul at Valencia informed me that an American vessel had been ordered from that port into quarantine at Vigo, the voyage from Valencia to Vigo requiring about three months, whilst there were quarantine stations in the Mediterranean, at Port Mahon and Carthagena. He also stated that an English and a Russian vessel had received similar orders at Valencia.

I addressed a note to Sir John Crampton on this subject, and his reply confirmed our consul’s report in regard to the English vessel, and informed me that he (Sir John) had addressed a note to the Spanish minister of state on the subject. I also addressed a note to that minister and have the honor to enclose a copy of my note, and of the reply of the minister of state with translation.

On the 13th instant Mr. Andrews apprised me, from Valencia, that the affair seemed to have been satisfactorily arranged, as the vessels had all gone to Port Mahon for quarantine instead of to Vigo.

I have the honor to be, with the highest respect, sir, your obedient servant,

JOHN P. HALE.

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

Mr. Hale to General Calonge

Sir: I desire to call the attention of your excellency to the case of the American vessel I. F. Chapman, recently arrived at the port of Valencia, which has been ordered to go to Vigo to perform quarantine.

I trust I need not say to your excellency that this is a very injurious and ruinous proceeding for the owners of the vessel, and I am sure that if the same end can be obtained by another course less burdensome to the owners of the vessel, which will subserve the public interest quite as well, the government of her Catholic Majesty will not object to adopting it. Therefore, I most respectfully, but urgently, request that if it be compatible with what the government of her Catholic Majesty thinks the public interest may require, said vessel may be ordered to some more convenient port for the purpose of performing quarantine.

The undersigned avails himself of the present opportunity of renewing to the minister of state the assurance of his most distinguished consideration.

JOHN P. HALE.

His Excellency the Minister of State.

[Translation.]

General Calonge to Mr. Hale

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that under date of to-day I have transmitted to the minister of the interior government of the kingdom the contents of your note of the 9th [Page 517] instant, relative to the vessel of your nation, I. F. Chapman, ordered to the port of Vigo to perform quarantine.

I will hasten to communicate to you the reply which I receive on this subject, and avail myself of this occasion to renew to you the assurance of my most distinguished consideration.

E. DeCALONGE.

Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States.